Using Technology to Collaborate on Lesson Planning
Lesson 1: Why use technology to collaborate?
Lesson 2: Collecting and Contributing Ideas
Lesson 3: Collaborating on a Document
Lesson 2: Collecting and Contributing Ideas
Lesson 3: Collaborating on a Document
Lesson 1: Why Use Technology to Collaborate?
When you are lesson planning, do you collaborate with co-teachers or colleagues? Do you work in an isolated world while you lesson plan? Do you feel like you can share and ask questions of your coworkers?
"Collaboration occurs when we approach goals as connected learnings, relying on each other's skills, knowledge, talents, and readiness to share" (Nussbaum-Beach & Hall, 2012). Collaborating with colleagues allows for a greater exchange of ideas. Many teachers sit around tables and discuss ideas, writing those ideas on paper and then transferring them to lesson plans. Using technology has many benefits. You can have remote access to each other. You can organize your ideas in a time efficient way. And you have an endless amount of sources to pull from. In this lesson we are going to explore the benefits of collaborating using technology.
Watch the Youtube video, "How Teacher Collaborate Online and in School." As you are watching consider how you currently collaborate and how it compares to the teachers in this video.
Google docs is a great tool for collaboration. Several people can work on one document from different devices. Use this Google Doc to share you ideas on collaboration and your reflections from the video.
Here are some more resources on collaboration through technology:
Emerging Trends in Education: Collaborative Tools and Technology
How Teachers Are Learning: Professional Development Remix
Carnegie Mellon - Tools: Teaching Excellence and Educational Innovation
The Connected Educator: Learning and Leading in a Digital Age
Here are some more resources on collaboration through technology:
Emerging Trends in Education: Collaborative Tools and Technology
How Teachers Are Learning: Professional Development Remix
Carnegie Mellon - Tools: Teaching Excellence and Educational Innovation
The Connected Educator: Learning and Leading in a Digital Age
Lesson 2: Collecting and Contributing Ideas
When you come to a lesson planning session with a co-teacher, you are probably bringing your ideas with you. Maybe these are ideas you have used in the past. Perhaps you pulled them from magazines like Mailbox. Technology has made it possible for you to find ideas from countless sources. There are sites and apps directed at compiling ideas. Take time to explore some of these two sites; Pinterest and Educlipper.
As you explore consider these questions:
Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting Pinterest and Educlipper. The button below will take you to a format for the Venn Diagram.
As you explore consider these questions:
- How user friendly is the site?
- Are you able to find content that pertains to your interests?
- Can you add your own ideas?
- Can you share your findings?
- What is the process for becoming a part of the site?
- Can you narrow down ideas that you find?
Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting Pinterest and Educlipper. The button below will take you to a format for the Venn Diagram.
After you have explored Pinterest and Educlipper and completed the Venn Diagram, chose one and create an account. Try using this site for a few weeks to gather ideas.
When it comes to preparing for lesson plans teachers need to follow scope and sequence, standards, as well as the interests and needs of their students. Throughout the day ideas emerge and it is important to jot these down and then share them with your colleagues. Using a Wiki space allows multiple parties to contribute to the same document. Read this article on how to create your own Wiki space.
How to Create Your Own Wiki
Watch this Youtube video for a simple explanation on how Wikis work.
When it comes to preparing for lesson plans teachers need to follow scope and sequence, standards, as well as the interests and needs of their students. Throughout the day ideas emerge and it is important to jot these down and then share them with your colleagues. Using a Wiki space allows multiple parties to contribute to the same document. Read this article on how to create your own Wiki space.
How to Create Your Own Wiki
Watch this Youtube video for a simple explanation on how Wikis work.
There are many, many technological tools out there for teachers to use when collaborating with each other and students. Explore some of the tools presented on Edudemic. Are there tools here that you have heard of or used before? Do any of these tools seem like they would be beneficial to you in your collaborative process?
Lesson 3: Collaborating on a Document
Now that you have an understanding of how collaboration looks through the use of technology and you have gathered some ideas, it is time to create the lesson plan. A great way to create a collaborative document for lesson planning is Google Doc. Read these articles on how Google Docs can be used by teachers.
10 Things Every Teacher Should Know How To Do With Google Docs.
5 Ways Google Tools Can Empower Teachers
50 Little-Known Ways Google Docs Can Help in Education
As you can see Google Docs are very beneficial to teachers. Now it is your turn to create a Google Doc format for your lesson planning. Your lesson plan should be shareable with colleagues. If you are in a co-teaching situation, make sure your share settings are set so that your co-teacher can edit. As you practice planning using this new tool remember to look back at the ideas you have pinned or clipped, and refer to the notes in your Wiki.
Having trouble getting started? The following Youtube video is a quick overview on How to Create a Google Doc.
10 Things Every Teacher Should Know How To Do With Google Docs.
5 Ways Google Tools Can Empower Teachers
50 Little-Known Ways Google Docs Can Help in Education
As you can see Google Docs are very beneficial to teachers. Now it is your turn to create a Google Doc format for your lesson planning. Your lesson plan should be shareable with colleagues. If you are in a co-teaching situation, make sure your share settings are set so that your co-teacher can edit. As you practice planning using this new tool remember to look back at the ideas you have pinned or clipped, and refer to the notes in your Wiki.
Having trouble getting started? The following Youtube video is a quick overview on How to Create a Google Doc.
Through these three lessons you should now be able to locate and contribute ideas, share thoughts and observations, and collaborate on a lesson plan. Using technology will help you maximize your time, include ideas from multiple sources, and allow you remote access to information.
Here are some other things to consider when you are collaborating with colleagues:
Here are some other things to consider when you are collaborating with colleagues:
- Attend professional development together. Although you with both be hearing the same information, you will process it differently and make different connection.
- Reflect with your co-teacher the first 5 minutes after students leave.
- Have a blank lesson plan form easily accessible.
- Use FaceTime or Skype to remotely connect with co-teacher.
- Use a tagging or bookmarking tool to save content and share with others. Check out The Top 10 Free Web Tools to Curate and Bookmark Online Resources for Teachers.