Whats the Buzz About Technology in Afterschool

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Whats the Buzz About
Technology in Afterschool ?      
Marilyn Heath Hands On - Minds On Austin,
TX August, 2007
NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR QUALITY AFTERSCHOOL
LEARNING at
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Why use technology in afterschool ?

• Kids love to use computers.
• Technology-enriched activities can
• - spark kids imagination and enthusiasm
• - reinforce reading, writing, math, and science
  skills
• - provide hands-on experiences and
• - assist in homework and school
  assignments.
• Technology offers a strong marketing tool for
  your afterschool program.
• Parents name access to technology as a high
  priority for their children.
• As a life skill, students need to learn to use
  technology effectively.

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What does the research say?

• Educational technologies are not a
• cure all nor are they mere fads.
• Studies show that technology can
• - be an important learning tool
• - lead to improved attitude, motivation, and
  academic achievement and
• - reinforce reading, writing, math, and science
  skills.

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What does the research say?

• Effectiveness depends on
• instructional goals and outcomes
• intentional use and not unsupervised play
• appropriate technology choice
• adequate planning and
• administrative support.

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Technology Toolkit Contents
The toolkit is not a curriculum. Instead the
toolkit provides ideas, resources, materials, and
tools that can be used to design
technology-enriched activities for an afterschool
program. Toolkit contents are based on research,
classroom observations, and practitioner
experience

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http//www.sedl.org/afterschool
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http//www.sedl.org/afterschool/toolkits

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The Online Technology Toolkit

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About Technology

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Technology Practices

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Sample Lessons

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Resources

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What do technology-enriched activities look like?

• Watch videos

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What are characteristics of quality
technology-enriched activities ?

• Facilitate creativity, and self - expression
• Promote student-centered activities
• Promote real-world, relevant activities
• Promote opportunities for communication
• and collaboration
• Support project-based and inquiry-based
  activities
• Engage students in hands-on activities
• Support different learning styles
• Meet individual learning needs
• Enrich all academic content areas

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Designing Quality AS Activities

Table Group Work (Scenarios)
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Using the Toolkit for Quality Professional
Development

• Phase 1 - Create Awareness
• Introduce the toolkit with a demonstration,
• video, reading, simulation, or scenario
• Phase 2 - Build Understanding
• Learn the theory behind the practice and
  examine sample lessons.
• Phase 3 - Make Decisions
• Determine needs find a toolkit practice to
  model, work as a team

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Using the Toolkit for Quality Professional
Development

• Phase 4 - Plan and Implement
• Develop and implement a planned activity.
• Step 5 - Reflect and Refine
• Reflect, improve, or expand the activity.
• Step 6 - Extend Learning
• Explore additional resources, consider new
  ideas, share, and collaborate.

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Thank you !

• http//www.sedl.org/afterschool
• http//www.sedl.org/afterschool/toolkits
• Marilyn Heath - mheath_at_sedl.org