Make a local Chrome App

Have you ever wanted a chrome app for something and were unable to find it at the app store?

well here are some simple ways to make an app.

1. https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/2714278?hl=en
2. http://lifehacker.com/5857721/how-to-build-a-chrome-extension

Good luck, and have fun. Once you get good at it, go here to feature your app in the chrome store.

What is a technology integration specialist?

The technology integration specialist is a teacher who has the ability to share tools with other teachers and students that can enhance learning opportunities in the classroom. The individual should be able to teach educators how to best use a tool in the classroom and provide ideas for ways in which the tool could be incorporated. Technology integrator's also need to make themselves visible and available to teachers. Many teachers still do not incorporate much technology with their students, because they are either intimidated by the technology, or they are lacking in training on how to best use the tool with the students. The technology integrator needs to take the initiative to put ideas out to the teachers either through word of mouth, emails, blogs, flyers, announcements ..etc. They have to market themselves to the teachers and hold many a lot of training to help show teachers what some of these tools can do. Sometimes a teacher may not use a tool, just because they don't know to use it either. 

Similarly, students need to be aware of what tools are available how need some guidance on how to use them If the technology integrator has the flexibility in their schedule, they should be able to hold classes for students to show them  tools that can enhance any assignment  A poem can be brought to life and deliver a deeper meaning using something like animoto. Or presentation can contain layers using something like prezi. A history presentation could incorporate a live interview or conversation through Ustream. A science project could be presented through video presentation like youtube or better yet, the new Ted Ed clubs. There are so many tools and possibility the technology integrator just needs to provide some ideas and training to students to help them hone their creativity. 

With the evolution of technology we are in a Renaissance period where anyone has the potential to "become the creator, producer, innovator  and collaborator." (Rethinking Learning: The 21st Century Learner | MacArthur Foundation). The educational standards are changing to incorporate technology more and more. The "real" world uses these tools to collaborate, and present information. Students are expected to become critical thinkers, and be able to solve problems. To solve those problems they have a plethora of tools available that can reveal a solution in an innovative way. All teachers and students should find ways to incorporate any technology tool, more than just Microsoft Office Suite (Sorry Microsoft  there is more to creativity than word processing.) Obtaining those word processing skills are important, but obtaining other skills is just as significant. The technology integrator needs to be the link between teachers and students, to provide tools to change the traditional face of education. Textbooks, and chalk and talk type of education is not the only way tot learn. Students can and should learn by doing, creating, troubleshooting, problem solving, and having fun. 

Web 2.0

Web 2.0 tools are online based tools that are free to access and have the potential to enhance education. There are a variety of tools for different platforms and different learning. The majority of these tools allow the user to be the "producer, creator, and collaborator," (Rethinking Learning: The 21st Century Learner | MacArthur Foundation, Retrieved from www,Youtube.com, 2013). The use of any Web 2.0 tool will provide a different perspective for the students to learn the content. The typical "chalk and talk" type of teaching and learning is fading away. Students seem to enjoy learning the content better, when they can apply their creativity using a tool to present their knowledge in unique ways, that differ from that traditional research paper or lab report. A time line project, or news story type of project can come to life with a web 2.0 tool like Meograph. It is much easier for students to  capture video, sound, images and edit that data to fit into a variety of formats. 

Remember these tools? It wasn't that long ago that these where hard to come by, and were one of the only ways you could capture video at home. You needed to have a VHS tape, a VHS player and editor to run the film back and capture the decent moments. It was a much lengthier process to stitch a video together to make a 5-10 minute film for a class project. Now students and most individuals can capture video on their cell phones, upload the video to youtube, edit the film, add music, still images, or animations to enhance the video and make a more attractive 10 minute video. 


Web 2.0 tools have the potential to engage students on a different level, where they have more ownership over the assignment, and have the freedom to express their knowledge creatively  Schools need to embrace this technology and provide appropriate training to educators to learn how to include tools like this into the typical classroom. The use of a word processing program is a step towards technology integration, but word processing isn't the only thing technology can do. Instead of typing a research paper, the student could record a podcast lecture of the topic, and enhance the podcast with images and animation. It is still a valid skill to stand in front of a group of people and speak, but delivering a more discussion based presentation after the audience has heard the podcast, or watched the video makes for a much more engaged audience. These tools have the ability to bring learning to a different level and engage students. The difficulty is providing the training and education to the teachers, so they are confident in using these tools to replace the lecture, the worksheet, the textbook reading assignment  and the typical multiple choice test. 

Sources
Rethinking Learning: The 21st Century Learner | MacArthur Foundation, Retrieved from www,Youtube.com, 2013