Rick+Forfar

Hi, my name is Rick Forfar I am a technology facilitator and teacher at Lockport School. My favourite ICT tool this year is digital cameras and headsets (with mics); they have totally changed existing projects that I was teaching last year. Students are more enthusiastic about their work, and are more "involved" because they have their comments through the mic into their projects and pictures/video of their group members in their projects.

Link to my website

Three ICT Related Goals:
 * 1) Continue to include content from a variety of subjects (Math, Science, Social Studies, and LA) in my computers and tech comm classes
 * 2) Continue to update the software used (i.e. The Learning Equation) in the school and the topics taught within the school (i.e. wikis, blogs, podcasts)
 * 3) Create a teacher website

Group Members (Markus Hofer, Brian Johnston, Rick Forfar, Donnie Steip)

Issues:


 * takes time to include technology within the lesson, ie. time to hand out equipment (laptops, digital cameras), or not having the hardware (ie. laptops, smart board)
 * lack of technical background amongst teachers (professional development, support from facilitators, co-teaching)
 * more specific lesson plans that incorporate technology are needed
 * student access to technology at home, (hardware, software)
 * equal access to technology within each school in the division

Group Members (Markus Hofer, Brian Johnston, Rick Forfar, Donnie Steip)

Professional Development:


 * subject specific workshops
 * experience level specific workshops
 * guest speaker, guest presenter sharing resources (lesson plans, ideas, sharing knowledge of software available)

Last Year:


 * Developed plan for TALL project spending within Lockport School (SMART Boards, Projectors, screens, laptops, digital cameras, wireless access points) this will allow teachers to use technology within the classroom
 * Within the lab students used computers to create their own businesses, websites, digital stories, and movies