Jaime Donally Immerse Technology in Education

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All right welcome to the show today, today  we're going to be talking about how to   Immerse Technology in Education we have with us Ms. Jaime Donally, she's a former math teacher turned technology into integration consultant, she also uh runs a weekly Twitter chat about AR and VR in education, she is the author of Learning  Transported in the Immersive Classroom uh   let's give it up to our new friend and educator  Ms. a former educator Ms. Jaime to the show.   Thank you so much I mean you can never stop being an educator right I was going to say that you   know you can never stop educating and you was a  Teacher in math for what pre-k in eighth grade,   is that correct? Okay, all elementary school really  and middle school um most of my time was spent at the middle school level um but yeah it had had a  chance to kind of be part of that formation for   students at different times and math was one of  those things for me that was really more about   um getting the inspiring our students to really  see that they can do something, because probably   for me I can't say I really fit into the GT area  where I can help support the kids that just get it.  

I feel very passionate about the students  that have failed and feel defeated in math so   working with those students and helping them  recognize their potential is really the part   that I really enjoyed. And you know math was  the avenue but it was the relationships with   the students and having an opportunity to  connect with people and now predominantly   connecting with adults it just really boils  back down to that relational aspect of it. You know for me math was a very tough subject  in school I was not a fan of math like most   students are not a fan of math um but the funny  thing about it is that I eventually went on   and uh and got a degree in finance, which is really  really weird right because I didn't like math so   I didn't like the problem solving if you  will I like more of the equation like   economics kind of the approach of mathematics  if you will. So I'm pretty sure you had a lot of  

students like that that's really just didn't  get it or maybe they was just bored with not   wanting to do math was that something that always always kind of played a part in your classroom. Yeah I'm very different I was not the kind of student that got it either I really spent my time in education just getting by um not you know just getting enough done to do the things that I wanted to do and in high school, I love playing sports so as long as I can get my work done to get   a C or A, C minus or whatever it is um that's the approach I took do bare minimal actually I'm   growing up in California schools this is a sad fact but I never read a book from front to end until I   was a senior in high school and so the the reality  is there's I I learned ways to kind of get by and   um get whatever was necessary for what I wanted  but I was never inspired to really pursue or   feel like I could do more it really wasn't until  I was in college later on after I got married   that I really started seeing more potential and  opportunities and not, not accepting less but there   was a bigger driving factor on success and that  was mainly wanting to grow and learn as opposed   to in high school you know there there wasn't  that passion to really excel it was just you know   doing the things that I love doing which at  that time was sports but I would say with math   that is my passion is working with people like  you that really hated math and felt defeated by   it and had been told that they weren't good at  it but my approach has always been the way that   I approach most things and that's very you know  hands-on and engaging and fun so I would do a   fraction carnival kids hated fractions but if I  combined it with something that they loved so I   dressed up as a clown and they all made they all  individually made their own games that other kids   had to come by and play so they had to know their  stuff in order to allow them to play so it was and   I had you know tickets and they got to come by and  get redeem their tickets and win stuff with it um   it was just one of those ways of getting  them excited and every year it was one of   those things that students just really looked  forward to, but that really even would apply   for adults I mean I think as adults the way that  we learn and the way we engage with any content   um if it's not something that that brings out that  passion and enthusiasm for us I think we're going   to find a lot more people are going to say no  that's not for me you know even me I would say   finances not for me you know that's just not my  thing um even though I did love math but at the   end of the day um it's the way that it's presented  to us often and that's what I love about immersive   technology is because it is presented in a way  that really captures our students and adults but   it's also giving us opportunity to explore in a  way that's impossible without the technology so   it opens up the door for enthusiasm and then  provides the opportunity to dig in deeper. That's that's that's really good I like the  way you you explain it like how you present   the actual subject to either kids or  adults for the you know to kind of   understand the skill of how one learns is very important because everyone doesn't learn the   same and getting people engaged into learning is kind of hard already as it is especially if it's a   subject that you really don't like uh and math  it seemed like one of those ones that always get   dragged out but now we have these new programs  like STEM which I think are very important to   kids especially moving on to the next 20 30 years  these are going to be the absolute things that   we're going to need um to advance our kids um so how did you transition from math into this whole   new world of technology uh integration um and  at become becoming a consultant in that field.  

Well really it was just always using technology I  saw how much the students loved it and I loved it   I think I never get bored with technology because  it's always changing um I typically just find   that okay I'm done with that let's move on but  with technology it's one of those areas that   are constantly evolving and keeping you on  your toes so students really enjoy that and   and interestingly enough a lot of the students  that really struggled in math were incredible at   technology I mean they can problem-solve anything  when it came to technology which is that skill   that they needed in math but because it was never  related into something that they loved they never   saw themselves as problem solvers so I would  empower the students I can't bring everything to   the table but they all have different talents and  skills that they were able to bring to the table   and by bringing their skillset into the classroom  we were all able to work together and those   students got to build the confidence in an area  that really could have been their future careers   with immersive technology I feel like  with augmented and virtual reality   to me it's again going back to the technology  of that enthusiasm things constantly changing   and growing I see opportunities in that that  connect us in a way that we really can't connect   even if I said let's go on and watch a video it's  not as relatable as actually going there maybe   in immersive technology and virtual reality and maybe you know hey come and join me    Mr. Williams let's bring our classes together and let's get our kids to collaborate across the world   but it sounds like they're sitting right there next to you or I'm seeing the moon actually in the center    of my classroom or I'm at home because I'm in remote learning and I'm holding in the palm of my   hand you know the solar system so as we're going  through and getting these concepts we're   asking sometimes our kids to make connections  the things that they have no idea what it is if   I said hey I want you know you're in Tampa but  you know the beach is going to be your norm but   up here in East Texas in the Northern part  of Texas many of our students have never been   to the ocean so to be able to connect that  you know hey read about it write about it   well they've never been there how in the world  do they make that connection but by using these   types of technologies we're literally giving them  a chance to step into the ocean and see these   different species of fish and and maybe explore in  a way that again they would never get there but by   bringing them through immersive technology  we've opened up this new door of learning.   That's so amazing um and it brings me to  the point back to the technology piece   um what can you tell me what are the benefits  for integrating technology into education?   Well I think it's a skill set for  our students that they need to have   you know when I talk about immersive technology  I rarely stick with the old I'm always thinking   about the future what's next to come but how  we implement it I think is often tied to big   budgets which is not true um the marketing out  there so when it comes to actually integrating   the technology what they need to consider is what  do they currently have available to them right now   but as they're doing their refreshes and they're  making purchase decisions I really want them   to be aware of some of the newer technologies  that are going to be their technology of their   future um how they're going to be learning and  growing you know I stay pretty well connected to   a professor at prior professor actually  outside of the University of Alaska, Dr Webb   he has done some incredible work for training for  companies and it's all done in virtual reality   you know helping them actually train their  employees in things that might be dangerous   and things that might be impossible to test like  bears and what that might look like in Alaska but   not really putting them with a real bear but  putting them in that scene and and using that   machine learning and circumstances to give them  the illusion and the feeling like that bear is   really there with them and how would they respond  so there's all these different areas that I think   more so than just convenience more so than just  the cost factor but really giving somebody the   training necessary for them to actually put  something into practice and I think those   types of technologies are going to be more and  more involved into our workplace as well as the   skill sets that they're going to need you know  when Apple releases their glasses they're going   to be using some technologies that our students  are going to need to make those connections   for because they're good going to be the ones  creating applications they're going to be the ones   using those applications in their workplace  so all of those pieces really follow along   along the line of being prepared and having  access to the resources and the training while   they're in school so that when they leave school  that they're prepared for the workplace as well.   That's man you know technology into I mean  integrating technology is so important like   I was saying earlier oh my goodness I don't know  why all public schools just don't have a piece of   education in in their curriculum you know starting  from elementary all the way up I think it's I   think it should be mandated I think it should  be very uh uh and I think it should be instilled   into them at a very early age because if we are so  far behind like we are currently are and we just   we always complain about budgets and things like  that but you got to remind you got to be we have   to always remind ourselves these are the future  leaders of our world you know the future business   owners the future Apples of the world we have to  start them up early so technology for me is always   been important to instill into education so I'm so  you're doing it and it's amazing and I love it and   so I go to these tools that you use this ARVR tell us why they're so helpful into education? Right   so immersive technology is really that umbrella  term for augmented virtual reality mixed reality   um X reality all of it um so you see kind of these  terms being popped up and and often times    people don't know what to connect those dots for I try to just train teachers so they know what tools   they they need to look for you know I currently have  Chromebooks in my classroom so what kind of   tools do I need to be looking for um if I have Ipads in my classroom what what opportunities do I   have am I looking for a more augmented or virtual reality um if do I want to go get headsets so some   of the terminology would be something that I educate just so they know how to go and research   what types of tools that they specifically want need in their class and what's currently available to   them but um in all of this technology I think that  our classrooms are beginning to use it I mean   I've been on this journey for several years now  I've been an you know a huge advocate of using   immersive technology but I'm also very practical I  don't think sticking a headset on a kindergartner   is a good idea we don't have the research behind  it we don't know exactly how that student is   going to respond to that most of the time there's  legal matters involved with that so you are liable   if your student runs into something because they  get spooked there's all these other factors that   are involved you know how their brain you know if  they have a seizure while they're doing that so I   am an advocate for this technology but I'm  also um caution you know when you use this   go into it with a plan know what you want  to gain from this and then also how you use   it has to be safe for your students so you know  pursuing some of this technology you almost see   people say no I don't want anything or yes  I'm jumping in headfirst without any plan   and both are wrong both are going to run into  a lot of problems so you really want to come at   this in the right way actually educated on how to  bring this kind of technology but it's really not   a tool for me or for a teacher it's a tool for our  students we need to step out of our comfort zone   and realize that it's really not about us knowing  everything but empowering our students to be the   ones that gain that knowledge and us be a you  know a factor of just you know facilitating that   learning for them and being part of that journey  with them and learning from them and with them   so um is scary as it may seem an immersive technology at the end of the day um it's a tool that   our students one piece of a tool, not every tool not  every time right it's one of those resources   available to us for learning and how we pursue  it is really really goes back to that plan what   is my goal was my objective for this and what do I  want my students to be successful in by using   this. Awesome I mean you talk about technology a lot and I see that there's a great passion there  

that's why I think that you wrote this book right that's that that was for me was it today or   yesterday? Yeah yesterday the official book launch went out I think they're already out on Amazon so   Amazon's out of pocket and they're waiting for more copies but uh my publisher is ISTI which is one of   the largest publications for education technology they do a conference every year as well drawn in   all really internationally bringing in educators to  talk about how to integrate technology so they you   know spoke to me initially and said Jaimie you know here's an interest with AR VR what do you   think? Actually, they asked me about VR and I said well I think that you need to couple that with AR   too those both work hand in hand they're like well  do you think there's enough out there for a book   and I'm like oh there's enough out there for 10  books like you can't fit it all into one book   um what do you want to focus on so  we kind of talked about the plan and   then they said well what do you think do  you want to write the book and I'm like   no, I'm a meth I was a math teacher no i do not  um but it was you know I ended up saying yes   at the end I I can't believe I did it's not my  preferred way of approaching by writing a book   so it's super easy read um but it is one of those  things that I understand everybody like you said   learn differently sometimes they need to sit  there with you and do it sometimes they need   to see your video and do it sometimes they need  to hear a podcast sometimes they actually need to   read it and write notes and highlight so all  of those approaches, I try to take so that it   gives those teachers a familiarity and it makes  them comfortable to actually pursue this because   the technology that I share anybody can do it I  mean from a kindergartner picking it up making   sense of it through college age whatever that is  there's so many different levels but they can all   jump right in head first without being tech-savvy  um it's it's incredible technology made simple. That's awesome technology made simple is almost  like an awesome technology it's not simple it's   very complicated but made simple I love it I love  it um so in the book um or do you hit on the uh   the ways that we can integrate technology into  classrooms can you tell us a little bit about   that? Absolutely yeah my first book learning  transported that was um brought out in 2018   was really geared towards informing people what  this is how to bring this into your district how   to partner with other um you know other people  that should be involved other departments really   combining efforts and having a good plan so that  you're not running into a million stumbling blocks   how to actually put this into your lesson plans  I hear a lot of people say wow this is great   year after year but then you say well what have  you done well I didn't even know where to start   so really giving them that foundation of how to  pursue this what is this where do you get started   what are some first steps and targeting some  of the struggles your students are facing first   and then letting that technology be determined  when you know exactly what you want to target   um and then this last book that I just wrote  that just came out the immersive classroom   it is it's it is the next step it is App smashing  its App hacking it's customizing our tools to meet   our individual students and really identifying  and connecting with our students in a way   that empower them and support them and we value them as individuals first and then finding   those tools that really um either we customize  based upon what we need and what they need   instead of being dictated to by the way that  the company created that tool us really given an   opportunity to customize it and make it our own  so there um there's so many factors but what's   best about the immersive classroom is it's full of  stories so instead of just facts here's what it is   it's full of how this technology has  transformed people's lives and and the   way that this technology is used is so much more  powerful than just having fun um every image in   the book comes to life it's all um used through  augmented or virtual reality so everything's   interactive it's not just hey let me tell you  about it but you go and experience it firsthand   so scan this with this App and bam you're going to  see my book cover with the whale pop out of that   um screen and and come into your actual space  through augmented reality all of those things   are available throughout the book so that they're  not just hearing it they're seeing it themselves. That's really awesome oh my goodness I'm like I  feel like I'm in a classroom like taking notes   I'm learning about this but it is so awesome um  so I know that you do have a Twitter chat that   you do I think we a weekly correct um are there  like classroom settings um that you do with your   with your Twitter chat chat or what what is that?  Yeah I held off from doing the Twitter chat for   about a year initially because I knew that it  was a big commitment every week being available   um it is now going on year four and it has just been about community building and every week that   I do it it's almost like getting a little bit  of professional development for that 30 minutes   every Wednesday evening from 8 to 8:30 Central um I, you know people from around the world join   in and if they can't join in at that time they  can go back and check out the hashtag which   is a-r-v-r-i-n-e-d-u and they can go back in and  connect those dots you know even if they can't   join us live but the goal is oftentimes people say  well I started your chat and then I'm sorry I left   because I got so engaged with what  we were learning you know and I said   that is a win for me it's not about keeping you  there for that 30 minutes it's about inspiring you   to jump in and see how this can be a  tool that really transforms your learning   in the classroom so I it's really just a spark  it's it's just to one connect people with other   people there's no one person that knows it all  it really does take the community of saying hey   I ran into this anybody else how can we help  support one another and then the community   is phenomenal everybody jumps in no matter what  stage they're at they're willing to help support   teachers all over the world it's just it's really  about being connected and supporting one    another. That's so awesome so tell us how can we find you on Twitter to get involved into these   Twitter chats and also where can we pick up the book? Sure yeah so my first book is Learning   Transported and then the book that just came out  a few days ago yesterday I should say   is um the Immersive Classroom and my name is  spelled really funny uh first and last spelling so   you can find me on most social channels including  Twitter at j-a-i-m-e d-o-n-a-l-l-y so Jaimie   Donnally and um if you type in my name correctly  or you're going to be able to find me and connect   with me and right now actually this month I'm  doing an event called 31 days of AR VR and edu so   every day i'm doing a new blog post about a new  tool that's been revised or just released and   how you can go back and learn about that and and  I show a video I show an image I do step by step   every day in the blog so that people can just  jump in headfirst and um grow this month. That's awesome man this has been like like I feel  like I was back in school today I feel like I've   learned so much uh in the space of technology  and emerging this into our educational system   and how this can actually help teachers  as well it's been a pleasure Miss Jaimie,   thank you so much I appreciate the opportunity  likewise, I appreciate you for joining us today   and I want to know what would be the  future technology and education may   look like so we need to watch this space  thank you for joining us next time on IBS.

2021-04-19

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