Digital Blog Post #K - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

I think it’s important to integrate learning online because our students already spend a lot of time on the Internet. According to the Pew Research Center, around ninety three percent of teenagers (age 12-17) use the Internet every day (2012). The Internet is something that captures our attention and keeps it. Using websites and apps in the classroom would be efficient because we can already comfortably manage them.

I like how the teacher in the “Voices from the classroom” section uses images in his lesson. Images from the antebellum period show drunks and this adds more emphasis to the importance of the lesson. The teacher made a good point when he said that published images like that would cost money. The Internet allows free access to these images and does not take out of our school budget.

WebQuests are very engaging and create a more interesting lesson. Teachers design these WebQuests and guide students from one website to the next using a map or set of instructions. In my hypothetical English classroom, I would create an Edgar Allen Poe WebQuest. I would begin by saying “Welcome to the dark world of Edgar Allen Poe…” in the introduction. I would have the students work in groups of two and select a poem to analyze.  The website links would have images, articles, and video clips to help the students break their poem down. I would have the students make a PowerPoint presentation for the evaluation process.

In my World Geography class, I will use virtual field trips to expand my students’ knowledge of the world. The lesson could be about third world countries and we could “travel” to countries in Africa. Google Earth would show students what the terrain and buildings in some of the developing countries. This lesson is hands-on, collaborative, and integrates technology. This project would also encourage more “traveling” as some students may use Google Earth or virtual tours at home.

The majority of our students use the Internet every day. We are comfortable using these technologies and it is obvious that the Internet captures our attentions. Using these websites and apps as a tool for learning is important because using them is like second nature to us. Using these websites and apps for learning will equip students with research skills and keep them engaged. 

Resources: 

Alaimo, Avery (16 November, 2015). Digital Blog Post #K. Made 

   with https://magic.piktochart.com/editor/piktochart/9381396#

Giordano, Robert (2015). Welcome to Poe Stories. Design215. 16 November, 2015. Retrieved 

   from http://poestories.com/index.php

Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with                

    New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.

Pew Research Center (2015). Teen Facts Sheet. Pew Research Center. 16 November, 2015. 

   Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/teens-fact-sheet/

Digital Blog Post #J - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Assessments play an important role in both teacher and student worlds. New teachers are assessed by state tests, other teacher observations, and written assignments. As a future educator, I will assess my students by giving grades, report cards, and by providing written and oral feedback in order to make sure my students are learning the criteria. Student self-assessment is where students participate in reflecting on their own work. Assessments are performed so we can receive feedback and further student involvement.

The democratic school and classroom is where both students and teachers make the curriculum and classroom decisions. Students and teachers have to have thorough discussions about how the classroom will run. Many disagree with the democratic classroom because they claim that students are too immature to make those decisions. I like the idea of the democratic classroom even though I believe it’s easier said than done. With this system, students will be involved in their work and succession because they see more value in what they’re learning based on their own decisions.

I can integrate technology in my classroom by switching from paper portfolios to digital portfolios in a middle or high school classroom. In my opinion, digital portfolios are more appropriate for higher grade levels due to the tech skills the students will need to have. Weebly is a website that I would have my students use to upload images of their best work. If my classroom had its own set of computers, I could have my students do their bell work on their own blog every at the start of class. This would eliminate papers being turned in and make it easier to grade.

At the beginning of the school year, many teachers give preassessments to see what their students know and don’t know. Online surveys takes away the use paper and would engage the students more. I would ask them questions like “What is your preferred way to learn?” and “Would you like to continue to see more online surveys throughout the year?” I could also use online surveys in a political themed social studies project. Our class would follow the elections and compare our results to the real votes. This project would be very engaging while keeping my students up-to-date with the political world.

 As a future educator, I will need to reflect on my own work. After this, I can assess my students while thinking of new and engaging activities. Although I see some advantages to the democratic system, I would never consider it. Students need to be engaged in their assignments so they see the value and can reflect on it. Integrating technology assures that my students will develop tech skills, capture their attention, and help them reflect on their learning. 

Resources: 

Alaimo, Avery (8 November, 2015). Elections. Made with 

   https://create.kahoot.it/#survey/d0492561-7235-4325-a13d-035bb2465035

Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New   

   Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.

https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/d0492561-7235-4325-a13d-035bb2465035

Digital blog post #I - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 

 Lesson planning can be difficult for a teacher. We want to create engaging lessons that have obvious desired outcomes. I agree with Marilyn Rhames in her article “Lesson Planning: The Task I Love To Hate.” She explains that the hardest part about the teaching profession is lesson planning and that she must make her lessons clear and engaging (2012). Luckily, we have technology on our side to make lesson planning more bearable. Integrating technological resources also creates a more efficient and interactive classroom.

 I agree with the point made in the “Voices from the classroom” section of the text that technology enhances learning. Anyone can read text or listen to a lecture to understand the lesson given. Technology requires hands-on learning and therefore engages students. In my hypothetical social studies class, I would use an interactive world-wide map to enhance learning. My students would be able to locate and learn facts about any chosen country. For an assignment, I would have my students get into groups of two and choose any country they would like to research. Students would need to find what the flag looks like, language, culture(s), traditions, etc. After their research is completed, I would have them put their information into a PowerPoint presentation. My students used technology to enhance their learning, worked in cooperative groups, and advanced their tech skills.

 There are two types of lesson plans: student learning objectives and Understanding by Design (UDB). Lesson plans revolve around three types of learning: whole-group, small-group, and one-on-one instruction. Student learning objectives is where the outcomes of the lesson are planned and described, rather than explaining the activity itself. Student learning objectives describe who, what, when, how much, and how it will be evaluated. The ultimate goal of this type of lesson plan is to describe what the student can do after the lesson. Understanding by Design (UDB) is a reverse process of student learning objectives. First you recognize the desired learning outcomes, then determine what strategies are used, and last is to plan the experiences and methods being used.

 In the “Tech Tools 4.1” section of the text, there are many resources that help make lesson planning easier. National History Education Clearinghouse (NHEC) can be used for my social studies class. NHEC is a great resource that has open discussion boards, lesson plans that you can customize, and state-by-state history standards. I especially like Annenberg learner because it has lesson plans, videos, and interactive activities. When you click on Interactives  you can see all of the interactive activities. The audiences are for both students and teachers. I also found that some links lead you to other useful links. My lesson plan is an app that allows teachers to customize pre-made templates and modify them to fit a school’s requirements. iBooks is a convenient and easy app to use because teachers can download any book and other reading materials. I like iBooks because of the easy-access and I could let my students read from it if they had spare time, instead of going to the library.

 Yes, creating lesson plans can be stressful, and even more stressful because our classroom revolves around them. We want to make creative and attention grabbing lessons that satisfy every students different needs. The lesson should be clear and you should be able to identify the desirable outcome of that lesson plan. Technology allows easier lesson plan making with websites that contain videos, pre-made templates, discussion boards, interactive activities, and other helpful links.

Resources:

Alaimo, Avery (1 November, 2015). Digital Blog Post #I. Made with https://prezi.com/your/

Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New  Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.

Rhames, Marilyn (2012). "Lesson Planning: The Task I Love to Hate." Editorial 

   Projects in Education. 1November, 2015. 

   Retrieved from http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/charting_my_own_course/201

   2/05/lesson_planning_the_task_   i_love_to_hate.html