Reflection: Technology Standards

Technology has changed our world, as a teacher, I need to create a learning environment that takes my students out of the classroom and into the world.  In order to do this I need to be more than just competent with technology.  The Technology Standards for Teacher establish a foundation on which to grow.  As stated in the standards, is my responsibility, as an educator of digital-age students to “engage in professional growth and leadership.”

I am already far behind my students.  In the past year the have shown me how to use my Iphone and my Ipad.  These students have grown up with this technology and they use it everyday.  I will spend this summer vacation looking for online resources to share with my students. 

I am still having issues with my blog.  Last night, I lost two postings; I wasn’t able to upload my video or my power point presentation.  How can be expected to share the world with my students when I can’t share my own work in this blog?

http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008.aspx

Practice Questions

My students have an open notes test once a month in Science.  The test covers the notes that they have taken in class and the discussion questions at the end of the chapter.  The answer to every test question is in their notes; however, they still have a hard time getting a passing grade on the tests.  I am going to have my students ‘play’ the Question and Answer game.  They will use their notes to create practice questions for another student.  I will have them create their questions on the computer and email them to another student and that student will email them their practice questions.   They will answer each others questions and email their answers back to the creator and send a copy to me.  This is a good activity for students.  It makes them responsible for their learning, teaches them how to create a study guide for themselves and it gives them two additional opportunities for them to review their notes before taking the tests.

Questions Developed for Article:

“If I Teach This Way Am I Doing My Job” Questions

1. Knowledge: Define constructivist theory.
2. Comprehension: Describe how teachers can encourage their students’ inquiries by asking thoughtful open-ended questions.
3. Application: Describe the constructivist theory used in the classroom.
4. Analysis: Compare and contrast a constructivist versus a traditional classroom approach.
5. Synthesis: Using Elizabeth’s methods of teaching history, how would you apply her approach to your own class curriculum?
6. Evaluation: How would you defend the constructivist approach to individuals, such as your faculty members, into accepting this new way over the traditional approach to teaching?

Questions Answered about the assigned Article:

Question: E.S. & A.B.

           

1.      Knowledge: How would you define Learning?

Learning is a process of accommodation, assimilation, or rejection to construct new conceptual structures, meaningful representations, or new mental models.

2.     Comprehension: Identify two of the four stages of Jean Piagets stages of development?

Sensorimotor stage, pre-operational stage, concrete operational stage, and formal operational stage.

3.     Application: What does Piaget mean by disequilibrium?

Piaget means that if learners do not experience a challenge to their belief systems or understanding, then the potential for intellectual growth will not be reached.

4.     Analysis: Compare and contrast the Traditional Transmission Model to the Learner Centered environment?

In the traditional transmission model: teacher has complete control of the class, learning is done via rote memory, software developer determines what information is displayed, and learning occurs in short set amount of time.

In the learner centered environment: students are in charge of their learning, instructor acts as a facilitator, interactive process, learner discovers information, and learning is a continuous process

5.     Synthesis: Why is it important for children to think “outside the box”?

It is important for children to think outside the box because you are encouraging them to look at situations in a unique and different way. You are also helping build their critical and abstract thinking. Furthermore, it helps them to think about how they are thinking about something (i.e. metacognition). Learning is an ongoing process and continues to build on previous knowledge.

6.     Evaluation: Evaluate the effectiveness of Piaget’s theory?

RubiStar Rubrics

One of the classes I teach is Study Skills.  In this class, I am able to work with students in small groups pre-loading or re-teaching new concepts and helping students get started on their homework.  Normally, I create a rubric for the students that explain how they will be graded for this class.  Next year, I will have them use RubiStar to help create a rubric for their group.  They will be able to chose the categories that they feel are important the so that they have a better understanding what is expected of them in Study Skills and better understanding what they did or didn’t do to get the grade they received. I am hoping that this will create a greater level of ‘buy-in’ from the students.
(I don't know how to format this Rubric so that it fits on the page.)

EXAMPLE OF RUBRIC: Teacher Name: Maria BiggsLynch
GROUP Name:     _____
CATEGORY	3	2	1	0
Time-management	Routinely uses time well throughout the project to ensure things get done on time. Group does not have to adjust deadlines or work responsibilities because of this person\'s procrastination.	Usually uses time well throughout the project, but may have procrastinated on one thing. Group does not have to adjust deadlines or work responsibilities because of this person\'s procrastination.	Tends to procrastinate, but always gets things done by the deadlines. Group does not have to adjust deadlines or work responsibilities because of this person\'s procrastination.	Rarely gets things done by the deadlines AND group has to adjust deadlines or work responsibilities because of this person\'s inadequate time management.
Focus on the task	Consistently stays focused on the task and what needs to be done. Very self-directed.	Focuses on the task and what needs to be done most of the time. Other group members can count on this person.	Focuses on the task and what needs to be done some of the time. Other group members must sometimes nag, prod, and remind to keep this person on-task.	Rarely focuses on the task and what needs to be done. Lets others do the work.
Prepared for Class	Brings books, assignments, agenda, pencil, paper and ready to complete homework/classwork.	Missing one item necessary to complete homework/classwork.	Missing 2-3 items necessary to complete homework/classwork	Not prepared
Student Choice
Student Choice
Student Choice

Podcast

This year many of the sixth grader teachers at my school have chosen to use Reader Theater is classroom.  The teachers have the students break into small groups, choose parts, practice their lines during the class for two or three days and perform the play in front of the class.  I would like to have my students use garage band to create a podcast of their rehearsals in order to improve their classroom performances.  This would give them an opportunity to listen to how they speak their lines.  They could hear if they were they speak too fast, where they need to add inflection in their voice, and it will give them the opportunity to make to develop the character.   This would also have a significant impact on my students’ fluency and comprehension.

I can also use podcasts during my poetry unit.  My students are required to select a poem to memorize and recite in front of the class. I could extend this assignment by having the students to create a podcast of their poetry reading. This would help the students work on the rhythm of the poem.  Give them a chance to hear how they sound and give them the practice that they need in order to feel more at ease standing in front of the class.  As they start to create their own poems, they can use their podcasts to listen to their poems.  This would allow them to listen to their poems to determine how they could edit it.

Every week, we have Current Events in the Classroom.  A group of five students are asked to create a newscast.  Each student is assigned a category: Local, Sports, National, Weather, and Entertainment.  They are given 15 minutes every day to work together on the news cast and then on Friday, they report the news to the class.  If the students created a podcast of their newscast, then they would be able to listen to their performance and determine what they need to work on for their next performance and further develop their communication skills.

( I don't think that I can upload a podcast to this blog.  I did drop a copy of my podcast in your dropbox during class.)

Inspiration

Inspiration is a wonderful program that allows students and teachers to create mind maps in order to enhance planning/learning.  In the sixth grade, students are required to write at least three persuasive essays.  Most of the sixth grade teachers at my school use the same format for writing a persuasive essay.  I would like to use the Inspiration software to create a visual image of this persuasive essay format. I have my students type their responses in the bubbles and use their mind map while writing their essay.  I have included an example of my thoughts on why dogs make the better pet.  The first essay that they will be required to write in Mr. Olenak’s sixth grade class is “What Makes the Best Pet: a Dog or a Cat?”

Reflection: Assistive Technology

I have a student in my class who wears a hearing aid in the classroom.  It is my responsibility to make sure that his FM system in charged and ready for his general education teachers every morning.  The teacher attaches the microphone to her shirt so that the student can hear her lecture.

 I have another student who uses a speech-to-text program.  With this program, the student is able to speak into the microphone and her words are typed on the computer screen.   With teacher support, she is able to make changes and edit her thoughts. 

Many of my students use the text-to-speech software which will read any text including online textbooks, internet websites and Ebooks.  The student highlights the section of the paper that they want read, push enter and the section is read to them.

The general education teachers have copies of their class notes posted on their websites.  If a student is absent or if the student was able to copy all of the notes during class, when they can access the notes from home and finish copying them. 

Students who have issues with handwritten assignments have access to Alphasmarts in their general education classroom.  The screen on the Alphasmart is small and only shows the words that they are typing so they can focus on their writing and don’t get distracted like they do with the computer screen.  When they finish their assignments, I connect it to the computer, and they have an opportunity to format and edit their work. 

 Internet Public Library, http://www.ipl.org/  has links to books, newspapers, references, activities and games for children and teen as well as resources for parents and teacher. 

"If the child is not learning the way you are teaching, then you must teach in the way the child learns"
                                                                                                                                          - Rita Dunn

Reflection: Ideas, Methods and Skills

I started compiling a list of all of the ideas, methods and skills that I was taking away from this course and how I would use them in my teaching and realized that there are an endless number of possibilities.  I decided to create a mind map using my free trial of Inspiration 9 to organize my thoughts.