Technology Integration: What I've Learned

As a 21st century educator it is best to understand that the future of our student’s success is in our hands. Technology will influence both what and how students learn and teachers teach (Schrum & Levin, 2009, p. 6). This course has allowed me to become exposed to so many different technological advances that can be used and incorporated into the classroom. I have learned that you don’t need top of the line technology and equipment to create for a successful technologically integrated classroom. There are so many different free websites out there such as Wordle, WebQuest’s, Wiki’s, virtual field trips, blogs and social media. My thinking about technology is that technology should supplement your lessons and not be used just for the sole purpose of saying you used technology. There should be a purpose for using technology and not every lesson taught will work best with technology. As many states are adapting to the Common Core State Standards it is important that teachers create a focus on using technology that incorporates classroom lessons aligned with state standards and expectations. Overall, it is clear by the research that web-based and online instruction is transforming the practice of teaching (Angel & Valanides, 2009; Talent-Runnels et al.,2006). Therefore, as a 21st century my progress of becoming a highly qualified educator must be taken upon myself to educate myself and collaborate with colleagues to learn what types of technological advances are best practice in the classroom. 

Citation

Angeli, C., & Valanides, N. (2009). Epistemological and methodological issues for the conceptualization, development, and assessment of ICT–TPCK: Advances in technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPCK). Computers & Education, 52(1), 154–168. 

Schrum, L., & Levin, B. B. (2009).  Leading 21st Century Schools: Harnessing Technology for Engagement and Achievement.  CA: Corwin. 

Equal Access to the Digital World

       According to the The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),  (National Dissemination Center for Children's with Disabilities , 2012); it ensures services to children with disabilities and they have the opportunity to receive a free appropriate public education, just like other children. Therefore, technically speaking it would be illegal to provide regular education students with access to technology and special education students no access. Depending on the severity of the special education student they may use the technology differently such as a way to communicate with others if they are non-verbal. Where as other students may use the iPad to play and learn through an interactive phonics game. In fact, there is a section on an Individualized Education Plan* that requires educators to describe any assistive technology devices that might benefit and enhance the learning of a child with special needs. 

All students are equal and have the same purpose in life: to go to school and learn and take what they have learned for use in their everyday life and future. This is a purpose for regular and special education students alike. 

* an IEP is the legal document that defines a child's special education program. An IEP includes the disability under which the child qualifies for Special Education Services (also known as his classification), the services the team has determined the school will provide, his yearly goals and objectives and any accommodations that must be made to assist his learning. 

Source(s): 

National Dissemination Center for Children's with Disabilities (2012, November ). Idea—the individuals with disabilities education act. Retrieved from http://nichcy.org/laws/idea

Morin , A. (n.d.). Iep- a definition . Retrieved from http://childparenting.about.com/od/schoollearning/a/IEP-Def.htm

Social Media

Although social media may seem like an unlikely concept for students in the elementary grades it can have a positive effect with the correct adult supervision. Social media can be used as an educational tool for teachers, parents and students.  It is important for student’s to understand the world around them at a young age. In doing so, introducing them (with adult supervision) to social media such as Twitter can introduce them to something beyond the classroom. One teacher explained, “the possibilities for students to learn in new and innovative ways can be endless-if you take the plunge and jump head first into the stream of real-time information” (Anderson, 2011). Social media can also be a great way to keep parents up to date on what is going on in the classroom.  A twitter account has been created for our classroom. Click the link below to take a peek! I will try my best to “tweet” important links, activities to try at home and updates on what is going on in the classroom.

Citation:

Anderson, S. (2011). The Twitter Toolbox for Educators. Teacher Librarian, 39(1), 27-30.

Twitter

Introduction to a WebQuest

A WebQuest is a teacher-designed lesson that uses the Internet for most of the information needed to solve problems posed by teachers for student inquiry (Schrum & Levin (2009) p. 83).

WebQuests are intended to be completed over the course of a few days. Although it is not impossible to complete a WebQuest in one day. Your child will be expected to complete the WebQuest over the course of a few days, perhaps even a week. Recently students have been introduced to the five senses in the classroom and in order to develop higher order thinking and problem solving students will create a WebQuest on the five senses. There are five components to a WebQuest. Each component will be introduced to the student and then completed as independently as possible without teacher assistance. The goal of the WebQuest is to use online sites that include audios, visuals and videos to learn more about each sense and what body part it is related to. The challenge or final product is for students to create a collage of images that they find online, in magazines or drawings that relates to each of the five senses. The WebQuest will be completed in school but the link will be available to reinforce the lessons learned so you may use it at home.

Citation:

Levin, B., & Schrum, L. (2009). Leading 21st century schools. (2 ed.). California : Corwin

The Five Senses of Spring Activity!

After discussing as a class the different things we can smell, hear, taste, see and touch in the spring time students completed this activity worksheet

My Five Senses

Student's were read the book, My Five Senses by Aliki to learn about the five senses.

Educational Value of Animoto

Animoto is a great tool for educators and students to create short videos that include pictures and music. The short video could be created and used by the educator to introduce a new topic that he/she will be teaching or it could be used as an informal assessment tool in which student’s would be required to create a short video at the culmination of a unit, lesson or chapter. Animoto is an engaging free online tool that  educator’s must introduce in the classroom and to their students. The website is easy to learn and use. The video’s are short yet satisfying, in which they can easily explain a topic in less than 30 seconds while engaging students by using visually stimulating photos and audio. Take a look at my Animoto that I created using the topic The Five Senses! 

 

 

Animoto- the Five Senses

Educational Value of Wordle

Wordle is a great online tool for teacher's to be introduced to. Wordle would be a great way for teacher's to get student's "hooked" on a lesson. All teachers want their students to be excited about the next unit, chapter, lesson, activity etc. and Wordle can create a great game for student's to guess what they might be learning next. Teachers could also use Wordle to informally assess students at the end of a unit, lesson, activity, chapter, etc. The students could create a Wordle with a certain amount of words that may specifically describe or re-iteratre a specific lesson. As a teacher I am always looking to implement new and creative ways to get student's engaged, and Wordle would do just that! The best part of Wordle is that it is free, fast to create, K-12 appropriate, easy to learn and learner-centered, which allows the student's to take responsibility in their own critical thinking and learning.  

Five Senses Wordle