The National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETSŸS) were designed for student engagement and improvement in learning. To improve content area learning via the use of technology, I am concentrating on:
Standard 2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experience and Assessments
Indicator a. - Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.
And
Standard 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Indicator b. - Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.
My goal to strengthen my proficiency in these two indicators is to plan my lessons as usual, but enhance them with technology (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010). For instance, when I am teaching measurement my goal will be to Skype with a foreign country class that uses the metric system as their means of everyday measurement. This collaboration and problem solving between classes will, hopefully, benefit each class to better understand the metric system and the U.S. standard units of measure. Additionally, I would like to use Google Sketch up to have my class cooperatively design a community using various 3D shapes when studying geometry. My progress will be determined by the growth of my students in the aforementioned areas of math. I will evaluate my actions through self -reflection and anecdotal notes and I will further extend my learning through professional development and collaborating with colleagues.
Two indicators that I feel confident in are both in Standard 5- Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership. They are: Indicator a. Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning and Indicator b. Exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others. I feel confident in these areas because I have taken numerous technology workshops and classes and have taught my colleagues and others what I have taken away from these courses.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Program 3: Enriching content area learning experiences with technology part1 [DVD]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Author.
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved on September 13, 2011 from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx
Nadia,
ReplyDeleteI really like your ideas for incorporating more technology into your classroom. Skype is a great way for students to understand how others are similar and different because it allows face to face conversations and is a much more real setting for students than talking in a hypothetical sense about the metric system.
I had never heard of google sketchup before I read your blog post. I looked it up, and this looks like a fantastic tool to use with students learning about 3D design and geometry. When I looked further, I found a google sketchup site area for educators. In this area, teachers can discuss with each other, find tutorials on using the program, and look for or submit lesson plans. I like the idea of a educator community that is established to help each other out with a specific technology tool! I will have to try this with my students this year. Thanks for posting this!
Hi Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post. I hope using Skype goes as planned. My students have such a difficult time with the metric system compared to the US standard measures. Hopefully, by collaborating with students their age that use the metric system daily will give them some insight and better understanding. I was introduced to Google Sketch Up at a tech workshop that I attended. It looks like a program that will motivate and engage my class. I can't wait to use it.