EEND-678 Effective Technology Integration into Lessons & Curriculum

Reflecting on the initial weeks of this course enables

me to look deeper into my teaching practice.
Structured collaboration encompasses shared research and design.
Each member of the team has a designated job.
In second grade, this took on shared research by teams of
three and four students to study a research topic of choice.

Problem Based Learning follows steps in the procedure as well.

But it focuses on a problem to be solved. Students are expected

to solve it in a couple of weeks.

Project Based Learning is a long-term project with the content

learning within the project. It is a real-world problem students need

to solve in a creative and authentic way. Through researching a topic,

the students answer to the standards, and then present

their finds with a speech, graphic poster or a written paper.

   

Next steps was developing a Problem Based Unit implementing Wiggins and Tighe’s UBD model. Developing a multiple units outline enabled me to research websites that second graders will be able to manage on their own and create an answer to an essential question. It is through this outline that I grew as an educator to discover more applications available to students. Once I learned to use them myself, I realized it was far easier to teach my students how to use them than I realized. Fear of the unknown kept me from best practice. I am happy to say, no more. I now embrace the discoveries and the learning, and then pass it on to the 21st century learners in my classroom.

However, initials steps must be taken to

support the classroom and all who are

in it as well as the technology that resides

within the four walls as well. And this begins

with responsibility with the equipment.

Students must understand and respect

the property. Thus Infographics and contracts

are a must.

ClassroomTechnologyContractKeepstudentsaccountableyourtechnologysafe

    

But the very first step is to obtain what you need in the classroom. And sometimes, you have to ask. One way is to write a grant. It can be daunting. It can be done as a team, probably best. However, it can be done alone. iPads.

In the end, I feel I take away learning from my colleagues. With the variety of ability levels in technology, i was able to investigate what was brought forth in discussions. With this set of tools, I felt a deeper understanding of what i was able to accomplish and will continue to move forward personally and professionally. I thank you all.

678 Resources

With so many resources offered to me, I had to grasp my favorites that guided me through this technological adventure. I will continue to develop myself in best practice strategies. With this expertise, my students will be enabled to continue their education as 21 century learners. Below you will find tools I introduced into the second grade classroom. Students used these tools to learn from, as well as to teach their peers.

Gold Standard for PBL

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/what-heck-project-based-learning-heather-wolpert-gawron

Grant Wiggins UBD Part 1

Part 2

FLIPPED LEARNING

http://www.jonbergmann.com/mastery-simplified-five-tips-to-make-mastery-a-reality/

https://www.educreations.com/

Blendspace

Padlet

Using Playlists to Differentiate Instruction    https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/student-playlists-differentiation/

EEND 677 Reflections

Murray Foubister www.flickr.com

Reflecting on the experiences of my adventures 

in Educational Technology Tools, I have had 

an incredible journey. I have learned how to 

design a blog page, create a book trailer, 

venture deeper into G-Suites than I had in the 

past and more. I discovered applications on my 

computer that I had NEVER considered dabbling 

with before. Now I have discovered that garage 

band ain't just for makin' music, Martha! 

The app was quite useful in creating a voice 

recording of the audio of a short story. 

And the editing process quite clear after a 

trial run . . . or three.

Take a listen to the audio clip of Penguins!

 

And Google drawing, my nemesis no longer! Working with it and finding inspirational illustrations, I was able to create a wonderful graphic that challenged anything I had created in Powerpoint or google slides. Experimentation was the key. Let go of the end goal. Dabble with the tools to see what will happen, and then begin the final design.

    

 Which then transitioned to a screencast to 

teach  second graders

  

How to Draw a Penguin in Antartica 

  using Google drawing.

                                                 
                          

I took advantage of what I had learned and integrated pieces from the classroom room to a blog page for parents. Take a look at 

    

Tuxedos and Little Blue Fairies.

Educational Technology is so much fun and loaded with creativity! Introducing a couple of the technology tools of this class into my second grade classroom has engaged students whom otherwise may not have turned in assignments. I wasted no time integrating technology into the ongoing Penguin unit. I was also instrumental in introducing Padlet for students to post evidence from a text to allow peers ongoing conversation via an online bulletin board. And Padlet enabled the integration of iPads into the instructional day once again. Now my second graders understand how to use laptops as well as iPads and the have an educator who is far more comfortable and capable of teaching more multimedia tools in the classroom.  

Graphics

Incorporating graphic design is a valuable addition to the classroom because it is a quick intro into a unit. It can also serve as an invaluable tool for ESL students and non-readers to “read” the pictures to increase comprehension. Visuals are a quick path to the identification of information. The visuals also serve well in memory retrieval when students are answering formative and summative assessments.

With the advent of video games, new generations are far more visual and auditory. To better support students, it is important to add visuals to all academic vocabulary. Posters demonstrating math processes as well as scientific processes will enhance learning. It is important to that we use the best techniques and strategies in teaching students. Offering options for student responses is another aspect of supporting students in the classroom. Instead of written responses, labeled illustrations, diagrams and photos can be used as a substitute to support all elements of learning.

A final consideration is typography used succinctly. Key words using a simply typeface is far more legible than complete sentences. Also, what adults should consider too, is that the brain processes black, white and red with clarity and speed. We learn this as new parents to stimulate infant brain development. The same is true for the growing minds of students. Bold face type, as well as italics, signals to the reader that the author wants you to PAY ATTENTION to THESE SPECIFIC WORDS. The author is shouting to get you attention without making a sound. Typography is a powerful tool that everyone can use to communicate clearly.