Reflections 6714

As I began to reflect on taking the course called Reaching and Engaging All Learners Through Technology, I am so elated that I had the opportunity to enhance my teaching practices by learning new instructional strategies to incorporate into my class. I have more insight about how students learn best and I have gained skills that will help me with modifying instructions to meet the needs of my students. I realize now that lessons should be planned so that the visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners can have the opportunity to perform activities that will help them master course content. When students enter my class, I will create surveys so that I will be informed of students learning styles and those essentials skills that students possess prior to taking my class.

I have explored advanced technology such as creating wikis, participated in social networking groups, used voicethread software and utilized various multimedia applications which will be beneficial in assisting students with learning complex content information. I know how to integrate technology into my instructions to help make learning more relevant, fun and meaningful. Technology is a powerful tool that give teachers the flexibility to adjust instructions so that all students will be able learn the curriculum in ways that best suits their learning style.

While taking this course, I was introduced to two instructional strategies that will transform my teaching practices. The first strategy was differentiating instructions which is a concept that I was very familiar however I had never imagine learning more in-depth information about how this strategy could improve student achievement in my class. I realize that differentiating instructions will allow my students to be creative, improve their literacy’s skills, and increase student’s knowledge about key concepts while keeping then engaged in the lesson. According to Dr. Rose, the brain is divided into three areas which are recognition, strategic, and affective networks (Laureate, 2009). When I differentiate lessons, I will plan activities that will allow students to utilize all three areas of the brain so students can learn more effectively while utilizing a range of skills.

The other strategy is UDL (Universal Design for Learning) which provided me with the fact that student has their own unique characteristics of determining how they learn. “Universal design for learning suggests that instruction can be designed and implemented for students with diverse learning styles, preferences, abilities, and motivation,” (Cennamo & Erthmer, 2009) I  will implement UDL to create a stimulating environment where students are working to their full potential while connecting to content information. I will give students more options to learn key concepts because it is important that students demonstrate their knowledge and skills through various methods.  I realize that students will have different interests, talents, and academics level so it is the teacher’s responsibility to provide students with multiple learning tools that will enhance their knowledge.

In summary, I have been introduced to a wealth of information that will help me improve both personally and professionally. I have collaborated and share ideas, thoughts, and strategies with educators globally. This dialogue has been very pivotal because I was able to gain knowledge from expert educators on strategies that they will be implemented into  my instructions to help students improve in areas that they find challenging while providing strategies to stretch student’s learning. I understand how students learn best, what tools to implement to assist with learning the process, how to implement a variety of learning tools so that all students will retain and apply the knowledge taught in class. I realize that I must constantly stay abreast of new methodology, pedagogy and technology advances so that I will prepare my students  to become successful 21^st century learners.

References

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use: A Standards-Based Approach.  (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Reaching and engaging all learners through technology. Baltimore: Author

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Brain Research and Universal Design for Learning [Motion picture]. Reaching and engaging all learners through technology. Baltimore: Author.

REFLECTION

I am so elated that I have taken the course called Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society. This course has allowed me the opportunity to broaden my knowledge about how to integrate technology lessons into my curriculum to help enhance my instructions. I will use the Internet, blogs, wikis, and pod cast as instructional tools to assist students with learning content knowledge in my course.  These instructional tools will be used to extend student’s knowledge and skills as it relate to content, to differentiate instructions so that lessons will include all learning styles and to show students that learning can be fun yet meaningful.  I now have more insight about how to create lessons that will promote 21^st century skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills. I understand that today students do learn differently so as the teacher I must be constantly seeking opportunities to include various lessons that will stimulate students to want to excel in the classroom. Students tend to be more engaged in class when they can participate in activities that will allow them to seek solutions to real life problems. I will be seeking more opportunities to participate in technology workshops so that I can stay abreast of the latest advance technology. I will also stay inform with the current trends and practices of local businesses so that I will be preparing students to meet the demands of the society. (Dede, 2010) 

The role of the 21^st century teacher has changed because no longer is the focus teacher-centered it has shifted to a student-centered classroom. A student-centered classroom is one where the students grasp concepts by learning how to think independently, knows how to use the latest technology to research and retrieve information and then collaborate with their peers to share their ideas.  My role as the teacher is to guide students through the learning process giving them the chance to explore innovative technology, work in groups to analyze and synthesize situations and to communicate their knowledge to the class.

One goal that I would like to do is to transform my classroom environment where students have the opportunity to incorporate technology to demonstrate their mastery of concepts in class.  Students will be involved in cooperative learning groups where they will have the task of solving real life problems.
In Skills for the 21st Century, Dr. Dede shares about collaboration with each other in the workforce and why it is so important that those skills are taught (Laureate Education Inc., 2008). Students will be using various technologies for example posting to blogs to share new concepts, reflecting on concepts so that I can assess what they have learned, and communicating with their peers to reinforce key concepts. When creating my lesson plans, I will have a technology section that will include weekly activities that will allow students the opportunity to use the latest technology to complete lessons in class.  When I learn how to use different types of technology, I will share this information with my colleagues and I will continue to use the Internet to seek the latest pedagogy and use educational blogs, websites, social networking groups to stay inform of information that will enhance my teaching practices.

I would also like to accomplish setting up classroom workstations where students will have the opportunity to use web cams, PDAs, digital cameras, blogs, wikis, pod casting and Skype to assist them with learning content information. The stations would focus on academic areas such as vocabulary, complex content information, demonstration of software application and problem based projects . This would also allow students that chance to use different kinds of learning tools. I know that I would have to do extensive planning to include lessons that would require students to use a variety of advanced technology however students would benefit from being engaged in a productive and creative learning environment. I would make sure that I have permission from all stakeholders including the central office, students, parents, and school administration to use some of these learning tools. I am fortunate to have several of the input devices already in my class so the only technology that I would have to inquire about funding would be the use of Skype. I would also have student-led conferences where students would demonstrate to their parents how to use different technology.  Students would be responsible for sharing how they use these devices in class by displaying or presenting their work. These conferences can be held during PTSA (Parent, Teachers, and Student Association) meetings and parent conference night which meets on a monthly basis. This would create a positive environment for the teacher, student, and parent.

When I  reflect on the first week of class, I recall that my expectations of this course was to gain knowledge about powerful instructional tools that I would be able to incorporate into my class to impact student achievement. I was able to gain strategies that will help transform my classroom to one where students are active participants in their own learning. I was introduced to several  technology strategies that will help me share valuable content information. I now have a wealth of knowledge that will help me become a more effective teacher. My goal is for students to  leave my class knowing that their  learning experience  has prepare them to enter the workplace with the essential skills necessary so that they will be able to compete with students globally.

References:

Dede, C. (2010). “The Changing Work Environment: Part 2” [video]. Laureate Education.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). Program eleven: Skills for the 21st Century. [DVD]. In Walden University: Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society. Baltimore: Author.

Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (n.d.). A report and mile guide for 21st century skills. Washington DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/downloads/P21_Report.pdf (26, September, 2010).

Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Chapter 4, "Wikis: Easy Collaboration for All", California: Corwin.

Technology Interview

Students in grades 10-12 share how technology has affected their lives.
http://graduatestudent.podbean.com/mf/web/8w3tmw/technology_3_1.mp3

Evaluating 21st-Century Skills

After exploring the Partnership for 21^st Century skills document, I have found that today, teachers across the nation are expected to be preparing students to meet the demands of the 21^st Century. Schools are partnering with the business community and policy makers to ensure that all students will be productive citizen and workers that will possess essential skills needed in the 21^st century.   The 21^st century standards focuses on teaching students how to thinking creatively, work collaboratively, and use innovative technology.  Teachers must modify their instructions to incorporate more activities that will allow students to hone their communications skills both written and verbally and implement more real-life problem based solving activities to help improve student critical thinking skills. Schools are requiring teachers to align their curriculum according to the 21^st century so that students will be better preparing when they enter the workforce.

This website allowed me to broaden my knowledge about each state  requirement for the 21^st Century and it familiarize me with the programs that states have implemented to help educators  prepare students to compete with others globally. In North Carolina there are three key ongoing 21^st century initiatives that have been created to ensure that all teachers have available resources, knowledge, and skills to prepare students for this era. The first is a “Learn and Earn” programs where students can earn a high school diploma and finish with two years of college or an associate degree with no cost to the students.  The second initiative is The North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey, where teachers are asked to complete at the end of each year.  This survey provides important data so that state educators can help strengthen and improve the learning environment in schools.  I will share with my co-workers that importance of completing this survey and the impact that it can have on the teaching profession. Lastly, there is a graduation project that requires high school students to demonstrate what they know and are able to do as a result of their cumulative education.  This project helps students to develop ideas for discovering an interest about a topic that relates to the 21^st Century Skills and it also encourages business partners to participate in student job shadowing.

I think that the website could have provided more detail information of how teachers can include 21^st Century Skills into their curriculum. They could have provided sample lessons that teachers have created according to grade level and subject area. This would be beneficial to teachers because it would give examples of a lesson that incorporate a variety of 21^st century skills.  I notice that a lot of the information was repetitious.  It was good to know that if teachers want to get involve with the 21^st Century skills initiatives that they can participate in P21's collaboration which is a Leadership States that serves to ensure 21st century readiness for every student. I know that my students will benefit from me gaining more knowledge about the 21^st Century Skills standards.  I will make sure that I stay abreast of the 21^st Century changes in my state, so that I can be inform of the new pedagogy, methodology and advance technology which will help improve my teaching practices. I now realize the importance of creating rich learning experience for my students so that they will be able to transition to a higher institution of learning or into the real world.

Reference:

Partnership for 21^st Century Skills (2004) www.P21.org

Utilizing Blogs in the Classroom

I am a high school business education teacher and I teach 10^th and 11^th grade students in Computer Applications II.  I would like to implement web blogs in this course to help students master new concepts that are taught in this class.  When, I introduce  new concepts, I provide students with essential questions so that they will know the specific skills and knowledge that I expect them to  master at the end of each objective.  I would use blogs as an assessment tool for students to share what they had learned about a particular objective and then address any challenges that they may have encounter.  Students would have an opportunity to use blogs to reflect  on knowledge and skills that they  have learned and it can be archive so that  parents  and other stakeholders can view information at later time. Blogs would be an excellent strategy to implement to  help students improve their content knowledge, writing, reading and critical thinking skills. Blog topics can vary from  technology advances, course content, student issues or class projects so this create an environment  where students are engaged in the learning process. Blogs can be used in all subjects regardless of the content area and that makes this tool so powerful.

 After watching the video this week of Mrs. Martin’s class using blogs, I am so elated  that I  now have insight on how incorporating blogs into my  instruction can help students become more active participant in their own learning.  Hearing comments from students stating “ that using blogs are fun,” “you learn better,” “it helps me to determine whether I am on the right track”, prove to me that this is a highly effective educational tool.  Using blogs to respond to problem based activities would allow students to communicate with the teacher and their peers.  This would create an opportunity for students to learn from others and to share information that they have  grasp about key topics.  Students enjoy displaying their work so the blogs would help to motivate students to do their very best because they know that their writings can be viewed by the public.

Resources:

Laureate Education(2010), Video “Spotlight on Technology: Blogging in the Classroom” with

Toffler, A.(1980). Blogging in the Classroom. The third wave. New York: Bantam Books.