KSP619 - Interdisciplinary Technology Integration Lesson Plan

For my interdisciplinary lesson plan, I am combining Social Studies with a Historical Fiction Writing assignment.  Students will create a video blog (Vlog) for an important figure from the Revolutionary War.

Here is the link to my lesson plan.

KSP619 - Semester Technology Goal Review

The below text is also available in an audio format. Click HERE to listen.

My Goal: 

Expand my technology toolbox and find creative ways to integrate technology into my lessons in a way that enhances my students learning.

Did you accomplish your goal? Why or why not?

Yes.  I accomplished my goal.  I have added so many tools to my tool belt this semester.  I have used these tools to create lessons that are meaningful and relevant to my students. I have examined my previous use of technology in my classroom and found that, on occasion, I was using technology simply for the sake of using technology.  It really served no purpose and didn't fulfill a well-defined objective.

That being said, I truly think that any experience with technology benefits my students by simply providing them with an intangible comfort level and curiosity.  If you lack this comfort and curiosity you will find yourself trapped behind a very large barrier to digital literacy.

What else do you feel you need to learn and/or understand to be a stronger instructional technology professional?

I would love more high-quality practical application examples. There is so much information and so many technology integration lesson plan ideas available but it takes so much time to find a truly great one.

KSP667 - Week 10 Reflection

Assembling my semester’s work on my digital portfolio made me realize how much I have learned this semester.  I think about technology from a different view now.  I am just as gung ho about integrating it in my classroom but I need to take a step back and make sure my methods are aligned with my objectives.  These objectives will likely be driven by both 21st-century skills and state standards.  

I found that assessing the use of technology in my classroom needs to take into consideration whether my objective is based on digital skills or on the content they are learning about - or both.  I think we expect our students to do well both but often don’t define the technology expectations for their work.

While there wasn’t anything truly new to me in this semester’s content I definitely refined my understanding of technology integration.  Thinking about next year where I will have 1:1 devices in my classroom will make my lessons quite different.  I need to make sure technology use is enhancing and not just replacing.

Many teachers think that simply giving their student a device is integration and I know differently.  I don’t want my students to become word processors or digital scrapbookers

KSP619 - Technology Beliefs & Philosophy Revision

The text below is also available in an audio format.  Click HERE to listen.

Technology Beliefs:

Do you view technology and technology integration any differently?

I wouldn't say I view technology integration differently.  I started out as a huge fan and I am still a huge fan.  I would say that I understand how to use a wider variety of technology tools in my classroom now.  The question I hear from colleagues the most, in relation to technology, is "how will I find the time?"  Well, I have found the time through this class.

Are you more confident in your abilities to use, implement and teach with technology?

I was pretty confident beforehand!  I love technology.  My previous career was in computer forensics and data management.  I taught a whole lot of technology to a whole lot of people while doing that.  I would say I am more excited than ever.  I have been working on my districts "Flexible Learning Cohort" this semester to create an anywhere/anytime, self-paced math curriculum that will be implemented next year. I have been told by the district tech person that I have "badass" technology skills. Yep, it is true. I do.

Have you seen any improvement in your technology skills?

I would say my repertoire is more extensive now. I was pretty digitally literate coming into this class.  Now I am just excited to spread the love at my school!

Philosophy Revision:

What changes or adjustments would you make to the document?

I reread my philosophy and I truly feel that it is still exactly what I want to say.  It expresses my beliefs quite thoroughly.

Why would you make those changes?

None.

KSP667 - Work Product Critique

After compiling all of the work product I have done over the course of this semester I am amazed.  I am quite proud of what I have accomplished, especially if you consider I am a full time teacher too!

One thing I wish I had done differently was creater more inforgraphics. For some of the assignments I used tables or charts when I could have created something so much more interesting.  I use the phrase "phone it in" with my students to describe those moments when they are only giving it the minimum and I can tell when I did that.  Not that my goal was ever to do the minimum, it is just that some weeks I had less time than others. This showed in a couple of my assignments.

I am excited about the variety of tools and applications I was able to explore this semester.  I told a friend that my Ed Tech classes are like paying for the privilege of "playing" with toys I love! In my "real-life" I just don't have the time to do the exploration I would like.  This class gives me that chance!  And the result is fantastic.

KSP667 - Week 9 Reflection - Digital Literacy & the Digital Divide

Digital Divide is a term used to describe the “haves and have-nots” in respect to access to digital devices and connectivity.  This divide is caused by several different things.  The first, and most pronounced, cause is socio-economic.  There are areas in our country that are so rural that there is no possibility of internet connectivity.  

Examining the Digital Divide without also looking at Digital Literacy would be like cutting off one of your hands.  The two really go hand in hand.  If you are a member of an older generation you may not put technology at the top of your priority list and therefore could cause you to not be as “connected” as others around you.  If you have children living in the home you are creating the “divide” for them by not supplying these tools.

Watching the video about the Digital Natives made me anxious.  I am a 47 year old woman and therefore apparently a Digital Immigrant.  My response to this is a passionate NO!  I have embraced technology since it first became available to me. I had a computer with a 128 MB hard drive - which was HUGE at the time.  I have always been on the cutting edge of technology.  I bought one of the first digital cameras and blogged on my GeoCities account - using dial-up no less!  

It frustrates me when gross generalizations like this put out there.  I understand that there may be an underlying truth to it in many cases but please don’t clump me in!!

KSP667 - Digital Divide - Graphic & Discussion

This week we focused on the Digital Divide.  This is the term used to describe the varying degrees of access students have to digital devices and internet.  The infographic below shows our findings.  The link is to a Google Doc containing resources and additional information.

This is a link to our discussion and planning.  Our sources are listed here.

KSP619 - Podcast - 1:1 Device Rollout

Image courtesy of http://edutechniques.com/

This week my group created a professional development podcast. Our podcast focused on rolling out 1:1 devices in the classroom. We had a great deal of fun creating the script and recording this.  After about 12 takes we finally got one we liked!  I am certain none of us will ever win any awards for acting!

Here is the link to the script for our podcast.

Here is the link to the audio file for our podcast.

KSP667 - Week 8 Reflection - Gamification, Polling, Clipping, & Mind Mapping

Symbaloo Logo

The focus of this week was gamification, bookmarking, clipping, mindmapping, and polls.  

I truly didn’t think I had any experience with gamification until last semester when my Introduction to Education Technology professor formatted her class as a game.  It had levels and Easter eggs - just like online games.  I loved the format because it provided a work at your own pace environment. Since I tend to be a learner who needs to build momentum and then keep going this worked out really well for me. I could see it working well for some of my fifth grade students as well. Based on this discovery I actually built two writing units this year that provided my students with an anywhere/anytime learning experience.  They were able to work at their own pace and work on it anywhere they wanted to.  It worked out beautifully.  I realize this wasn’t a “game” type situation but it was as close as I could get in my 5th grade room.

Coggle It - Mind Mapping Tool

I do use Khan Academy for my math students.  This provides a gaming atmosphere where they can earn badges and move up levels.  The kids love it.  

For our Yammer posts this week we shared bookmarking, clipping, polling, and mind mapping applications. I shared Symbaloo, Coggle, and ClipChoose.  These are three tools that I haven’t used but want to.  They are on my radar for next year! 

KSP667 - Twitter Lesson Plan

This week I created a lesson plan that utilized Twitter.  Because my students are in fifth grade I created a fake Twitter template where they can create a Twitter page for a Revolutionary War figure.

Here is the link to my Twitter Lesson Plan.

KSP619 - Digital Story Lesson Plan

This week we did a group assignment where we used an existing lesson plan from another content area and modified it to specific specifications.  This lesson plan provided an opportunity to integrate science topics with a lesson on creating digital stories.  I found working with my group on this assignment was quite successful.

This is the link to our Digital Story Lesson Plan, titled "Notable Scientists & Engineers Throughout History".