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.

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.

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.

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".

KSP619 - Research Paper

My research included information about the benefits and barriers to teaching coding (programming) in an elementary classroom setting.  While my intention was to focus purely on the use of Scratch, it become increasingly obvious that the greater topic was programming in general.  Researching this topic reignited my desire to teach coding to all of my students.

This is the link to my research paper titled: Benefits of Teaching Coding in the Elementary
Classroom with the Aid of MIT’s Scratch

KSP619 - Annotated Bibliography

In preparation for my research paper, I created an annotated bibliography.  Using Prezi I was able to present my sources in a fun and engaging way.  Creating this helped me become more comfortable with Prezi while gathering valuable information for my research paper.

This is the link to my Annotated Bibliography Prezi.

KSP619 - Screencast - Google Classroom

Professional development opportunities are often the key to success for teachers.  They provide information and training that allows teachers to expand the use of technology in their classroom.  For this task, I have created a screencast showing how to use Google Classroom. This tool has become invaluable to me as an elementary school teacher.

Here is the link to my Google Classroom screencast.

KSP619 - Data Analysis

Google Public Data Explorer offers a wide variety of data in a public repository.  Using this data I created a lesson plan that provides a step-by-step guide for students on using the site.  I have also provided two questions that encourage students to think about the data they have found.

This is the link to my Data Analysis Lesson Plan.

KSP619 - Organizing Brainstorming

For this task, we were asked to create a comparison of several technology standards that are currently being used by educators.  I created a table where I mapped each of the standards from P21, ISTE - NETS-S, and (to some extent) the MN State Academic standards. Because of my linear nature, it was hard for me to truly map the MN standards because they cover so many content areas.



This is the link to my Organizer.

KSP619 - Personal Technology Philosophy

Jennifer Carlson

KSP-619

Professor Indi Williams

February 13, 2016

My Personal Technology Philosophy

I have an obligation to my students to prepare them for the future.  Since their future will likely be filled with more technology than I can imagine I must do my best to prepare them.  This requires me to approach technology in my classroom through two different lenses.  The first is that of an employer who required my employees to have strong technology skills and a fearless disposition when it came to problem-solving.  The second lens is that of a teacher who wants her students to leave her classroom with a thirst for knowledge and the understanding that technology is a great tool but it comes with great responsibility.

In my classroom technology is used in three different ways. The first is for basic computer skills lessons, the second is for product creation, and the third is learning and expansion of knowledge. My students are given explicit instruction in how to use their technology.  This instruction includes keyboarding shortcuts, hardware information, software installation, document creation and formatting, and a plethora of other skills that will make using a computer more natural and comfortable for them.  

The second way technology is used in my classroom is for the art of creation.  My students are given many opportunities to create.  They can choose the format for the projects - presentations, video, audio, in typed report format, or through programming and coding. Through projects, my students are learning the ins and outs of being solid digital citizens. They learn about copyright laws, safety, and what it means to contribute to the World Wide Web.  My students often contribute to collaborative projects with their classmates; technology makes this process easier. 

The third use of technology is to expand my student’s knowledge. They are able to do research and find resources at the touch of their fingers. In this day and age, it is no longer necessary for students to “know” as long as they are able to “find” what they need. Students use their computers to research and investigate new ideas and concepts they do not understand.

I believe that in an ever changing world my students need to be well-versed in using technology for a variety of purposes. In order to help my students, get where they need to be I too need to be well versed in technology.

KSP619 - Technology Beliefs

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

Teaching is a second career for me.  My first career was in data management. My responsibilities as a Director of Operations included finding creative solutions for my clients.  Often this involved investigating technology tools to do the seemingly impossible tasks they needed me to do.  After years of solving problems using technology my comfort level is incredibly high.  I have been told that I have "badass" computer skills and applauded for my resourcefulness.  

Because of this fearlessness, my confidence is incredibly high.  Not only do I feel confident with using technology, I am confident teaching it and using it in my classroom.

Are there areas that you need improvement?

My tech skills are quite advanced and a bit beyond the average teacher.  This is completely due to my previous career.  The areas where I need to improve are in my expectations of my students. I have discovered that I have an expectation of my students that is unrealistic.  By this, I mean that I expect them to have a certain level of experience and skill that they lack.  I recently had a discussion with my students about not using an 18 pt font.  It turns out they use this because they can't see the smaller font when they are typing.  I asked they why they don't zoom the page in and they looked at me like I had two heads.  This concept was new to them!  I was shocked.  The problem is that I expect them to know all of these basic things but I am not sure why I expect this from them. I have met their teachers from previous grades and I am well aware of the lack of technological skills they possess!  

Have your previous experiences affected your current views in regard to technology integration. If so, how?

My previous experience has made me a bit gung-ho about integrating technology into my classroom.  I am frustrated by not having one-to-one devices and hate competing to use our computer carts.  

I have joined the district flexible learning cohort that is working on creating a self-paced, computer-based, standards-aligned math curriculum for next year. This cohort if definitely fueling my desire to see my students exposed to as much technology as possible.

What would you like to accomplish and why?

I would like to add as many tech tools to my tool box as I can!  One of my favorite things about my Intro to Technology class was the collection of resources I gathered along the way!