Signature Assignment ETC 447
Blog Phase III
Jonathan
'Robb' Gambrell
Part I
When
looking back at my vision of a Philosophy of Education written at the beginning
of this semester, I stand firm behind my beliefs. In my Philosophy I included
that I will integrate technology for the benefit of the student, and not just
for the use by the teacher. By standing
behind these beliefs, I feel that my classroom will be an environment that
creates fairness and respect, to and by, everyone involved within the learning
environment of my students.
Through
this class I have learned the importance of integrating technology for the
benefit of the student's learning. I now understand that the importance needs
to be focused more on how the technology is being used to assist in the
learnings, and not so much on the use for filling time. Students need to be
able to create some sort of digital artifact with the technology being used.
This creation may come in many different forms such as, a work of art, an
online journal, a music video, a short movie, an online class blog, and any
assignment utilizing technology where the students produce some type of
digital, assessable work.
I intend to use what I have learned from this
class to involve technology throughout my class day, in various subjects. I am
a big fan of the online classroom for displaying, peer reviewing, and tracking
or assessing the students works throughout the year. I will use a program such as the SeeSaw
online classroom with my students. The SeeSaw class is very similar to the
layout of Facebook with a class feed that the students will follow in a
familiar manner. This allows the students to show their work and comment or
peer review as the days go on. This type of program is great for assessing the
student's work, as well as keep everyone involved in the student's learnings up
to date with the progress.
Part II
Standard 1:
Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
I intend to use the proper integration
of technology to Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity in my
classroom. I will encourage the students to learn how to use technology to
their benefit and to assist the learning process. I will have students show
their creativity by using technology and different programs to help them expand
their knowledge as well as their imaginations. I will connect my students to
real world issues through technology that will help change my student’s outlook
and perspectives and provide them with a fuller appreciation for what they are
studying in the classroom. My students will be more invested in their learnings
when they are allowed to form an opinion on the subject of the learnings.
The scholars in my classroom will
explore more than the local area we live in as we delve into how technology so
easily connects to the entire world through a computer, tablet, or smartphone
and an internet connection.
Standard 2:
Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Through this class, Technology in The
Classroom, I have learned how to create lessons with the proper use of technology
in order to promote a connection with the ever changing world in which our
students live. I promise to remain current with the educational technologies
and incorporate them into the curriculum for my class.
The use of technology for assessment
has turned an old fashioned headache into a fun, more involved method of
tracking student learning. With a well set up program such as the many
different online classroom programs that I discovered this semester, the
learning growth can be monitored with ease by everyone involved with the
education of my students.
Modern technology has also given
educators the ability and flexibility to adapt the lessons to any and all of
our learner’s abilities, pace, as well as style. Many programs as well as
devices are designed to give those with a disability the chance to do tasks
previously unattainable. These devices also help make life skills easier
through communication apps and other various assistance programs. Apple’s IPad
alone come pre-loaded with a wealth of options to enhance the experience for
individuals with different disabilities. Some of these accommodations include
zoomed and spoken text for the visually impaired, touch assist and guided
access areas for physically impaired and even mobility control apps to assist
with personal mobility vehicles. It will be a priority to continually be open
to learning about the newest use of technology while incorporating the
materials into my teachings to promote digital age learnings and assessments.
Standard 3:
Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
This semester in Technology in the
Classroom I had the pleasure of learning about the various methods of
connecting modern day technology to my units or lessons throughout my
curriculum. This will be successful with the use of some the many programs,
apps, and online journaling programs that I was introduced to this semester by
my peers. I look forward to initiating an online classroom for my students to
post works, writings, projects, digital artifacts and daily journal entries.
One of the major benefits of this classroom program is the ability and ease of
assessing the progress and level of learning of the students. This type of
tracking can be used for a variety of methods of obtaining important
information.
The online classroom is also a great
communication tool for students, teachers, administration and parents as well.
This type of open continuous communication encourages the students to become involved
and invested in their learnings, as well as the assessment process.
I will have Tablet learning centers or
stations that will be used as a reward to students that have shown mastery with
a subject or lesson or have extra time in general. These areas will also be
used as an area to accommodate students that may need additional assistance
with their learnings as well as a great resource for small group sessions or
one-on-ones.
Standard 4:
Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
I had not thought of the importance of
promoting and modeling digital citizenship and responsibility before taking
this class. With the massive and open ended connection abilities that we
possess today with the World Wide Web at our finger tips, it is highly critical
that we teach our students the importance of internet etiquette as well as
security.
I want my students to explore areas
outside of our local neighborhoods and country to see first-hand what the rest
of the world is like, live and up close. What better way to teach a lesson in
history than actually going there virtually with technology? Or how about a
science lesson on space with a live feed to the International Space Station, or
a web cam of a microscope at an observatory. The possibilities of connecting
live technology with our student’s lessons are endless and ever changing. This
is why I will spend many lesson hours educating my scholars about the proper
use of search engines and websites, the need to use trusted secure sites, apps,
and programs. I will educate my students on the importance of understanding the
global and cultural differences involved with connecting with various people
around the world.
My students will also have an
understanding of how the technology in my classroom is intended to assist in
their learnings and not be a crutch or a form of mindless entertainment. The
use of technology will be limited and not consume my classroom or become a
distraction. The students must have a firm grasp on the importance of being
educated in the areas of etiquette and security when connecting to the forever
growing, massive technological world we live in today and in the future of our
students.
Conclusion
Overall I am pleased with my grasp on
the materials presented in ETC 447 Technology in the Classroom this semester.
The creation of the blog and the connection of all of our assignments to these
blogs has been a great and different method of working through a class. The
creating of our micro lessons integrating technology compares to the icing on
the cake of my overall learnings of lesson plan creating that I have gained
through this NAU cohort.
I am now determined to become the
Teacher that uses technology effectively FOR my students, as well as keeping my
student safe through their use of technology to assist with their learnings. I
will be sure to keep my teachings and lesson designs up to date and relevant
with the fast changing world around us, as well as promoting and requiring my
students to use technology to create assessable digital artifacts to enhance
their creative inner selves. The scholars in my class will be connected to the
modern world through technology and I assure that they will be prepared enough
through proper modeling and thorough education of security, proper use and
etiquette to safely utilize what is available to them.
