Following the short presentation on "The State of Oregon has a specific set of technology requirements for both students and teachers", briefly describe some strategies you could implement at your grade level(s) in order to accomplish this huge task. Suggestions include:
- Reivew slides #7 - #10 on the Redmond Presentation.
- One of the richest resources I've found is titled "Wonderful Web2.0 connection to NETS*S by COSN."
Taking this Ed Tech class has taught me that a lot of the Web 2.0 tools that we learned about are great ways to address all of these Educational Technology standards that students need to meet. There are many various programs that students can use and have access to anywhere that there is a computer and is connected to the web since these programs are web-based. Google docs in many and great ways hits the various standards-for example with communication and collaboration (standard 2), students can share documents with each other and the teacher, work on documents together, and get immediate feedback on projects, papers, etc... sharing over a google document allows multiple people to work on a single project, and it's a great way for the teacher to also be a part of the process. It might be more of a challenge in our elementary school classrooms, but we can also use this as a way to share documents and information with families (if they have the resources at home), and students can have open communication and dialogue with the teacher and their peers. With research and information fluency (standard 3), students are required to apply digital tools to evaluate and use information. Our previous task in Ed Tech was to use data from a spreadsheet and create another document that we could manipulate, change, and try to work on. Our students can do the same on google docs where we as the teacher would give them a spreadsheet to put data in, and see if they understood the information by looking at the charts and/or tables and data they entered. Younger students could simply watch you as the teacher make a graph or chart, and see if they notice any changes or trends in data that was collected. This will lead students to (standard 4) critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. By showing students different methods and tools that they can use to solve problems, or making charts for students to critically think about the data can be extremely helpful for them to understand problem solving, but also helping them find ways that they can present data that they found in the classroom. Teaching and bringing awareness to our students is key when trying to address educational technology. Digital citizenship (standard 5) is a standard that I am sure has created some debate because there can be some who are worried about the nature of the online resources our students are tapping into on the internet. However, as we talked about in class, if you block youtube or other sites, you are taking away digital citizenship rights from students. Instead of hiding certain websites or programs, we need to educate students at a young(er) age, and talk about making good decisions when online. We want our students to explore their creativity and innovation (standard 1) through tools like YouTube, and so if we are restricting our students from those websites and programs, we are limiting their creativity and innovation as well. We as teachers need to work on finding ways to teach our students that children can use these websites and programs too, we just need to know what is appropriate and what is not. Lastly, in order to help our students meet the technology operations and concepts (standard 6) standard, it is important for us teachers to be ed tech savy and aware of tech literacy. The more aware we as teachers are, the better we can help our students, and get them involved in all sorts of programs and applications and tools like how we have been doing in our ed tech class so far! As we move towards a more technology-run society, we need to do the best we can to help our students be prepared for what they may need to know and what they may need to use. (Education) technology is changing rapidly everyday, but it is never too late to start learning and trying new things-I hope to send that message out to my students in my classrooms!
ReplyDeleteThe new Educational Technology Standards for Oregon are a good thing. When I first started my journey towards becoming a teacher, my first concern was being able to keep up with my students since younger generations seem to be surpassing older generations technologically. These new standards force teachers to face these challenges and implement technology to enrich our classrooms. Since OTEN and this Ed Tech course, I have been learning many new and exciting strategies for implementing technology into my classroom. I am going to be big on group projects throughout the year, and giving students access to technology is a great way to promote creativity and innovation. Tools like Yodio, Photostory, Doodle, Scribblar, TokBox, Screen Toaster, UStream, Podcasts, Skype, Google Docs, Websites, and Blogs allow students to interact with each other and collaborate together in school. If schools have the resources to do so, I would like to take my students to the computer lab each week, and allow them to explore these tools, and familiarize with them in order to use them. Eventually, I would like to create a class website where parents can visit and view their child's projects and progress. Websites can also be a place where I can blog with other teachers, parents and even students because communication is a vital part of a student's school experience. I also learned at the OTEN conference that there are many resources and grants that allow you to borrow or purchase different tools to keep in your classroom; like Ipods, Videocameras, Itouches, recorders, and laptops. Having these tools will open up many doors and teach kids the value of technology and responsibly embedding it in their education.
ReplyDeleteTechnology in the classroom opens many doors for success. In this day in age, it is necessary to use it. The best thing is, most of these tools are easy to use, fast effective, and right at our finger tips. :) Enjoy!
There are many different ways in which I can implement the technology standards in my 4th grade classroom. I want to have a classroom blog or website so the parents and the children can stay connected to the classroom even if they are at home. I will then get permission from all of the students parents to make sure that it is ok to have an email for their child. This will involve the parents help when they set it up and when they check their emails. The students emails will be on Google this way we can connect and share class documents, and I can show them most of the Google tools that are available. We will use ones such as the spreadsheet and Google presentations.
ReplyDeleteAnother tool that I will implement in my classroom is Skype. With the permission of the parents I will have a class Skype account so we are able to communicate with other people from around the world (once I make the connections with them) to talk about differences in the cultures.
I will also introduce to the students Photo Story 3 so they are able to make presentations for classroom research. I plan on having weekly class trips to the computer lab so the students can become familiar with computers and the different programs that we will be using. Through this I will explore with the class how to research online so they are able to find multiple resources for their research projects and papers.
Other tools that I hope to implement if time permits are Scribblar, Tokbox, and student blogs.
The last tool that I will introduce to the class is a digital camera. This will be used to document what will be going on in the classroom so we can share with the parents and others who are not able to join classroom activities. I will also allow students to take the camera home to take pictures of things they did over the weekend as well as things needed for in class assignments.
As with all of the tools and ideas that I plan to implement into the classroom I will make sure to go over rules and guidelines with my students before use of the products begin. My hope is that by implementing these specific tools and ideas into the classroom I am broadening their awareness of technology, inspiring creativity, and meeting all of the technology standards as a teacher.
I am excited to start this process and can't wait to impact the lives of my students through one technology tool at a time!
CIP - Continuous Improvement Plan
ReplyDeleteAll districts have one. In particular here in Oregon, Performance Standard #8 states that students must have access to and develop proficiency in utilizing technology to improve their academic achievement. Teachers are required to assist their students in becoming technologically fluent (by the 8th grade and in high school). The Oregon Educational Technology Standards (OETS) exist to give further detail to the NETS'S Standards.
Standard 1 (creativity and innovation) could be fulfilled, for example, by having 4th grade students create time-line presentations using powerpoint, google docs, or any other presentation tool available in the school computer lab (if possible, I could also have the students use yodio, tokbox, or podcast to help them feel as though they are "a part" of their project). The students could upload family photos to slides or be guided to find photos online that represent their life stages. They would be able to supplement the photos with typed explanations on each slide, or their voice if using yodio, tokbox or a podcast. They could also be taught how to change the format of the slides, in terms of fonts, colors, and other customizable elements. They could also use these sorts of skills to create group interesting and fun group presentations.
Standard 3 (research and information fluency) could also be illustrated in a multitude of ways with students. Teaching students to find media websites, such as BBC, MSNBC, CNN in order to find certain types of information would be one step to fulfilling this standard. Furthermore, students would need to be taught safe, responsible researching techniques (with an emphasis on avoiding plagiarism) utilizing search engines and other resources such as EBSCO host. After gathering their data, teacher guidance regarding organizing and presenting this data would be appropriate. The students could be taught how to use programs such as webspiration to create concept maps of their ideas and information. Showing the students how to create a professional document or powerpoint would be a great way to help them bring all of the information together.
These examples are just a few ways in which teachers can address the multitude of standards students must accomplish. Teachers have an obligation to help students become extremely comfortable with technology -- it will be challenging to do this and fulfill all of the standards, but it is well worth it.
FOR TEACHERS:
ReplyDeleteFacilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.
As a future teacher, I will facilitate and inspire student learning through technology in my classroom. Technology can be used in many ways to enhance and advance student learning. I want to give my students the resources to be creative and innovative in the classroom. One way that I would like to do this would be to regularly have students do "video presentations." If students wrote books or reports on animals, I would video them and we could later watch the videos through a slideshow as a class.
Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S
At the OTEN Conference, I went to a very inspirational workshop that addressed integrating technology into the classroom through using ipods. I would love to have ipods in my classroom! During reading time, students who were struggling could grab an ipod to listen to books while reading them.
FOR STUDENTS:
Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, across the global community, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
I really love how this standard highlights group work! I think that it is important for students who are using technology that may be new to them to work in groups so more skilled students could assist others.
Use technology to learn, live, and work
This skill includes all of the following:
a) Use creativity and innovation to generate ideas, products, or processes using current technology.
b) Use technology to participate in a broader community through networking, collaboration and learning.
c) Recognize and practice legal and responsible behavior in the use and access of information and technology.
d) Use technology as a tool to access, research, manage, integrate, and communicate ideas and information.
One idea that I have to address this standard is to use computers regularly in the classroom as often as possible. I would like all of my students to be comfortable using a computer. For instance, I could regularly have my students research online for information for reports.