Another great week in learning, I think. I feel like I may be dense, because I had to keep reading over and over to get the hang of what was needed for the desired requirements. I like the structure to the UDL lesson template. It is all encompassing and really individualizes education for students. Learning all the components of the lesson as well as understanding what each part does to complete and prepare for the next step in learning.
I learned about the six big goals of technology. I knew of these because we have state standard for technology that we are to be teaching in our regular content area. I really love the ISTE simple list of technology goals.
I also learned how to move my way through the CAST website to make a lesson and an Ebook. I do not like all the words on this website. I really wish it was a lot simpler looking. I just was overwhelmed with the words everywhere. Cannot wait for another week this week!
http://bookbuilder.cast.org/download.php?op=download&book=73960&down=13379
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Week Three-Teaching with Technology
Welcome Week Three!! Oh MyLanta!! So many questions, so much to do and google docs is a pretty neat little device...I am excited about what all I have learned and am learning...there was no web conference, but we (my Group) did meet about three times this week. I have quickly learned I am the novice and the colors at the top of a Google Document are very important. One must not change colors because it matches the colors of the viewers. No! No! One must follow the colors at the top of the document. We had a bit of a misunderstanding due to me not having the right color text.
I really like Google Docs and learning to work within the document.
With the lesson done, the ebook complete, trying to figure out how to share is the next task. Had a great week.
I really like Google Docs and learning to work within the document.
With the lesson done, the ebook complete, trying to figure out how to share is the next task. Had a great week.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Week Two Findings from Web Conf Call
First important item I learned is always run your internship plan through Dr. Boral!! I am a fast learner, I knew this in the first 5 minutes of the web conference where we spent 20 minutes or so on this topic. Second thing was to keep it simple!! Now I have applied this theory in many areas of my life --but have now understood one more use for this theory.
The last item of importance I learned was this week --the third and the fourth require a large amount of collaboration with my project team. AND no web conference this week..thank you for reading.
The last item of importance I learned was this week --the third and the fourth require a large amount of collaboration with my project team. AND no web conference this week..thank you for reading.
Teaching with Technology Week Two
Wow! Hit the road running! With information hitting me left and right, I am starting to get a feel for the Project and links to the Universal Designs for Learning, and the Assessment in a Rubric form, as well as working with diverse learners. Center for Applied Special Technology Web site where the UDL is housed along with a host of resources. I am amazed!!
Technology is entering classrooms at a much slower rate than the business world as stated in Technology Enriched Classrooms article. And is there any question like why? I am positive that the money issue has something to do with it's slow emergence. Another factor, is educating teachers to use technology. Many studies show that technology does help low socio- economic students. I have experienced in class that technology increases learning for all students. Just try a Poll Everywhere question and the get your cell phones out to answer it, and see what happens--after the gasps of breaths and your reassuring nod!
So many studies revealing the link of technology to student achievement. Schacter's article lists several studies done in the late 1990's of math scores increasing by 13 weeks, along with state test scores and national scores showing improvement. With that knowledge, why have educators and leaders not made more of an emphasis on the use of technology?
Technology is entering classrooms at a much slower rate than the business world as stated in Technology Enriched Classrooms article. And is there any question like why? I am positive that the money issue has something to do with it's slow emergence. Another factor, is educating teachers to use technology. Many studies show that technology does help low socio- economic students. I have experienced in class that technology increases learning for all students. Just try a Poll Everywhere question and the get your cell phones out to answer it, and see what happens--after the gasps of breaths and your reassuring nod!
So many studies revealing the link of technology to student achievement. Schacter's article lists several studies done in the late 1990's of math scores increasing by 13 weeks, along with state test scores and national scores showing improvement. With that knowledge, why have educators and leaders not made more of an emphasis on the use of technology?
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Teaching with Technology Week One
This week has been marked with a whole new world opening for me. This world is a world I wanted to open but honestly just haven't made the time to explore and learn. Funny how taking a class forces you to make those steps--guess I will die owing college loans then!!
In Week One -I learned of the different learning theories--Constructivism theory, Connectivisim theory, and the Cyborg Learning theory.
I can see many parents who posess the competitive nature for their child to be the smartest in the class definitely implanting the chips into the children so that they may have the top scores on the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. Honestly, I think this is a bit radical and the beginning of robotic students that I find a bit inhuman.
Connectivism theory is possibly what has been current models of instruction during the late 1900's of education. With learning a cloud outside a student's world, it is almost like a foreign planet that we go to visit every now and again. I truly see a more personal experience with models of kinesthetic learning much more effective and less of a foreign planet. When a student can hold it, see it, model it, is a root of education--yes connecting to it. That connection might be through a video game of Angry Birds to model a parabolic function, or a combat video game to model factorials, or simply algebra tiles, or integer disks for students to master the concepts. Whatever it might be, starting with the symbolic modality and working three or four problems is not the answer to learning.
Lastly, Constructivism, is my favorite, Knowledge is constructed in multiple ways, through a variety of tools, resources, experiences, and contexts. (Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, (1999). Learning as a personal event: A brief introduction to constructivism. As I read this week, I placed into practice. I have a class of 3 to 4 angels. They truly are angels. It was a casual conversation of jingles to commercials that spawned an example of an algebraic expression this week. 'Fishy, Fishy' was heard through out the hall of my school this past week. By simply counting, the word 'fishy' and 'mc' a simple expression was created and linked to student's learning to english and math from their 'world'. I thought to myself that wasn't in the lesson plan however, I sure had their attention and linked them to a different world of patterns and words though. Also, instead of talking about somebody they were singing "Fishy, Fishy".
Lastly, I found so affirming the Am I Doing My Job? article. I love my job--I really love practices where is says it is okay for children to be the commander of their learning, aka constructivism theory.
Can you say GOOGLE?
Loved the simple world of google. Google Docs and the Presentation site were fabulous. Also did some exploring into creating a video for the opening of the presentation.
Also explored into some research for the project, 'The Indelible Link', and another article, 'Simulation Technologies in Higher Education: Uses, Trends, and Implications.'
Lots of Happy, Happy Happy going on here. Happy Learning that is. Have a great week!
In Week One -I learned of the different learning theories--Constructivism theory, Connectivisim theory, and the Cyborg Learning theory.
I can see many parents who posess the competitive nature for their child to be the smartest in the class definitely implanting the chips into the children so that they may have the top scores on the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. Honestly, I think this is a bit radical and the beginning of robotic students that I find a bit inhuman.
Connectivism theory is possibly what has been current models of instruction during the late 1900's of education. With learning a cloud outside a student's world, it is almost like a foreign planet that we go to visit every now and again. I truly see a more personal experience with models of kinesthetic learning much more effective and less of a foreign planet. When a student can hold it, see it, model it, is a root of education--yes connecting to it. That connection might be through a video game of Angry Birds to model a parabolic function, or a combat video game to model factorials, or simply algebra tiles, or integer disks for students to master the concepts. Whatever it might be, starting with the symbolic modality and working three or four problems is not the answer to learning.
Lastly, Constructivism, is my favorite, Knowledge is constructed in multiple ways, through a variety of tools, resources, experiences, and contexts. (Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, (1999). Learning as a personal event: A brief introduction to constructivism. As I read this week, I placed into practice. I have a class of 3 to 4 angels. They truly are angels. It was a casual conversation of jingles to commercials that spawned an example of an algebraic expression this week. 'Fishy, Fishy' was heard through out the hall of my school this past week. By simply counting, the word 'fishy' and 'mc' a simple expression was created and linked to student's learning to english and math from their 'world'. I thought to myself that wasn't in the lesson plan however, I sure had their attention and linked them to a different world of patterns and words though. Also, instead of talking about somebody they were singing "Fishy, Fishy".
Lastly, I found so affirming the Am I Doing My Job? article. I love my job--I really love practices where is says it is okay for children to be the commander of their learning, aka constructivism theory.
Can you say GOOGLE?
Loved the simple world of google. Google Docs and the Presentation site were fabulous. Also did some exploring into creating a video for the opening of the presentation.
Also explored into some research for the project, 'The Indelible Link', and another article, 'Simulation Technologies in Higher Education: Uses, Trends, and Implications.'
Lots of Happy, Happy Happy going on here. Happy Learning that is. Have a great week!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Action Research Plan
With increased focus on maximizing student performance on standardized tests, benchmarks, on the district, state, and national levels, as well as the classroom, the question arises, “Are we doing the best in our classroom to enhance the maximization of student’s performance?”
There is much research that supports some tiny changes in classrooms can have a great impact on students. Creating a classroom that is a comfortable, welcoming room might have a very positive learning environment impact on students. With some prior research, I wanted to se we what kind of impact this would have on my incoming sixth graders that will be seventh graders in the 2011-2012 school year. I will be the only teacher conducting class with these changes.
Through my research I found an interesting brain research suggestion about attention span. Attention span of a person is their age in minutes. With that information, I pursued my action plan with some ‘tweaking’ of my daily lesson plans to incorporate some learning activities within those plans.
I will be looking at the grades from the prior years according to standards to find a baseline of knowledge for each student, and track their progress on each standard through the next school year-2011/2012.
My expectation is the student progress will be phenomenal as well as minimal discipline issues due to the engaged student learning that will take place.
Action Planning Template | ||||
Goal: To Maximize Student Academic Performance | ||||
Action Steps(s): | Person(s) Responsible: | Timeline: Start/End | Needed Resources | Evaluation |
Make classroom more personalized like a room in a home. Paint, other renovations to room—Area rug, furniture, shelves Lighting- Aromatherapy | Tawnia King | 6/13-8/13 | Paint, brushes, drop clothes 3 Lamps Take out every other fluorescent lights Diffusing oil and sticks | |
Lesson Plan Update | Tawnia King | 6/10-8/31 | Lesson Plans, Standards Activities Internet | |
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Lessons learned in Week Two
Action Research is very beneficial in all aspects of education. Not only does it give feedback to the author, it also allows participant buy-in to a new idea or concept as well as ownership to a potential solution to a problem very relevant to the campus. I have heard every year for the last 15 years in education "Oh I wonder what program adminitration is going to push on us this year?" I can totally see action research working to eliminate this type of start to the year!
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