Connections to Key Issues of Technology
Click on the section titles below for teacher resource websites created by the groups in my summer cohort class!
Developing Information Literacy and Technology Skills in Students
One of the main components of my project is making U.S. History relevant by allowing my students to learn through research. This element will require much time, scaffolding, and troubleshooting on my part. I will need to educate my students about proper research techniques and strategies. I will also need to educate my students on how to determine if a source is valid or not.
So much of research is directly tied to information literacy. The National Forum on Information Literacy defines information literacy as "the ability to know when there is a need for information, to be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively use that information for the issue or problem at hand." As mentioned previously, I will use a scaffolding approach to research. To find lessons that will help me accomplish this task, I will use resources like ReadWriteThink and 21st Century Skills Project Based Learning. These websites provide lessons that will guide my students to quality resources. I will then have class discussions about particular sources and what makes them valid. I will also provide my students with a checklist for each source that they view in order to ensure its validity. Social and Ethical Uses of Technology (PartiDigital Equity, Intellectual Property, and Copyright) and Healthy Practices in the Use of Technology
When doing research, it is important to teach students about proper referencing of sources. I will give a presentation on how "everything is copyrighted" and explain that sources must be referenced. This will be a key aspect of research that I will discuss with my students, as well as give them opportunities to practice these skills.
First and foremost, I will model ethical technology practices for my students. This means giving credit where credit is due and not violating copyright. I will be honest and open with my students about this issue and will encourage them to ask questions about copyright and other related issues. If I don't know the answer, we will look it up! Another issue connected to ethical uses of technology is equal usage. As mentioned, my school is going to a one-to-one laptop program. However, even though my students will all have equal access, they may not have equal knowledge. I will work with those students that need extra help with using the computer and navigating the internet so that all students have equal opportunity to be successful. I will model the process for all students and make myself available for extra help. Using Technology to Engage in Professional Development and Leadership
I am looking forward to the opportunity to work at a new school that is on the cusp of a major technological endeavor. In my interviews, the committee was impressed with the the technology integration that I have already accomplished in my classroom. I am excited to share what I am doing with my colleagues and learn from them as well. My goal is to use the laptops provided daily with my students, continuously seeking new effective ways to integrate this valuable technology.
My professional development plan to continue to use the technologies offered to me to their fullest potential is to continue in my Masters in Educational Technology program, use my PLN (Personal Learning Network) to point me to quality resources, to continue to evaluate the technology and its uses in my classroom through reflection, and to do my own research. I am not afraid to experiment with new ways to use technology. |
Meeting the Diverse Needs of My Students, Assistive Technologies, UDL (Universal Design for Learning)
One of my goals as an educator is to create more opportunities for differentiation in my classroom (which seems to be a challenging task for a Social Studies teacher). I am particularly interested in challenging my gifted learners, along with meeting the needs of my lower-level learners. The integration of a one-to-one laptop program will give me many possibilities in this area.
When designing my units and lessons, I will keep UDL principles in mind. Several of the principles already directly align with my Dream IT project goals and plans (such as providing multiple means of engagement and expression). My goal as an educator this year is to make history relevant for ALL students. This means employing principles from UDL. Using Technology to Facilitate/Develop Creativity and Critical Thinking Skills in Students
Another main focus of my project is allowing my students to be creative in how they display their knowledge. In order to make history relevant, my students must have a vested interest in it. Creativity is a great way to keep my students interest. In addition, by thinking critically about history, students will also become invested in the material and have an interest in learning about the past.
A few ways that I will encourage creativity in my classroom are by giving my students choices in the way they display their learning (poster, written response, poem, concept map, etc), by encouraging them to not be afraid to make mistakes by validating their efforts, and by encouraging collaboration through partner and small group work. I am always telling my students that the best students ask questions. Even though I may not know the answer to some questions, I still encourage my students to ask. This is an aspect of thinking critically. By simply encouraging my students to ask questions and validating their efforts, I can ensure more student engagement in a lesson. |