Blog Phase 3 - Reflection

Standard 1: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

1. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.

- Throughout the semester and the lesson plans that I created and taught I incorporated the student’s ability to use their creative minds and innovative thinking by letting them make their own decisions. For example, one lesson the students got to choose how they wanted to create their own plot chart. They used pixie and got to create their own chart rather than being handed a plot chart already created for them.

2. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.

- Throughout my lessons I engaged the students in real world experiences by connecting the content to things that they will experience in real life, such as the ability to create graphs on a word document while also using Excel. Another example is where the students got to use Google Earth to find real life examples of human and physical features.

3. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.

- The students got the opportunity to reflect on their work through writing and verbal discussion. For example, in one lesson the students reflected through questions given by the teacher and then got to discuss the questions with their table buddy and eventually with the whole class. These reflection questions were written to encourage students to think about why their work was done how they did it and how that can be used in real life.

4. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.

- Students got to collaborate with peers and the teacher throughout all the lessons I taught this semester. In every lesson at one point their students go the opportunity to discuss with their peers and share to the teacher and the rest of the class.

Standard 2: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

1. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

- Most of the lessons that I taught this semester could have been taught with out technology but I adapted them to incorporate digital tools and resources to promote the student’s learning and creativity. The digital technology included devices such as the desktop computers and the iPad. While the students got to use these devices there were several different software devices that enabled the students to learn and use their creativity.

2. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.

- Students got to use their own curiosities in the lesson where they got to search on Google Earth on the iPad and look in different areas of their choice. They got to become active participants in their own educational goals by deciding what they wanted to get out of each lesson and the assessment for each lesson.

3. customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.

- Students got to personalize their learning activities and cater to their personal learning styles and abilities to use the digital tools by deciding what they wanted to do with the assignment. For example, the students got to use Pixie several times and could decide if they kept their assignment simple or if they wanted to go above and beyond and incorporate things in the technology that were not taught to the class.

4. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching.

- Each assessment designed in this class aligned with the standard and objectives set for the particular lesson. The students usually had an assignment and their quality of work judged by the teacher was their assessment, however in the future I will definitely incorporate other types of assessments such as group work or exams.

Standard 3: Model Digital-Age Work and Learning 

1. demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.

- The students got the opportunity to grow their personal abilities in the use of technology throughout the semester and the lessons transferred current knowledge to new technologies that are up to date on current situations in society. An example of this is when the students used the iPads to search through Google Earth and find real life places.

2. collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation.

- In the future I would consider creating a way for students to collaborate with peers, parents, and the community by maybe setting up discussion groups or maybe even a class blog that is open to all students and their parents that keeps them informed on what is going on in the classroom and what to expect in the future.

3. communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats.

- My idea of creating a class blog that is open to all students and parents would work in this area as well. This could work as a place where everyone can go to answer questions or stay up to date on homework assignments and due dates. Of course my email and phone number will always be available to parents.

4. model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.

- Because the lessons were so limited in what I could cover in this class in the future I would consider having a lesson at the beginning of the year to teach students how to use the current technology that we will be using throughout the year to ensure the student’s learning will not be diminished by not knowing how to use the technology.

Standard 4: Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

1. advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources.

- At the beginning of the year while I am covering with the students on how to use the different types of technology I would also incorporate a lesson on the proper etiquette for the safe use of technology and digital information including the appropriate documentation of sources based on the students level of ability. 

2. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources.

- At the beginning of the year I will also ensure that if any students are having issues in using the technology in their learning that they feel comfortable coming to me for help. I will explain to the students in a way that suits their level of learning that everyone learns differently and it is okay for someone to not know how to use a specific piece of technology or software.

3. promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.

- The lesson that I teach at the beginning of the year of responsibility with technology will also work for this area. I will also closely monitor my student’s behavior with technology throughout the year and enforce discipline when necessary. 

4. develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools.

- One way that I incorporated global awareness and cultural understanding could be through the student’s own use of a book or story for their plot diagrams. I could encourage the students to use something that represents themselves and their culture. In the future I will be sure to incorporate cultural understanding through lessons and assignments.