Teaching With Technology

One thing I do to teach students to learn by using technology is a focus my plans around the objectives. After I have a guideline I allow the students to use their creativity to manipulate and design whatever they want in order to show mastery. I give students choices to allow for individualized products and assignments. I also make sure to show students just how important collaborating is. My students often meet online to create products together that demonstrate mastery of a standard. They love the freedom and the complexity of creating a product together.
We can teach them to demonstrate their mastery/understanding when they aren't given explicit requirements through modeling and examples. Ultimately, it is very hard for students to complete an assignment that doesn't have explicit requirements. We must show students through working together that assignments can be creative and unstructured but still result in learning. Getting students involved in the modeling will help to lead students to the right track.

Classroom Management Challenges

Which of these best describes your current classroom/professional development atmosphere?

Is it possible for you to reach the third level?

If not, why?

If so, what resources are needed to reach this goal?

Currently in my 1:1 classroom I model appropriate behavior. As a teacher I have always walked around the room, engaged in discussion with students about what they are working on and how they are doing with the assignment at hand. This has not changes since I received my iPad's. I feel that currently we are between the second and the third level as described in the article "Freedom, digital distraction and control". Although we can monitor their sites and app usage through out technology department, we often choose to allow the students to self-monitor their own use. We do this because it is teaching the students to be prepared for real world distractions. I often model how to not let an email notification bother me. One thing students have had a hard time adjusting to is that they do not have to answer and look at every email as soon as they get it. As a use my computer to demonstrate lessons, the students sometimes hear my email notification go off. I do not let that distract me and take away from the lesson. I make it known that I only check my email three times a day, not in between. Modeling appropriate behavior and allowing students to practice it on their own is essential. 

I feel that it is extremely possible to reach the third level. My students are very independent as fourth graders, they know that it is their responsibility to finish assignments on time. My students could use Google Drive to create a to-do list in order to keep them motivated and on task. Another resource we could use is utilizing tech breaks. Modeling appropriate behavior and understanding when you should have a tech break could lead us to the third level. 

Communication & Integration

 There are a lot of things that one might want to communicate when introducing the concept of technology integration to a specific group of stakeholders. First, parents must see how beneficial it is to incorporate the technology as another tool to student success. We need to show them actual data that can support student engagement and student academic achievement so that they can see just how much their students can grow using the device we incorporate.  Another concept that we might want to communicate is the understanding of how to use the device. Many parents and teachers struggle with using technology. Because they are unaware of how to use a device they might be resistant to using it at all. Taking the time to teach them the basics may allow them to come around! Another concept to include is our purpose with using the device. We want stakeholders to know that the device is not just for fun and games. We want them to know our goals with the device.

21st Century Skills

Although I feel that each 21st Century Skill has its level of importance with students, I feel that communication is an essential 21st century skill skill. I think that communication is the most important skill because being an effective communicator not only involves learning how to effectively communicate but also how to effectively listen. Currently, I am taking courses to obtain my M.ED. in school administration. This program is entirely online. I am learning how to communicate and collaborate with my peers and to create presentations strictly through the internet. I feel like it is becoming more and more important for students to understand how to properly communicate online.

This might be used in my Technology Infusion Plan by using it to differentiate learning. One thing that I use technology for in my classroom is book clubs. We use online forums for discussion so that the question that the students must discuss and talk about is leveled. It also helps other students because they feel more at ease when they are working on leveled material in which they can be successful at. I would love to use communication more throughout my book clubs. Possibly using a student as the discussion director and allow students to run their own groups.

This can be assessed by seeing if students could communicate effectively to solve a problem or create a presentation. This could also be assessed by having the students create guidelines for effective communication that they use when collaborating. 

Philosophy of Education

                The purpose of education is to provide students with a safe environment that encourages learning in every student and subject that can allow children’s curiosity to lead them in many directions. Students should come into an environment where they can do anything they put their minds to, imaginative or real. As an educator my role is to facilitate learning and provide students with experiences that will enhance their growth and creativity. My goal is to provide students with tools in which they can learn to be self motivated learners through technology and other tools.

                I will do everything possible to reach every student. Whether it is through visuals, technology, projects, or auditory influenced lessons that will capture their interest and really allow students the necessary means in which to grow and expand their knowledge. Many children learn in a variety of ways through many different types of stimuli. A teacher must find a way to reach every student while teaching. I not only will I try and reach the diverse learners but I will try and reach the various backgrounds and cultural aspects as well. I will define my community of learners through interactive lessons in which they will learn to respect one another through collaboration both online and in the classroom. Through my classroom they will be able to establish a community that really shows the students how to solve daily problems, interpret and comprehend emotions, and be proud of their community classroom.

                I believe that many children learn in a variety of ways through many different types of stimuli. A teacher must find a way to reach every student while teaching. I believe through management of the classroom students will trust and respect each other enough to fully immerse themselves in all classroom lessons. They will act respectfully and honest to their peers. My instructional strategies will affect my teaching by providing all types of learners with many different real experiences both in their classroom and their community. My curriculum design will show that students should also lead curriculum by inquiry. Also student’s assessment will use creative techniques that will lead to next subject.

                I believe that I should allow time for growth for both the community and individual students. I will also provide many “take home” individual experiences that will in turn help the community.                 My goals are that students will be self motivated, inquisitive learners and will really have many experiences to build off of. I will provide students with opportunities in the classroom and online to bring global awareness into their thoughts by first examining cultural aspects of their current communities then expanding their minds to the global community on aspects such as human rights issues, environmental degradation, and international conflict.

                Having constructive relationships with all of the people critical to the growth of the child including, parents, teacher colleagues, administration, and community members is very important. I will go out of my way for every learner in my classroom to make sure they are receiving the best help available to them so that they can become the best that they can become.

Tech Reflections

There are several things that I am most excited to learn about regarding technology. First, I am  most excited to learn how to incorporate technology into every aspect of my teaching. My students live for technology and they love using their new iPads! Anytime I tell them to go get their iPad's they are motivated to do whatever assignment is at hand. I am looking forward to integrating it in new and exciting ways to challenge my students throughout the iPad pilot period.

I might serve as leader in utilizing technology through photography and videos. I just recently opened my own Teachers Pay Teachers store titled, "Tech Savvy Teachers" and love to create products that involve technology. I am also proficient in Photoshop and marketing.

Some items that I would like to spend more time exploring would be the use of iPad's throughout the day. For example, in what ways do you use technology specifically for math class, or science, language arts, ect. I also would like to learn about using the Smart Board.I also would love learning about having a Flipped Classroom when there are students who do not have access to the internet at home.