Jill Peer
Reflecting on the Development of My Educational Technological Literacy
The ISTE National Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Teachers
Effective teachers model and apply the National Educational Technology Standards for Students as they design, implement, and assess learning experiences to engage students and improve learning; enrich professional practice; and provide models for students, colleagues, and the community. All teachers should meet the following standards and performance indicators. As a preservice teacher I have begun to:
I. Facilitate 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. Teachers:
a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
d. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments
My Narrative:
As a teacher it is my job to create an environment where students feel inspired and eager to learn. By implementing technology within the classroom students are able to develop outlets for their creativity through innovative and inventive methods. Throughout this technology course I feel I have developed a great amount of knowledge on how to explore and create through a hands-on approach. By working through several assignments for this class I have been able to experience the benefits of technology that I can bring into my own classroom.
One of the projects that I feel promotes, supports, and models creative thinking is through the WebQuest on Northwest Native American tribes. I designed this WebQuest as a Social Studies lesson for fourth graders to discover another aspect of our local communities. A WebQuest is a fun, interactive way for students to gather information through the Internet by visiting pre-determined websites that have been chosen specifically for their content and purpose. Students are encouraged to follow the WebQuest as instructed online and produce a collaborated presentation that demonstrates their style of creativity amongst a few of their peers.
Another assignment I feel would be beneficial to implement in the classroom is a podcast. Working with a colleague of mine we researched, designed and produced a video podcast that described the life and work of Helen Keller, a woman who devoted her life to fighting for social justice and equality for all. After discovering the secret language through the use of the water pump, Helen Keller’s life truly begins, yet few textbooks describe the woman she would become and the lives she would struggle for. Several digital programs were used to create the podcast such as iMovie, iTunes and Garageband. We were also held responsible to contact each source for rights of use when a picture was used for the slideshow. Copyright laws can be a bit overwhelming so teaching them as they relate to the students can be helpful in their understanding of the content and laws for their use. While working on this project I was able to see the use of it within my classroom. Students could use podcasts for presentations, book reports, and stories or share an important event that took place at school or within the community. Podcasts would provide a link amongst their families, friends, communities and world sharing their knowledge, creativity and learning through a virtual environment.
Exhibit One: WebQuest
Exhibit Two: Podcast
II. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:
a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
b. 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
c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
d. 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
My Narrative:
I feel through each assignment technology encouraged the use of personal creativity and interest. Through the use of technology, I found each project was fit to my abilities, learning style and became customized to fit how I personally felt it would best be completed. This style of learning provides a built-in differentiation for each student as it caters to their learning personally.
One project I truly embraced was the Project TEAM. This assignment required each of us students to design and implement an expressive arts lesson to one of our placements. Our mentor teachers would film the lesson and using the footage we needed to create a shorter reflective movie. The directions were specific but the project was open to our own interpretation for how it would emerge. I chose to focus my lesson on spiders because of a recent news article my mentor teacher found. I created an hour-long lesson plan with stories, a class activity and expressive arts project for the first grade students to explore. Then through the use of iMovie, iTunes, Garageband and iDVD I was able to create a short film telling the story of my lesson with reflective comments weaved into the piece. Through these programs I was able to get creative with music, pictures, voice recording, clipping and more. Even though the assignment had clear guidelines, I was able to make the project one I could be proud of as well as reflect who I am as a person. Although the exhibit for this project is confidential, the lesson plan and pictures of the finished pieces are included in my website.
I also feel that my podcast is a wonderful example of a project that empowers the student being an active part of his or her own learning. Although there are clear directions for the assignment it is still open to the curiosity of the student on what or who to explore. For our podcast we were instructed to choose an individual who has struggled for equality and social justice throughout their lives. The choice was ours and we able to explore an individual whose life story was never completely revealed to us. Through our own curiosities we were able to design and format our podcast in a way we felt complimented ourselves and the material gathered. I feel each of the above assignments allow for differentiation amongst the students as well as empowering their individuality.
Exhibit One: Project TEAM (confidential) lesson plan & photos
Exhibit Two: Podcast
III. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning.
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:
a. demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
b. collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation
c. communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats
d. model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning
My Narrative:
Throughout this entire course I have been pushed out of my comfort level. I have pushed myself because of the benefit I see technology providing within classrooms and I know I will be a stronger teacher for it. Many if not all of the programs used throughout this course were new to me. Each experience through working with them has opened my mind to the possibilities of implementing them within my classroom.
By using iWeb I was able to create a website with the assistance of pre-made templates. Having never designed a website before I felt it would be a smoother transition than starting from scratch with NVU. Since my website was the first project I began with, I needed to ensure I could be successful as I tackled learning other foreign programs. Aside from using websites for posting grades or homework, websites are great resources for communication among families, students, colleagues and other classrooms, so it is essential that websites are kept up-to-date with relevant information using digital tools and resources to support it.
While creating my WebQuest I needed to learn how to use the program NVU. Through several trials and errors I ultimately completed what can be found on my website. Learning this program took quite a bit of time and effort as I learned how to format, link and size everything just right. WebQuests are wonderful website journeys that encourage students to use current technology to gather research for projects and their learning.
In addition to NVU and iWeb, I have had the opportunity to become bilingual using PC and MAC systems. I have also had a chance to experience working in programs such as iMovie, iDVD, iTunes, Garageband and Inspiration. For my additional technology assignment I downloaded SMART Notebook 10 and designed activities to be implemented on a Smart board. I used my early elementary placement as a source for the activities I created. I created a calendar for recognizing shapes and patterns to creating classroom haikus. What was helpful about several of the projects was the repetition of certain programs that assisted in the understanding of how they worked. For example I used iMovie for both Project TEAM and our podcast, which I felt, solidified my knowledge on how to use the program.
Exhibit One-Website
Exhibit Two-WebQuest
Exhibit Three-Smartboard
IV. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility.
Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers:
a. 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
b. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies and providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources
c. promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information
d. develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools
My Narrative:
From this course I have learned the importance of teaching, modeling and advocating legal as well as ethical use of digital information. Weaved through many of my projects I have cited sources that have provided research, photos, music and inspiration. I have also had to contact several individuals and organizations for permission to use their photographs. In a world where technology surrounds us, it is essential that we assist students in understanding their rights as well as the material of others. As technology expands I want to ensure my students are expanding alongside with it but in a courteous and safe manner. At the beginning of this course I joined ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), which provides great information and articles about the impact of technology within the teaching profession as well as ways to foster digital responsibility.
I feel my website is an example of how to use digital tools and resources to promote responsible social interactions with the use of technology.
Exhibit One- ISTE Membership
Exhibit Two- Website
V. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers:
a. participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning
b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others
c. evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning
d. contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community
My Narrative:
From this course I have learned how to use programs such as: iMovie, iWeb, NVU, iTunes, Garageband, Inspiration, SMART Notebook 10, iPhoto and further develop my skills within the Microsoft Office programs. All these programs I will use in the future and now assist others in discovering. In each of my placements I have seen the use of these programs and am capable in contributing to the student’s development. With my prior knowledge of computers along with learning these new programs, I feel I will be highly capable of adapting in order to learn new programs along the way.
Through work on my website I have learned how to link projects, podcasts, websites and WebQuests. This is a skill that will come in handy when I create my own class website and share the students’ work for the world to see. Each project provides new outlooks on topics and content throughout the curriculum and my curiosity continues to push me toward discovering other new programs that can cater to the students. My interests have been ignited by the knowledge gained throughout my work on my website.
My ISTE membership has provided a resource that will assist in keeping me informed about recent technologies within the classroom and the global community.
Exhibit One-ISTE Membership
Exhibit Two-Website
Final Reflections
I feel this course has prepared me for what lays ahead. Technology is growing around us and it is essential to embrace it to provide an environment students will feel motivated to take part in. Technology offers students a chance to be creative, expressive and curious through a framework that differentiates to their specific needs. I look forward to creating among my students using programs such as iMovie.
By becoming familiar with several new programs and systems, I now feel I will be able to carry this knowledge further into my future classroom and adapt as technology does. I will continue to learn new technologies that surface as learning never stops within a lifetime. It is crucial for each teacher to grow along with their students and stay relevant to their needs and desires. It is time to open the world to the students and help them discover the different perspectives, cultures and beauties surrounding them.