Digital Portfolio

Reflecting on the Development of My Educational Technological Literacy

Contents:
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
6. Final Reflection

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The ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (NETS•T) and Performance Indicators for Teachers

Effective teachers model and apply the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS•S) as they design, implement, and assess learning experiences to engage students and improve learning; enrich professional practice; and provide positive 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:

1. 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 part of the MAT program at Pacific University we are enrolled in a technology class that emphasizes how important it is to include the use of digital tools are resources in our classrooms. Through this class I have be introduced to many forms of technology that were new to me. I've made this website, a podcast and engaged in many other forms of technology. This experience has shown me how technology can be utilized by both the teacher and the students to create a learning environment that inspires both learning and creativity.

Before coming to Pacific I was familiar with several typical computer programs such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Now I've had experience working with Inspiration, Moviemaker, MyDVD, ULead, iMovie, iDVD, Nvu, and GarageBand. I've also looked into several educational websites, created my own website, a webquest, a podcast, a blog and a couple DVDs. I know feel confident that I can find my way through almost any type of computer program and be able to figure out how to do what I want to do. I feel confident that I'll be able to effectively use these tools with my class to enhance their learning and creativity.

I'd never thought about creating a website for my classroom before, even though I've seen many classrooms that have websites. Now I not only think it would be a great idea that will allow students to communicate with people from around the world, but I feel like I will be able to easily design a website that will allow my students to add their own thoughts. Creating a classroom blog is another idea that I have for the future that would allow students to engage in computer skills while writing about the things they've learned that day.

Exhibit 1 Project T.E.A.M (unavailable due to confidentiality)
Exhibit 2 Podcast
Exhibit 3 Website
Exhibit 4 WebQuest
Exhibit 5 My Blog
Exhibit 6 OTEN

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: Before beginning the MAT program at Pacific University I hadn't done a lot with technology beyond researching on the web and creating powerpoint presentations. Since I started this program I've seen how technology can enhance students' learning and allow students with multiple forms of intelligence to learn in different ways. I was also able to attend a conference on how technology can be used in classrooms to enhance learning. Creating my own lessons that use technology has been another step I've taken towards learning how to incorporate technology into my own classroom. Below are links to several websites that demonstrate how I've accomplished the above goals.

The first link is to a Podcast that myself and two of my classmate's created. It is about Alice Paul, a leading suffragette. It was a collaborative group project that we designed to be for upper elementary through middle school students. We designed it to be a digital learning experience for students that would hopefully not only be fun for students, but would also inspire students to see the possibilities for their own learning. The Podcast is mostly an auditory learning experience, but we also included pictures of Alice Paul from the time period. For students who are more inclined towards audiotory learning and those who learn better through non-traditional methods, this lesson is appropriate.

The WebQuest is another non-traditional method for learning, but it does include some aspects of traditional learning. It was created in full by me to be a lesson for fourth grade students on volcanoes in the Pacific Rim Region. The WebQuest engages students in internet research and website navigation. For students who don't normally get to go to the school's computer lab, it places them in a technology-enriched environment. Again, this is a lesson that allows students to stretch a different form of intelligence and allows those who excel at it to use this form of intelligence.

Exhibit 1 Podcast
Exhibit 2 WebQuest
Exhibit 3 OTEN
Exhibit 4 Project T.E.A.M (unavailable due to confidentiality)

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: Both my placements are at a new school that is lucky enough to have a lot of new technology at the teachers' fingertips. This includes three computers in every room (one for the teacher, and two for the students), ELMO document cameras instead of overhead projectors, DVD players and microphones hooked up to speakers in the ceiling. All this is meant to facilitate teaching and learning. One of my mentor teachers was reluctant at the beginning of the year to take on the new technology since she's never used it before. She placed me in charge of figuring out how everything works. Since the start of the year I have used and gotten comfortable with the ELMO document camera, the microphone system, and the DVD player. I've also helped my mentor teacher use these technologies and now she feels comfortable with them and enjoys using them.

During an expressive arts lesson that I did with my 3rd and 4th graders I used a PowerPoint slideshow to show the students pictures of our topic so that they could better understand it. We worked together by talking about the what we were seeing in the pictures and at the end brought it all together by discussing what it meant in a larger context. This lesson was videotaped and later I created my Project T.E.A.M video.

With the same students we've begun to learn about friction by testing the phonebook friction myth. The myth is that two phonebooks with their pages interlocked one and a time can not be pulled apart. My students and I have taken turns using the videocamera to document our efforts and learning. They've had a lot of fun doing this lesson and we're still not done. Through the use of the videocamera I've seen students' curiousity sparked and listened to ideas they've come up with for what they could do next. When we finish with this lesson and create a DVD about it, we'll be able to show the parents what we're doing in our classroom.

Through my website and blog both students, parents and peers are able to learn about me as a person and as a professional. My blog allows readers to comment on the entries I have made and communicate their ideas, thoughts and insights about the highs and lows I experience this year. I feel that the blog is a good forum for me to deconstruct the things I'm seeing in my placements and ask those who read it for their constructive comments.

Exhibit 1 Friction Lesson Video (unavailable due to confidentiality)
Exhibit 2 Website
Exhibit 3 OTEN
Exhibit 4 Project T.E.A.M (unavailable due to confidentiality)
Exhibit 5 PowerPoint Slideshow

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: This experience has not only shown me how to use new forms of technology, but has also allowed me to look into various websites and to become a member of ISTE. With the increased use of technology there comes the need to be respectful of copyrights and giving appropriate acknowledagement to the proper sources. As a teacher it is important to model responsible and ethical practices for your students.

On my Fire Mountains WebQuest I have cited all the images and websites that I used and send the students to. The websites that I chose are safe and appropriate for students. By linking the websites I am ensuring that the students are going to secure sites that are appropriate for their age.

My blog is another area where I have used citations. I used a website to create a wordle and then added it to my blog. In the future I'll make sure to cite any resources that I mention.

Exhibit 1 Website
Exhibit 2 My Blog
Exhibit 3 WebQuest

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: This year will not hail the end of my learning career. I have a love for learning and will model lifelong learning for my students. I will also continue to stay up-to-date as much as possible with new technology that could be useful has a learning tool in my classroom. I am already planning to create a class website and blog when I have my own classroom. I also have looked into creating a Wikispace for teachers that will allow my class to publish things we learn so that others may see. Also, there are many programs that I've looked at this year that I would find useful to have in my classroom. Inspiration is one of those programs.

My use of technology has not been limited to the requirements for my technology class, but I have also used technology in my placement to enhance my students' learning as well as peak their curiousity. Three classes from our school performed at the district's school board meeting. I was able to videotape their performance with a digital camera and create DVDs to give to the teachers and principal. This allowed the students to see their performance and teachers to see what they could do with their students with they took the time and effort.

Through continuing to take classes, reading about new research and maintaining my membership to ISTE (as well as joining other educational organizations) I will continue to grow as a teacher and a person. I will stay current with technology that will be useful in my classroom so that I can be an effective teacher that utilizes resources that will enable all my students to achieve their highest level of potential.

Exhibit 1 ISTE
Exhibit 2 OTEN
Exhibit 3 "Colors of the Wind" performance (unavailable due to confidentiality)
Exhibit 4 Inspiration

Final Reflections

Before taking the course, Supporting Learning with Technology I felt comfortable with many basic computer programs. I found it fairly easy to solve any technology issues that I came across or find a way around them, but I had never worked with HTML source or any website creating programs. Throughout this course I've expanded my knowledge, comfort level and ability when it comes to technology. Although there are have been struggles with programs not working right or something not turning out how I wanted it to, I've been able to figure out how to solve those issues so that the final product is what I want it to be.

Not only have I solved my own problems, but I've also helped many of my classmates who came across similar issues as I faced. I helped a couple figure out how to get started on Nvu and how to link pages within their website. Since I worked with both the Mac movie and dvd programs and the PC movie and dvd programs I was able to help many classmates create their own dvds and solve problems they were having. I also was able to warn others of some of the downfalls of certain programs and issues I had that I hadn't been able to solve.

More than ever I can see how I can use technology in my own classroom. I know that regardless of the technology present in the school I will be working at, I will bring in a variety of technological tools that my students can engage in and learn from. There are several things that I want for my classroom including a digital camera and a SMARTboard, but unless I'm lucky enough to get into a school with this level of technology I know I'll have to be patient.

I am now fully confident in my ability to learn any new technology that I may find in the future as well as solving any issue that may arise. I look forward to the time when I am able to plan lessons that incorporate technology that facilitates and enhances learning.