St. 7 - Technology

Technology Operations and Concepts

Use of technological tools, operations, and concepts to enhance learning, personal/professional productivity, and communication, including the ability to:

7.1

Understand the equity, ethical, legal, social, physical, and psychological issues surrounding the use of technology in K-12 schools and apply those principles in practice;

7.2

Successfully complete and reflect upon collaborative online learning experiences;

7.3

Demonstrate an understanding of and the ability to create an online learning experience, and demonstrate continued growth in knowledge of technology operations, resource evaluation for quality, objectivity, and reliability and concepts including strategies for teaching and learning in an online environment;

7.4

Plan, design, and evaluate effective technology-enhanced learning environments and experiences aligned with Michigan’s Content Standards and Grade Level Content Expectations and Michigan Educational Technology Standards for each student;

7.5

Implement curriculum plans that include effective technology-enhanced methods and strategies to maximize student learning;

7.6

Apply technology to facilitate a variety of effective assessment and evaluation strategies;

7.7

Use technology to engage in ongoing professional development, practice, productivity, communication, and life-long learning.

7.6

Using iPads may not seem commonplace for Kindergarten students to learn handwriting skills, but I found a creative way to incorporate them.  I came across a letter and number writing application that helps students with the correct letter formation had a class full of students fully engaged and learning!  The application shows the student the letter, and then the student has to trace the letter following a guide.  If they do not follow it correctly the program starts the letter over.  The graphics and sounds are fun and exciting.  After the students "played" on the iPads they were given a written handwriting assessment.  My lesson plan for iPad Handwriting is illustrated in artifact 7.6.

7.7

I had the opportunity to participate in a Smartboard training event on campus while at CMU.  The training was 2 full days and I feel it was very important to be trained in the latest technology to facilitate learning in the classroom.  After the training, I had the opportunity to present what I learned to my SPE 455 seminar class and also to my supervising teacher, as I was student teaching at the time.  I found implementing the use of the Smartboard in the classroom aided in classroom management as it directly affected student involvement in lessons.  This understanding is illustrated in standard 7.7's artifacts.