Of everything you learned, what do you think will have the biggest impact on student learning?
I think what will have the biggest impact on student learning is actually inspiring, motivating, supporting, and encouraging teachers to take the plunge into teaching truly 21st century units and lessons with technology. I think properly delivering this staff development will be key to getting this done. Can our educational system, not to mention our kids, truly afford to not have 21st century learning taking place throughout the schools? The biggest impact on student learning is going to be largely contingent on the teachers having the courage to take the plunge into student-centered and technology rich lessons.
- Will
Friday, December 4, 2009
Module 7 Reflection
Reflection Topic: Now you have an opportunity to look back on the materials you have created in this course for your Unit Portfolio. You have a wide variety of support materials and a completed student-centered unit that helps students develop 21st century skills and encourages self-direction.
You have applied the unit evaluation rubric to your unit plan. Based on that assessment, note any changes you would like to make to your Unit Portfolio in your blog post for Module 7.
I would probably revisit some of the activities and a couple of the assessments to make them a little more student-centered by giving the student some more autonomy in choosing their task to accomplish. For example, instead of every student participating in the mock trial, I could have given the student the choice of performing an original song, poetry, or letting them do some artwork. Of course, I would have to use a far more generic rubric or make individual ones for each option.
- Will
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Module 6 Reflection
This module has helped me think about self-directed learners and the role of differentiation in the following ways...
Students need to take an active part in the assessment process. Be this a peer assessment, self assessment, electronic portfolio, or any other method, the students need to become involved with assessment. Preferably with scaffolding.
Obviously we always need to keep differentiation in mind when developing units. There are always accommodations to be made even if the students do not have a 504 plan and and and IEP. There are always kids who learn differently and with different methods of instruction (like left/right brain, VAK, and Gardner's Multiple Intelligences).
- Will
Students need to take an active part in the assessment process. Be this a peer assessment, self assessment, electronic portfolio, or any other method, the students need to become involved with assessment. Preferably with scaffolding.
Obviously we always need to keep differentiation in mind when developing units. There are always accommodations to be made even if the students do not have a 504 plan and and and IEP. There are always kids who learn differently and with different methods of instruction (like left/right brain, VAK, and Gardner's Multiple Intelligences).
- Will
Module 4 Reflection
How can technology be used most effectively to support and assess student learning?
I cannot imagine not using technology now in assessing student performance. Responders are an awesome tool that supplies instant feedback (formative assessment) on either "traditional" testing or even verbal questions thrown out to the class to guage opinions on a topic. Blogging, discussion topics, Voicethreads, Google Docs, etc. can all be used in Assessment. Obviously even Acuity is a very powerful tool for providing not only assessment but the means to analyze the assessment.
Technology just opens a huge door for assessment beyond the traditional paper and pencil assessment. Technology allows for more authentic assessment that engages students and makes the learning all the more relevant to them.
I cannot imagine not using technology now in assessing student performance. Responders are an awesome tool that supplies instant feedback (formative assessment) on either "traditional" testing or even verbal questions thrown out to the class to guage opinions on a topic. Blogging, discussion topics, Voicethreads, Google Docs, etc. can all be used in Assessment. Obviously even Acuity is a very powerful tool for providing not only assessment but the means to analyze the assessment.
Technology just opens a huge door for assessment beyond the traditional paper and pencil assessment. Technology allows for more authentic assessment that engages students and makes the learning all the more relevant to them.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Reflection Module 3
This module has helped me think about the impact of the Internet on my students' learning in the following ways . . .
1. It is critical we become aware of at least the basics of copyright law as they apply to the classroom setting (and possibly a more public setting like when we deliver the PD).
2. There are so many free tools to utilize in the classrooms on the Internet, there is really no excuse anymore for classes to be taught in the traditional settings anymore. A lot of the software we had to traditionally pay for now can be had for free with open source or freeware programs.
3. Student engagement should skyrocket when utilizing these tools. Google docs, Ellumination, Google Forms, etc., can be critical communication and publishing tools within the school.
4. Obviously though there are some limiting factors here. 1-1 computer to student ratio needs to happen for effective utilization of some of these tools and that is not very realistic at this point in time.
5. Ipods would be awesome to have for every student too or at least a few sets to check out to classes.
6. A wireless network would also be nice for the whole school, but the security of the network would be an issue.
7. Sometimes though just having a "teacher" computer hooked up to the Internet and a projector (and a whiteboard is nice too!), some of these programs can be employed in the classroom, though that limits student interaction a little bit.
1. It is critical we become aware of at least the basics of copyright law as they apply to the classroom setting (and possibly a more public setting like when we deliver the PD).
2. There are so many free tools to utilize in the classrooms on the Internet, there is really no excuse anymore for classes to be taught in the traditional settings anymore. A lot of the software we had to traditionally pay for now can be had for free with open source or freeware programs.
3. Student engagement should skyrocket when utilizing these tools. Google docs, Ellumination, Google Forms, etc., can be critical communication and publishing tools within the school.
4. Obviously though there are some limiting factors here. 1-1 computer to student ratio needs to happen for effective utilization of some of these tools and that is not very realistic at this point in time.
5. Ipods would be awesome to have for every student too or at least a few sets to check out to classes.
6. A wireless network would also be nice for the whole school, but the security of the network would be an issue.
7. Sometimes though just having a "teacher" computer hooked up to the Internet and a projector (and a whiteboard is nice too!), some of these programs can be employed in the classroom, though that limits student interaction a little bit.
Module 2 Reflection
This module has helped me think about using standards, CFQs or formative assessment in the following ways:
1. One must always make sure that the standards align with the assessments.
2. The CFQ's should be very broad and leave the possibility open that they might apply to at least a few various subjects across the curriculum spectrum.
3. Leaving the CFQ open and broad might help the teach make the unit cross-curricular.
4. Formative assessment should be performed frequently throughout the unit to gauge students progress, student needs, and modifications to the unit as needed.
5. 21st century learning skills and technology tools standards as well as standards from other curriculum should be considered in your unit.
6. Assessment does NOT have to be paper and pencil.
7. Authentic assessment should be utilized if at all possible.
8. Making activities and assessments relevant to the students should be done when possible.
9. It might be helpful for some teachers to start with what they want to assess in mind, then work their way backward to unit questions and CFQs.
10. All standards should be assessed!! :)
- Will, the uber Spring Valley High School TechWolf Pack Leader
1. One must always make sure that the standards align with the assessments.
2. The CFQ's should be very broad and leave the possibility open that they might apply to at least a few various subjects across the curriculum spectrum.
3. Leaving the CFQ open and broad might help the teach make the unit cross-curricular.
4. Formative assessment should be performed frequently throughout the unit to gauge students progress, student needs, and modifications to the unit as needed.
5. 21st century learning skills and technology tools standards as well as standards from other curriculum should be considered in your unit.
6. Assessment does NOT have to be paper and pencil.
7. Authentic assessment should be utilized if at all possible.
8. Making activities and assessments relevant to the students should be done when possible.
9. It might be helpful for some teachers to start with what they want to assess in mind, then work their way backward to unit questions and CFQs.
10. All standards should be assessed!! :)
- Will, the uber Spring Valley High School TechWolf Pack Leader
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Module 1 Reflection
This module has made me think about my role as an instructional designer in the following ways...
This module has made me think about my role as an instructional designer in many different ways. It has reminded me that classroom should be a vibrant, exciting, and energetic place of learning with a good deal of student engagement and autonomy. Reading through the research the chapter presented me, I was reminded of the importance of authentic tasks that engage the students with projects and lessons that are important or relevant to them. Also, the role of formative assessments is key in the 21st century classroom. We should also cover fewer topics in deeper detail than superficially covering a wider breadth (while still understanding the BIG ideas). I am also a big fan of having students publish their work as opposed to handing in their worksheets or tests which they will just throw in the trashcan on their ways out when they get them back. Utilizing Ning or other online resources not only lets the students show off their work, it also lets parents and other members of the community see what the students are doing.
This module has made me think about my role as an instructional designer in many different ways. It has reminded me that classroom should be a vibrant, exciting, and energetic place of learning with a good deal of student engagement and autonomy. Reading through the research the chapter presented me, I was reminded of the importance of authentic tasks that engage the students with projects and lessons that are important or relevant to them. Also, the role of formative assessments is key in the 21st century classroom. We should also cover fewer topics in deeper detail than superficially covering a wider breadth (while still understanding the BIG ideas). I am also a big fan of having students publish their work as opposed to handing in their worksheets or tests which they will just throw in the trashcan on their ways out when they get them back. Utilizing Ning or other online resources not only lets the students show off their work, it also lets parents and other members of the community see what the students are doing.
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