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Sugarbear2202 |
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Chapter 4
Enhancing
lesson development with technology is how teachers use electronic resources to
decide: what to teach, how to teach, and how to know what the students have
learned. The three interrelated elements of classroom instruction are: 1.) Academic
Content (what to teach) 2.) Teaching goals, methods and procedures (how to
teach) 3.) Learning Assessments (How to know what the students have learned).
There are a variety of technology resources that can be used to help develop
and lesson plan.
To
begin with, as a teacher I will be responsible for making choices about
academic content. I will use the internet to access online search engines,
online encyclopedias, blogs and wikis to help decide what material I would like
to teach that is also in line with the required curriculum. By using blogs and
online wikis I will be able to communicate with other teachers and exchange
ideas on academic content.
Next,
would be deciding how I want to teach the information. How to teach goes hand
in hand with deciding on academic content because while I am brainstorming on
the content I will also be thinking of teaching goals, methods and procedures.
There are a variety of ways that technology can support lesson development, but
a few of my favorites would be: presentation software, interactive software and
teacher developed websites. I am a very visual person and I think that will
have a strong influence on how I will teach. I don’t do well with lectures; I
personally retain more information through visual or interactive activities.
Lastly,
knowing what students have learned and are in the process of learning is very
important. Using technology can help to assess this information. As a teacher I
would like to perform learning assessments before, during and after a lesson so
that I can evaluate myself and my students. There are several technologies that
support the assessment and evaluation process, for example: electronic tests
and quizzes, grade keeping software, online surveys, rubrics and digital
portfolios.
All
in all, I feel that I have a much better chance today to be able to develop
successful lesson plans using the variety of technological resources that are
readily available. I would even encourage my students to take advantage of some
of these resources to help show me what they already know and what they are
learning and to even express some topics of interest.
Yes! Allow and even encourage students to show their understanding via these creative digital tools. Not only will that engage students in their learning, but it will actually take students to a deeper level of learning as they are given permission to personalize and individualize their own thinking. You have been doing so (albeit at a different level) as you try out these web 2.0 tools. Imagine your students engagement!
ReplyDeleteLike you, I believe most of your students will be more visual and kinesthetic (and not so much auditory) in their learning styles. Using various presentation software with much visual 'eye candy' will make associations that much stronger.