1. Section VIII addresses new directions and emerging technologies for IDT. Select three of the following and reflect on how you might apply them in your current or future position in the IDT field:
- distributed or e-learning environments
- reusable design or learning objects
- networks or Web 2.0 technologies
- rich media
- digital games or simulations
- virtual worlds
What learning goals or objectives could the technologies you selected help learners foster? Could the technology facilitate attainment of that learning goal better than traditional instruction? Why or why not?
I chose distributed or e-learning environments, rich media, and digital games or simulations because I have used these to a limited extent in my classroom already. I would love to find ways to incorporate them on a more regular basis.
Distributed or e-learning environments
Last school year I used, in a very limited amount, Edmodo and Sophia, which are both web-based and set up to facilitate e-learning. Edmodo looks like a social website but it is used for educational purposes. I was able to post power points that I had shown in class, short videos over content that the students were struggling with, links to interactive websites that the students could use to review the information. Sophia is a website that I used to post videos that I created that reviewed important vocabulary, science experiments we had done in class, or content that the students were struggling with in class.
Both of the helped my students, who had access to the internet at home, develop a clearer understanding of content that they were struggling with understanding. I noticed that the students who were signing in and using both of these web sites were raising their hands more and were more confident in their answers when I called on them. I think that this helped my students because they were able to review the materials at their pace and as many times as they needed to go over it. I am currently in the process of getting the students set up with Edmodo accounts so that I can use this again this year. My goal is to use it much more not only outside of the classroom but also inside the classroom since we do have access to a class set of Ipads that we can check out for our students to use.
Rich Media
I use power point presentations to introduce content to my students. 5th grade students have a very difficult time staying focused especially on content that they have no background knowledge to build on. Knowing this, I break up the presentation with short videos, pictures, and/or links to interactive websites to keep the students interested in what we are learning about in class. Students are able to look at the pictures and videos and make connections more effectively than just seeing the information written on a slide. They love the interactive videos because they know that they can go home and do them over and over again. I am currently playing with a presentation website called Classflow which allows me to not only create teacher slides but also student slides that students can use their own devices to follow along with the presentation. The students slides can just be copies of the presentation slides or can be something connected to the slide being presented (ex. video or link to a website). If this works out it is a perfect way to incorporate rich media into my classroom lessons.
Digital Games or Simulations
The science curriculum that my district adopted this year is Stemscopes 2.0. Stemscopes has interactive review games and vocabulary review games for every TEKS that I teach. The students love to play these games and the great thing about them is that they love to play them over and over again. I have used them in the past but on a limited basis. All of my students will have a log in and will be able to access these not only at school but also at home. I am very excited about using these games, especially the vocabulary, because that is a very big weakness that my students have this year and these games are a perfect way for my students to play a game and learn vocabulary all at the same time.
I also use an interactive website, BBC Science Clips, with my students. These simulations allow students to explore the concepts that we are discussing in class over and over again. Some of my students have stated that another teacher in the past has shown them the clip that I am using but the kids want to see it again. I love how it keeps their attention and their interest. If they are paying attention and are interested then they are learning!
2. Section IX focuses on issues related to instructional design, rather than new technologies: professional ethics, diversity and accessibility, the nature of design, and providing instructional guidance. For each of the technologies you selected above, discuss what ethical issues using the technology might present. Does the technology enhance accessibility and accommodate diverse learning needs? How and/or can you design instruction using that technology? How much guidance would instruction with that technology require? What kinds of guidance would be necessary?
Distributed or e-learning environments
My biggest issue with using Edmodo in the beginning was being able to monitor what my students post on it. We hear about cyber bullying all the time and this is the last thing that I wanted to happen when I decided to take the jump and try using Edmodo with my students. Edmodo has a setting that allows me to receive a text every time a student posts on Edmodo. It can be very annoying at times but it is also very helpful because 5th graders do not have much experience with any type of social media so it gives me the opportunity to teach them some online etiquette as well as the science content that I have to teach. If a student posts something that is mean, disrespectful, hurtful, inappropriate, or just not related to what we are learning in class, I have the ability to delete the post, block them from posting anything else until I have spoken with them, and if necessary completely block them from the site. This really helped me feel much more comfortable about using this website with my kids.
One of the things that I love most about Edmodo is that the students are able to view any and all review materials that I post as many times as they need to view them. They can also help each other. I have had students post a question and before I can get online and post an answer, another student has answered their question for them and really helped their classmate understand what they were struggling with. I have students of all learning levels using Edmodo effectively. Last year, one of my SpEd students really struggled in class but he always went home and went over the things I posted on Edmodo especially right before a test and he was much more successful than before I started using Edmodo.
Edmodo allows me to create quizzes, polls, asks open-ended questions, and set up projects that my students can complete all online. I have not used this feature as much as I would like to but it is a huge goal of mine to incorporate these features into my classroom this year.
The first time that I use Edmodo, I walk my students through exactly how to log in and complete what assignment they are supposed to complete for that day. After that, I usually do not have to walk them through it anymore. I can just tell them to log on and complete the assignment that I have assigned them. Students were able to navigate it very easily at home without my guidance, other than forgetting their username, which was quickly solves usually with an email from their parent.
Rich Media
I screen every picture, simulation or video that I use with my students to ensure that it is not offensive in any way and appropriate covers what my students need to know and understand. I want to make sure that what my students see is beneficial to their learning needs.
Being able to post videos or simulations which review what we have covered in class that my students can access outside the classroom is beneficial to those who are able to access them. It is especially beneficial to my lower level or struggling learners because they are able to watch them as many times as they need to watch it until they understand it.
I usually post these kinds of resources on Sophia and Edmodo. I usually walk them through how to log in and find the resources the first time that we use them but after that most of my students are able to navigate the resources on their own.
Digital Games or Simulations
I personally review every game or simulation before I assign it or show it to my students to ensure that it is not offensive in any way and appropriate for what my students need to know. If a game or simulation is not going to help my students understand the concept that I am trying to teach then it is an unnecessary resource and I will not use it.
The games and simulations is so beneficial to all of my students at all levels. For my higher level students, it is a challenge to see if they can get them all correct or to explore what if questions that they may have. For my average learner, it is a great way for them to see how much they know and what they still need to study. For my lower level and struggling learners, it gives them the opportunity to do it over and over again until they are successful.
Incorporating these games and simulations help my students develop a better understanding of the concepts, especially abstract concepts like the relationship between the Earth, Moon, and Sun, they are learning about in class. Students develop their knowledge at different rates and in different ways and digital games and simulations give students the opportunity to interact with the content in some way to help them develop a deeper understanding of the content.
I usually walk my students through the simulations and games the first time that I assign them just to make sure that they all know how they work. Most students get it the first time, for those that do not, I pull them to my kidney table and work with them either in a small group or individually if necessary. Generally, it does not take very long for students to learn how to navigate through these games and simulations.
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