Standard 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.
a. Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
Meeting the Standard
One of the most exciting transformations when starting the eMINTS training, was being able to design lesson plans and activities that supported students to become creative and innovative thinkers! Two ways I have accomplished this is through the use of WebQuests and photo stories. One of my favorite activities was creating a WebQuest titled Polygon Transformers that allowed students to create a multimedia project using clay to create polygon figures in a story using Microsoft Photo Story 3, a photo presentation program. Students had to first create two polygons of their choosing out of clay. Personifying the clay, students created a fictitious story with dialogue that required them to identify geometric attributes of their two polygons. Students then took photos of their clay figures and created a photo presentation using the Microsoft Photo Story 3 program. I love how this adaptation in instruction has allowed my students to meet curriculum standards, including technology standards in such a fun and inventive manner. Another creative and innovative project that my students absolutely enjoyed was when I decided to incorporate the Photostory 3 presentation program into a science lesson. As a part of our fourth grade electricity unit, students created a house and wired the house. Taking this lesson a step further, students took photos of their houses and the wiring process and then transformed them into presentations. These projects are projects that my students have created in the past and projects that I look forward to implementing again.
a. Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
Meeting the Standard
One of the most exciting transformations when starting the eMINTS training, was being able to design lesson plans and activities that supported students to become creative and innovative thinkers! Two ways I have accomplished this is through the use of WebQuests and photo stories. One of my favorite activities was creating a WebQuest titled Polygon Transformers that allowed students to create a multimedia project using clay to create polygon figures in a story using Microsoft Photo Story 3, a photo presentation program. Students had to first create two polygons of their choosing out of clay. Personifying the clay, students created a fictitious story with dialogue that required them to identify geometric attributes of their two polygons. Students then took photos of their clay figures and created a photo presentation using the Microsoft Photo Story 3 program. I love how this adaptation in instruction has allowed my students to meet curriculum standards, including technology standards in such a fun and inventive manner. Another creative and innovative project that my students absolutely enjoyed was when I decided to incorporate the Photostory 3 presentation program into a science lesson. As a part of our fourth grade electricity unit, students created a house and wired the house. Taking this lesson a step further, students took photos of their houses and the wiring process and then transformed them into presentations. These projects are projects that my students have created in the past and projects that I look forward to implementing again.
b. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
Meeting the Standard
Developing the ability to solve problems is so important in today's world. We have a lot of real-world issues that are worthy of exploration. One subject that is very near and dear to my heart is a health concern that is growing not only in America, but globally. This issue is a health care issue that will impact my students if solutions aren't found. A growing concern in America and around the world, diabetes is on the rise! Recently, I shared this information with my students using news articles and having my students use Sweet Search, a kid friendly search engine, to find information and articles related to the topic of diabetes being on the rise in America. I can say, as an educator, I have never encountered a happier moment than seeing my students take charge of their own eating habits! One student shared a new but old kind of juice box with his classmates and myself! It is a juice box that I can't describe, but one you must see for yourself. Another group of students were reading food labels in the cafeteria when they discovered that chocolate milk has high fructose corn syrup in it and white milk does not. Those students chose to drink the white milk. These students inspired me to have them create flyers about their findings. I can't wait to see if this research project will continue to grow within our classroom, but being concerned about this health issue and the impact it may have on my students it is my hope that it will have an effect on our school community and beyond!
Meeting the Standard
Developing the ability to solve problems is so important in today's world. We have a lot of real-world issues that are worthy of exploration. One subject that is very near and dear to my heart is a health concern that is growing not only in America, but globally. This issue is a health care issue that will impact my students if solutions aren't found. A growing concern in America and around the world, diabetes is on the rise! Recently, I shared this information with my students using news articles and having my students use Sweet Search, a kid friendly search engine, to find information and articles related to the topic of diabetes being on the rise in America. I can say, as an educator, I have never encountered a happier moment than seeing my students take charge of their own eating habits! One student shared a new but old kind of juice box with his classmates and myself! It is a juice box that I can't describe, but one you must see for yourself. Another group of students were reading food labels in the cafeteria when they discovered that chocolate milk has high fructose corn syrup in it and white milk does not. Those students chose to drink the white milk. These students inspired me to have them create flyers about their findings. I can't wait to see if this research project will continue to grow within our classroom, but being concerned about this health issue and the impact it may have on my students it is my hope that it will have an effect on our school community and beyond!
c. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
Meeting the Standard
One of my favorite reflection tools is Inspiration 8. During the course of my program I created a Concept Map, reflecting on technology and learning. The concept-mapping software was used as a way to brainstorm and connect the ideas of technology and learning together. As I move forward with Digital Renaissance, I hope to add more to my concept map. This is a tool that I have my students use as well. As I begin using Inspiration with my fourth grade students, I generally start out with a template and gradually have them start creating their own. When telling students they are going to be creating an Inspiration Document, I usually hear a lot of excitement coming from the children. They love being creative with this tool, so I don't have to provide too many templates!
Meeting the Standard
One of my favorite reflection tools is Inspiration 8. During the course of my program I created a Concept Map, reflecting on technology and learning. The concept-mapping software was used as a way to brainstorm and connect the ideas of technology and learning together. As I move forward with Digital Renaissance, I hope to add more to my concept map. This is a tool that I have my students use as well. As I begin using Inspiration with my fourth grade students, I generally start out with a template and gradually have them start creating their own. When telling students they are going to be creating an Inspiration Document, I usually hear a lot of excitement coming from the children. They love being creative with this tool, so I don't have to provide too many templates!
d. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual
environments
Meeting the Standard
There are some amazing collaboration tools available today! During my graduate studies working on a group project, I learned to use two valuable collaboration tools, Google Docs and Google Hangout. Working in teams, my colleagues and I were presented with several scenarios or problems that we had to work together to resolve as we took an in depth look at all aspects of the instructional design process. We accomplished this using Google Docs as we were analyzing, designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating the instruction for various scenarios. Using the Google tools, we worked on small concepts of the design process that led to an all encompassing culminating project. As the final assessment, we had to form our own teams, design instruction for a project that included broad goals, learning objectives, needs assessment, task analysis, and a plan showing evidence of acceptable results. Through this process, I learned that the importance of being able to use collaboration tools. We accomplished this great task through synchronous and asynchronous methods. Using Google Docs we were able to work together or separately, which was very helpful because we soon discovered that some of us were working and living in different time zones. Our schedules were different and some of our schedules were not as flexible as others. With Google Docs we were able to add to a collaborative document, leave comments for each other, and complete the tasks that were required. Because of varying schedules and time differences, we did find it beneficial to meet occasionally in Google Hangout, which allowed each person on the team to come together virtually and discuss the progress of our work and set goals for completing the work. Using Google Hangout and Google Docs, we were able to complete the final Instructional Design project, Using iPads in the Elementary Classroom. This was a project that I feel could not have been accomplished without the collaboration tools and collaborative efforts of my colleagues.
environments
Meeting the Standard
There are some amazing collaboration tools available today! During my graduate studies working on a group project, I learned to use two valuable collaboration tools, Google Docs and Google Hangout. Working in teams, my colleagues and I were presented with several scenarios or problems that we had to work together to resolve as we took an in depth look at all aspects of the instructional design process. We accomplished this using Google Docs as we were analyzing, designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating the instruction for various scenarios. Using the Google tools, we worked on small concepts of the design process that led to an all encompassing culminating project. As the final assessment, we had to form our own teams, design instruction for a project that included broad goals, learning objectives, needs assessment, task analysis, and a plan showing evidence of acceptable results. Through this process, I learned that the importance of being able to use collaboration tools. We accomplished this great task through synchronous and asynchronous methods. Using Google Docs we were able to work together or separately, which was very helpful because we soon discovered that some of us were working and living in different time zones. Our schedules were different and some of our schedules were not as flexible as others. With Google Docs we were able to add to a collaborative document, leave comments for each other, and complete the tasks that were required. Because of varying schedules and time differences, we did find it beneficial to meet occasionally in Google Hangout, which allowed each person on the team to come together virtually and discuss the progress of our work and set goals for completing the work. Using Google Hangout and Google Docs, we were able to complete the final Instructional Design project, Using iPads in the Elementary Classroom. This was a project that I feel could not have been accomplished without the collaboration tools and collaborative efforts of my colleagues.