2.1 Content Standards & Student Technology Standards
Candidates model and facilitate the design and implementation of technology-enhanced learning experiences aligned with student content standards and student technology standards.
Artifact:
Reflection:
This was a marvelous classroom activity that I was invited to do in my Multimedia class, ITEC 7445. In this class, our culminating project was to develop a webquest for our students which would engage them with technology both inside the webquest, as well as with the webquest itself. I chose to do my webquest on the history of the 1960s. Students were asked to explore the music and fashion, the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the presidency of John F. Kennedy. Within the webquest, students had to develop several technology-infused pieces and work together to create and post their work to a group wiki. It was a very ambitious undertaking, that students loved reviewing. I had such a great time creating it, as I embedded video, music, and all kinds of fun activities to engage the students. The feedback I received from my student focus group was positive and encouraging.
This artifact demonstrates in more ways than one the mastery of Standard 2.1, because I was able to create an amazing webquest for students which included technology-enhanced activities as indicated above, and learning experiences aligned with student content standards and student technology standards. I was also able to analyze the effectiveness of the webquest through my student focus group.
Through the creation of my webquest, I learned how to enhance the learning experiences for my students using technology that they love. I was also able to create engaging, fun activities that promoted learning at higher levels of critical thinking. It was also differentiated to accommodate all kinds of learning differences. This webquest gave something for everyone. I invested a great deal of time in the creation of this webquest. If I were to go it over again, I would invite students to share their work with others, like perhaps a classroom of students from Vietnam through the use of e-Pals. Adding this component authenticates the learning, since the students would be performing for a real audience.
By creating engaging projects like this one, I believe I am impacting student learning in a positive way, because students are engaged and they are doing something that is meaningful to them and to others. These types of activities make learning fun, and the more time students spend with the content, the better they are going to perform on state-mandated tests. As students improve, so do schools, and everyone benefits from increased student achievement, making this a win-win for schools, for teachers, and for students.
This artifact demonstrates in more ways than one the mastery of Standard 2.1, because I was able to create an amazing webquest for students which included technology-enhanced activities as indicated above, and learning experiences aligned with student content standards and student technology standards. I was also able to analyze the effectiveness of the webquest through my student focus group.
Through the creation of my webquest, I learned how to enhance the learning experiences for my students using technology that they love. I was also able to create engaging, fun activities that promoted learning at higher levels of critical thinking. It was also differentiated to accommodate all kinds of learning differences. This webquest gave something for everyone. I invested a great deal of time in the creation of this webquest. If I were to go it over again, I would invite students to share their work with others, like perhaps a classroom of students from Vietnam through the use of e-Pals. Adding this component authenticates the learning, since the students would be performing for a real audience.
By creating engaging projects like this one, I believe I am impacting student learning in a positive way, because students are engaged and they are doing something that is meaningful to them and to others. These types of activities make learning fun, and the more time students spend with the content, the better they are going to perform on state-mandated tests. As students improve, so do schools, and everyone benefits from increased student achievement, making this a win-win for schools, for teachers, and for students.