Technology Integration is explored within this first section. This section gives a summary of each artifact provided , as well as the ISTE standards that are fulfilled by the given artifact.
Section I-A: Research
"Being able to understand and apply educational technology research is an important part of being a technology facilitator."
Being able to conduct research and showcase findings is an integral part of being a professional. As a teaching professional with a background in educational technologies, it is important to me that I am able to research new findings as well as current trends related to the areas of education and technology in education.
The first two artifacts that I have chosen to demonstrate my understanding of the importance being able to research and present information is a research paper Down Syndrome Inclusion Research Paper and the PowerPoint presentation Down Syndrome Inclusion Presentation used to present the findings to peers within the course ED 608. These two artifacts demonstrate my awareness of major research findings in education. It also demonstrates my understanding of sharing findings.
The third artifact that I have chosen to use as a showcase of my awareness of major research findings and trends related to the use of technology in education to support integration throughout the curriculum are prepared opening and closing states, as well as notes used during a formal debate on the topic:1:1 computing is a better model of education over computer labs and text books. This is a debate in which I participated in while in the course ET690. This artifact demonstrates how research based findings can help revolutionize education. It also shows that I understand the importance of being up to date with best practices as well as new models of teaching in the 21st century.
The fourth artifact I have chosen to provide evidence that I have independently researched the effectiveness of technology in education to support integration throughout curriculum is a formal research paper Technology in Math. While the research paper stated that I was going to become a math teacher, this was changed prior to the beginning of the school year. However, the ideas presented in this research paper center around integrating technology into curriculum to help build students' comprehension of concepts and help them become active participants in instruction, are ideas that I have implemented in my language arts classes. This artifact also includes a literature review that demonstrates my awareness of major findings in educational technology.
Artifact 1: Down Syndrome Inclusion Research Paper
Created in ED 608
Artifact 2: Down Syndrome Inclusion Presentation
Created in ED 608
Artifact 3: 1:1 Computing Model Debate Notes
Created in ET690
Artifact 4: Technology in Math Research Paper
Created in ED670
Section I-B: Integration of Technology into the Curriculum
"Integration of technology into the curriculum has the most direct impact on students learning"
The first and second artifacts I have included are both a part of a Critical Literacy Information Lesson I created. The purpose of this lesson is to have students understand the importance of evaluating and critically analyzing a website prior to using it. Artifact 2 is the lesson plan I created to use with my 5th grade language arts class. This lesson is aligned to National Technology Standards and Common Core Standards. The lesson also has students use a website I created called "Critically Think Webpage for Students Use." I think it is important that teachers model the expectation they have for their students, as well as opportunities their students have. For that reason, it is important that as I integrate the use of technology into my classroom, I am continually analyzing my own technology skills and use and learning new things. By having students use a webpage I created, I am helping them gain an understanding of methods and strategies technology can provide in the real world.
The third artifact I have included is another lesson plan I created, "Awesome Animals." This lesson plan was the result of a group collaboration project. I have chosen to include this as another display of my ability to integrate technology into curriculum and ensure its alignment to both state and National Technology Standards.
Artifact 1: Critical Information Literacy Project - Critical Information Literacy Project Lesson Plan
Created in ET630.
Artifact 2: Critical Information Literacy Project - Critically Think Webpage for Student Use!
Created in ET630.
Artifact 3: Awesome Animal Lesson Plan
Created in ET605.
Section I-C: Technology Resources
"Being a technology facilitator requires the ability to use technology resources, find new resources, and find ways to acquire new resources that are compatible with the standards used in [a given] school."
The first artifact I have chosen supports that I am able to not only integrate technology into my curriculum, but I am also able to analyze the effectiveness of a particular technology component is a Software Review/Interactive Curricular-based Web Site Review. This artifact demonstrates that I am able to see past the idea that any technology integration is a good integration. It is important that when an educator is integrating technology into their classroom they are aware of why they are doing so and their desired out come of the integration. Without the ability to analyze both the initial technology component and later the effectiveness of its use, the focus of the curriculum would not be on helping the students better their opportunities for learning.
The second artifact I have chose to include that demonstrates my awareness of grant-writing opportunities to obtain resources, specially technology resources for my school. This artifact includes a breakdown of grant opportunities I feel would be excellent opportunities for my school to discuss and apply. One of the grant opportunities I review was the Maryland Society For Educational Technology (MSET) Grant. The Maryland Society for Education Technology Grant awards grant money for the purpose of promoting innovated uses of instructional technology in the classroom in the forms of software, hardware, or peripherals needed to complete the program.
Artifact 1: Software Review/Interactive Curricular-based Web Site Review
Created in ET610.
Artifact 2: Grant Funding Paper
Created in ET680
Section I-D: Managing the Technology-Rich Classroom
"Managing a classroom that uses technology can be a challenge. [One] should have a variety of strategies for managing the technology itself, as well as managing students in a technology-rich learning environment."
Technology is fast. When using technology in the classroom, my goal is to take this quick paced resource and not slow it down or slow my students use of it down but help my students to critically think about the way they use technology, as well as ensure my classroom setting is one that reflects organization and promotes learning. In order to do this, I must not only use a variety of strategies to manage student learning but also analyze these strategies and evaluate their use within my classroom.
The first artifact I have chosen to demonstrate that I am able to analyze a variety of strategies to manage students learning in a technology-enhanced environment is a Project Compare. This artifact outlines several different tele-collaborative projects one could use within their classroom.
The second artifact I have included is my Web 2.0 Blog. Blogging is a technology tool that is being seen in many classrooms today. Good educators are familiar with the tools and methods they use within their classrooms. By creating my own blog and participating in discussions on other blogs, I was able to critically look at blogs. Because of my personal experience with blogging, I can analyze this technology tool and see its value within a classroom. I can now better understand its value for individual thought, as well as small group and large group discussion.
Artifact 1: Project Compare
Created in ET630.
Artifact 2: Web 2.0 Project Blog
Created in ET630
Section I-E: Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues"
"As a technology facilitator, [one] must understand the importance of both teachers and students behaving legally and ethically and providing a safe and healthy environment for student learning with technology."
The first artifact I have included is an Acceptable Use Policy I created that could be used with an intermediate grade level classroom. I created and uses this Acceptable Use Policy within my own 5th grade classroom after it was created. It is important to enforce both legal and ethical standards within your classroom when you are using technology.
The second artifact I have included is a Software Piracy and Tracking Memo.
In an area where technology is a part of our everyday lives we are asking our teachers, staff, and students to follow the "laws of software legality" without informing them of the rules, procedures, and consequences. Piracy is an issue many do not know of and therefore cannot address. I have had on several occasions students ask if they could use Google-Images in their reports, unaware that they could be breaking copy-right laws. I also have viewed teacher websites and presentations that I am sure the images are violating copy-right laws. These are issues that can easily be resolved. Another main concern of mine is the lack of awareness of the software schools have that are available to teachers, staff, and students. The Software Piracy and Tracking memo I included as an artifact is a letter that proposes what I feel are options to ensure that a school track their software and limit software piracy among the community.
Artifact 1: Acceptable Use Policy
Created in ET680.
Artifact: Software Piracy and Tracking Memo
Created in ET680.
Section I-F: Technology for Diversity
"Technology can be a powerful tool for affirming cultural diversity. As a technology facilitator, [one] should be mindful of the variety of technologies that increase global understanding and affirm cultural diversity."
Technology has the ability to not only allow learners to create and produce in ways we have never imagined but to also allow learners to connect and view the world in ways we never imagined! In today's world, I feel that it becomes a teacher's responsibility to provide experiences for students to see the word from a different view.
The two artifacts I have chosen to showcase how I have exposed students to other cultures are webquest explorations. Webquests allow for students to take on a task at their own pace and use technolog to enhance their learning experience.
Artifact 1: Rainforest Webquest
Created in my own classroom.
Artifact 2: Christmas Around the World Webquest
Created in my own classroom.
Section I-G: Technology for Diverse and Special Needs
"Technology can facilitate the needs of special needs students through adaptive and assistive technology and differentiated instruction."
Technology has provided new opportunities and opened new doors for both students and teachers. Schools have become more student-centered and places of innovative thinking. Differentiated instruction is one area within education that has seen first-hand the benefits of technology.
The first artifact I have included is an interactive unit for students to use to gain an awareness of the differences around them. The unit particularly focuses on deafness and hearing impairments. It gives students a perspective on the technology that is available for people with hearing impairments. At the time I created this unit, I was teaching a student who was hearing impaired and used an FM System. This unit helped the student's peers have an awareness of hearing impairments.
The second artifact I have included is Assistive Technologies for Educating Students with High and Low Incidence Disabilities. This artifact is a compiled list of software titles to be used in the classroom as assistive and/or educational technology for students with varying skills and deficits, secondary to high and low incidence disabilities.
Artifact 1: Going with the Flow Unit Plan
Created in ET640
Artifact 2: Assistive Technology for Educating Students with High and Low Incidence Disabilities
Created in ET640
Section I-H: Instructional Design
"Well-designed instruction and learning environments are a key factor in student learning."
Teaching in the 21st century should include the use of technology-based learning activities. Teachers of the 21st century should be able to utilize technology to enhance the learning environment for their students. While there are many ways a teacher may use technology in today's classrooms, I have chosen to include two artifacts that I created in ET 620 to highlight that I am able to include an understanding of specific instructional design principles.
The first artifact is Guide through Geometry! An Interactive Review of Geometry! Lesson Plan. This artifact showcases my ability to have the outcomes I wish for a lesson to be the primary focus of my designing of the lesson. This lesson plan shows my understanding of specific instructional design principles with an alignment to standards.
The second artifact I included is Guide through Geometry! An Interactive Review of Geometry! Interactive PowerPoint. This artifact showcases my knowledge of the interworking of technology. It was important to me that I gain an understanding of not only how to appropriately approach and use technology in my classroom, but also that I understand the design of technology. This artifact was a collaborative project in which I was able to design my own interactive PowerPoint.
The third artifact I included is not one in which technology is used as a tool but rather as an authentic connection. It is important that as we incorporate technology into the curriculum we continually focus on the specific instructional design principles. One of the principles being authentic assessments and real life connections. This artifact is a unit I planned for the novel The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman. This novel focuses on the impact of technology in society. The unit concludes with a authentic performance task in which students take on the role of an intern at Pixar Studios given the task of creating a movie trailer.
Artifact 1: Guide through Geometry! An Interactive Review of Geometry! Lesson Plan
Created in ET620
Artifact 2: Guide through Geometry! An Interactive Review of Geometry! Interactive PowerPoint
Created in ET620
Artifact 3: The Homework Machine Unit Plan
Section I-A: Research
"Being able to understand and apply educational technology research is an important part of being a technology facilitator."
Being able to conduct research and showcase findings is an integral part of being a professional. As a teaching professional with a background in educational technologies, it is important to me that I am able to research new findings as well as current trends related to the areas of education and technology in education.
The first two artifacts that I have chosen to demonstrate my understanding of the importance being able to research and present information is a research paper Down Syndrome Inclusion Research Paper and the PowerPoint presentation Down Syndrome Inclusion Presentation used to present the findings to peers within the course ED 608. These two artifacts demonstrate my awareness of major research findings in education. It also demonstrates my understanding of sharing findings.
The third artifact that I have chosen to use as a showcase of my awareness of major research findings and trends related to the use of technology in education to support integration throughout the curriculum are prepared opening and closing states, as well as notes used during a formal debate on the topic:1:1 computing is a better model of education over computer labs and text books. This is a debate in which I participated in while in the course ET690. This artifact demonstrates how research based findings can help revolutionize education. It also shows that I understand the importance of being up to date with best practices as well as new models of teaching in the 21st century.
The fourth artifact I have chosen to provide evidence that I have independently researched the effectiveness of technology in education to support integration throughout curriculum is a formal research paper Technology in Math. While the research paper stated that I was going to become a math teacher, this was changed prior to the beginning of the school year. However, the ideas presented in this research paper center around integrating technology into curriculum to help build students' comprehension of concepts and help them become active participants in instruction, are ideas that I have implemented in my language arts classes. This artifact also includes a literature review that demonstrates my awareness of major findings in educational technology.
Artifact 1: Down Syndrome Inclusion Research Paper
Created in ED 608
Artifact 2: Down Syndrome Inclusion Presentation
Created in ED 608
Artifact 3: 1:1 Computing Model Debate Notes
Created in ET690
Artifact 4: Technology in Math Research Paper
Created in ED670
Section I-B: Integration of Technology into the Curriculum
"Integration of technology into the curriculum has the most direct impact on students learning"
The first and second artifacts I have included are both a part of a Critical Literacy Information Lesson I created. The purpose of this lesson is to have students understand the importance of evaluating and critically analyzing a website prior to using it. Artifact 2 is the lesson plan I created to use with my 5th grade language arts class. This lesson is aligned to National Technology Standards and Common Core Standards. The lesson also has students use a website I created called "Critically Think Webpage for Students Use." I think it is important that teachers model the expectation they have for their students, as well as opportunities their students have. For that reason, it is important that as I integrate the use of technology into my classroom, I am continually analyzing my own technology skills and use and learning new things. By having students use a webpage I created, I am helping them gain an understanding of methods and strategies technology can provide in the real world.
The third artifact I have included is another lesson plan I created, "Awesome Animals." This lesson plan was the result of a group collaboration project. I have chosen to include this as another display of my ability to integrate technology into curriculum and ensure its alignment to both state and National Technology Standards.
Artifact 1: Critical Information Literacy Project - Critical Information Literacy Project Lesson Plan
Created in ET630.
Artifact 2: Critical Information Literacy Project - Critically Think Webpage for Student Use!
Created in ET630.
Artifact 3: Awesome Animal Lesson Plan
Created in ET605.
Section I-C: Technology Resources
"Being a technology facilitator requires the ability to use technology resources, find new resources, and find ways to acquire new resources that are compatible with the standards used in [a given] school."
The first artifact I have chosen supports that I am able to not only integrate technology into my curriculum, but I am also able to analyze the effectiveness of a particular technology component is a Software Review/Interactive Curricular-based Web Site Review. This artifact demonstrates that I am able to see past the idea that any technology integration is a good integration. It is important that when an educator is integrating technology into their classroom they are aware of why they are doing so and their desired out come of the integration. Without the ability to analyze both the initial technology component and later the effectiveness of its use, the focus of the curriculum would not be on helping the students better their opportunities for learning.
The second artifact I have chose to include that demonstrates my awareness of grant-writing opportunities to obtain resources, specially technology resources for my school. This artifact includes a breakdown of grant opportunities I feel would be excellent opportunities for my school to discuss and apply. One of the grant opportunities I review was the Maryland Society For Educational Technology (MSET) Grant. The Maryland Society for Education Technology Grant awards grant money for the purpose of promoting innovated uses of instructional technology in the classroom in the forms of software, hardware, or peripherals needed to complete the program.
Artifact 1: Software Review/Interactive Curricular-based Web Site Review
Created in ET610.
Artifact 2: Grant Funding Paper
Created in ET680
Section I-D: Managing the Technology-Rich Classroom
"Managing a classroom that uses technology can be a challenge. [One] should have a variety of strategies for managing the technology itself, as well as managing students in a technology-rich learning environment."
Technology is fast. When using technology in the classroom, my goal is to take this quick paced resource and not slow it down or slow my students use of it down but help my students to critically think about the way they use technology, as well as ensure my classroom setting is one that reflects organization and promotes learning. In order to do this, I must not only use a variety of strategies to manage student learning but also analyze these strategies and evaluate their use within my classroom.
The first artifact I have chosen to demonstrate that I am able to analyze a variety of strategies to manage students learning in a technology-enhanced environment is a Project Compare. This artifact outlines several different tele-collaborative projects one could use within their classroom.
The second artifact I have included is my Web 2.0 Blog. Blogging is a technology tool that is being seen in many classrooms today. Good educators are familiar with the tools and methods they use within their classrooms. By creating my own blog and participating in discussions on other blogs, I was able to critically look at blogs. Because of my personal experience with blogging, I can analyze this technology tool and see its value within a classroom. I can now better understand its value for individual thought, as well as small group and large group discussion.
Artifact 1: Project Compare
Created in ET630.
Artifact 2: Web 2.0 Project Blog
Created in ET630
Section I-E: Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues"
"As a technology facilitator, [one] must understand the importance of both teachers and students behaving legally and ethically and providing a safe and healthy environment for student learning with technology."
The first artifact I have included is an Acceptable Use Policy I created that could be used with an intermediate grade level classroom. I created and uses this Acceptable Use Policy within my own 5th grade classroom after it was created. It is important to enforce both legal and ethical standards within your classroom when you are using technology.
The second artifact I have included is a Software Piracy and Tracking Memo.
In an area where technology is a part of our everyday lives we are asking our teachers, staff, and students to follow the "laws of software legality" without informing them of the rules, procedures, and consequences. Piracy is an issue many do not know of and therefore cannot address. I have had on several occasions students ask if they could use Google-Images in their reports, unaware that they could be breaking copy-right laws. I also have viewed teacher websites and presentations that I am sure the images are violating copy-right laws. These are issues that can easily be resolved. Another main concern of mine is the lack of awareness of the software schools have that are available to teachers, staff, and students. The Software Piracy and Tracking memo I included as an artifact is a letter that proposes what I feel are options to ensure that a school track their software and limit software piracy among the community.
Artifact 1: Acceptable Use Policy
Created in ET680.
Artifact: Software Piracy and Tracking Memo
Created in ET680.
Section I-F: Technology for Diversity
"Technology can be a powerful tool for affirming cultural diversity. As a technology facilitator, [one] should be mindful of the variety of technologies that increase global understanding and affirm cultural diversity."
Technology has the ability to not only allow learners to create and produce in ways we have never imagined but to also allow learners to connect and view the world in ways we never imagined! In today's world, I feel that it becomes a teacher's responsibility to provide experiences for students to see the word from a different view.
The two artifacts I have chosen to showcase how I have exposed students to other cultures are webquest explorations. Webquests allow for students to take on a task at their own pace and use technolog to enhance their learning experience.
Artifact 1: Rainforest Webquest
Created in my own classroom.
Artifact 2: Christmas Around the World Webquest
Created in my own classroom.
Section I-G: Technology for Diverse and Special Needs
"Technology can facilitate the needs of special needs students through adaptive and assistive technology and differentiated instruction."
Technology has provided new opportunities and opened new doors for both students and teachers. Schools have become more student-centered and places of innovative thinking. Differentiated instruction is one area within education that has seen first-hand the benefits of technology.
The first artifact I have included is an interactive unit for students to use to gain an awareness of the differences around them. The unit particularly focuses on deafness and hearing impairments. It gives students a perspective on the technology that is available for people with hearing impairments. At the time I created this unit, I was teaching a student who was hearing impaired and used an FM System. This unit helped the student's peers have an awareness of hearing impairments.
The second artifact I have included is Assistive Technologies for Educating Students with High and Low Incidence Disabilities. This artifact is a compiled list of software titles to be used in the classroom as assistive and/or educational technology for students with varying skills and deficits, secondary to high and low incidence disabilities.
Artifact 1: Going with the Flow Unit Plan
Created in ET640
Artifact 2: Assistive Technology for Educating Students with High and Low Incidence Disabilities
Created in ET640
Section I-H: Instructional Design
"Well-designed instruction and learning environments are a key factor in student learning."
Teaching in the 21st century should include the use of technology-based learning activities. Teachers of the 21st century should be able to utilize technology to enhance the learning environment for their students. While there are many ways a teacher may use technology in today's classrooms, I have chosen to include two artifacts that I created in ET 620 to highlight that I am able to include an understanding of specific instructional design principles.
The first artifact is Guide through Geometry! An Interactive Review of Geometry! Lesson Plan. This artifact showcases my ability to have the outcomes I wish for a lesson to be the primary focus of my designing of the lesson. This lesson plan shows my understanding of specific instructional design principles with an alignment to standards.
The second artifact I included is Guide through Geometry! An Interactive Review of Geometry! Interactive PowerPoint. This artifact showcases my knowledge of the interworking of technology. It was important to me that I gain an understanding of not only how to appropriately approach and use technology in my classroom, but also that I understand the design of technology. This artifact was a collaborative project in which I was able to design my own interactive PowerPoint.
The third artifact I included is not one in which technology is used as a tool but rather as an authentic connection. It is important that as we incorporate technology into the curriculum we continually focus on the specific instructional design principles. One of the principles being authentic assessments and real life connections. This artifact is a unit I planned for the novel The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman. This novel focuses on the impact of technology in society. The unit concludes with a authentic performance task in which students take on the role of an intern at Pixar Studios given the task of creating a movie trailer.
Artifact 1: Guide through Geometry! An Interactive Review of Geometry! Lesson Plan
Created in ET620
Artifact 2: Guide through Geometry! An Interactive Review of Geometry! Interactive PowerPoint
Created in ET620
Artifact 3: The Homework Machine Unit Plan