PowerPoint Lesson Plan Reflection

Up to this point, I have been focused on how I can use technology to engage my students and their parents. I have thought of different ways to utilize my technological skills to make learning more fun and the information I wish to share more appealing. However, with the PowerPoint Lesson Plan I not only found a way to apply my technological skills, but also to help my students apply theirs while at the same time, helping them to comprehend the material we were covering.

This lesson plan focused on the creation of a modern day inferno using Dante's Inferno as the premise. With older texts, i.e. Dante's Inferno, The Iliad, etc. the language the author's used and the references/subject matter can make the text seem unapproachable and irrelevant. By asking the students to apply the subject matter, i.e. the inhabitants of the inferno in a modern context, it helps to illustrate to the students why this book is timeless. In addition, by framing the subject matter in relatable terms, the students are able to better understand what the author's original intention was.

However, regardless of how clever an idea may be, if it fails to engage students, it's useless. If I asked students to build a modern day inferno using construction paper and glue sticks, only a small fraction of the students would find this interesting. Not all students are artistically inclined in a physical medium. The beauty of technology is that with the right information, anyone can produce a professional piece that they are proud of. With so many students living in and playing in the technological medium already, by taking this lesson plan and asking students to build their idea of a modern inferno using PowerPoint, I am engaging the students on a more relevant level and helping them to hone their own technology based skills.

It would be easy to stop there, but I chose to take this lesson plan one step further. In the working world, cooperation and team work is a key component to success. By making this project a group project and allocating the tasks across relevant class periods, I am encouraging the students to work together as a community to accomplish a common a goal. In small groups they are asked to complete a PowerPoint presentation that depicts 5 types of Inferno Inhabitants with modern day examples. However, I have no assigned these inhabitants to the groups. The students are asked to communicate with one another to ensure that there are no duplications and to ensure all inhabitants will be represented. All of this communication is encouraged to take place both in the classroom, but also utilizing the class discussion board on the class website.

The online discussion board and class website are also key components to this technology based lesson plan. I want students to not only be engaged in the material, but with each other. The class website offers a discussion area to iron out concept issues and even discuss any confusion regarding the text itself. Students are also asked to share any interesting resource materials they may come across during their research that may prove interesting or beneficial to other class members. One of the requirements of this assignment is that students provide two hyperlinks to interesting resources they discovered in their research. In the past students have been pitted against one another in competition, but by asking them to share their resources, they will realize they are working within a community rather than working against one another.

 

 

RSS Reader Reflection

As a solitary teacher in a classroom, it is easy to become isolated. The isolation of educators not only erodes the morale of teachers, but it also prevents the continued growth and education of teachers. Through the utilization of the RSS Reader, teachers are able to stay connected to a very large community of teachers.

In our digital age, teachers are of all ages are reaching out to the great ether, sharing their triumphs and frustrations as participants in the educational process. Whether they are just venting, attempting to remind themselves why they want to be teachers, or are trying to reach out to other teachers, many educators are blogging. These blogs are valuable resources to all teachers as it reminds us that we are not alone. These blogs give teachers of all experience levels a means of connecting with one another in ways that teachers prior to the invention of the blogospere couldn't have even imagined. Teaching can be emotionally draining and just knowing that you're not alone can make all the difference.

The community of teachers online isn't just a resource for emotional recompense for those needing validation or a shoulder to cry on. Teachers are able to share lesson plan ideas and project concepts. This is important because none of us are bottomless wells of fabulous and inspiring teaching ideas. Sometimes we hit a brick wall and having an online resource in which we're able to search and draw from to find tested plans that engage the students is a win win scenario for everyone.

The utilization of the RSS Reader is an intriguing and innovative tool for educators that brings all of this together. Rather than scouring the internet and bookmarks for these resources, I am able to subscribe to the resources using Google Reader. In addition, I can share these resources with my fellow teachers so that they, too, can avoid the pitfalls of isolation. This allows me as a teacher to "Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership" while also "Model[ing] Digital-Age Work and Learning".

Rubric Creation Reflection

One of the more perplexing parts about teaching, beyond educating, is evaluating what students have learned. As I learn the various ins and outs of becoming a teacher, it's reassuring to know that others have come before more, faced with the same questions and concerns. As a result, there is a huge plethora of knowledge and tools at my disposal.

The rubric is a wonderful tool that allows me to clarify the goals of my lesson plan. By outlining what I want to see from a student's work, I am able to organize my own thoughts. This ensures that I have a comprehensive lesson plan that will help my students to achieve their academic goals while at the same time, it gives me a tool to assess the achievement and progress of each student. Furthermore, the rubric gives students a clear and concise reference for what my expectations are for their work. This ensures that there is no lapse in communication.

Considering the time constrictions all teachers face, whenever we can save time it's a blessing. For this reason the rubric building tool online is a lifesaver. With the pre generated rubric templates I am able to build a rubric that fits my needs in a fraction of the time.

Technology Supported Lesson Plan Reflection

One of the most important characteristics of a good teacher is being prepared. Through the preparation and execution of thoughtful lesson plans, a teacher is able to navigate her class through a meaningful adventure in learning. In addition to being an important organizational tool, lesson plans offer an opportunity for an educator to be creative and engaging.

During the course of designing my technology supported lesson plan, I was unaware of how truly labor intensive the design of a lesson plan is. As a teacher I want to make sure that my students are engaged in the material and learning. This is not a simple task. From ensuring my compliance with state curriculum guidelines and utilizing ITSE guidelines to ensure my inclusion of technology to devising a lesson plan that fits within a 45 minute class period, lesson plans are extremely challenging.

The hardest part about devising a comprehensive lesson plan is juggling the lesson plan with the overall big picture goals I have for my classroom. In a perfect world I would be able to map out the entire years lesson plans like a learning road map. I envision a giant wall with push pins, books, and post its and various pieces of colored string tying the lessons together in a cohesive plan.

However, this is not realistic. Even if I were able to sit down and plan out an entire year's worth of teaching, I shouldn't want to. Each class will be different requiring me to utilize different tools and approaches to reach them. If I were to limit myself to an elaborate design for my own peace of mind and organization I could end up ignoring the needs of my students, which is the last thing I want to do.

The best approach to designing lesson plans is to limit my "big picture" scope to units based on the readings I have chosen. I can have goals for the class, but I need to avoid being rigid in my planning as stuff happens and challenges arise. I have worked out a series of questions to ask myself as I design a lesson.

1. What is my overall goal in reading this book in class?
   
2. What curriculum standards can be applied to aid in the achievement of this goal?
   
3. What are some effective approaches that other teachers have discovered in teaching this material?
   
4. How does this approach work towards achieving these goals?
   
5. In what ways can I utilize technology to engage the students?
   
6. What means am I going to use to determine the effectiveness of this lesson?
   

Assistive Technology Reflection

As a teacher, I need to be aware of all of the possible obstacles my students may face. Not every student will be challenge free. In fact, most students will face some learning obstacles during their academic career. As a result, it is important that I am not only aware of these potential obstacles, but of their possible solutions.

Through this research I was able to educate myself on various assistive technologies that will help my students who face challenges be active participants in their education. It's easy to think that these technologies are expensive and potentially unrealistic for every day classroom use, but that is simply not the case. I was surprised to find that some of the most helpful assistive technologies are included as part of the standard package with Windows operated PCs and Apple computers. From "sticky keys" that transform multiple key strokes into one to simply enlarging the text on the screen to make it easier to read, assistive technology is everywhere.

There is a quote that I found extremely inspirational during this research and in general:

"I have discovered few learning disabled students in my three decades of teaching. I have, however, discovered many, many victims of teaching inabilities." ~ Marva Collins

It is my responsibility to ensure that none of my students are abandoned at the doorway because they face challenges I am unwilling to help them navigate. I am their educational advocate. There is no such thing as being too prepared to help a student learn because at the end of the day, there is no such thing as a student who can't learn, only a teacher who is unwilling to figure out how.                

 

 

 

Back to School PowerPoint Presentation Reflection

As an educator it is my responsibility to not only educate the students, but to give them every possible opportunity I can. This includes taking advantage of every opportunity I can to involve each student's parents in hopes that they will take an active role in their child's education. Just as my Back to School Brochure was an opportunity to initiate this contact, so too, is my Back to School PowerPoint presentation.

Where my Back to School Brochure left off, my PowerPoint presentation picked up. I was able to fully introduce myself to the parents, giving them a brief history of my personal educational background. It was my intention that by getting to know me as person and not just a representation of an educational system that their child participates in, the parents would be more apt to approach me with questions, concerns, or suggestions. By being able to engage the parents, it is my hope that I have a better chance at engaging the students.

A goal of the PowerPoint presentation was also to familiarize the parents with my classroom, a few of the academic highlights, and to demonstrate my proficiency with technological tools. By making the parents aware of the expectations I hold for their children they will be aware of the classroom culture I aim to cultivate. Furthermore, by offering the parents a view of the books we will be reading in class in addition to my planned use of a class website, I providing an opportunity for the parents to involve themselves as much as they can in their child's education. Perhaps by providing this information early in the school year, it will encourage the parents to read the novels along with their child allowing for additional conversations at home.

At the end of the day I am confident that this technological tool helps me as an educator to reach my goals in communicating with the parents of my students. I am hopeful that this tool will also be the spark of inspiration that is needed to generate moments of opportunity and learning between parent and child.