Effective Technology

CHAPTER 2

short answer:

Question 1 Describe the relative advantage of using graphic tools to help students learn new concepts.

Graphic tools help visual learners by giving them something to look at and understand the new concepts. Visual learners are able make the new concepts more meaningful with the use of graphic tools.

Visual examples clarify concepts and applications.

Question 2 In Phase 2 of the Technology Integration Planning Model (TIP), teachers focus on the outcomes expected as a result of integrating technology into instruction. List four methods teachers can use to assess the outcomes of the plan.

Teachers mass assess the outcomes of their plans by the different tests that they give to their students and how well they do. Teachers focus on the outcomes of rubrics that are included in group projects. They may get feedback from their students by their attitudes explaining whether or not the students comprehend the material. Teachers also may assess their plans by getting feedback from students not by their attitudes alone but maybe short questionnaires at the end of their lessons and reflecting on whether the students were able to understand the materials and were able to make the lesson plan applicable.

Answers may include: tests, projects assessed using rubrics or checklists, surveys for attitude outcomes, observation instruments for behaviors.

Question 3 Describe two advantages of required school and district policies such as policies regarding Internet use, legal and ethical use, and equity.

Two advantages to have schools require policies using the internet are able to control what the students are looking up on the internet and making sure that it is appropriate and school related. Policies relating to legal and ethical use are for the students’ benefits and for safety rights of the students. If children were to gather information and not give credit where credit is do then there could be legal issues involved and plagiarism. Students would be using the works and minds of other individuals rather than their own thoughts and ethical beliefs.

Answers may include: Policies ensure appropriate behavior, safety, and equitable treatment of all students

web enrichment activities:

Question 1 Learning theory in technology-integrated lessons — Identify the learning theory addressed in a WebQuest. Locate a WebQuest at https://mail.lhup.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://webquest.org/. Click on "Top," "Middling," or "New" and then view a WebQuest for a selected grade level and subject area. As you read the instructions and materials included in the WebQuest, make a list of five aspects of the WebQuest that are informed or supported by learning theory. Refer to Figures 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, and 2.6 in the textbook.

I found a webquest that was designed for social studies for students in grades 3-5. This webquest uses many different learning theories that will be great to implement in the classroom. On the first page students get familiarized with the topic they are going to be learning about and there is the introduction that explains what all the neat things the students are going to take away from this webquest. The webquest then has the entire lesson broken down into subunits on the side of the screen. In each subunit the students learn something new about the subject which is on The Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving. The basic learning theory that this outline follows is the ADDIE model (analysis, design, development, implement, and evaluate). For the first task the students get background knowledge about the subject matter on the pilgrims. In the tasks subunit the webquest asks for different activities that the students can do to learn more about the subject. Each task involves a different learning theory for the first one it asks to make a concept map this is used for cognitive learning, for the next task it asks the students to write journals this is for linguistic learners, and the third task it asks for the students to look on different websites an idea for visual learners. Right there are three ways that the webquest has created ideas for different learning theories.http://questgarden.com/47/69/9/070310091054/task.htm

Question 2 Assessment of learning with rubrics — To see an example of rubrics developed for a student project, read about Mrs. Gaines' language arts lesson at https://mail.lhup.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://ali.apple.com/ali_sites/hpli/Exhibits/1000734. Click on "The Lesson" to read the instructions to students, and click on "Assessment" to see the rubrics used by the students. Visit the Rubistar website at https://mail.lhup.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php for templates used by teachers to create custom rubrics. Refer to Figure 2.7 in the textbook and discuss the model that best applies to Mrs. Gaines' lesson and assessment. List three reasons for selecting that model.

I think the best rubric that applies to Mrs. Gaines’ language arts lesson is one that could be made on the rubistar website. The three main reasons why I would select this model is because it’s easy to do. The second reason is because one you have created the lesson rubric you can always go back and fix it however you like and keep resaving the information so it never gets lost and you as the teacher may use the rubric repeatedly throughout the years and just need to change things from time to time. The final reason why this template is best to use is because it organizes what to observe as the teacher and what the teacher wants to get most out of his/her students’ results.

Question 3 Information literacy — The American Association of School Librarians and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology have published the "Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning" located athttps://mail.lhup.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/informationpower/InformationLiteracyStandards_final.pdf. Read the standards and indicators. Consider one standard and indicator, and think of an additional strategy that could be added to Figure 2.12 of the textbook to help students achieve the standard.

From the Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning: Strategy 1 The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively. The Indicator I’m looking at is 3 formulates questions based on informational needs. An additional strategy maybe observing the information given and trying to make that applicable life situations.

making the case for technology integration:

Question 1 Sheingold (1991) said that teachers will have to confront squarely the difficult problem of creating a school environment that is fundamentally different from the one they themselves experienced (p. 23). In what ways is the current K-12 environment different from the one you experienced? Do you feel this presents an obstacle to effective use of technology in your teaching? What are some strategies you feel might help teachers overcome this obstacle?

The K-12 environment is already beginning to be extremely different in today’s world then it was when I was growing up. In today’s classrooms there seems to be a lot more areas where the students may be divided up into for different activities, whether the assignment is for the students to work independently, or in groups, or in a less distracting environment. I think that more technology is being introduced into the classrooms as well and that could be making things a little bit more crowded. I grew up reading information off of a black board and an overhead projector was the greatest technology bound instrument we had at the time. But in today’s classrooms there are still the same black boards or some have magnetic dry erase boards, there’s still an area for the overhead projector, some more enriched classrooms have a smart board or the newer version of an overhead projector. All of these new technologies are helping teachers enhance the learning process but sometimes just one instrument is just as productive as two or three technological instruments put together. Teachers therefore can overcome this over crowding obstacle by requesting for just one area to be strictly for technology devices and have only one or two actually tools used for teaching the material.

Question 2 NCATE's document Technology and the New Professional Teacher (1997) said that, in addition to technology skills, teachers need an attitude that is fearless in the use of technology, encourages them to take risks, and inspires them to be lifelong learners. What current factors and activities can help teachers develop such an attitude? What factors make it difficult for them to acquire it?

Teachers can become more aware of technology by constantly working with the new technology and learning from their own experience how to work the software or they may take online courses that help explain what the new technology is and how it is beneficial. This may help create more ideas that the teachers may implement in their lessons. The biggest factor that inhibits teachers from becoming more familiarized with new technology is the time it takes to learn about the new information and what all the technological device entails.