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The Instructional Use of Smart Boards on Prezi

“Technology Reflection: Instructional Use of Whiteboards”

Technology Reflection Assignment

“Technology Reflection: Instructional Use of Whiteboards”

Description/Experience

The technology demonstrated in our last seminar was the instructional use of whiteboards. Mr. Graham from Preston County was our presenter. Mr. Graham showed us several different ways to incorporate whiteboards in the classroom. One website that he showed us that teachers can incorporate in their classrooms was Starfall. Starfall is an interactive website that helps students learn to read with phonics. I thought that this website looked like an excellent source for an elementary school classroom.

Application

The lesson that I would apply in my classroom would be using one of Starfall’s activities where children work on their reading skills. I would use this activity in a kindergarten classroom. This activity would be appropriate for students who are 5 or 6. The activity could even be used for students in Pre K. The students will gain a stronger ability in reading. By hearing the words in the sentences they will be able to pronounce the words easier. At the end of this activity students will have a greater grasp on how to read. I would know that my students benefited from this activity based on improvement in their reading abilities. I would have students try to read a book with sentences similar to the activity on Starfall in order to see if the activity was effective.

To begin the lesson I would introduce my students to Starfall. This might take 3-4 minutes or so to give them a sufficient amount of basic information.

I would then have the students spend ten minutes working on various Starfall activities to help improve their reading abilities.

Once the students completed their assigned Starfall activities, I would have them work on a similar activity at their desk to see if the whiteboard activity helped expand their knowledge.

After all of the activities were completed, we would complete a review activity that included all of the topics they worked on while using Starfall.  

Reflection

I think that using the whiteboard would be very beneficial to my students while using Starfall. Because the whiteboard is interactive, students would be able to be more involved and hands on in their learning. I feel that using the whiteboard could greatly increase students’ understanding of basic reading skills because it would allow them to be hands-on and hear the words they were trying to read.

--Pedagogical-Content:

A strategy that I would use to help increase my students’ reading abilities would be group read alouds. I would use this strategy because it would give students the opportunity to read out loud and also listen to their peers read while following along in the book. This follows along with my Starfall activity because students would also hear the words being read out loud and give them the opportunity to work on the activity in front of the peers at the whiteboard. Students in kindergarten might have a wide variety of reading levels. Some students might be coming in to kindergarten with no prior reading skills, while other students might already know how to read. I would be concerned about the different levels that my students would be on. For example, I would want to make sure that a student at a very high level was not reading at a low level and a student at a low level was not reading at a level way above their ability. I would want to make reading a fun experience so that students would be motivated to continue learning how to read.

--Technological-Pedagogical:

The main instructional strategy that I would use by incorporating the whiteboards would be that students would be able to have hands-on learning experience while learning how to read. The whiteboard would support how I teach reading because it would allow my students to take more control of their learning by using the whiteboards own their own, through touching the words on the screen and listening to the words. In order to have a working classroom atmosphere, I would have to be sure that all of my students were on their best behavior when using the whiteboard. If my students were not on their best behavior, using the whiteboard could be detrimental because it could be used as more of a distraction to students, rather than a learning tool.

--Technological Pedagogical Content:

Using the whiteboard to enhance my reading lessons would be useful because it would allow my students to be active in the class and work on their reading skills. A whole group discussion would span from this activity because students could have their peers help them when needed. Using this technology would help my students increase their reading abilities, and give them opportunities to work with their peers. Without the usage of whiteboards students would not be able to be interactive when learning how to read. Using the whiteboard allows students to be hands-on because they can touch the whiteboard to hear the words. Students can use whiteboards to show digital stories that they have written (After they have grasped basic skills to read). Using the whiteboard would be an excellent source to introduce students to reading.

“Technology Reflection: Instructional Use of iPads”

Description/Experience

In the last seminar a teacher from West Milford Elementary school talked to us about implementing iPads in the classroom. She described how using iPads in the classroom can be very beneficial to students.  She showed us a video of her son’s digital story. I was impressed by how useful iPads can be in the classroom. I had never imagined using that kind of technology in the classroom. I really like how there was an app to work on math problems.

Application

The activity that I would like to use incorporating the iPads would be a math activity. The age group that I would be working with would be third or fourth graders. The learners will gain a greater understanding of doing subtraction that involves borrowing. By the end of this activity students will feel more confident in completing math subtraction problems that require borrowing. After completing the activity I would give students a small quiz similar to the problems that I had them complete on the iPad to see if the activity was a success. I would know that my activity was effective if my students were able to complete the quiz that I gave them successfully.

To begin the activity I would give the students in-depth overview of the activity. I would tell them that we would be working on subtracting using the iPads. This would take only about a minute or so to explain the activity. Next, I would give the students ten minutes to work on the assigned math problems. (Prior to the activity we would have worked on similar problems on the board.) As the students work on the problems, I would walk around to check on the students to see if any of them were having difficulties. After the ten minutes are over, I would have the students stop working and we would go over all of the assigned problems given. After going over the problems, I would give the students a practice quiz to test their understanding of the concepts of borrowing. If students completed the quiz with little difficulty, I would know that the activity was a success.

Reflection

--Pedagogy-Content:

To represent the content to make it comprehensible to students I would go over numerous examples of subtraction problems involving borrowing. I would make sure that the examples that I went over prior to the activity would be similar to the problems that I assigned in the activity. When learning this content, students from different ages and backgrounds might be on different math levels. It would be my job to make sure that all of the content was suitable for all students. I would be concerned about students’ prior knowledge in math classes. Depending on what point in the school year that I assigned this activity I might be more concerned than other times. For example, if I assigned this activity near the end of the school year my concern might not be bad because I would be aware of my students’ strengths and weaknesses. It would also be imperative that I motivate my students. Math can be a very difficult subject for many students so motivation is very important.

--Technology-Pedagogy:

The iPad would be used in this activity as a motivational tool for students. Because math is very difficult for some students, motivation is very important for success. Using the iPad could be a way for students to get excited to learn math. Using the iPad would reinforce what I was teaching. I would teach the material first by using an interactive whiteboard. Using that technology I would introduce the material. Using the iPad would reiterate the material that I was teaching through numerous practice problems. I would need to make sure that all students were using the iPads responsibly. Because iPads are so expensive students would have to be sure to use them with respect and responsibly. I would reward students who used the iPads appropriately with extrinsic reinforcers such as being able to use the iPads during free time to play educational games.

--Technology-Content:

Using the iPads would enhance students’ motivation when learning difficult material such as subtraction with borrowing. The iPads would also provide student with several hands on practice problems to expand their knowledge of subtraction with borrowing. If I were to teach this material without the iPad I feel that students might not be as motivated or interested in learning the material. Although learning the material would be possible without the iPad, I feel that using the iPad would sufficiently enhance the experience. The iPad would enhance the way that students practice and understand the content by having hands on practice using the iPad. Using the iPad would highly motivate the students in comparison to traditional ways of teaching which would significantly help students learn the material.

--Technology-Pedagogy-Content:

I feel that the content can be effectively taught by my teaching strategies in this activity and by the iPad because it increases students’ motivation levels which will make students want to learn. Using the iPad also allows students to have extensive practice problems which will ultimately increase their comprehension levels. I think that using the iPad may enhance teaching math because it gives students the opportunity to use an interactive tool to practice the material that we will be working on. The iPad will enhance how I teach because it will be a reinforcer for the material I teach my students. I would choose which teaching strategies that I implemented based on my students needs. If I felt that some students needed more practice problems prior to using the iPads I would work with them more extensively then have them practice on their own using the iPad.

“Technology Reflection: Instructional Use of Edmodo"

Technology Reflection Assignment

 

Description/Experience

In the technology demonstration presented in the last seminar, we were introduced to Edmodo. Edmodo is a social networking site for teachers and students to communicate with one another. Teachers can post websites, answer questions, and easily communicate with their students while they are at home and at school. I currently use Edmodo to communicate with my PDS Coordinator and all of the other students in my cohort. I feel that Edmodo is a very good way to communicate with classmates and teachers.

 

Application

A learning activity that I could use in my future classroom incorporating Edmodo could be first having the students create an Edmodo account. Next I would put directions about the assignment on the webpage. After students are done with the assignment, they would turn in their assignment in the drop-box. I could have students go to another website to read a story. Then on Edmodo I would post questions for students to answer and turn in. Students would gain practice in using online sites, and learning how to turn in assignments on Edmodo. They would also gain skills in English by reading the story. I imagine this assignment being designed for a fifth grade class. I would know that the students acquired the learning outcome based on their answers that they turned in on Edmodo. I would know if my activity was successful if my students were successful in creating an Edmodo account, finding the website that the story was on, and successfully answering my questions and turning them in to the drop-box.

 

First students would create their account. After the students created their accounts, I would show them how Edmodo works. Once I felt that they had a good understanding of the information I was presenting, I would put the link to the website that had the story that they had to read on Edmodo. Next, students would go to that link and read the story. I would then post the questions that the students had to answer on Edmodo. Each student would have to answer the questions, and then put their answers in the drop-box.  

 

Reflection

Pedagogy-Content:

I would make sure that the content was in the student’s zone of proximal development. In order for students to be successful, teachers must be certain that the content that is being taught is developmentally appropriate. For my activity that I described previously, I would have to make sure that the story I chose for my students to read was appropriate for their reading level. This assignment would have to modified for different grade levels, by having students read stories that were either at a higher level or a lower level. Students would have to incorporate their reading knowledge in order to complete this assignment.

Technology:

The major functions of Edmodo are communicating with other students and instructors online, and being able to complete assignments and ask questions at home or at school. This technology is very accessible. Students can use this technology wherever internet access and computers are available. Edmodo is such a good tool because students can use it not just at school, but also at home.

Technology-Pedagogy:

 Technology is used in this assignment because students must access their Edmodo accounts in order to find the assignment, and turn the assignment in. The way that using the technology would change my teaching is that I would be essentially teaching through the computer. Since I would be assigning the assignment through Edmodo, and having the students turn the assignment in on Edmodo, I would also be answering student’s questions on Edmodo. In order to have a classroom that is under control, I would try to make sure that all students were very clear on their assignment so that they would be less likely to have to talk to their neighbor while completing this assignment.  

Technology-Content:

Using this technology would change the way the content is represented in my activity because the examples, illustrations, etc. would all be online. Instead of giving these examples, illustrations, etc. on the blackboard, or on an over-head, you would be giving the examples online on Edmodo. Using this technology students would change the normal way that they practice or understand the content in my activity, because they would not be reading a physical book, but instead be reading a story from a website.

Technology-Pedagogy-Content:

The content would be effectively taught through thorough instructions and examples of what I wanted the students to do. Using Edmodo would enhance reading stories because the students would be able to read the story from anywhere they have internet access. If the student was unable to have a physical copy of the book, they could go to the link and read the story there. It would give me the opportunity to teach my students using technology which would benefit them because they would get experience using the specific technology (Edmodo). I would decide what methods would work best to teach this assignment based on the needs of my students. If I felt that it would be best to teach them how to use Edmodo through watching me do it (visual learners), I would use that method, or if my class consisted of auditory learners, I would just verbally explain what they needed to do to successfully use Edmodo to complete their assignment.

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