Due date: Sunday, Oct 20th by 11:59pm EST
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| (Want to make a word map yourself? Go to wordle.net) |
How many teachers use a Smartboard simply because there is one installed in their classroom instead of intentionally choosing the tool based on thinking deeply about what they pedagogically want to accomplish? At this point in the module, I want you to conscientiously think about where, when and how learning occurs and how to intentionally create technological environments that facilitate those learning goals. This is not an easy task. However, it is incumbent upon every teacher to approach technology integration in this way.
The goal of this third interactivity is to help you understand how to align specific technologies to support (rather than supplement) the instructional strategies you choose to achieve student learning. You will work individually on this assignment (this is not a group project).
BACKGROUND READING
Read Chapter 4 (pp. 79-97) in Rethinking Technology in Schools. This chapter aims towards a more conscientious approach to curriculum planning. Pay close attention to Figure 5, Systemic Technology Planning. Notice how both standards and assessment and media and technology resources are integral parts of a larger whole of curriculum design. This figure will help you to visualize the purpose behind this assignment—which is to select an existing lesson plan in your content area that uses technology in some way. In other words, at this point it does not have to be a particularly sophisticated use of technology.
Step One: Know Your Standards
First, you must be familiar with the core curriculum content area standards in your subject area. For the purpose of this assignment, you will use the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards (NJCCCS) which are now aligned with the (national) Common Core Standards. It's up to you to locate the body of standards in your content area that your students must achieve (these standards are adapted at the district level). Becoming familiar with your content area standards means that you know how to locate them, you have read through them completely and you have a general sense of the areas in which your students will be assessed.You will also work with the NJCCCS in more detail in your final project for the course.
Step Two: Choose a Lesson Plan
For this assignment you will locate and use an existing lesson plan. I provide starter links below, but you are not limited to just those web sites. Feel free to browse the Web. Ultimately, your task is to choose a lesson plan in your content area that has a clear curriculum goal (it can be general at this point—see Chapter Four of Rethinking Technology) and that incorporates a form of digital technology in some way. You will find there are thousands of lesson plans in all content areas on the Web, but not all of them include curriculum standards or the use of technology. In other words, just because they exist on the web or as part of an "educational" web site does not ensure their quality. Make sure you select a lesson plan that is conducive to supporting the NJCCCS or Common Core standards in your content area. Make a note of the source URL and the author/organization of the lesson plan that you choose.
Step Three: Analyze Your Lesson Plan
Examine your chosen lesson plan and answer the following questions (in your mind NOT in a blog post):
- Which NJCCCS (either strands or indicators) does this lesson plan support?
- What are the specific teaching strategies prescribed in this lesson plan (i.e., group discussion, Q & A, research, lecture, inquiry, media production).
- Identify the teaching strategies you identified in #2 that are more teacher-centered and those that are more student-centered. (Consult the background reading for additional explanation).
- Does the instructional technology prescribed in this lesson plan directly support the teaching strategies outlined in #2 above?
Step Four: Map Your Analysis
- Within Google Spreadsheets, create a single spreadsheet that is organized into three columns with the following column headers 1)Standards; 2) Strategies; and 3) Technologies.
- Map out your lesson plan using the data you generated in Step Three above (Note:Your notations about teacher/student centeredness for #3 above should be placed in the Strategies column).
- Use a different color font to fill in any information in your three-columned spreadsheet that you think is missing from the lesson plan.
- When referencing NJCCCS strands, use key words in addition to the numerical code citation (you do not have to list the entire standard; you can use key words/phrases).
- Your spreadsheet should provide evidence of your analysis of your chosen lesson plan. It should visually delineate between the original lesson plan and your own notations and additions.
- Include the following at the top of your spreadsheet: Your full name and the title of the lesson plan (including grade level and content area). Also, if the lesson plan has a estimated length for completion (i.e., 2-3 class sessions), include that information as well.
- Include the following information at the bottom of your spreadsheet: The lesson plan author or organization, date (if available) and URL. If you created the lesson plan, then state your name as author.
- Under the "Share" menu, locate the URL for your spreadsheet and make sure the privacy settings are configured for public on the web so that anyone can view it. (You will use the URL in Step 5 below).
Step Five: Share and Reflect
Craft a brief narrative blog post (between 250-300 words) and title it "Technology & Pedagogy." Include the URL to your spreadsheet and your responses to the following questions (do NOT enumerate your answers):
- Why did you choose this particular lesson plan?
- What were the gaps between the curriculum goal(s), teaching strategies, and
- technologies used? If there were none, explain how these were in complete alignment.
- To what extent is this particular technology essential to achieving the curriculum goal(s)? What technologies, if any, would better support the instructional strategies and achieve the educational goals/standards?
As a reminder, your blog is not a "Dear Diary" mechanism, but rather an opportunity for you to display your professional thoughts, ideas and practices as an educator in your content area. Consult the course syllabus for general criteria on which I base my assessment of your blog posts. Also keep in mind that potential employers can see your blog.
Possible starting points for locating a lesson plan:
HISTORY
ENGLISH
SCIENCE
MATH
ARTS
LANGUAGES
MUSIC
