PRESENTATION OUTLINE
"To effectively educate today's students, we need to be utilizing today's technology (Tenkely, 2014).
My Digital Literacy
At the beginning of this class, I agreed that I needed to be utilizing today's technology, but I was not aware of many programs in which I could use with my students. I was using the same programs over and over, which became boring for not only the students, but myself as well. I also did not have a lot of experience with using tablets within my class. I had only used them a couple of times within the past few years.
My Digital Literacy Goals
My goals for this course were to learn more about different programs that I could use with my students. I specifically wanted to learn about technology apps that could be used with our school iPads and Kindles. This way I could incorporate these hand held devices more often into my curriculum.
My Digital Literacy Goals
I also wanted to learn how to use technology to help differentiate my classroom instruction. I teach cotaught classes, with basic math skills ranging from 3rd grade to 12th grade or higher, according to recent NWEA scores. If I stick to the idea that one lesson fits all, I have many students left out because they are either confused or bored with the daily lessons. “When technology is integrated appropriately into a classroom, student learning begins to change. Students start asking more questions, digging deeper into learning, seeking their own answers, collaborating, and teaching themselves and each other" (Tenkely, 2014). I believe using technology to help with differentiation will help me to change student learning.
Within this course, my digital literacy has grown in a couple of ways.
Comfort
I am more comfortable with incorporating technology within the classroom now, than I was before taking these technology courses. Due to this increase in comfort, I am more willing to try out new programs with my students. I used to simply use the same programs over and over, because I was familiar with them.
Larger Repertoire
Due to the technology evaluations we conducted in this class, I learned a lot about different programs that are available to my students. I am now using more technology to communicate with my parents and coworker, and for my students to demonstrate their knowledge with. All of these new programs I have learned about for student presentations has helped students develop 21st century literacy which “requires creative ideas communicated in new forms” (21st Century Literacy, 2008).
Student Impact
My students have been more involved in their own education now that I have been using technology more in the classroom. The use of technology has given them more choices within the classroom when it comes to the way in which they present their knowledge. My students have also been more motivated. Their work output is greater and more creative when I let them use technology.
Teacher Impact
Through the use of technology in the classroom, my students behavior has been better. On the days I use technology programs or sites, my students are more engaged and less likely to be disruptive. They are also able to work at their own pace, so those who get bored or confused are also less likely to act out. The technology has helped me to create more "student centered learning" which is a key aspect of 21st century education (How to Use Technology in Education, 2013).
Future Technology Plan
Within this upcoming cardmarking, I would like to implement a new tool called Piktochart, which creates infographics or interactive posters. I have not had the chance to use this tool with my student, but have created a Piktochart of my own. This tool simply needs students to have access to a computer or laptop, that has access to internet. It would be helpful if students also had access to Youtube.com so that they may look up math tutorials for their Piktocharts.
Piktochart Use
The Piktocharts can be used by myself to create infographics for students. I can also use them to create my own interactive poster, where I could have students learn a concept at their own pace, by working their way through the poster and tutorials. Also, after learning a unit, a could have students create their own interactive poster about a mathematical theorem or postulate.
Outcome
This will give my students a new way to present their knowledge of mathematical concepts. If I have each student pick a different concept, I could then use all of their posters as a way for students to review for the final.
Timeline
This tool will be used the final week of the semester as a form of review. Students will work on their posters on January 7th and 8th. They will then have the opportunity to present or observe others posters January 9th and 12th.
