Course Embedded Reflection

     We worked as group to implement a Free Bully Zone program in our theoretical  school known as S.T.A.N.D which means stand tall against negative domineer. We wanted this project to have a component built in to analyze data related to student learning. I learned a lot in regards to project, I had to create a UDL lesson which incorporates technological tools to get  our 30 students of varied learning levels to collaboratively work together to meet the expectations of the learning objectives which were:

1. Students will identify the signs of bullying in individuals. (Recognition Network)

2. Students will classify the types of bullying into four groups based upon the characteristics that they see, or read through given scenarios. (Strategic Network)

3. Students will identify the types of sampling and pick the type of sampling that most appropriate for their data collection. (Recognition and Strategic Network)

4. Students will pick the most appropriate graphical display to represent the data that they collected. (Strategic Network)

5. Students will research proposals to help model the proposal that they will create based upon the data collected from the surveys. (Affective Network)

 

      A lot of what I read or watched is what I have done or doing in my classroom.  I believe technology is very important and must be integrated appropriately to ensure that students are learning. We have to make sure that technological tools that are being truly match the needs of the learning goals. The article from  "If I am teaching this way, am I doing my job"? is still the article that I mostly identify with from all the articles from this course. After reading that it change my perspective and now I no longer have that feeling that I am not doing anything in labs, because in reality I am actually working harder than when I am in the classroom.

 

      The quote " In the future, how we educate our children may prove to be more important than how much we educate them" Friedman, 2005. pg. 302) is a quote that help me establish the foundation for my UDL lesson for S.T.A.N.D. I wanted to make sure the lesson allow the students to be in control of their own learning by allowing them to work together collaboratively so that they can identify the signs of bullying,classify the types of bullying into 4 groups all the while tying that information through mathematical concepts. Students were expected to effectively use those  appropriate technological tools to create a final product. Students were given options which is very important because it allows students to be more creative and take ownership of their learning.

      I wanted to give my students opportunities to explore using tools such as create a graph, Google docs, Google presentation, Google forms and live binders because this builds students experiences with using digital tools, so that they can be competitive in the real world.  Students only learn by doing, exploring, sharing their findings in a structured manner. As we work together on this project it was nice to see that I am doing what a 21st century teacher is suppose to do. When my group met up we would discuss how our role as 21st century teacher should be that out a facilitator/coach so, we made sure that in out UDL lessons that the students did the exploring, creating, question-asking and the sharing through different digital tools.  A quote that help me stay the course a facilitator is from the book Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal Design for Learning, " [It will be] to advise, guide, and encourage students wading through the deep waters of the information flood. [Educators] will thrive as mentors, tutors, backseat drivers, and coaches. They will use the best skill they have . . . to nudge, push, and sometimes pull students through the educationally crucial tasks of processing information: analysis, problem solving, and synthesis of ideas. These are the heart of education, and these are the activities on which our time can best be spent."(O'Donnell, 1998, p. 156)     

        As our group worked together we were able to bounce off great digital tool ideas from each other to incorporate into our UDL lessons. Since some of us had more experience than others in the group on certain tools, so we were able to tell each other how to use those tools efficiently so that students can create a successful learning product. I must admit that I never really thought about student barriers as much experience I have had in the computer labs, so reading the article from Model UDL lessons from Cast.org was a new learning experience. I learned that students have to be able to use representations, action, expression and engagement in order to eliminate student barriers.

Citation: Cast.org (2009). Model UDL lessons. Center for Applied Special Technology. Retrieved from http://udlselfcheck.cast.org/  So as a group we had to make sure this was embedded in our UDL lessons.
    As a 21st century teacher, a lot of the things that I have learned was through my own passion of incorporating technology in my classroom. I never really thought about all that is required to effectively train teachers to be 21st century teachers. In order to truly have a high-performing learning in the classrooms and/or labs is to incorporate the following:
Planning

• Determination of site readiness
• Administer teacher technology survey
• Help students achieve challenging content standards
• Develop implementation plan
• Select initial mentees

Implementation

Howard Pitler
 http://www.classroom20.com/profile/HowardPitler

• One-on-One Mentoring
• Whole-Staff Workshops
• On-line Administrative Meetings
• Re-administered teacher technology survey

 

Transfer

• Development of a year-two implementation plan
• Select year two mentees
• One-on-One Mentoring
• Whole staff workshops
• On-line administrative meetings
• Administer a final teacher technology survey

Citation: Pitler, H. (2005). McRel technology initiative: The development of a technology intervention program final report (Contract Number ED-01-CO-0006). Aurora, CO: Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED486685)

With this new found knowledge I will definitely use this as my guide when I take on my new leadership role a technologist mentor for my school campus.

     Working with my groups members was a great experience and I learned a lot from them. It was nice to be able to bounce off ideas off each other and to be able to put those ideas in action and then create such a great learning product. By doing this as a group we had to really be mindful of what we were doing and how it would affect everyone and it made everyone conscious of his/her responsibility in the group. Since we are far from each other we had to be creative in how we communicate with each other using different technological tools such e-mailing, texting and Google hangout. I will definitely use my learning experiences from this group for future groups. I learned that communication is definitely key for the success of the team. A challenge for myself is to see if I can create an on-line learning community on my school campus where we can share ideas on implementation of technological tools and using those tools to document student learning and effort.