Working with ISTE Standards
I think the ISTE Standards are a good format to get students to be more adapt to technology in class and life. These standards make a checklist of what is expected of schools and students when it comes to their abilities with technology. This helps students keep on tract with their expectations. I will say, I think these standards are a given anyway and what schools always expect anyway.
For Innovative Designer, I can have my students make simple webpages based on a book report. I can also ask them to make word finds or other word puzzles and have my students do each others puzzles.
Coding for all
I think computer science initiatives are a great idea for schools. Kids now grow up with iPads and are use to using computers for most things. I think that is something that should be promoted and explored. A lot of good can come out of kids learning how to use computers for coding and other sciences. It’s ignorant to believe that the world isn’t heading to an internet dependent society, our kids should be taught the tools to help them succeed.
https://code.org/learn is a great website for kids to learn code. They are all based around popular kid IP’s and are centered around making a game out of coding. Young students will see this as something like a puzzle with all their favorite characters.
I also like https://www.codecademy.com/ because it gives students the ability to learn code at home and can help older students become for adaptive to coding, even if they haven’t been around computers their whole life
Educational Technology Initiatives
Connectivity: There are multiple connectivity initiatives from OET, first there is E-Rate. E-Rate which plans to get 99% of all schools and libraries connected online and have access to free online services and resources. I believe this is extremely important and can help students that might not have the most enriching school be able to branch out and have the resources to learn. They also have ConnectHome that works to get students to have free internet at home so they have the resources right from their house. An important initiative to me is Broadband Inter-agency Working Group (BIWG) which helps to understand ways the Executive Branch can better support the needs of communities seeking broadband investment. It also helps identify regulatory barriers unduly impeding broadband deployment, adoption or competition, and recommends steps to remove such barriers.
Open Education: This initiative works to have open, free data for students. They also work to make sure the content students are getting are of high quality and relevant. Open Education also looks to save money for school by giving them vast online resources for free.
Higher Education: This initiative works with students to have the electronic tools to succeed in college. They also give money to low income students to be able to go to college and get extra funding from the government.
Presenting Online
My Philosophy
The learning theory I identify most with is Cognitive Learning Theory. I have always learned best when someone is involving the process step by step of what we are learning. As opposed to Behaviorists, Cognitive Learning Theory do not require an outward exhibition of learning, but focus more on the internal processes and connections that take place during learning. Knowledge can be seen as schema or symbolic mental constructions and learning is defined as change in a learner’s schemata. This means that classrooms would rely more on emphasis on organization, meaningful discussion and being elaborate with lessons. This allows students to have the tools to obtain the lessons material more independent and precise. Cognitive Learning always requires the teacher to be active within the lessons. An example is that I participate in the lesson and can be seen as someone to learn as well rather than forced information on students.
A learning activity I can do with my students is that if I’m teaching a lesson about World War II, at the end of the teaching, I can ask my students to make a timeline with me that organizes the dates of important moments in the war. I make the timeline on the board as well as have my students make it in a notebook. I’ll then tell them that if the whole class can make the timeline again tomorrow before we jump back into the lesson, I’ll give them all extra credit.
Working with the NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards(Grades 3-5)
8.1.5.A.1: Select and use the appropriate digital tools and resources to accomplish a
variety of tasks including solving problems
I would use prezi’s and kahoot for the class. This way, there is a level of entertainment in the learning and with kahoot, kids use games to first hand interact and do the work while problem solving.
8.1.5.A.4: Graph data using a spreadsheet, analyze and produce a report that explains the analysis of the data
I can teach my students how to use any of the Microsoft office apps. Specifically, I can show my students how to use basic level excel and how that can help track certain information and math. I can also use power-point to teach students power-point and how presentation help learn.
8.1.5.A.5: Create and use a database to answer basic questions
I can make a FAQ for my students to reach on my schools website page that allows them to login on and find answers for questions about things we’ve learned in class. this can help them with homework and studying. Plus, as the year goes on, by the end I can make a booklet of all the questions I’ve put o their for my students to always keep and be able to go back to.
8.1.5.A.3: Use a graphic organizer to organize information about problem or issue.
For more complex lessons, I can make a class binder of all the information they learned. This way at the end of the lesson before a test, our class review can be used through the binder and be organized enough that I can go to specific details and emphasize them for my students.
Thinlink
My thinklink is a template for students to use on a book report for 1984. it’s for them to copy and fill in answers and info where the pins are.
Visual Learner
A New Globe
I decided to take a landmark from every continent and give some detail about them. This could be used for a geography lesson or just teaching about different continents. Each placemark includes an image, youtube videos and quick facts about said landmark and its continent. They include latitude and longitude, heights, years found/created/ect.
Andrew Sawyer 