Activity+10+Reflection+on+Integrating+Technology+in+My+Classroom+and+School+Site

=Activity #10= =Reflection on Integrating Technology into my Classroom Curriculum September 2010 – Ongoing= ====Up until the beginning of this school year in September, I have had an out of the classroom position. I have been learning about all these wonderful ways to implement tech and web 2.0 in the classroom, but I didn’t have a classroom. Now at my new school I have a new laptop, document camera, and projector with wireless Internet access. I have my own laser printer. But I also have access to a computer lab with 33 iMac Intel computers. I was able to sign up for multiple sessions in the lab each week. I was so excited that I could finally start to use multimedia creation to help my students learn (Shank, n.d.).==== ====I started to think about how I could use the National Education Technology Standards(ISTE, 2007), NETs, for my sixth grade students. I knew I wanted them to make multimedia projects. I wanted them to apply technology to research based instructional practices, (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007)==== ====One of their projects was a PowerPoint presentation on perseverance, which was our language arts theme. They had no previous experience with the program. This was a great opportunity to teach about copyright, search engine use, research, and being safe on the Internet. They did research on the topic of their choice, found images on the web, and created their presentations. They were pleased, I was pleased, and their parents were also impressed.==== ====Another project was a webquest I developed about plate tectonics. I found a wonderful website by the national geographic society. I came up with some questions they had to answer by exploring the site. I tried to incorporate Bloom’s Taxonomy (Wikipedia, 2010) to encourage higher order thinking.==== ====Another way I was able to utilize technology in the classroom was with my laptop and the projector. During performing arts class one of their assignments was to write a short script. I started wondering aloud about the format for scripts. A quick search on google and we found examples for the students to use as a model. We have also used this access to the internet and web 2.0 to go beyond the text and broaden information in all subject areas.==== ====Other teachers have seen some of my projects and have asked me to help them implement it. At the last minute, there was a change at a staff development meeting and I was able to share some of what my students were doing. The teachers asked me a lot of questions that I answered as best as I could given the time constraints.====

**Self Assessment**
====I have learned and am learning, how to incorporate web 2.0 and educational technology into the regular routines of my classroom. I am not limited to occasional trips to the computer lab and trying to use 2 aging classroom computers with my whole class. I am using what I know about good instruction and letting technology improve and expand it. I am very happy and excited.====

**Learn as a Learner**
====I want to engage my students as lifelong learners. Since they have grown up with the mulitmedia, educational technology is a natural avenue to do that. I think that so far it has been very good. The students are engaged, the parents are happy, my principal is pleased, and other teachers have taken notice and want me to teach them how to do it. I learn by doing, so it was good to put into practice what I have been learning about in this program.====

**Lifelong Learning Skills**
====I am excited to explore more about how to implement tech in my classroom and school site. I know that tech is not a magic bullet, but it is a powerful tool to leverage learning. I will continue to learn from my colleagues as well as help others improve in educational technology.====

**Implementation of the ISTE Indicators**
====TF-II.B.1: “Assist teachers as they apply current research on teaching and learning with technology when planning learning environments and experiences” (Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 225). I am doing this myself in the classroom and am helping other teachers to do the same.==== ====TF-II.C.1 Assist teachers as they identify and locate technology resources and evaluate them for accurate and suitability based on district and state standards”(Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 226). I am working with my colleagues to help them implement what I am doing in my classroom.====

TF-II.C.2: “Model technology integration using resources that reflect content standards” (Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 226). I have shared some of my student’s projects with other teachers.
====TF-II.D.1: “Provide teachers with options for the management of technology resources within the context of learning activities” (Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 226). I have discussed various tech options with other teachers at my school site.==== ====TF-II.E.1: “Provide teachers with a variety of strategies to use to manage student learning in a technology-enhanced environment and support them as they implement the strategies” (Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 226). I have modeled and demonstrated this at my school site.==== ====TF-II.F.1: “Assist teachers as they identify and apply instructional design principles associated with the development of technology resources” (Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 226). This has been done in my meetings with other teachers.==== ====TF-III.A.1: “Use methods and strategies for teaching concepts and skills that support integration of technology productivity tools (refer to NETS for Students)” (Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 227). I have demonstrated how to integrate the content standards into technology.==== ====TF-III.A.2: “Use and apply major research findings related to the use of technology in education to support the integration of communication tools through the curriculum (refer to NETS for Students)” (Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 227). I have used the information from my classes and readings to support technology integration.==== ====TF-III.A.3: “Use methods and strategies for teaching concepts and skills that support integration of research tools (refer to NETS for Students)” (Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 227). I have used constructivism and adult learning theory with my colleagues.==== ====TF-III.A.4: “Use methods and strategies for teaching concepts and skills that support integration of problem-solving/decision-making tools (refer to NETS for Students)” (Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 227).==== ====TF-III.A.5: “Use methods and strategies for teaching concepts and skills that support use of media-based tools such as television, audio, print, media, and graphics (refer to NETS for Students)” (Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 227). I have demonstrated multimedia programs to the staff at my school.==== ====TF-III.A.7: “Use methods for teaching concepts and skills that support use of Web-based authoring tools in a school environment (refer to NETS for Students)” (Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 228). I have shared cloud based computing tools such as Planbookedu.com and Dropbox with other educators.==== ====TF-III.B.1: “Use methods and strategies for integrating technology resources that support the needs of diverse learners, including adaptive and assistive technology” (Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 228). I have my students using headphones and the zoom control on the computers when necessary.==== ====TF-III.C.1: “Use methods and strategies for teaching problem-solving skills using technology resources” (Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 228). I use constructivism and Bloom’s Taxonomy with my students.==== ====TF-III.D.1:”Use methods and classroom management strategies for teaching technology concepts and skills in individual, small group, classroom, and/or lab settings” (Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 228). I teach my students in the computer lab twice a week.==== ====TF-III.E.1: “Describe and identify curricular methods and strategies that are aligned with district/region/state/national content and technology standards” (Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 229). I use the California Content Standards as the basis for all my instruction.==== ====TF-V.C.1: “Model advanced features of word processing, desktop publishing, graphics programs, and utilities to develop professional products” (Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 231). The students have used PowerPoint and Garageband in content creation.==== ====TF-V.C.2: “Assist others in locating, selecting, capturing, and integrating video and digital images, in varying formats for use in presentations, publications, and/or other products” (Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 232). I have taught the students how to use images on the Internet in their work.==== ====TF-VI.A.1: “Develop strategies and provide professional development at the school/classroom level for teaching social, ethical, and legal issues and responsible use of technology” (Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 234). I have taught the students about copyright issues.==== ====TF-VI.A.2: “Assist others is summarizing copyright laws related to use of images, music, video, and other digital resources in varying formats” (Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 234). I have taught the students about copyright issues.==== ====TF-VI.B.1: “Assist teachers in selecting and applying appropriate technology resources to enable and empower learners with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, and abilities” (Williamson, & Redish, 2009, p. 234). I have shown teachers how I use educational technology to differentiate instruction.====

Wikipedia. (2010) //Bloom’s Taxonomy//. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom%27s_Taxonomy
====Williamson, J., & Redish, T. (2009). //ISTE’s technology facilitation and leadership standards:// //What every K-12 leader should know and be able to do//. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education====