Standard 3: Model Digital Age Work and Learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society.
a. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
Adaptation and transferring of knowledge is an essential part of learning, and has become the focus of the Common Core Standards. Now, more than ever, our world is ever changing and rapidly. Students must be able to learn, unlearn, and relearn in order to be successful. The same idea is necessary for me as a teacher. I have to quickly adapt to my new learning, and change methods and ideas I had previously believed unnecessary.
In my Teaching Online Courses the concept of teaching and facilitating learning was challenged and I was required to change my train of thought and teaching. Having grown up in a traditional setting for education (brick and mortar) and having taught now for five years in the same setting, the idea of teaching virtually seemed difficult to grasp. How would I reach my students? How could I ensure the establishment of relationships, allow for communication and collaboration, and teach the essential interpersonal skills that are believed to be necessary for success in life? I created a lesson which I had to then teach online. My objective was not only to teach the content, but to also ensure students were utilizing higher order thinking skills as well as collaboration were integrated into my lesson. My SIS allowed me to change what I had traditionally thought of as a classroom, and adapt to new situations in technology.
In my Teaching Online Courses the concept of teaching and facilitating learning was challenged and I was required to change my train of thought and teaching. Having grown up in a traditional setting for education (brick and mortar) and having taught now for five years in the same setting, the idea of teaching virtually seemed difficult to grasp. How would I reach my students? How could I ensure the establishment of relationships, allow for communication and collaboration, and teach the essential interpersonal skills that are believed to be necessary for success in life? I created a lesson which I had to then teach online. My objective was not only to teach the content, but to also ensure students were utilizing higher order thinking skills as well as collaboration were integrated into my lesson. My SIS allowed me to change what I had traditionally thought of as a classroom, and adapt to new situations in technology.
I have always trended toward learning new and exciting concepts when it comes to technology. I have had a classroom website since I began teaching and have jumped around to different platforms. In college, I had to create two separate online portfolios and my understanding of how to develop those were great, and the programs I used gave me a great deal of knowledge and understanding. When I began to take Introduction to Web Development I had to adapt my understanding of web design and development. The requirement of hand coding was a new concept and my final project was a challenge. I can now appreciate the difficulty and time that goes into hand coding a website. I am also grateful for having learned the skills as I have already taught some of my students the skills because they enjoy technology.
b. Collaborate with students, peers, and parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation
Collaboration is an essential part of learning. As a teacher, I utilize my peers and colleagues to learn. We discuss ideas and learn from each other. The same is necessary for student to learn. They are able to discuss ideas, share, and learn from one another.
Collaboration has become an important aspect of my teaching. In my Action Research Course, I was very interested to learn about how blogging may influence student’s abilities to collaborate. What I learned from my Action Research Plan (ARP) was that blogging allows for greater collaboration. It allows for collaboration between the teacher, peers, and other experts.
Collaboration has become an important aspect of my teaching. In my Action Research Course, I was very interested to learn about how blogging may influence student’s abilities to collaborate. What I learned from my Action Research Plan (ARP) was that blogging allows for greater collaboration. It allows for collaboration between the teacher, peers, and other experts.
Collaboration between peers is essential for learning. In my Teaching Online Courses course, we were required to create a group Wiki. The work was divided and collaboration was necessary to successfully complete the Wiki. My group, in order to collaborate utilized email, the Illuminate Collaborate tool in Blackboard, as well as a tool that I found that I really like. The tool is Twiddla. Twiddla is a virtual whiteboard and collaboration center that is free for teachers. I found it to e a great resource as we created our group Wiki.
Artifact:
Group Wiki
c. Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats
Communication is an essential part of education. We as teachers must effectively communicate our expectations and communicate effectively the concepts we would like students to know. In addition, we must maintain our communication with parents.
An important aspect of collaboration is the communication between teachers and parents. One of the ways I continue to allow for collaboration and communication is through the use of a classroom website. On my website, I have a variety of resources for parents and students to use, as well as important information about school, and lastly about my classroom. I post assignment and important dates. This is one way I work to ensure collaboration and communication in my classroom.
An important aspect of collaboration is the communication between teachers and parents. One of the ways I continue to allow for collaboration and communication is through the use of a classroom website. On my website, I have a variety of resources for parents and students to use, as well as important information about school, and lastly about my classroom. I post assignment and important dates. This is one way I work to ensure collaboration and communication in my classroom.
Another way I have increase communication in the digital age is through video announcements. Weekly, I video tape and work with students to edit and then post the videos for their peers to watch. The video announcements have been exciting for our students, and the students enjoy them a great deal more because they do not have to listen to their teachers read off a sheet of paper.
d. Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning
The ever changing world of the digital era requires everyone, but especially teachers, to adapt and change with the times. As the technology instructor in my building, it is my objective to inform and update the teachers on resources that will allow teachers to create better lessons, or support their research.
In my Teaching Online Courses course, we as a group created a group Wiki. The information my group discussed was about Behavior Disabilities. The information I found on the website, I was then able to share with others in my class as well as teachers in my building. A Wiki is a great resource for disseminating information and allowing for the quick transfer of learning.
In my Teaching Online Courses course, we as a group created a group Wiki. The information my group discussed was about Behavior Disabilities. The information I found on the website, I was then able to share with others in my class as well as teachers in my building. A Wiki is a great resource for disseminating information and allowing for the quick transfer of learning.
As a means to communicate quickly with the teachers in my building, we utilize Google Drive as a quick way to transfer information. We have several software programs that we utilize in my building. I have created step by step directions that I have shared with the teachers so that they can effectively utilize the software, analyze data from the software, and support learning. How To Step-by-Step
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How To: Step-By-Step