III. Teaching, Learning, and the Curriculum

Teachers implement curriculum plans, that include methods and strategies for applying technology to maximize student learning.

Standard	A: Teachers facilitate technology-enhanced experiences that address content standards and student technology standards.

Standards are the backbone of learning in K-12 schools.  They guide what is taught and define what students will learn.  A thoughtful teacher must keep standards in mind when designing their curriculum and lesson plans and specify which standards each lesson will include.

I have written a Technology Integration Learning Plan - .rtf (24 kb), where students are involved in learning to use popular technology, the iPod, for recording.  What they will learn addresses a variety of Missouri standards, including technology standards, which are called out in the plan.

The instructional Design Project - .rtf (36 kb) that I wrote for the multimedia class I taught covered several Show-Me content standards, including technology standards. It also handled content that students would need to know to proceed, such as learning about the hardware and software they would be using in the class.

Standard	B: Teachers use technology to support learner-centered strategies that address the diverse needs of students.

Including technology in lesson planning is a way to “level the playing field”. In other words, it enhances learning by creating numerous resources that will appeal to all types of learners.

In the Self Assessment Worksheet - .rtf (24 kb) that I performed on an activity that I designed, I included supplemental resources from the Internet and purchased DVD’s.  Even though it is an outdoor activity, the addition of technology helps reinforce student learning.

While authoring the Individual Instruction Program - .ppt (92 kb) that I wrote for a Multimedia class, I made every effort to equip the computer lab with items and software that would teach and appeal to the majority of student users.

I had teachers in mind when I authored a plan, Learn to Create a Web Site Using a Web Template - .rtf (443kb), to help them design class web pages that were delivered via a computer and live instruction.  It was written so that even the most timid teachers could apply technology to their busy lives. By creating their own class web pages, they could join today's technology driven world and have their lesson plans and rubrics on line for easy distribution and access.

The Prospectus that I created for the design of software for student portfolios addressed the needs of varied skill levels in the use of technology.

Standard	C: Teachers apply technology to develop students' higher order skills and creativity.

Inserting technology in lesson plans is an effective tool to implement problem-solving and other higher-order thinking skills so that they can develop their own ways of strategizing.

The WebQuest that I authored, Graphic Design Quest, helps students to use many of their higher order thinking skills because it requires them to conduct research, explore and apply technology tools for research, analysis, problem solving and decision-making. In a WebQuest authored by another teacher named, “Web Design 101”, are activities that clearly address the development of higher order thinking skills.  As the students navigate through the activity, which is studying the technology behind web page production, they will be using many higher order skills and creativity including prior knowledge, problem solving, reflection, and metacognition in addition to social skills.

The Individual Instruction Program - .ppt (92 kb) that I wrote encourages creativity while honing software skills by using common presentation software like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe DreamWeaver in conjunction with digital equipment such as cameras and video recorders.

I have created an analysis of the skills students will learn in, Online Tools for Assessing Higher Order Thinking and Problem-Solving - .rtf (8 kb).

Standard	D: Teachers manage student learning activities in a technology-enhanced environment.

Learning activities are the basis of education. When technology plays an active part in the lesson plan, the teacher facilitates the students’ learning by promoting participation in the learning process. 

Most of what I taught as a multimedia/graphic design teacher revolved around the use of technology since the class took place in a 25 unit computer lab of my own design with laser printers, scanners, digital cameras and Internet access.  I taught from a master computer with an attached projector so that I could give demonstrations and then gave the students their assignment and rubric, which was viewable from the class web page.  The students had their work stations in a semi-circle with their backs towards me so that I could make sure they were on task and readily answer their questions.  They did the work and I facilitated by giving additional demonstrations or giving a little extra help when needed.  To get them started at the beginning of the semester, I had them participate in a WebQuest on the subject of graphic design, Graphic Design Quest, to familiarize them with some the things they would be learning in the class.  The students would follow the links and answer the questions found in the quest while I made sure that the assignment was going along as planned.

In the Individual Instruction Program - ppt. (92 kb) that I wrote, students will complete a “WebQuest” on the subject of multimedia, in which they will learn what a multimedia artist does, what kind of equipment he/she uses, government statistics on job prospects for a professional multimedia artist and what kind of working environment he/she will most likely have.

In order for teachers to create their own class web pages, I designed a plan for them to build one:  Learn to Create a Class Web Site Using a Web Template - .rtf (444 kb.  For the lessons, I provide the materials and demonstration but my students will build their own pages as I facilitate their learning by answering questions, giving additional demos, or whatever else is needed.

BACK TO TOP