2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

    Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS.

Teachers:

    a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

At the conclusion of our social studies unit about Mexico, the students in my classroom had the opportunity to complete a WebQuest. this was an authentic way to guage the students' understanding of concepts learned, using technology and an authentic activity. Students loved it, and I was able to assess students' understanding using an exciting and engaging activity.

This year my students participated in two WebQuests which were designed by a colleague. These WebQuests contained authentic tasks, and were ways for students to share their knowledge of Washington, D.C. and Immigration.

My students also had the opportunity to participate in a wiki that we titled Cooking Around the World. The children shared their cultural experiences by sharing recipes from their cultures, and learning about other students' cultures. We collaborated with students from several states across the country.

    b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.

During the past year, I began to become interested in blogs. I created a class blog, and had the children provide some information to include in the blog. Although we did not maintain this for the year, I learned a lot about the policies and responsibilities surrounding blogging. I plan on beginning the school year with new entries, and plan on maintaining the blog for the year.

Students in the fourth grade at my school are required to create a portfolio of projects about the United States. As a team, four teachers created ideas for the projects, and posted the ideas, along with directions for each, on the school website. Although students were required to complete all of the projects, the specific topic and region for which the project was completed was the student's choice. Students completed online research using suggested websites, and managed their project independently.

    c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.

In my experiences as a special educator, I have learned about diverse learning styles and differentiating instruction in order to reach all learners. Being in this program gave me the confidence to advocate for technology for students with special needs, specifically in the area of writing. I advocated and attended informational sessions on using Kurzweil 3000, and UReader Plus. Because of the information I learned in this program, I felt prepared to ask well thought out questions, and I understood the answers. After much discussion, the students in my room began using UReader Plus- a text to speech software with word prediction components.

During my coursework, I completed a project for Technology Leadership in Schools, which allowed me to work with colleagues to determine ways to use technology to support learners with disabilities in the areas of reading and writing. We created a wiki to share our research and ideas on ways to support students with disabilities using technology.

Another way that I have addressed students' diverse learning styles is through the use of WebQuests. This Mexico WebQuest was an activity that my students participated in during our study of Mexico. In addition to using technology, this was a cooperative activity, with a variety of roles available to the students. Students were able to choose a role, with some guidance, which was appropriate to their learning style.

    d. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching.

One way I've used technology for assessment is through the timed multiplication and division test. Students are required to master both multiplication and division facts in fourth grade. My students use this website , which requires them to take a five minute test. My class heads to the technology lab weekly for twenty minutes. Students can take the test each week, print out a score sheet and then use this information to inform their practicing.

During our study of Mexico, my students participated in a WebQuest. The rubric for assessing the final project was available for the students' review here.