Description

1. Design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced instructional strategies to support the diverse needs of learners.
   

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   One of the greatest benefits of technology in education is that it does allow opportunities to reach many different types of learners with different learning styles and needs. As educators, we work many hours making sure that concepts and objectives reach all students, not just the majority. When researching different types of needs among special students, many technology tools can be found to assist those students. In particular, the case study completed helped me focus on technology that helps assist the hearing impaired. At the time, I had a hearing impaired student in my computer applications course. I was able to look at her situation and research various technology tools that might help her succeed as she continues her education. I began using more tools in my classroom such as the SmartBoard. These visual aids helped increase her learning potential.

   The Technology Integration Plan also demonstrates how technology can help reach students of various learning styles. The plan took a typical English classroom assignment and integrated technology to help students work with grammar and proofreader's marks with a "hands on" approach. In this case, students who are kinesthetic learners have the opportunity to take lecture and notes and apply them by “doing” a classroom activity with technology.

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2. Apply current research on teaching and learning with technology when planning learning environments and experiences.
   

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   As a business and technology teacher, it is important for me to stay current with new technologies and technology usage in the classroom. In my district I am not only expected to teach technology to students, but also expected to help teachers learn how to use technology within their own classrooms. Keeping up with my professional memberships in MBEA and NBEA help in this area as conferences and training are provided to members at minimal cost.
   
   More specifically, I was also able to interview a teacher in our school that uses technology in various ways within her classroom. The Teacher Use of Technology explains how this teacher takes a normal parts of speech unit and gives students ownership of teaching other students through means of PowerPoint. I was very impressed with the interactive nature of the assignment and have recently found ways to incorporate those methods into my content area. For example, my computer application students are now creating PowerPoint quizzes that are interactive. All of the quizzes are related to a topic we have covered in class.
   
   Finally, researching the KITE database was eye opening. Understanding the many different ways teachers use technology with teaching and learning is amazing. The greatest part about the database is the availability to post and share ideas. Using the Matrix assignment, I was able to research a specific learning activity on the database and evaluate its effectiveness within the various learning strategies. Seeing how technology enhanced assignments use those strategies has helped me incorporate more technology effectively, especially in my personal finance class.
   

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3. Identify and locate technology resources and evaluate them for accuracy and suitability.
   

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   Completing the facilities survey of our school district was very eye opening. This helped give a clear picture of what technologies our district has, how technology operates in the district, financial resources, and future plans for technology upgrades. After looking at our own facilities, I could compare to other school districts our size in the local area. It was interesting to see how advanced or behind we are compared to other schools. I am also able to speak intelligently to our administration and technology staff regarding the technology in our school. Now that I am more aware of how things work, I feel more confident about networking conversations specifically with our staff. Because of that confidence and gained knowledge, I have recently been asked to attend the planning meeting for our district technology board that revises our technology plan every year.
   
   The teacher technical interview and new technology surveys also gave me insight to the use of technology resources in the classroom and how teachers felt specifically about the accuracy and suitability of those resources. Both of these artifacts involved interviewing other teachers. I was able to understand specific examples of the quality of technology resources teachers are using. Once we know what we need, finding grants and locating appropriate resources becomes easier. In my district particularly, I was able to help evaluate and prepare our Vocational Enhancement Grant for our business department.
   

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4. Plan for the management of technology resources within the context of learning activities.
   

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   Planning for the use of technology within a learning activity can be challenging, especially when resources are slim. Once schedules are clear and resources are available, using technology in these activities proves to enhance learning. For example, I was able to have students apply their knowledge about accounting terms and financial statements using an Online Corporation Project that allowed them the opportunity to use real world application with the help of the Internet and technology. Information, resources, and helpful web site links can all be found on this one project web site. Once the project was complete, students were able to test their knowledge gained by completing an online quiz.

   To explain the management of technology within the context of a learning activity graphically, another concept map can be used. This map demonstrates the use and management of technology in a learning activity by students completing a capstone project at the end of my computer applications course. The map demonstrates how I used technology to function within the learning activity as a resource.
   
   

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5. Plan strategies to manage student learning in a technology-enhanced environment.
   

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   Reflecting on one of my teaching activities provided insight to additions, corrections, and enhancements than can be made to that same activity. My Self-Assessment project demonstrates how my current classroom activity can be analyzed for technology resource additions and plans that will help manage those resources among students and learning activities. It also analyzes how learning in a technology-enhanced environment involves the various learning strategies. This type of assessment gives me the opportunity to make sure all types of learning strategies are included in learning activities using technology. After the self assessment activity, I find myself reviewing my lessons for additional ways to include technology that would help manage student learning, particularly in my personal finance classes.
   
   In addition, the capstone project Concept Map graphically represents how technology is managed within the learning activity. The map visually shows what technologies my students will use to research and present information about a new technology. It also represents the various types of learning strategies and demonstrates how they are used within the project.