Digital Technology for Teaching & Learning

      T here are many concepts that I am taking away from this course. The class discussions, the studied resources and the assignments helped me reflect on my teaching practices and try new pedagogy paths by integrating technology into my lessons and curriculum to reach all my students.        The class discussion regarding differentiation helped to clarify that differentiation means: to deliver instruction according to student’s needs and learning styles. Now I pay more attention to how I can provide alternative avenues for students to succeed at school and ensures that each student has access to the curriculum independently of his/her learning abilities.       For example, students who struggle with writing skills use Flipgrid to videotape their understanding from readings. Also, students who are shy expressing their thoughts in person use forum rooms on Schoology or Padlet. I envision recording passages from rea...

Field Trip Grants from the Civil War Trust – Initial Proposal  5th Grade Columbus West Rationale: The Civil War Unit study is part of the 5th-grade social studies curriculum. Having a field trip to the Civil War Museum in Kenosha, WI, will expand Columbus West 5th grade student’s knowledge regarding the Civil War by reflecting on the Civil War artifacts and sources available in the Civil War Museum. Students also will reinforce critical thinking skills of the 21st century such as asking questions, gathering data and drawing conclusions. Going to the Civil War Museum, the school promotes reflection on how historical events have marked us as a nation and how we can innovate ways to make society better. Moreover, this field trip will provide learning experiences to students that would be difficult to obtain on their own . Learning Goals: · Describe causes and effects of the historical events that led to the Civil War. · Describe roles and influences of individuals and inte...

Understanding by Design Stage 1 – Identify Desired Results Established Common Core State Standards : CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.3 Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes) CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.1 Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. What essential questions will be considered? How would you raise awareness of the animal’s plights? What understandings are desired? Students will understand … The importance of raise awareness of the animal’s plights by citing textual evidence to support their points of view. What key knowledge and skills will students acquire as a result of this unit? Students will know… Ø   The story of The One and Only Ivan Ø   Facts and fiction about the real Ivan Ø ...

      The Multimedia Tools in Education course has increased my knowledge on a variety of multimedia tools and their usefulness in the classroom.  During this course, class activities such as discussions, modeling, exploring and applying the concepts of multimedia tools in education were part of the strategies that helped me discover the impact of the multimedia tools for supporting student learning.       I learned different ways I can incorporate the audio recording tools in my instruction for helping students practice fluency, record messages to their classmates, record their answers for comprehension questions and use the voice recording from Google docs to express their understanding.       I also learned and explored different multimedia tools, applications and websites such as Voice Recording, Drawing and Screencastify on Google Suite,  FlipGrip, Bandlab, , Screen-o-matic, iPhone Movie/Book Trailer, and Video recording ....

      Infographics are graphic designs that communicate a message through visual tools and technology. Designing infographics implies searching and having information, visual representations and technology literacies.       As an example, I created an infographic anchor chart on the subject of literary genres, Fiction and Non-Fiction, with the purpose of helping students understand more of what they read. For the accomplishment of this assignment, I gathered information about fiction and non-fiction features, created the infographic using shapes, word art and colors on Google Drawing.       I find that this infographic facilitates student’s learning since the fiction and non-fiction features are simplified and highlighted by visual aids. Students can rapidly compare and differentiate the literacy genres and get the most from what the texts are offering. I really enjoyed working on this graphic organizer. Something that I would like...

      I would like to share a video book trailer of the book titled Surprise Party written by Michele Dufresne. This book is one of the Pioneer Valley Books collection based on narrating the adventures of two dogs, Bella and Rosie. The purpose of making this video book/movie trailer was to introduce the book and invite students to read and find out the plot and the details of how the problem in the story was solved. This particular story talks about Rosie’s birthday and how she feels when she thinks that Bella, her best friend, has forgotten her birthday. Instead, Bella surprised Rosie with a birthday party, a cake, presents and friends. This is a story that begins with feelings of sadness and worries and ends with a happy celebration.       For the creation of this video book trailer, I used the iPhone Movie/Book Trailer application that offers me a frame for downloading pictures and changing the text. Therefore, I was able to edit and ad...

              There are many things I have learned through this class. The Collaborative Web Tools in Education course, EEND 676, has simultaneously helped me on my growth as a teacher and on my knowledge of educational technology tools.         The class activities and the course assignments have contributed to the improvement of my career as a teacher. The class reflections and the discussions online have expanded my understanding about how I could apply the collaborative web tools in the classroom. Hearing another teachers’ experiences and knowledge, I learned about multiple ways of incorporating web collaborative applications in the classroom and how various Web 2.0 tools can be used for similar purposes. For example, Padlet, Blogs and Social Media Networking can facilitate discussion forums and collaborative group projects. The discussions also have raised my awareness in stressing the importance of digital citizenship expect...