The "Teaching with Technology" course has enhanced my knowledge base as the campus technology facilitator. Through this course I have not only had the opportunity to create an entire science based unit for third graders along teacher professional development lessons; I also had the opportunity to collaborate with two of my graduate classmates via Google Docs. We took not only hardware, software and Web 2.0 tools and incorporated them into our unit but we had the opportunity to learn how to create an ebook online. Our learning process created a project based unit that integrated tools for the diverse learners in our scenario based classroom. We meet the needs of all learners through the use of a MOBI (interactive slate), a SmartBoard, the use of video in Discovery Education, designated websites with research and games, an ebook creation site on CAST, PhotoStory 3 project and concluding assessment using the Classroom Performance System (clickers). All of these tools were used to teach our classroom a unit of study on animals, food chains and ecosystems.
We could not forget that this unit may be used in other classrooms besides our own, therefore the creation of professional develoment was needed. We, as a collaborative group, created lessons for using the ebook site, Kidspiration/Inspiration software and Microsoft PhotoStory 3 site. Throughout this course not only did I learn to teach with technology but I learned through the readings and videos how much technology needs to become an everyday occurance in our 21st student's classrooms. According to both Mr. Gee and Mr. Barab from the Edutopia videos, schooling must be about solving problems and creativity through the use of technology and collaboration and not from memorizing facts from textbooks.
Edutopia.org (nd). Big thinkers: James Paul Gee on grading with games. Retrieved on March 21, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-james-gee-video.
Edutopia.org (nd). Big thinkers: Sasha Barab on new-media engagement. Retrieved on March 21, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-sasha-barab-video.
Pitler, H. Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Chapter 1, 15-38)
Rose. D., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Alexandra, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Available online at the center for applied Special Technology Web site. Chapter 6. Retrieved on October 5, 2009.
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