Week 3 Lessons

Week 3 Lessons Learned 9/15/13

Chapter 2, Providing Feedback, from the book Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works caught my attention since in education assessment data is curtail to measure the progress of the student. The Chapter explains the strategy that allows teachers and students to determine if students have retained key points that were presented in the lesson also, including several technologies that support these strategies. After trying out a few of resources presented in this chapter it opened my eyes to tools that where already on my computer and at my disposal. Even though I was familiar with some of these resources, I learned about few more that I had not used or been aware of. Hopefully these tools will help me in present position and future positions, if I can learn acquire a few more skills to add to my I.T. tool belt these skills also help me in the classroom now and in the future.

Another reading from Solomon and Schrum’s Web 2.0 new tools, new school, explained on how the model being used by the New Tech High School believes that technology and pedagogy should work hand in hand to achieve student success. The following statements stood out for me. “Its use of collaborative and project-based learning was the first priority, and they looked at technology to support the pedagogy and philosophy second. For true reform to take place, according to proponents of the New Tech High model, pedagogy and technology must find a proper balance” (Solomon & Schrum, 2007, p. 79).

After teaching a Computer Repair and Networking class that challenged kids with both understanding the theory of the course along with hands on projects I would have to favor this model. . When I first started teaching this class I knew more about the subject matter than my students. As time passed the students came in with the same level of understanding because of their past experiences with technology. I was no longer distinctively the teacher I also assumed the role of the teacher and student learning from my own students.

Teacher training, planning and young teachers has propelled classrooms to integrate technology into daily lessons. These changes were made possible with support that came from the district level technology integration department and campus leadership that understands the dynamics of how students’ learning has changed.

References

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0: New tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.(ISBN: 9781564842343 1564842347).