Digital ethics....

What state and national standards should be considered in your scope and sequence?

Developing the scope and sequence of a course is an essential precursor to a successful classroom. I personally think this is the most overlooked portion of planning of current educators. The majority of scope and sequence plans I have seen adhere to the layout of the current textbook being used. Instead of studying the state and national standards, some teachers look at the textbook as the guide to instruction. I am not proclaiming the use of textbooks to be bad or negative thing. There are times though, where we might fall back to the textbook as the easy way to teach a course.

As we consider specific standards within our scope and sequence it is vital that we incorporate and integrate different areas of curriculum into each lesson. As educators we must be fluent in all standards we are required to teach. 

How will you model digital ethics and responsibility, and how will those skills be incorporated into your score and sequence?

Last weeks class that covered digital ethics and responsibility was very helpful. The world we live in is one of continuing technological innovation. I often forget that many students in my classroom do not come prepared with the necessary knowledge of what it really means to be utilize technology in an ethical way. Lessons of digital citizenship should echo throughout a student’s educational career. I see the importance of implementing more digital responsibility into my curriculum. 

Standouts from class for me were materials from commonsensemedia.org. One of their values state: ……(It is) designed to empower students to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly in our digital world.

Just think for a second that you, I, and all of us have the opportunity to EMPOWER students to become digital citizens in an ethical and responsible way. What we say and do now could make a difference for them in the future. 

So I don't use powerpoint for every lesson?

How can technology be woven throughout the scope and sequence of a course?

Integrating technology into the scope and sequence of a course can not only be difficult, but also can cause distractions during the implementation of the content. Technology should never be an afterthought or a fast-finisher-filler. Technology integration should be relevant and a carefully planned part of the curriculum. I think one of the underlying factors to technology use should be whether it will enhance learning. Oft times we see technology merely thrown in which might cause distractions for student learning. Seamless learning should take place where technology becomes the tool and not the centerpiece of the lesson.

How can both general pedagogical and content-specific technologies be utilized effectively throughout a course?

As technology is utilized within the scope and sequence of each content area, general and specific tools should be evaluated before content integration. There are many technologies that will just work with most content areas. You want group interaction? Google docs and blogging could be used to help students interact with each other. Presentation tools such as Powerpoint, Prezi, Nearpod, and many others could enhance group assignments. 

I think that content-specific technologies should be utilized more in the classroom. This is one of the fallacies of my integration and teaching. I need to utilize simulations, tools, and other technologies that are specific to what we learn. Real world application is lacking in education. My job is to prepare students to leave school with the necessary tools and relevant skills to be able to participate and contribute to society. 

If we make the content relevant, students will engage and have the desire to learn. Problems such as classroom management fall into the background and real-world learning will become the forefront of our classroom.

Blog # 4

What is the difference between technology in education and educational technology?

Educational technology is utilizing technology effectively for student learning. Although there are many tools available to educators, how the tool is used determines its effectiveness. For example, the use of a computer could be drastically different from one classroom to the next. Trends in educational technology has shifted student learning from the classroom to online classes. Educational content can now be accessed anywhere and at anytime. Student progress can now be measured more effectively. If a student completes an assignment or quiz online, it is immediately handed in for credit. Students also have the opportunity to learn using alternative learning styles. Interactive learning has been developed such as coding applications that teach students different coding skills. The key to effective educational technology is to keep learning objectives in mind without pushing technology for technology sake.

What is TPACK and how does it help us better understand the role and impact of technology?

The TPACK cases we watched in class gave me a better idea of how I can implement technology in everyday lessons. According to the tpackcases.org, “TPACK involves an interaction among all three forms of knowledge—technological knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and content knowledge”. After watching and discussing the TPACK cases I think educators have the responsibility to not only develop new ways to teach integrating technology but, to share that with others. That is something I sometimes struggle with. As teachers, we get so busy in our own classrooms, we forget that educational technologies we use could be implemented in other classrooms as well. The TPACK website states that it is looking for additional examples of TPACK teaching in K-12 classrooms. We are sometimes of the assumption that those examples can come from every classroom but, our own. Through this class I have seen the need to share and publish our ideas so others can see them. Through that collaboration, we can begin to create educational technologies that will benefit students. 

Blog # 3

How has technology been used in education?

     Technology has never been a stranger in the education world. As technology is developed, schools have tried to adapt the technology to fit a niche for student needs. As computers began to be a household mainstay, schools began to purchase computers. Many advocates of technology have proclaimed its implementation as a school changing experience. This has not been the case, however, computers are still viewed as assessment tools or game machines. 

How should it be used in the future?

     It is an exciting time to be an educator. There are so many new tools available to us. As teachers, we need to break free of the traditional teacher role. The e-learning market will reportedly reach $107 billion this year (http://www.inc.com/aaron-skonnard/5-top-trends-in-education-technology-2015.html). Technological tools have created a way to customize education for each individual learner. Imagine students working according to their own readiness levels. Technology also provides us with ways to measure student progress more effectively and efficiently. In my classroom, I can quickly analyze core concepts each of my students need to master using Mastery Connect. 

     When I think of technology use in my classroom I think I sometimes fall into the trap of using it as merely an assessment tool. Although I try to let my students create new things utilizing various applications, I don’t feel like I am doing enough. 

     I feel like it is our responsibility to show administrators and school leaders that technology in our schools is not being used like it could be. Slowly, as educators begin to integrate technological tools, school leaders will see how it benefits students.