This semester has been quite the journey for me. Learning about different tools, strategies, and resources to use has allowed me to see just how much technology contributes to the elementary school curriculum, and how it allows us as teachers to make learning flexible for all students.
One project that my classmates and I did that I found especially interesting was the Technology Tool Evaluations. In this project, we split into pairs and did a presentation about a Tech Tool, explaining how it can be used and how makes learning accessible for all students in the classroom. Another classmate and I did our presentation on Screencastify, which is a great tool for students to use when creating a video assignment. Though I had used Screencastify before for assignments in other Education classes, it never occurred to me how much it could be helpful for diverse learners until doing more research on it with this project. With its use of both auditory and visual elements, Screencastify is also great for Think Aloud lessons, which we have learned in EDU 302 (Teaching English Language Learners) are great ways to guide students through lessons in which they are learning new skills. Another tool that was presented by two other classmates which I absolutely loved was Book Creator. This tool allows students to create projects such as research journals and science reports in the form of a book or portfolio. I thought this was a great tool for students to use because it gives them the ability to allow their creative juices to flow, and to present their material in a way that is both comfortable and fun for them. I'm glad I was able to watch the different presentations of tools that can be used in the classroom because if I had not, I may not have realized just how many ways technology can enhance learning for students, and how each tool has something to offer for all students. Not only will these tools help students learn, but they will also be able to show students how technology is an important resource in today's world, and how it can be used in many different ways to solve problems and think creatively. As teachers continue to use technology in the classroom students will be able to better adapt to it, which will help them become more and more well-versed with technology and will help them become digitally literate for the future.
Another thing that we learned about this semester which I found to be quite resourceful was learning about the different ISTE standards that can be used in planning lessons with technology. Learning about these standards has taught me how to align my lesson appropriately with what I want my students to accomplish in regards to the use of technology, while also considering what I want them to accomplish academically. I found it especially useful that there are two sets of ISTE standards, one for teachers and one for educators. This differentiation can guide teachers to decide exactly what expectations to set for their lessons, while also allowing students to understand what those expectations are. One ISTE standard for teachers that I found to be most important was the Designer, which means that "Educators design authentic, learner-driven activities and environments that recognize and accommodate learner variability" (ISTE Standards for Educators). As teachers, it is our duty to ensure that we are accommodating our instruction to support all learners and ensure that they are being given the opportunity to succeed, and this should also be the goal when considering the use of technology. Therefore, this standard is essential in helping all students meet your expectations as well as scaffolding them into becoming fluent in the use of technology. As for the ISTE standards for students, one standard that I believe would help students both see the importance of technology while also practicing higher order thinking while using it is the Innovative Designer, where "Students use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful or imaginative solutions" (ISTE Standards for Students). Because this standard allows students to explore different tools and get creative when finding solutions to problems, it can allow them to see how technology helps us find new ways to approach problems, and the different strategies and ideas that different tools can bring to the table.
Considering all that I have learned this semester, one thing I can say is that technology not only makes teaching easy for educators, but it makes learning accessible and flexible for students. When we use technology in the classroom, we consider all the different ways that it can help all different types of students and how the features that tools and resources offer help students become fluent in the digital world and realize how technology can be used to enhance learning and working. After all, "kids—they are our curriculum. Everything we do can be planned and scaffolded from our initial rapport-building activities and dialogue with our students" (Ahmed, 2). Though we as future educators are the ones taking this course to learn how to use technology in the classroom, it is really the students who we are learning for. We are learning to plan our curriculum in a way that will support all students for both short term success in the classroom as well as long term success in the real world, and technology is something that plays a big role in that plan.
A question I have for my readers is: What is one thing about technology that you would like to learn more about, and how do you hope that this tool, resource, etc... can support learning for all types of students?
I have enjoyed working with you all this semester, and I hop you have a wonderful summer!! :)
Sources:
Iste standards for educators. (n.d.). Retrieved May 03, 2021, from https://www.iste.org/standards/for-educators
Iste standards for students. (n.d.). Retrieved May 03, 2021, from https://www.iste.org/standards/for-students
Ahmed, Sarah K. Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension. Heinmann, Portsmouth NH. PDF.
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