Chapter 11: Engaging Teachers and Students in Learning and Self-Reflection



Photo credit to DoDEA from flickr

Focus Question: How can teachers and students use digital portfolios as tools for learning?

Digital portfolios offer affective ways for students and teachers to access teaching and learning opportunities. A digital portfolio is a collection of educational things gather together into a CD-ROM, website, or computer file.

There are several advantages and disadvantages of a digital portfolio. Some advantages are that digital portfolios are easy asses, include creative information display and also allows teachers and both students experiences in technology skills. A few disadvantages include time, computer access, and that the style will override substances in the presentation of information.

One type of portfolio that was discussed was a standard-based digital portfolio which serves as a way for new teacher candidates to connect lesson plans, teaching evaluations and other several other things that are done within the classroom.

I find that digital portfolios are used much more today in the modern world then they were back then. I find it very fascinating that digital portfolios can be very fast and simple to create. Also that they can transfer anything being done within the classroom with other teachers.

Tech Tool: Digital Portfolio Building Resources

While creating a digital portfolio you can include many different templates that can help you completely design your portfolio. Three of the templates mentioned are TaskStream, iLife and EduTools. The TaskStream is popular for a digital archiving tool, it’s a software that provides users with a variety of design options including presentation portfolios and learning how to work portfolios. iLife is a software created by Apple computers. This software allows you to incorporate more sound effects and professional quality features. Edutools is a website that provides online reviews and comparisons and consolations for teachers and schools interested in using e-learning tools and also provides reviews if online colleges.

 Summary & Conclusion:

Chapter 11 examines how teachers and students can be active participants in evaluating and assessing their own growth as learners using technology. Technology can be a powerful tool while assessing your students because it allows your students to perform what they have learned and what is being taught throughout the classrooms. Also the chapter explores how teachers can use performance-based portfolios, presentations and publications for personal and student assessments. Finally, the chapter ends with ways to use domestic classrooms and online survey software. Students can become actively involved with assessments and educational using technology. One way is by using the online survey which allows students to activate their prior knowledge and also giving them the ability to decide different materials will be used throughout the lesson. If you involve your students in the process of performance they will build a partnership for their learning environment and have an outstanding evaluation.

Resources:
Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010). Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon.

Chapter 10- Promoting Success for All Students through Technology

Focus Question: What are differentiated instruction (DI) and universal design for learning (UDI)?

 

Differentiated instruction (DI) is an instruction approach that allows students to interpret things in several different ways. This is a way for teachers to create different strategies to help students learn the specific needs in their grade level. Every student has a different learning type and by letting student use differentiated instructions these students will benefit more learning. Although everyone has different learning types, teacher have to try their best to incorporate all learning types. Not necessarily every learning type will be in one lesson but trade off the learning strategies that why everyone gets their turn.  

Universal design for learning is another approach to help teachers change instructional practices and classroom structures to promote learning success for every student. Every student can benefit from a wide and varied range of educational experiences that can advance the potential of student’s ability to learn. By designing different styles of learning it becomes a huge impacting on the students learning goals.

Tech Tool: Extra-Large and Online Calculators

Photo credit to Ian Ruotsala from flickr

 

Calculators in my opinion are very helpful to students in this generation. Although they’re a huge impact nowadays, I believe that students should know how to do basic mathematics without a one. There are several ways that a teacher can teach students how to calculate things without using a calculator. For example, teachers can have students count marbles or can even have their students them just divide quantities of items. Teaching students how to do mental math can be hard but very beneficial. Calculators may provide the answer but cannot shows students how they received the answer.

Summary & Conclusion:

Chapter 10 begins with explaining how computer technologies help expand opportunities for teachers to meet the learning requirements for all students, regular and challenged. Technologies used for special needs students can also be a learning strategy for regular students. This allows them a different techniques to learn material and also helps teacher’s incorporate all there students, whether they’re challenged or regular. In concluding the chapter it speaks about ideas for integrating technology into the teaching of writing. One of the ideas given is that as teachers we are to convince students that they are writers and that they must believe that the words and pictures that are in their heads are interesting. Inspiring and energizing our students to write means individualizing the parts of writing. One way to do so is to read aloud a story and meanwhile explain to the children why they the author used the type of grammar they used.

Teaching children with several technologies can benefit them in many ways. I believe that every teacher should incorporate at least two or more learning styles or technologies when teaching a lesson. Even explaining to the children what grammar is being used while reading aloud is a good strategy. One thing I really liked about this chapter is that the tech tool 10.1 was about calculating things and how they said that you can you use different methods in teaching your students how to calculate and not have them relying on calculators.