Topic: Reflect on your unit plan and lesson using the TPCK model. Identify successes, areas to work on, and how the content and pedagogical domains interacted with the technological domain.
The TPCK model illustrates how content knowledge, pedogogical knowledge and technological knowledge are all linked in classroom instruction. To be an effective teacher it is necessary to have content knowledge. The teacher needs to know the concept to accurately explain this concept to a student. Pedagogical knowledge is necessary because teachers need to know the best way to teach and reach their students. Finally, technological knowledge is necessary because teachers need to be able to use and understand the technology they use to complete their lessons.
In our lesson that Abby and I presented to this class we had to demostrate our mastery of all three domains (content, pedogogical, and technological knowledge). Abby and I taught a third grade science lesson on Mammals. Abby is a science teacher and I am a second grade teacher. Abby brought her science content knowledge to our lesson. As a second grade teacher I have the pedogogical knowledge of how to best instruct the lower primary grades. I choose to use exciting and engaging videos and games that could be found online. For instance, BrainPopJr is a website that engages most learners. There are videos, drawing activities, interactive word walls, conversation starters, etc. Also, we spent a little time lecturing through the use of a PowerPoint to review the characteristics of mammals. Finally, Abby and I demostrated our technological knowledge by accurately using the computer, PowerPoint, projector, and websites (wallwisher, BrainPopJr., and BBC).
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Post 2
Read the Key Findings section of the Kaiser Family Foundation report, Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds. Reflect on the findings. What are the implications of the findings for your students, your classroom, and the way you teach?
The findings from the Kaiser Family Foundation report are somewhat surprising. I was shocked to see the increase in media use in the age groups described; but after reflecting on the knowledge I have about the students I work with daily I was a little less surprised. This report illustrates how our society is becoming more technology driven. Students are choosing to spend more time on internet devices and watching television. Socializing is becoming web-based as well. Youth today are spending less time in face-to-face interaction and more time on social networking sites. The constant stimulation provided by these new technologies are also (in my opinion) changing the classroom setting. Students need more stimulation to stay engaged. Finally, I think this increase in media use is negatively impacting our students' behavior. Student's activity on different media devices is often uncensored and children are often exposed to inappropriate information.
In my opinion, this report does not accurately represent the community I work in. I agree that students who spend more time engaging in media use do have lower grades and worse behavior. In the past year I have had students tell me they stay up until 4:00 a.m. watching inappropriate movies or T.V. shows. These are also the students who struggle behaviorally and academically. Unfortunately, I think media is being used as a babysitter for many children. My students' media use was very often uncensored and even encouraged by the adults in their lives. The Kaiser Family Foundation report indicates that the time youth spend on computers has increased. While I agree with this statement in our population as a whole, I do not see this in the community I work in. Most of my students do not have access to the internet at home. The article indicated an increase in use of mobile devices. I have seen this in the community I work in. I experienced second graders in my classroom who had cell phones. I know that cell phones in this community are also used for safety. Many students were given cell phones to have while walking home from school in case of an emergency.
To conclude, I think this article contains a lot of useful information, but the findings may not be applicable to all communities. I think we need to analyze this information and use it to inform our instruction and engage our students.
The findings from the Kaiser Family Foundation report are somewhat surprising. I was shocked to see the increase in media use in the age groups described; but after reflecting on the knowledge I have about the students I work with daily I was a little less surprised. This report illustrates how our society is becoming more technology driven. Students are choosing to spend more time on internet devices and watching television. Socializing is becoming web-based as well. Youth today are spending less time in face-to-face interaction and more time on social networking sites. The constant stimulation provided by these new technologies are also (in my opinion) changing the classroom setting. Students need more stimulation to stay engaged. Finally, I think this increase in media use is negatively impacting our students' behavior. Student's activity on different media devices is often uncensored and children are often exposed to inappropriate information.
In my opinion, this report does not accurately represent the community I work in. I agree that students who spend more time engaging in media use do have lower grades and worse behavior. In the past year I have had students tell me they stay up until 4:00 a.m. watching inappropriate movies or T.V. shows. These are also the students who struggle behaviorally and academically. Unfortunately, I think media is being used as a babysitter for many children. My students' media use was very often uncensored and even encouraged by the adults in their lives. The Kaiser Family Foundation report indicates that the time youth spend on computers has increased. While I agree with this statement in our population as a whole, I do not see this in the community I work in. Most of my students do not have access to the internet at home. The article indicated an increase in use of mobile devices. I have seen this in the community I work in. I experienced second graders in my classroom who had cell phones. I know that cell phones in this community are also used for safety. Many students were given cell phones to have while walking home from school in case of an emergency.
To conclude, I think this article contains a lot of useful information, but the findings may not be applicable to all communities. I think we need to analyze this information and use it to inform our instruction and engage our students.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Post 1
Reflect on your past year of teaching. What technologies did you use? Do you think they enhanced your teaching? What obstacles did you encounter? How does educational technology fit in with your overall educational philosophy?
Last year I taught all core second grade subjects at White Elementary in the West Pullman neighborhood of Chicago. Over the past year the technologies I used in the classroom were a white board, chalk board, overhead projector, tape/CD player, calculators, and computers. On a daily basis I used the white board and chalk board which were located at the front of the classroom for most instruction. For half of the year I used the overhead projector on a daily basis, especially for mathematics instruction, but unfortunately the glass broke. During literacy center time I often had a story at the listening center which was played on a tape or CD player. I also used this technology to play relaxing music to calm the students during different activities throughout the day. During mathematics we introduced the calculator this year and did some basic skills to become comfortable with this technology.
The most obvious form of technology used in the classroom this past year was the computer. In April, our classroom received five new computers. Before this time we did not have any working computers for student use (in my class or in another class). This was an excellent addition to the classroom. We used the computers as an incentive and during center time. In the future I would like to integrate this technology more deeply into the curriculum and into all subject areas. I hope to do this in future when I have more time to prepare and develop the curriculum around computers because I believe this is an essential skill to prepare students to be productive citizens in our society.
Last year I taught all core second grade subjects at White Elementary in the West Pullman neighborhood of Chicago. Over the past year the technologies I used in the classroom were a white board, chalk board, overhead projector, tape/CD player, calculators, and computers. On a daily basis I used the white board and chalk board which were located at the front of the classroom for most instruction. For half of the year I used the overhead projector on a daily basis, especially for mathematics instruction, but unfortunately the glass broke. During literacy center time I often had a story at the listening center which was played on a tape or CD player. I also used this technology to play relaxing music to calm the students during different activities throughout the day. During mathematics we introduced the calculator this year and did some basic skills to become comfortable with this technology.
The most obvious form of technology used in the classroom this past year was the computer. In April, our classroom received five new computers. Before this time we did not have any working computers for student use (in my class or in another class). This was an excellent addition to the classroom. We used the computers as an incentive and during center time. In the future I would like to integrate this technology more deeply into the curriculum and into all subject areas. I hope to do this in future when I have more time to prepare and develop the curriculum around computers because I believe this is an essential skill to prepare students to be productive citizens in our society.
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