Technology Assessment Tools, Rubrics, and Inspiration

Well, assessment is a teacher's middle name, isn't it?  It is certainly an integrated portion of everything that happens in a classroom!  And since I have a fondness for technology, technology-based assessment is right up my alley.  In fact, my son's school only posts high school grades online, having done away with paper report cards...and I am perfectly happy with that!  I have used the clickers that were presented in Week 15's lecture while participating in a focus study and I think that they could be a fun way to test students.  At least, they could pull a positive response from a kid going into a test and maybe that alone could help them.  It definitely could save time for a teacher!  As far as rubrics as they are presented in Week 15's lecture, I can see how something this detailed would prevent argument over grades given, as well as give the students very specific goals to meet in their assignments.  This seems to be something very suited to upper grade levels.  The last tool presented was the Inspiration/Kidspiration methodology.  Just from what I saw on the website, I am not sure that I would want to use this.  Some of it looks interesting, but seems a little more complex than I would be happy using.  Some of the facets of it were things I would like to use, but some of it seemed like an assault on the senses that would actually make someone like me, with ADD, more frustrated.  Honestly, I would have to see it in a classroom setting over some time to make an objective assessment.

Over the course of this course, I have been introduced to quite a few technological tools that really brightened the prospect of teaching for me!  As I said, I have a fondness for technology, and I can't wait to present some lessons to actual students that will be fun as well as educational!  I already have plans for using Publisher and I also would like to try having my students create their own blogs for a class.  Studying the copyright issues helped to allay some of my fears about using some of these tools, and helped me to better understand what to be careful of when using them.  That is very helpful.  Powerpoint seems to be very popular with students these days and can make for a great learning tool, and it is something I intend to make use of, too.  Also, looking at wikis helped me to better understand how they work, and I think they could be very useful in the classroom.  After that week, I did a little research on Wikipedia and how it is handled, and now I am not as afraid of using it as I was.  Previously, I had frequently heard about how unreliable it is, but have since learned that it isn't exactly as people fear it is.  While people CAN add to it, everything added is researched by people who work there...and it only becomes a permanent part of the site if it is proven.  With all of these tools crammed into one semester, it has been a full course!  But this class has opened up all kinds of options for me to use in the classroom. Thanks for that!  This was well worth my time, money and effort!  :-)

learning about: Technology Application Standards

The TEK I have chosen:  Subchapter C.  High School  

§126.24.

Desktop Publishing (One Credit) Desktop Publishing is something that can be used in a lot of different subjects.  My son did a Desktop Publishing project in his English class just this semester.  Even if it is learned in a Technology class, it is a skill that can be incorporated into so many areas of life...and while in school, into so many different subjects! §110.52. Creative Writing (One-Half to One Credit) (b) Knowledge and skills (2) The student selects and uses recursive writing processes for self-initiated and assigned writing. The student is expected to: (F) frequently refines selected pieces to publish for general and specific audiences;This seems like a great place to incorporate Desktop Publishing!  I think it would be a lot of fun for the students to produce a cover page of a newspaper set back in Shakespeare's time while we are studying his works. This may be a cop-out in a way, but it's awfully difficult to say that any one TEK is most important.  They are connected to one another in many ways, and build one upon another frequently.  It seems to me that it is more a case of building one skill which opens the door to being able to build another skill.  The students will be at different levels technologically and so I will need to keep that in mind and make sure that I meet each student's needs at whatever level they exhibit skill.  Having the Technology Applications Standards where I can refer to them is very helpful, however.  As long as I continue to refer to that, I can make sure that I incorporate the proper technology applications.

Cold November...brrr!

     It's November and Thanksgiving is around the corner!  I love the warmth and coziness of a day off spent with family.  Taking a moment to review what I have learned in ETEC, and I find that I am pleased with the results so far.  :-)  What a nice feeling...and something else to add to my list of things to be thankful for!  The more skills that I am able to add to my repertoire, the better teacher I will be...and the more I will be able to influence my future students.  That is very important to me. 
     This past week, we learned about Glogster.  It is a highly creative tool and something that I can absolutely see myself incorporating into my classroom!  It's fun, takes some thought, and very versatile.  This seems like something that would be a natural in a room full of middle school or high school students.  I can't wait to work with students using it!
     I hope your Turkey Day is as pleasant as I intend for mine to be!