Sunday, December 13, 2009

United Streaming Video - Scientific Method

United Streaming Video - How Scientists Work: What is the Scientific Method?

http://search.discoveryeducation.com/

Go to the website and search under "scientific method".

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Module 7

How can I facilitate a student-centered classroom?

Teachers will need to realize that they will spend more time teaching "soft skills"such as time management and working in small group skills. The teacher role will change in that he/she will be assisting student in decisions about learning but the students will direct their own projects. Teacher-facilitators must also tolerate the ambiguity and flexibility inherent to student-centered learning. In directed classrooms, learning management is controlled by the teacher. Student-centered learning has students exploring areas that may be unfamiliar to the teacher; the range of questions about content and relevancy can be quite broad. The teacher has to understand the management of this dynamic environment. The need for scaffolding, modeling and guidance by the teacher is heightened.


How can I use technology to support my instructional practice?

Many student-centered pedagogies include technology as an integral element in the learning process. Teachers must be confident integrating technology into their classrooms. Teachers have the opportunity to increase the authenticity of content and tasks by reflecting the actual work of professionals in the field. Technologies, such as scientific processes, computer technologies and electronic resources, lend credence to these assignments by demonstrating appropriate and purposeful uses. When integrating technology, teachers may need to become a teacher of technology, as well, expanding the content area. Introducing students to Internet resources, science probes and spreadsheets can become part of a

Module 6

How can I help my students become self-directed learners?

To assist my students in becoming self-directed learners, I need to provide them with rubrics, check-off sheets, and tic-tac-toe choice option sheets. This allows my students to know the expectations, while still allowing them choices in learning as well as a means of tracking their progress to meeting deadlines.

How can I support the diverse needs of learners?

Supporting learners with diverse needs involves adjusting the content, process, products, and or learning environment so all students are successful while working within the same content goals.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

CSI Student Sample Product

Link to student sample blog :-)

http://csisample.blogspot.com

Module 5

How do I assess student learning?
My students complete worksheets, give reports, and create student products. Students often give and receive feedback from peers. I don't use rubrics as much as I should because they take time to create, and ones found online don't often meet the criterion or agenda I had in mind for my students.


How do I involve students in the assessment process?
I provide my students with a Tic - Tac - Toe board where they must choose from a variety of activities to complete during a specific time period. For book reports, each student has a sheet for each genre of book with lists of reading, writing, and technology activities. Students choose the genre, and then 2 activities from the reading and writing section and 1 activity from the technology section. These items allow my students to feel like they have choices

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Module 4

How can the creation of a student sample help me clarify my unit expectations and improve my instructional design?

Producing a student sample allows me to better gauge the time expections for developing the product. Once I have used the tool myself, I will be better able to anticipate problems or issues that may arise and be able to better guide my students in the use of the technology. The production of a student sample also allows me to design a compatible rubric.

How can I ensure students will achieve the learning objectives when creating their student projects?

Providing a sample as a guide and reviewing it with students to discuss how it relates to the rubric and desired learning outcomes, students will better understand their learning goals.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Module 3

This module has helped me think about the impact of the Internet on my students in the following ways...

The Internet allows my students to access tons of resources for research, but they must learn to determine when a resource has legitamacy. The Internet assists in meeting state standards and creating a student-centered classroom. Students have access to experts in a variety of fields, and to other students around the world.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Blogging My Journey

This module has helped me think about using standards, CFQs, or formative assessment in the following ways....

Students need clear expectations for their learning. I will provide tic-tac-toe choice menus for products that will give students choices in their learning that will also allow them to meet the expected goals. I will provide rubrics that students will use to assess which goals they have met as well as to determine the quality of the work they have done. It is important for students to know what educational goals they are striving to learn and have a map or plan of how they will achieve the required learning.

Monday, October 12, 2009

PBL Poster

http://levings6th.edu.glogster.com/pbl/

Module 1

How can projects help my students meet standards and develop 21st century skill?

Students will create portfolios of work to demonstate mastery of state standards. Students will implement collaboration and many uses of technology to develop technology skills and show mastery of state standards.

How can I use projects to enhance student learning?

Projects can enhance student learning by allowing them freedom of choice in the type of product they may wish to create for a lesson. Projects provide a variety of ways to address a wide variety of learning styles. Projects can be designed to meet various levels of Bloom's Taxonomy.

This module has made me think about my role as an insrtuctional designer in the following ways ...

As a teacher, I need to develop lessons that not only meet academic standards but that also help students learn 21st century skills. I need to move beyond just paper and pencil activities. Today's students will need to know how to use technology in the jobs of tomorrow.