Reflect on the idea that tests are the only objective assessments of student learning.
Objective testing is the most efficient and easily marked type of assessment. On the other hand, using objective testing is time consuming, gives no credit for partial information, encourages guessing, directs the student to select information instead of creating it, and encourages “teaching toward a test.” Since there are many alternative assessment techniques, then I believe that educators should use a variety of all of the types available to them. Learning is a team effort between the educator and the learner so I believe that the learner MUST be involved in the learning process in an active instead of passive manner. In order to encourage the more creative thinking and to foster higher levels of thinking, subjective testing can be used. Open-ended questions and projects can achieve this for the learning process.
There is no set definition of what a technology infused classroom looks like because it is an ever evolving place, but I will attempt to describe a few of my own ideas on this topic. Some of the most important aspects of a technology infused classroom are the number of computers available to students and intense professional development provided for the teacher. There should be a number of computers within easy reach of students. These computers should have an office suite, a graphical mapping tool, a web browser, and multimedia production software. In a technology infused classroom you should not see drill and practice software. The classroom will have a classroom printer, scanner, digital camera, document camera, white board, iPods, and other technological devices. These electronic devices will be used on a daily basis by the teacher and students so that the equipment will become common place with the students instead of being a distraction as some may see it as being. The teacher has a laptop connected to a data projector and an interactive white board. When an observer enters the classroom he/she will see student teams working on projects with each student having a well-defined role. The teacher will be using good classroom management strategies to focus student attention on learning goals.
As a classroom teacher, I plan on having a technology infused classroom by seeking out and attending all of the technology training that I can access. I will also accept what technology is made available to me in my school district and use it as much as possible with my students. I am currently working on my master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in technology. The knowledge that I am gaining through graduate school will enhance the creation of my technology infused classroom. As a school district, I believe we should be seeking out all possible federal grants and other resources that will allow us to provide a technological environment for the students.
Training students to be productive citizens today includes technology in every aspect of education. Technology has to be viewed as a necessity and not as a reward. Making technology available to all students is the first step in achieving the goal of creating a technology infused classroom.
How can visual literacy and the use of internet impact the teaching and learning process in the classroom?
Visual literacy is the ability to locate, organize, understand, evaluate, and create information using digital technology that appeals to the visual and auditory human senses. Using the internet to create and present visual experiences for students can have a huge impact on the learning that occurs. Since a large majority of students are visual learners, gearing instruction toward the use of digital technology to achieve visualization enhances the over all learning that will happen. Teaching using the digital tools and internet that is available may be challenging at first, but it is fun and is worth the hard work when teachers see students learning.
What are some visual-thinking strategies you would like to use in your classroom?
I would like to implement the use of three-dimensional creation software programs into my upper level math classes. There are several available programs. I particularly like 3Diva. This program allows the student to create and present three-dimensional visuals that are interactive and editable. This program can be used by students in middle school through college level. Another strategy that I am encouraging with my students is digital communication via email with me and other students in the class. Digital communication allows students to pose questions whenever they arise and allows me to respond in a timely manner without the student having to meet with me face-to-face.
What role do you want the internet to play in your classroom?
Since the internet is part of most students’ everyday life, I believe that it should play a large role in my classroom. After teaching students to use the internet responsibly and safeguarding the computer access through district policy, I want the internet to be readily available to my students to use for research, production, presentation, communication, and other uses that will enhance learning. The video titled Classroom of the Future shows the classroom that I dream of having someday. Check out the video. I know you will love it!
Using a variety of instructional strategies in the classroom today is of great importance. Assuring that learners are truly learning information and are able to extrapolate the learned information in to real-life settings is the goal that I try to achieve while educating students today. Varied instructional strategies allows students in a classroom to have an opportunity to learn in his or her own learning style. Some learn by hearing, some by doing, some by seeing, and others require more than one strategy to grasp the objectives that are to be taught. Learning involves retention and understanding which can be achieved by linking a student's learning to the student's life experiences. Technology can be integrated into lessons in different ways. When using teacher-centered instructional strategies such as presentations or demonstrations, technology can be used to enhance the presentation or demonstration by adding the visual and auditory aspects to what the teacher is already doing. This makes the information much more interesting to the learners, which, in turn, helps the learner to retain what is being taught. Integrating technology into student-centered instructional strategies is a simple task because 21st century learners are already using a lot of technology in everyday life. For example, learning games, simulations, and discussions can all be conducted online. Learners are already familiar with online activity so lessons that incorporate working online to learning will be of great value to these learners. Teaching mathematics has always seemed to me to be a student-centered task. I choose to teach with a problem-based teaching/learning style or strategy. I present facts in short segments and then ask questions and present discovery opportunities to my students. I allow the students to ponder, research, and discover. Then I present a few more facts that shed a little light on the questions that my students have. I continue this cycle allowing students to use books, internet, graphing calculators, or other technology to come to a final conclusion. In the end, I review the presented information and recap what the students have discovered. An assignment is then usually given and the class ends with discussion. I sincerely hope that students are gaining and retaining knowledge from the classes that I teach. I thoroughly enjoy teaching them and am eager to continue improving, learning and growing along with my 21st century students!
