3.3 Online & Blended Learning
Candidates develop, model, and facilitate the use of online and blended learning, digital content, and learning networks to support and extend student learning and expand opportunities and choices for professional learning for teachers and administrators. (PSC 3.3/ISTE 3c)
Artifact: Voice Thread
Reflection:
This is a VoiceThread my kindergarten class created to help them meet the Common Core language and technology standard for research in writing. We began this project with a trip to the Cheehaw Zoo. After the students had observed many animals and used the digital camera to take their pictures, they decided to research one of their favorite animals.
This artifact is a good reflection of how I mastered standard 3.3 as it shows I was able to enhance a lesson using online and blended learning using digital tools with traditional methods. The students were given freedom to choose any animal they saw or were interested in and encouraged to investigate that animal through digital tools or books. This allowed each student to work at their ability level and use their own personal interest to conduct research. This artifact was naturally differentiated for each student’s ability level. I provided the students with PebbleGo a science website geared for their age group. It is a fun, interactive and has a very informative section on animals. PebbleGo was the most engaging while on the SMARTBoard as this made it very easy for the students to maneuver the pages.
In the future, I would like to incorporate more voice programs like VoiceThread with my students earlier in the year. I believe allowing them to use their expressive language skills before asking them to write could make a big difference in their confidence and foster their writing abilities. The students enjoyed listening to this voice thread many times after it was completed.
Some of the most exciting aspects of using technology in teaching include the ability to share students’ work to larger audiences. This VoiceThread was included on the class website for parents, students and faculty to view. Through email I received many positive comments from parents on this project. This artifact shows how students gained mastery of some Common Core standards by creating a project that incorporated both science and language. The artifact also had a positive impact on parents and administrators demonstrating how student learning can be enhanced with a more project based approach that incorporated technology, while leaving behind the drill and skill worksheets of yesterday.
PebbleGo is a paid site that Hand in Hand used on a trial basis. Our administration is considering purchasing it for next year and I wanted to demonstrate how to take the site to a higher level of learning. I sent an email to kindergarten teachers asking them to view this VoiceThread on my class webpage and to give me feedback. The responses I received indicated teachers were inspired by the project and were thinking of new ways to use online and blended learning with both PebbleGo and VoiceThread.
This is a VoiceThread my kindergarten class created to help them meet the Common Core language and technology standard for research in writing. We began this project with a trip to the Cheehaw Zoo. After the students had observed many animals and used the digital camera to take their pictures, they decided to research one of their favorite animals.
This artifact is a good reflection of how I mastered standard 3.3 as it shows I was able to enhance a lesson using online and blended learning using digital tools with traditional methods. The students were given freedom to choose any animal they saw or were interested in and encouraged to investigate that animal through digital tools or books. This allowed each student to work at their ability level and use their own personal interest to conduct research. This artifact was naturally differentiated for each student’s ability level. I provided the students with PebbleGo a science website geared for their age group. It is a fun, interactive and has a very informative section on animals. PebbleGo was the most engaging while on the SMARTBoard as this made it very easy for the students to maneuver the pages.
In the future, I would like to incorporate more voice programs like VoiceThread with my students earlier in the year. I believe allowing them to use their expressive language skills before asking them to write could make a big difference in their confidence and foster their writing abilities. The students enjoyed listening to this voice thread many times after it was completed.
Some of the most exciting aspects of using technology in teaching include the ability to share students’ work to larger audiences. This VoiceThread was included on the class website for parents, students and faculty to view. Through email I received many positive comments from parents on this project. This artifact shows how students gained mastery of some Common Core standards by creating a project that incorporated both science and language. The artifact also had a positive impact on parents and administrators demonstrating how student learning can be enhanced with a more project based approach that incorporated technology, while leaving behind the drill and skill worksheets of yesterday.
PebbleGo is a paid site that Hand in Hand used on a trial basis. Our administration is considering purchasing it for next year and I wanted to demonstrate how to take the site to a higher level of learning. I sent an email to kindergarten teachers asking them to view this VoiceThread on my class webpage and to give me feedback. The responses I received indicated teachers were inspired by the project and were thinking of new ways to use online and blended learning with both PebbleGo and VoiceThread.