Digital Age Learning Culture Indicator D

Indicator D: Ensure effective practice in the study of technology and its infusion across the curriculum.

Artifact:

History of Ancient China Course

Digital Age Learning Culture

Indicator A

Indicator B

Indicator C

Indicator D

Indicator E

Artifact & Course Description:

Course Title

GILT 631 Instructional Technology

Course Description

This course emphasized the leading teacher program (LTP) as a way to develop computer skills and instructional technology competencies to be a successful teacher. The focus was on preparing content-specific classroom applications, and developing effective technology-based instructional lessons.

Project Description

This was a lesson plan developed for an online unit on the topic of History of Ancient China that can be integrated into a kindergarten to twelfth grade classroom. It recommends different apps to use that would be appropriate for the information. In the lesson plan, for the “hook”, I recommend using YouTube and Kahoot! For direct instruction, I recommend Nearpod, and for guided practice, I recommend Padlet. For independent practice, I recommend StoryBuilder, and finally, for wrap-up, I recommend using both Nearpod and Showbie.

Reflection

It is exciting to be working on implementing instructional technology now, when so much is available. However, all these choices can be overwhelming. An educator who wants to use technology will need to invest time and effort into learning about the different applications, and how to incorporate them into curricula.

According to Harris and colleagues, up to now, teachers in kindergarten through twelfth grade have used rather unsophisticated applications of educational technology. These are limited in their variety as well as their depth. Further, they are not well-integrated into the curriculum, and are not a routine part of teaching and learning.

This project helped me organize my thoughts so I can recommend the effective use of technology and how to infuse it across the curriculum. Technology needs to be studied and reviewed before implemented in the classroom. For example, I needed experience with Nearpod to know the best way to apply it for classroom learning. Throughout my career, I will continue to seek effective ways to study and implement technology across my curriculum.

References

Harris, J., Mishra, P., & Koehler, M. (2009). Teachers’ technological pedagogical content knowledge and learning activity types: Curriculum-based technology integration reframed. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 41(4), 393-416.