Transforming Student Learning with Technology

                                                   

                                                                                                      Image source: D. McMahan

Learning How to Transform Student Learning

The second challenge presented in the online course, Advanced Teaching with Technology, consisted of  incorporating the first three standards of the ISTE Standards for Teachers by developing a Hyperdoc lesson using technology to transform and redefine student  learning.  First I developed three learning activities implementing technology using the eBook, 40 Simple Ways to Inspire Learning with Mobile Devices by Sam Glicksman, as inspiration.   You can read about these activities in my previous blog posts.

Growth in Transforming Student Learning

In developing projects using devices to redefine learning I realized how easy it is to implement technology and also discovered my creative side in planning learning experiences for students.  When my school decided to implement a 1:1 iPad program I originally had no idea where to start using the device beyond a substitution for the textbook.  I created my first Hyperdoc to teach atmospheric pressure which also included modeling digital citizenship and practices to protect student privacy and security.   My Hyperdoc first required students to watch an EdPuzzle video as an introduction to atmospheric pressure and how it is used to forecast weather.  Next they were instructed to download an app to their iPad or phone  to measure atmospheric pressure.  Using Padlet each student signed up for a city that they would take pressure reading for the next two weeks.  The experiment I incorporated for this lesson involved using Vernier wireless pressure sensors.   The final activity directed the students to create a weather forecast based on their pressure readings using  Adobe Spark video.   I am very proud of my Hyperdoc and this challenge has helped me move from straddling the chasm to an enthusiastic and confident educator with a new motto, "Technology in the classroom, bring it on I'm fired up!"

Plans to Continue Transforming Student Learning

I need to continue expanding my PLN and connect with other educators who can inspire me with additional ways to use devices in the classroom.  I currently am a member of Computer Using Educators (CUE) and plan on continuing to attend the local conference (and possibly be a presenter) and hopefully the national conference in March 2018.  It is also important for me to stay current with information regarding protecting student security and privacy.  I  am very much looking forward to the summer months not only for the time off from work, but as an opportunity to revisit my lesson plans and incorporate what I have learned in challenge two.  It has always been my hope that I inspire learning and creativity in my students and now I know how to include technology in making this a reality.

       

Transformation of Students in the Digital Age

                       

                                                                                           image source: fenn.org                                                                                                              

Transformation of Learning

During the past thirty-two years as a teacher I have witnessed first hand the impact of digital learning on education.   By incorporating technology the transformation on student learning  includes; individualized learning allowing students to learn at their own pace, formative assessments with immediate feedback allowing students to monitor their own progress, ability to publish their work online to authentic audiences, and collaboration with their classmates 24/7.

Transformation of Classroom Policies

As our students  continue to utilize technology it is the role of the teacher to incorporate classroom policies that support students in understanding copyright laws and how one can protect their privacy and be safe while using technology. Examples of these policies include; instructing students that when posting work on line they should never use their first name, provide personal information or post pictures of themselves or others.  Students should be instructed to  use an avatar instead of a profile picture.  I have included a link to free digital citizenship info-graphics and other resources for the classroom here.  When considering digital tools for our students it is important to know if the vendor will use students' data.  It is also not the duty of only the English teacher to teach students about plagiarism and copyright laws but should be the role of all teachers to model and inform students of their responsibility.  For example many educators will import pictures into their PowerPoint presentations without considering if a citation is needed.  Students can be shown how to locate open source materials on the internet.  A consistent and uniform message from all teacher at a school site regarding copyright laws will support student understanding.  I still wonder if apps, like turnitin.com, assist student understanding of copyright laws or teacher instruction is a bigger influence.  I am fortunate to work in a school district where teacher training, instructional materials and online resources are available to inform teachers of students' privacy and copyright laws.   

Animate It!

Each year my students participate in the local science fair.  Some students wonder how to visually show judges the changes their experiment undergoes for several days or months.  Also, restrictions on bringing hazardous or live materials prevent students from visually demonstrating and explaining the procedure or results.  By using the app, Animate It! students could show a time-lapse video of their project to the science fair judges and also share with their classmates.

Using the app, Animate It! I created a time-lapse video of the chemical reaction between sulfuric acid and zinc in a few seconds compared to over five minutes.

My Animate It! chemical reaction video on YouTube 

Using the Animate It! app can allow me to redefine instruction by allowing me to capture a lengthy demonstration and condense it to a few seconds allowing the focus to be on the classroom discussion of the chemical principles involved.  Many times I will refer back to a previous demonstration or student conducted experiments to review or present new material and I am counting on students memories to remember what they saw.  If a student was absent then they missed out on the experience.  Now I could simply show the videos again or place them in the learning management system for the class.  An important part of the chemistry class is the observations and connections to content students make through conducting experiments or watching observations.  I have wanted to assess what students have learned from these experiences.  I can now embed an Animate It! video into an online assessment, a task I could not previously have envisioned without technology.