3.3 Information technology
Candidates demonstrate their ability to design and adapt relevant learning experiences that engage students in authentic learning through the use of digital tools and resources.
2010 ALA/AASL Standards for Initial Preparation of School Librarians
Engaging students through technology is much different than entertaining students with technology. With planning and consideration of standards, technology can be leveraged to increase student learning. In the course, Learning Technologies, SLM 508, this assignment was to design a lesson that included twenty-first century standards and tools. My lesson was contained in a wiki, and was designed to facilitate 8th grade English students as they completed an argument-writing task: creating their own product or experience review. Students accessed the wiki to complete a pre-assessment, watch a lecture on what makes a useful review, and evaluate pre-selected pairs of reviews. Students then participated in an online discussion about the quality of reviews, created their own review, and completed a post-assessment.
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This argument-writing lesson provided an opportunity for students to think critically about what they read on the internet. The topic choices were engaging as they met the interest level of the students, but I purposely did not choose not the latest version -- in order to leave options open for the student to review their favorite product. Having all resources and tasks within the wiki allow learning to continue outside the walls of the classroom. After the final reviews were completed, we placed the best on Amazon.com and Travelocity.com. Thus allowing students an authentic application of both technology and learning.
In the future, I will add few initial lessons on how to participate in an online discussion. This was the first experience that students had with this format, and many of their comments were social as opposed to adding value. As a result, this was the portion of the lesson where engagement began to wane. While creating online reviews is an authentic and relevant exercise to their lives today; appropriate online discussion and questioning will soon be just as vital to these maturing middle school students.
As the school library media specialist, I can collaborate with all staff to assist them in building technology-based lessons, and technology-contained lessons. Students can continue their learning anywhere they have internet access and the format will add to lifelong learning skills in the online setting. Lessons that have authentic connection to the real world help students see the purpose for their learning, and therefore lead to more engaged students.
In the future, I will add few initial lessons on how to participate in an online discussion. This was the first experience that students had with this format, and many of their comments were social as opposed to adding value. As a result, this was the portion of the lesson where engagement began to wane. While creating online reviews is an authentic and relevant exercise to their lives today; appropriate online discussion and questioning will soon be just as vital to these maturing middle school students.
As the school library media specialist, I can collaborate with all staff to assist them in building technology-based lessons, and technology-contained lessons. Students can continue their learning anywhere they have internet access and the format will add to lifelong learning skills in the online setting. Lessons that have authentic connection to the real world help students see the purpose for their learning, and therefore lead to more engaged students.
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Revised July 2013