Assessing Meaningful Learning

There are many different assessment tools that I learned about in the assignment. The assessment tools we looked at in this assignment were ePortfolios, Grading Rubrics, Clicker Tools, and Inspiration/Kidspiration software. An ePortfolio is an electronic portfolio that has a collection of assignments. An example of this would be, instead of having a final test in this class, we will be graded instead on our electronic portfolio.  An ePortfolio can allow the teacher to grade the student on what he or she did over the course of the semester by looking online. Grading Rubrics are a list of requirements for an assignment and how you are to be graded. There are website tools such as, http://www.rcampus.com/rubricshellc.cfm?mode=gallery&sms=publicrub where you can find grading rubrics online. These sights are helpful for teachers to be able to find a grading rubric that fits what they need, online. Clicker tools are used as an assessment tool for student response. It a fun and engaging way to get technology involved into the classroom. One of these tools is Quizdom. Quizdom helps get students involved, increases student participation, and gives the teacher instant feedback that they can use for grading the students.Inspiration software website is a great tool for teachers and students. This website contains diagrams, maps, graphic organizers, outlines, and lesson plans.

I have learned MANY things throughout the semester, by taking ETEC 424. Each and every week, I learned something new from working on the assignments. I learned not only about many new technologies and tools, but how to teach my students and how to use these tools in my classroom one day. Each tool I have learned about in the class, I plan on using in some way in my future classroom. Tools such as Blogs, Podcasting, Social Bookmarking, & Wikis are all great tools that I will use. I plan to use these tools for helping make education more fun and enjoyable for the students. I also would love to use websites such as Quizdom for a great resource and tool. Technology is a very important part on life and also a very important part of education. By taking this class, I have learned so much and feel prepared to help my students as well as other teachers incorporate technology in the classroom.

Technology Application Standards

I will teach High School Special Education.

§127.13. Career Preparation I (Two to Three Credits).

(a)  General requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grades 11-12

(b)  Introduction. Career Preparation I provides opportunities for students to participate in a learning experience that combines classroom instruction with paid business and industry employment experiences and supports strong partnerships among school, business, and community stakeholders. The goal is to prepare students with a variety of skills for a fast-changing workplace. This instructional arrangement should be an advanced component of a student's individual program of study. Students are taught employability skills, which include job-specific skills applicable to their training station, job interview techniques, communication skills, financial and budget activities, human relations, and portfolio development. Career preparation is relevant and rigorous, supports student attainment of academic standards, and effectively prepares students for college and career success.

(Source: Texas Education Agency at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/)

I am an All Level Special Education major. I plan to teach in a special education/life skills classroom in the future. Because I plan on working at the High School level, I chose to use the career development and preparation TEKS for grades 11-12. I will utilize and teach the above TEKS in my classroom in many different ways. When working with students with moderate to severe disabilities, career preparation can be very important. Students at the high school level should be informed of career preparation so that they can be prepared to leave high school and go out into the work world. In order to put the TEKS into place and teach them to the students, I would do a number of hands on activities and role playing activities to help them practice for job interviews. I would also find out exactly what jobs interest the student, and help them look up potential work they would be able to do. 

All of the TEKS are important to the students and all have a very important purpose. TEKS are designed to be a guideline for teachers to follow so that they will cover what needs to be covered. In my opinion, one of the most important TEKS for students who may be in a life skills class is career preparation. As stated in the above paragraph, using the TEKS as guidelines, I would do a number of hands on activities and role playing activities to help the students practice for job interviews and prepare them. Students who have the ability to go out into the world and work should be taught career preparation.  Using the career TEKS above, I could prepare my students to know about and find careers so they can succeed in their future.

Visualizing With Technology

Visualizing with technology is a very important part of how our students today want to learn in the classroom. They want to use technology for fun as well as for education. A 6^th grade student in the video we watched is creating apps. This was hard for me to believe that a student so young was able to create an app. Watching the video made me realize that now more than ever is the time to help our students be successful by using the technology tools around us and that are available to us every day.  I hope to use visualizing technology in my future classroom. Technology is rapidly growing and it is very important for teachers to keep up with the latest technologies to help our student’s become successful.

Visualizing with technology will have a huge impact on the learning process. The chapter 9 reading discussed many different visualization tools. Some examples of visualization tools are: draw and paint programs, scientific tools, mathematical tools, sketching tools, and digital cameras. These tools are great ways to keep students involved, engaged, and interested in learning the lessons. The world today revolves around technology so why not use it in education? Visualizing with technology is going to play a very important role in education for many years to come. With the proper use, visualizing with technology can be a very fun, exciting, and useful way to learn. It gives the students the opportunity to be involved and helps prepare them for their futures.

Podcasting

I have heard of and knew about Podcasting before this assignment, but I was unaware of exactly how it worked. After watching the video “Podcasting in Plain English” I learned a lot about what podcasting is, how it works, and how it is so beneficial to use.  I learned that Podcasting comes from the words iPod and broadcasting combined together, but is not limited to just an iPod. I also learned about subscriptions.  I was unaware that you could hit “subscribe” on a website with a podcast and receive future shows automatically by having something called a pod catcher. The pod catcher allows you to access the shows and watch them when and where you want. Podcasting would be a great tool to use in the classroom. Podcast can allow you share information, upcoming assignments, lessons, and lectures with the students. Also, podcast keeps students from falling behind. If a student is absent, they can simply go listen to the lecture, lesson, and assignment they missed for that day. 

I think Podcasting is very similar to other Web 2.0 applications we have learned about. Web 2.0 tools such as Wikis, Social Bookmarking, and Voice Threads are all tools that can be used for online communication, information, and interaction. Web 2.0 tools we discussed in a previous assignment were tools to create easy ways to access and share information with others. Podcasting does the same thing. Both Podcasting and Web 2.0 tools we have talked about can be very beneficial when used in education for teachers and also for the students. One way Podcasting is a little different than the Web 2.0 tools we have discussed is that Podcasting allows you to subscribe to a favorite podcast website and receive future shows automatically. While Wikis, Social Bookmarking, and Voice Thread are not automatically transferred. Wikis, Social Bookmarking, Voice Threads, and Podcast are all useful tools that can benefit education when used properly. 

I have had an iPod for as long as I can remember. I use my iPod touch every single day. For the most part, I use it to play music when I exercise.  I also use it to play games, and also use it to get on the internet when I have Wi-Fi. I think using an iPod in the classroom is such a great idea and I would love to use it in my classroom one day. In my future classroom, I hope to use Podcasting for uploading classroom lessons online. This way, students can access lectures, lessons, and upcoming assignments. There are many advantages to online communication tools. Since all students learn differently and at different paces, podcasting is a great way for students to access the information they need and listen to it at their own pace. Another advantage for the students is that they can download the lessons onto devices that they can carry and use anywhere such as at home or on the bus. A disadvantage to online communication is that some students may not have access to a device such as an iPod. Another disadvantage of online communication is that students may not have access to the internet at home.