3.6 Selecting and Evaluating Digital Tools & Resources
Candidates collaborate with teachers and administrators to select and evaluate digital tools and resources for accuracy, suitability, and compatibility with the school technology infrastructure. (PSC 3.6/ISTE 3f)
Artifact: Evaluating Emerging Technologies Project
Reflection:
This artifact is a PowerPoint presentation called "Use Wikis in the Classroom to Communicate, Collaborate, and Motivate" I created this presentation as part of my Evaluating Emerging Technologies Project. It was assigned in ITEC 7445 and required candidates to prepare a formal presentation describing the efficacy of the emerging technology for classroom use.
The selection and evaluation of wikis and the presentation that describes this process demonstrates my mastery of this standard. I was able to collaborate with my colleagues about the functionality of wikis for student and teacher use. In the presentation I demonstrate how the selection and evaluation of wikis can help teachers use technology to meet our district technology plan. The major components of our district plan that wikis can address are students have equitable access to technology and use it to be actively engaged in the learning process. In my presentation I articulate how wikis can engage students and highlight that wikis are available at no cost to educators and students in my district.
In the presentation I provided the research on the effectiveness of wiki use to improve student learning. In an effort to promote accuracy, I report that their effectiveness on student learning has not been adequately studied and that there is a shortage of empirical data regarding their effectiveness on student learning. However, I did not let this lack support in the literature stand alone. The presentation describes the numerous ways many teachers are reaping their benefits.
My district has a license arrangement with one of the larger hosting services, Wikispaces. Students and teachers have almost unlimited space on their servers to create any type of wiki needed. Also, with our BYOT policy and an approximate device to student ratio, the artifact demonstrates to teachers and administrators evidence of their suitability and compatibility in the classroom.
Technology has improved rapidly since I completed the Emerging Technology Project. As further reflection on my mastery of my ability to collaborate with teachers to select and evaluate digital tools I submit that my fellow social studies teachers and I routinely share self-created content in Kahoot, Socrative, and Nearpod. Each of these web 2.0 technologies lend themselves to formative assessment and make the using of technology much more motivating.
In completing this artifact, I learned how to evaluate and recommend technology. While it seems simple, the factors that must be considered are: How does the technology support the school/district's vision? What are the appropriate age ranges? Is equitable access a concern? Does the infrastructure support the use of the technology? What equipment requirements exist? Is their technical support available for all users? Is the technology cost prohibitive? And, most important, how can/should it be used to help students learn?
If I were to create this project over, I would create slides that provide multiple scenarios of how teachers use wikis. I would include a variety of scenarios that touch different grade levels and content areas. And, I would search for more anecdotal evidence from students on how they use wikis in education.
The work that was involved in creating this artifact can enhance faculty development and student learning. As the presentation details, wikis have a wide range of uses to support student learning. The impact of their use in my district can be determined by counting how many students and teachers are using our district subscription to Wikispaces.
This artifact is a PowerPoint presentation called "Use Wikis in the Classroom to Communicate, Collaborate, and Motivate" I created this presentation as part of my Evaluating Emerging Technologies Project. It was assigned in ITEC 7445 and required candidates to prepare a formal presentation describing the efficacy of the emerging technology for classroom use.
The selection and evaluation of wikis and the presentation that describes this process demonstrates my mastery of this standard. I was able to collaborate with my colleagues about the functionality of wikis for student and teacher use. In the presentation I demonstrate how the selection and evaluation of wikis can help teachers use technology to meet our district technology plan. The major components of our district plan that wikis can address are students have equitable access to technology and use it to be actively engaged in the learning process. In my presentation I articulate how wikis can engage students and highlight that wikis are available at no cost to educators and students in my district.
In the presentation I provided the research on the effectiveness of wiki use to improve student learning. In an effort to promote accuracy, I report that their effectiveness on student learning has not been adequately studied and that there is a shortage of empirical data regarding their effectiveness on student learning. However, I did not let this lack support in the literature stand alone. The presentation describes the numerous ways many teachers are reaping their benefits.
My district has a license arrangement with one of the larger hosting services, Wikispaces. Students and teachers have almost unlimited space on their servers to create any type of wiki needed. Also, with our BYOT policy and an approximate device to student ratio, the artifact demonstrates to teachers and administrators evidence of their suitability and compatibility in the classroom.
Technology has improved rapidly since I completed the Emerging Technology Project. As further reflection on my mastery of my ability to collaborate with teachers to select and evaluate digital tools I submit that my fellow social studies teachers and I routinely share self-created content in Kahoot, Socrative, and Nearpod. Each of these web 2.0 technologies lend themselves to formative assessment and make the using of technology much more motivating.
In completing this artifact, I learned how to evaluate and recommend technology. While it seems simple, the factors that must be considered are: How does the technology support the school/district's vision? What are the appropriate age ranges? Is equitable access a concern? Does the infrastructure support the use of the technology? What equipment requirements exist? Is their technical support available for all users? Is the technology cost prohibitive? And, most important, how can/should it be used to help students learn?
If I were to create this project over, I would create slides that provide multiple scenarios of how teachers use wikis. I would include a variety of scenarios that touch different grade levels and content areas. And, I would search for more anecdotal evidence from students on how they use wikis in education.
The work that was involved in creating this artifact can enhance faculty development and student learning. As the presentation details, wikis have a wide range of uses to support student learning. The impact of their use in my district can be determined by counting how many students and teachers are using our district subscription to Wikispaces.