Standard+1

__Enhancing Core Teaching Skills with Technology__

==#1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity == ===Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers: ===
 * promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
 * engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
 * promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
 * model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments

===My artifacts demonstrating this standard (What?)===

= Range of Use: =

**What I See **

**Your name: Karen Graham **
 * Your grade level/subject area: 3rd Grade **
 * Unit of study reviewed: Kindergarten Collaboration **

= Link to Bloom's Taxaonomy: [] = = Collaboration Reflection: = I chose to review the Kindergarten Classroom Collaboration Blogmeister. The first night I reviewed Mrs. Knee's classroom videos and was excited about the possibility of doing this with my classroom. The second night I started exploring the related links, student entries and TwitterBadge. WOW! As I explored more, I discovered this was actually a worldwide, schoolwide and community information/communication center. How exciting! The learning experiences this technology opens up to the students, teachers and community is endless. I felt it is an excellent example of where technology is taking our classrooms in the future. Mrs Knee's Blog would fall under Authenticity of Learning, to learn by doing. All teachers know this is the most effective way to tap into student's learning and build their knowledge. The student created video clips of classroom projects had to be motivating to them. How exciting that makes learning. They moved from artifical learning, (a self-made picture or model of a penguin) to real-world context by connecting the classroom to resources and children all over the world learning and sharing their experiences. The students learned about it and then did it. In addition, Mrs. Knee's Blog touches on Complexity of Learning. The class began with basic level skills (Shoe Math- comparing and classifying types of shoes worn by their classroom) and moved it to Higher Order Thinking (Collecting data from blog posts all over the world) This activity was a work in progress, and posts global wide were due in 10 days. Upon completion I would imagine Mrs. Knee would compile the data with the students and create a visual model and discussion on the results. In addition they could post on the Clustr Map the location of the Blog posts,making this a multidiscipliary learning experience. The majority of her classroom created projects and student participations hit on Bloom's Taxanomy. The students Knowledge (Student created pictures) were labeled, defined,and reproduced. They displayed Comprehension and Analysis with the classification and reporting of the Shoe Math and The 2MGem project. The students participated in Application through demonstration and dramatization of their Mother's Day Project. All of the projects used Synthesis through arrangement, planning, and preparing their blog activities. I would bet all of the students reached Evaluation and could discuss and rate the value of their experiences. The Instructional Approach to Learning was strong in Mrs. Knee's KinderKids Blog. These learners actively construct their knowledge by anchoring new information to preexisting knowledge. The Earth Day videos and projects demonstrated this approach to learning. They built on their personal social world and knowledge(the local grocery store and the bags) and connected it to recycling in the larger global world. The Shoe Math Lesson and 2MGem project (I think Gem had to do with a math problem- it was not easy to navigate this site) was interactive and based on the collective experiences of classrooms around the world. The math was not learned in isolation, it was learned through connecting new knowledge with already learned knowledge. Mrs. Knee's classroom experiences consisited of opportunities to create, discover and experience. Good for you Mrs. Knee!!! My ending thought with this, concerns the time it takes to integrate technology like this into the classrooms that must meet AYP. I agree, as teachers we know these are the instructional approaches we must take to provide our students with a rich learning environment. But standardized test reflect paper pencil tasks, isolated information, even irrelevant information. I am not saying it is not possible, just it will take a lot of professional training, creativity and highly motivated teachers to accomplish this.
 * **Component (e.g. lesson plan, video, etc.) ** || **Range of Use quadrant ** || **Why ** || **Improvements ** ||
 * Shoe Video || Complexity of Learning || Mulitidisciplnary Learning || Shown Graph ||
 * Earth Day || Instructional Approach || Previous Knowledge to New || Expanded project ||
 * Mrs. Knee's Blog || Authenticity of Learning || Motivating/Real World || Too Much Info. ||

= Link to Mrs. Knee's Blog: = []

= Global Collaboration Review = I reviewed the TakingITGlobal website. This site connects classrooms in a global community. The topics it covers ranges from environmental issues, to health, culture and other global topics. It offers digital tools, connects socially aware youth, and informs classrooms on the latest global news. In addition, it connects classrooms to historical projects and events. Classrooms can participate in the projects from their virtual classrooms. TakingITGlobal has an educator link. It offers online resources and activities too. This site would inspire any student's learning and creativity. []

= Critical Thinking Activity = =I would like to use voicethreads in my goal. I will be creating a classroom glogster on the Austin Centennial. My students will be researching the history of Austin. Each student will choose a community topic such as the Austin Dam Break. As part of their research and creating the glogster, they could do a voicethread describing their topic. They could describe photos, interviews with people in the communities or read of part of their research. The thinking, planning and creative processes would have to be modeled by the teacher and supported by the community. The voicethread will be added to glogster to present the information gathered by the students,in a creative style. I am placing this activity in Standard 3, Model Digital-Age Work and Learning. As the teacher I will have to be knowledgable with creating a glogster and a voicethread. I will have to collaborate with my peers, students, community members and parents to support the students success.= []

= Innovative Project: Wordle = =  =

I will be using Wordle in my classroom for vocabulary and theme reinforcement. We are wrapping up our Animal Habitat Unit in reading and this is an excellent opportunity to apply the vocabulary learned. At the completion of the Unit, I will ask the students to list the words they use when discussing animal habitat. They will write them on paper, turn and share their list, recieve feedback from peers and edit the list if needed. Next, they will each create their own Wordle. I can either print it for them or save it to our wiki. If our wiki has been created, we will save it to the animal habitat link.

I will also be using Wordle for Math Vocabulary.

To view a sample Wordle on Animal Habitats, click on the above link.

[]

= My Reflection on meeting this standard. = = =

===My exposure to the Mrs. Knees Blog represents the goal of modeling realworld issues and creativity with the students. In the creation of a Blog, Wiki or Glogster the students will be involved in thinking, planning and creative processes.===

===My innovative project represents the goal of demonstrating learning through the use of creative technology skills. The WORDLE will be used in my classroom in many different ways and areas. It is a good wrap-up activity for many of our reading and math units. ===

=== My Global Collaboration Review demonstrates an awareness of using the online communities to represent the goal of using face-to-face virtual environments to promote creativity, collaboration and learning in our students. The communication will promote and support innovative thinking in my classroom and in the students everyday life. ===

= My Future Learning Goals related to this standard (Now What?)  = 