2.3 Authentic Learning
Candidates model and facilitate the use of digital tools and resources to engage students in authentic learning experiences.
Artifact: Engaged Learning Project Blogging and Beyond
Reflection:
The Engaged Learning project, Blogging and Beyond, was developed in the ITEC 7400 class, 21st Century Teaching and Learning. This artifact was designed as a professional learning class for teachers that would meet four weeks for 2 1/2 hour sessions each time. The teachers in the class created a blog site on the Wordpress site and then developed a standards based lesson to engage their students in authentic learning experiences. They also setup online collaboration and communication with other teacher's class blogs.
Engagement of students and teachers in authentic learning experiences through the use of class blog sites assured mastery of the 2.3 standard. This was accomplished through commenting on each other's blogs, evaluating other class blogs, posting images and embedding video for student responses. During the development of this class, I realized how important it is for teacher learning to be authentic. Many teachers made that comment on the evaluation of the course.The course reminded them to create more authentic learning for their students. Next time I offer this course to teachers, I will send them the directions for setting up their blog before the first class. Some teachers did not receive access to their blog site until later the next day.This caused them some concern that they were going to be behind. I think sending the directions ahead of time will prevent this from happening. After the class was over, the teachers filled out an evaluation. Many teachers commented that their students were very excited about commenting on the class blogs, as well as seeing what their classmates had written or commented. The teachers felt any time you get students excited about reading and writing, there will be improvement. Some of the teachers had also received positive comments from parents, as well. Faculty development and student learning was impacted through the completion of this course. Teachers learned and implemented in their classrooms a new digital resource that increased student's writing and communication skills. The impact of this student learning was evaluated by analyzing students' classroom writing samples, benchmark writing samples, and end-of-year state writing assessments.
The Engaged Learning project, Blogging and Beyond, was developed in the ITEC 7400 class, 21st Century Teaching and Learning. This artifact was designed as a professional learning class for teachers that would meet four weeks for 2 1/2 hour sessions each time. The teachers in the class created a blog site on the Wordpress site and then developed a standards based lesson to engage their students in authentic learning experiences. They also setup online collaboration and communication with other teacher's class blogs.
Engagement of students and teachers in authentic learning experiences through the use of class blog sites assured mastery of the 2.3 standard. This was accomplished through commenting on each other's blogs, evaluating other class blogs, posting images and embedding video for student responses. During the development of this class, I realized how important it is for teacher learning to be authentic. Many teachers made that comment on the evaluation of the course.The course reminded them to create more authentic learning for their students. Next time I offer this course to teachers, I will send them the directions for setting up their blog before the first class. Some teachers did not receive access to their blog site until later the next day.This caused them some concern that they were going to be behind. I think sending the directions ahead of time will prevent this from happening. After the class was over, the teachers filled out an evaluation. Many teachers commented that their students were very excited about commenting on the class blogs, as well as seeing what their classmates had written or commented. The teachers felt any time you get students excited about reading and writing, there will be improvement. Some of the teachers had also received positive comments from parents, as well. Faculty development and student learning was impacted through the completion of this course. Teachers learned and implemented in their classrooms a new digital resource that increased student's writing and communication skills. The impact of this student learning was evaluated by analyzing students' classroom writing samples, benchmark writing samples, and end-of-year state writing assessments.