Technology Operations and Concepts
Math Mix-Up was my first experience in integrating technology with education. I feel like with this Powerpoint, I can successfully "plan, design, and evaluate effective technology-enhanced learning environments and experiences aligned with the Michigan's Content Standards and Grade Level Content Expectations and Michigan Educational Technology Standards for each student." The Powerpoint incorporates examples addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division for students to practice their grade level math facts. Four multiple choice answers are given to choose from and if the student chooses the wrong answer, a slide is shown with two different ways to figure out the answer. After that slide, the student may try the question again. It is a very user-friendly program, but may take a while to set up. Knowing how to create an interactive Powerpoint may benefit most students in their struggles towards mathematics.
During a elementary writing course at CMU, I researched deep into Inventive Spelling. I was placed in a first grade classroom during their language arts time, and with the collaboration of Lucy Calkins and writing workshop, I developed a fascination with inventive spelling. It was very interesting to observe the different ways that little brains work when trying to spell, then attempting to read what they have written. I took the best information from many different websites, my own personal experiences, and interviews to come up with an all inclusive website on invented spelling. With this website, I have "used technology to engage in ongoing professional development, practice, productivity, communication, and life-long learning." I will have no problem referring this website to colleagues, as well as using it for my own references.
On a few occasions, when visiting Peirce Middle School in Grosse Pointe Park, MI, I had the chance to take over a few sixth grade English classes. One class was reading the novel 21 Balloons by William Pene du Bois. This lesson gives the students an opportunity to explore the island of Krakatoa by creating a travel brochure. The students research their own information and create their project in their own way. I created the website so that students would have the rubric at their fingertips, as well as an example of how I wanted their brochure to look under Microsoft Publisher. By creating this website, I believe that I "implemented curriculum plans that included effective technology-enhanaced methods and strategies to maximize student learning."
