Technology Enhanced Lesson Plan

This is an example of a lesson plan that I taught in the classroom a couple of weeks ago. Instead of making a poster and doing a writing activity at the end of each lesson with the students over the course of three classes, I would like to implement and use a power point presentation to teach this topic. I think that a power point could make the information come alive for the children more than a poster could. Through using this technology, the students will be able to see the important concepts from "Jamie O'Rourke and the Pooka." The power point presentation will further help the students to remember important parts of the story (retelling- an important comprehension strategy).

Classroom Technology Inventory

I am in a 1st grade class and upon doing my technology inventory assessment, I was surprised to find that there was not as much technology in the classroom I've been assigned as I thought there would be. However, the children are in first grade, which makes sense as to why they would not be surrounded by a vast amount of technology at this particular point in time. There is one computer in my classroom. This computer can be hooked up to a projector and used to show power points to the children. The students also have access to television sets, which can be brought into the room to show them educational videos. The students have access to a computer lab that is estimated to have about 30 computers in it. The students are able to do a variety of activities on these computers ranging from math problems to writing to reading comprehension activities. The possibilities are endless for the children.

We live in a day that teaches children about technology at a very early age. I marvel at the things that young children are able to do on the computer. I think it is extremely beneficial to teach them computer skills early, as it promotes a concrete knowledge for them in their futures. Technology surrounds students and the day we live in requires that students are exposed to technology often, as it helps them to understand and internalize various subjects. Not only does technology help students to learn subjects better, but it also makes subjects much more interesting for them. Rather than merely hearing a direct instruction lesson, students have the ability to apply the concepts they are learning to their lives through the use of technology. I have seen the faces of the students in my class beam with huge smiles of excitement each time they have been given the opportunity to go to the computer lab. For example, on one particular day, the students were able to do math problems and they were able to complete the problems given to them in a fast manner. I believe that this had to do greatly with the students' eagerness to use technology. If it can enhance students' learning and help them to be more engaged, technology should definitely be implemented into the classroom starting as early as possible. I have seen the positive outcomes of technology first hand with the students I teach. I cannot wait to use it in my classroom!

Battles of the Revolutionary War on GOOGLE EARTH!

Here is the link.

TPACK!!!

Content: Grade 5 Standard 2 objective 2a
Plot a time line of the key events of the Revolutionary War.

Pedagogy:
The aim of this lesson is to encourage the students to be independent in the learning process. They will be guided through it, yet most of it will be structured in such a way that the students will be the ones making the discoveries. As these students make observations, they will be able to analyze information. Through the virtual tour, they will be able to identify important locations of significant battles fought during the Revolutionary War. The students will be assessed in the forms of writing personal poems, participating in a play, making dioramas, and participating in debates. These activities will be both engaging and fun for the students, as they will teach them to search for answers predominantly on their own. Finding such answers will prove to be far more meaningful to the students than merely teaching them through direct instruction. This pedagogy will enable to students to accomplish the tasks outlined in the standard's objective. They will actively participate in constructing a thorough time line through the activities they participate in throughout the process.

Technology:
Google Earth will be used to conduct this virtual tour for the students. This program will be used to plot the locations of the important battles fought during the Revolutionary war. These locations will be put together in the form of a tour, which will provide the students with a cohesive understanding of the material. Google Earth makes teaching such information affordable, time-efficient, and fun! It enables the students to feel like they are there without actually being there. It will present them with a field trip like no other! This program also plots out the locations in a way that helps students to easily be able to locate them on a map. Finally, the locations of the tour will follow a logical sequence- they will be shown in a sequence that follows a chronological outline. This will assist the students in remembering which events came first, second, third, etc.