Strategizing the Digital World

ISTE Standard 5

In a show of hands, I was astonished to know that many of my students were already carrying smart phones. These are 4^th graders. In a way, I wasn’t surprised. It just validated the fact that students are having an easier time gaining access to the web and will be certain to reach social media.
“Research by Common Sense Media, an independent nonprofit working with parents and educators to improve kids’ lives in a world of media and technology, found that “our nation’s children spend more time with media and digital activities than they do with their families or in school, which profoundly impacts their social, emotional, and physical development.” (Don Orth; Edward Chen)  I believe, now more than ever, we need research based strategies that promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.

I found that CommonSensemedia.com provides such a curriculum that addresses those needs of today’s society. What I like mostly about this platform is that there is plethora of materials and concepts to teach. I am excited to know there is a curriculum out there to assist in teaching kids to be digital citizens.

 

 Orth, D;  Chen  E (2013). General format. Retrieved from www.nais.org/Magazines-Newsletters/ISMagazine/Pages/The-Strategy-for-Digital-Citizenship.aspx

Digital StoryTelling

Artist/Composer of Song Raymond Remo

Fully integrated Instruction

ISTE Standard 3



As I sat in my classroom reflecting on how I can demonstrate my knowledge, skill, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global a digital society, it surprised me a little bit on how much technology surrounded me already. I think at times we take it for granted and forget what is readily at our disposal. Which led me to my question: How can I maximize the time given to allow my kids to have a lesson fully integrated with technology within a lesson? The answer to the question surprised me. My kids are already exposed to a lesson fully integrated with technology.

Throughout my lessons, kids are used to the Smartboard and the Document Camera. At times, I invite the kids to demonstrate using the document camera to lead the class in discussion with their work they did. This use allows my kids to build to confidence and student voice in their learning. WaProTeach.org explains that “student voice as the term used to describe students’ expressing their understanding oftheir learning process.” Technology not only allows my students to express their understanding non-verbally through their work, but also through their verbal explanations.
However, the next step to get my classroom to evolve to having all students interact with the lessons is the next goal. Learningsolutionsmag.com provided me with a solution in having in-lesson response systems in place to facilitate the use of technology with my kids so it’s not just me using technology all the time. The kids will be able to participate as well. Here is what they say:

[“Combine interactive whiteboard usewith classroom response systems. Many classroom response systems allow studentsto provide direct feedback to materials presented by their teacher. For example,in the game and simulation examples above, students could predict the actionthey would, statistically, expect to have happen next. You can also use theseinteractive whiteboards for more standard problem-solving applications, and togauge student mastery of concepts.”]

When I discovered this, I immediately thought of the Smart Response system we have available in our school. I have been meaning to implement it somehow. It time to find time to plan on using it.

  

References:

Washington Professional Educational Standards Board 2009,  Retrieved from      http://www.waproteach.org/rsc/pdf/WAProTeachStudentVoice.pdf

Kaczuwka, A.  (2008, Feb 25). General format. Retrieved from         http://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/116/technology-in-the-classroom-interactive whiteboards