Wiki's Lab

Here is the link to my wikispace:  http://clarkmsugrad.wikispaces.com/


Below is a before shot of the wikipedia article I added content to:

Here is the screenshot to the wikipedia and the content added. I added our recent academic ratings from the 2009-2010 school year.

Added content to the school section of the wikipedia: "Tatum ISD is TEA Academically Recognized District for the fourth year in row and has two Exemplary rated campuses and two Recognized rated campuses. Tatum Primary is Exemplary for the fifth straight year, Tatum Elementary has earned a fifth consecutive Recognized rating, Tatum Middle is Recognized for the third consecutive year and Tatum High is Exemplary."

UDL Guidelines - Educator Checklist

What is UDL actually?

According to the UDL Center, Universal Design for Learning is a set of principles for curriculum development that gives all individuals equal opportunities to learn. UDL provides a blueprint for creating instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments that work for everyone--not a single, one-size-fits-all solution but rather flexible approaches that can be customized and adjusted for individual needs.

Below is the link to the Interactive Web Features lesson plan that I created and uploaded to MERLOT.



UDL Guidelines - Educator Checklist

Personal Learning Reflection

        As technology continues to grow, educators must grow with it. If I fail to integrate technology into my teaching, then I am not giving my students what they need to be successful. I learned that just because you have a great lesson planned, you need to find a way to make it relevant to today's technology world. How can I turn that great lesson into a superb lesson? The answer is with technology. Integrating technology gets students to “buy in” with what you are teaching. Students are excited to learn away from the traditional style, a book and listening to me lecture. Getting away from lectures and worksheets, will allow the student to be more creative in their work. Technology allows me the opportunity to reach students that I may miss through lecture. Technology allows me to create presentations that students will be able to follow at their own pace. A student may not be able to understand my teaching, without seeing a visual representation. I can provide instructional videos in a variety of ways, such as creating movies or providing real life simulation on the computer. Without incorporating technology into my lesson plans, none of that would be possible.

        Over the course of the class, the blog assignment really exemplified teaching with technology. A blog opens some many windows to learning and creating with technology. Blogging allow students to connect to others and contribute their ideas with one another. Blogs become another teaching method that I can use for my classes. Students are asked to find instructional videos from YouTube or TeacherTube, that reflects what we are learning in class and post to their blogs Students are asked to make comments about the video that was posted, which gives them reinforcement. The blog assignment also will help students become organized by adding different widgets, such as calendars, and adding resources that are beneficial to their education.

       

        In my personal growth plan, I wanted to make a difference in how we use the technology that is available. In this course, I was exposed to many different tools that I used immediately in my classes. Tools such as blogs and creating a personal learning network for my students. One of my technology goals is to design a program for our CTE department that “makes sense”. I have been discussing ways to improve our department with our curriculum director. I have been asked to provide documentation and resources about creating a better CTE design. We have had meetings to discuss how we can improve our department that will be beneficial to the education of the students.

        Working through this course has given me new goals that I need to accomplish. I need to be able to work in small groups. The SIG assignment brought that weakness to my attention. My goal is to initiate group contact and be more of a presence. I will have the opportunity to achieve this goal in the next course. A second goal that I want to accomplish will be put what I have learned to use. I want to give teachers at my school the tools that I have gained through this course. My goal is to inform and educate teachers in staff meetings about how they can integrate technology into their classrooms. I plan to continue learning all I can about emerging technologies, with the help of my professors and members of the MAET community.

Evaluation of Learning Material in MERLOT

Share: Evaluation of Learning Material in MERLOT

Link to resource evaluated: How to Use a Search Engine

The software presented showed valid concepts, models, and skills needed to perform a successful search. Terms are defined, explained, and examples are given to aid in student learning. Content is core curriculum within the discipline, which every teacher that teaches a web class understands the importance of understanding how to use search engines. Content is not difficult follow and should be easy for students to learn, and is a pre-requisite for more advanced material.

The learning material presented offers students a more precise way to use search engines. Students are able to follow teacher demonstration that assesses the problem. Three case studies are provided using the curriculum to use a variety of skills learned through the presentation. Students should be able to define terms that are associated with searching the internet, be able to decide which search engine best fits their search need. Students should be able to perform more advanced searches using skills learned from the material.

Targeted learners characteristically search the internet without using any type of skills. Targeted learners are more likely to type in long search phrases, instead of short detailed ones. The presentation gives teachers the materials needed to teach, and directions given can easily be followed by students who view the content.

This software can easily be integrated into the current curriculum as a basic understanding and introduction to search engines. Students are able to receive the information in multiple ways. One being through a video lesson provide by the instructor. The second by viewing presentation, and the third by hands on application and activities.

The labels and buttons from the computer interface are consistent and easy to navigate.

Some material is harder to read than others, and the information on the slide-show can be difficult to follow. The quality of sound in the video is a little poor, but you are able to understand and hear the information. The user may become distracted with random sounds in the video, and students today may find the information not interesting.

Comments are provided about the lesson along with a reviews that provide feedback from those who viewed the lesson. Students will need Window Media to access the photo story. The information is presented in ways that are familiar for students by use of video and PowerPoint presentation. Material that is presented will easily be accepted by a younger audience, like middle school.