I think the majority of teachers today would disagree that tests are the only objective assessment of student learning. Teachers have state standards and testing shoved down their throat 24-7. They are under so much pressure for students to perform on state tests that sometimes the "fun" is taken out of learning. Of course, standardized tests are not the only tests students are faced with. Teachers prepare tests all through the school year that are similar to state tests as added practice and remediation for students. Many factors can play a part in how students perform on tests that can drastically change the accuracy of the students' knowledge. Student behavior and home life definitely factor in. What kind of day the student is having can also make a difference. It is simply not fair to base a students' assessment on tests alone.
Although multiple-choice tests or standardized tests may be easier for teachers to use as assessments, they should not be the only means available to students to demonstrate their knowledge. Allowing students to create portfolios and do demonstrations are great ways for them to show what they have learned. Technology opens the door for students to create so many presentations and documents that are also fun to do. Students will work harder if they enjoy what they are doing. Using rubrics and allowing students to do self assessments and peer evaluations are also alternative ways for students to demonstrate knowledge. Teachers need to be creative in how they assess student learning. It may take more time and effort but the students will greatly appreciate it.
In a technology-infused classroom the teacher takes on the role of facilitator. The classroom becomes student-centered and more inquiry-based learning takes place. The teacher facilitates collaboration and students are able to develop real world skills. When infusing technology into the curriculum, it is important that teachers keep state standards aligned with the lessons. The students will begin to enjoy the lessons more and become more creative. The possibility of students multi-tasking is now an easy option. Students will begin to converse with the teacher more and offer ideas on how they would like to use and create with technology in the classroom. Learning becomes exciting for them and they begin to see a purpose for topics they might have brushed off in the past. Students become more responsible in the classroom.
If you are "old school" and reluctant to use technology in your classroom, start small. Of course the extent to which you can incorporate technology is based on what is available to you at your school. Most schools have at least one lab or several computers in a classroom to work with. Assign a writing project and let the students use Word to perform the steps in the writing process. Show them how to add clip art or page borders to the final project. There is an abundance of free interactive lessons available for the Smart board. If you have a Smart board, download some of these and let the students lead a discussion to introduce a new topic. PowerPoint is a fairly simple application for students and teachers. Let students create a digital story or slide show about a topic being covered in class. Web quests and scavenger hunts are also an excellent way to show students how to navigate through sites on the Internet and pull out only the important information needed for an assignment. Just take that leap and you will see your classroom start to transform and you will no longer only be "teaching" but also learning with your students.
In the past my students have created Power Points, documents in Publisher, used Excel to sort and edit data, used video and digital cameras, and have created web pages using HTML. We also use Word extensively in the classroom. This year I want to use an online learning environment tool and put all my lessons, requirements, communication, etc. online. The students will access the site for assignments, be able to attach documents, and create projects with other students from this site. I also want to set up an epal with a classroom somewhere for my students to communicate with throughout the school year. I want to show them how to use some of the free software and sites available on the Internet like Google Documents and Skype. I'm learning so much about so many options out there that are free to my classroom through my technology classes. Even though I use technology everyday in my classroom, I hope to open the door to new applications and technologies that are available and learn each day with my students about how to use them in our everyday life.
Students today are exposed to so many tech gadgets. Most of them have cell phones, Ipods, Ipads, and play video games. They are reading on these devices or their laptops and PCs and rarely pick up a magazine or book. How do I or any other teacher keep the attention of these digital age learners? It isn't easy! We have to "jazz" up our lesson plans and classroom projects. A simple way to add some spice to your curriculum is to incorporate visuals. This can be done several ways. When students are working in groups, allow them to organize their ideas using graphic organizers. Inspiration is a great program for students to develop graphic organizers using text and graphics. If possible, set up learning centers in your classroom. Learning centers can address student diversity and multiple learning styles. Use posters and pictures to describe the task at each center. Provide visual examples of projects whether it be photos or videos or both. If you have access to a Smart board in your room, use it to demonstrate and project videos and images. Also, use the Internet! The information available to us is endless. We can find pictures, interviews, and videos of just about anything we need. I am working on a Masters in Technology through Grand Canyon University. One of our discussion forums involved sharing ways we use visuals in our classroom. One post discussed using videos and pictures as writing topics. They would show a clip of a video or post a picture and the students would do a journal entry or write a short essay describing what they think is taking place. I would like to try this in my classroom. I don't teach writing but I think our students need every opportunity to work on writing skills. I could use this as a class opening to a topic or maybe do one every Friday. I haven't figured it out yet. I've learned so many things in my courses at GCU that I plan to completely rewrite all my lesson plans so I can incorporate my new knowledge. Hopefully, I can use the summer to get organized and maybe my students will be more excited about learning next year.
The Internet provides a teacher and classroom with endless information. It is definitely a learning tool that needs to be put to use when appropriate. The Internet allows teachers to move away from the traditional classroom where they are always the "giver" of information. The Internet allows the students to be highly engaged in the learning process. Students also become teachers. I for one can say I have learned lots of techno stuff from my students, especially when it comes to using my cell phone! They know everything. They have grown up with it and aren't afraid to "play around" with technology and the Internet. I am an old dog that has to be pushed to learn new tricks. I enjoy learning from them and I think it helps open up class discussions and communication in general with my students. If students know they are going to get to use the Internet for a project, they become much more excited than if you took them to the library to check out periodicals. The challenge is to teach them how to find and sort through all the information. Thus, the teacher still serves as the guide and it's not total chaos. The Internet also allows students to connect with students in other states and countries. This is one way I plan to use the Internet in my classroom next year. I want to incorporate epals and communicate with another classroom hopefully in another country. I think this would be awesome and the students would love it and learn at the same time. I think the Internet will continue to impact education for a long time to come!
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." Blaise Pascal
I found this video interesting and wanted to post it for you to view. I don't know how budgets are in your district but ours is very tight. There is even talk of cutting teacher salaries, coaching supplements, and possibly positions. Hope you enjoy this "sarcastic" take on teacher salaries!
Today’s teachers must present information in a variety of ways in order to meet the needs of all the students and not just the majority of students. We must acknowledge and accept that students differ from each other and also learn differently. It is important that teachers learn to be flexible and not try to fit each student into what they might feel is the “perfect mold.” Each student is an individual.
By using technology, teachers are better able to offer variation to their students. A teacher can present new topics using the smart board and a PowerPoint presentation. Class discussion and lectures can be accompanied by videos and other graphics obtained from the Internet. Lessons can be interactive and students can add information to an eBook or a smart board lesson. I feel technology allows teachers to potentially reach all learning styles. Teachers must learn what the students individual needs and learning styles are and address them appropriately so all students are actively engaged in learning. It does take extra time and effort on the teachers’ part, but the end results are very much worth it!
