Digital+Tools+within+the+Classroom

= ﻿**Digital Tools within the Classroom** = 1. Please read all information and view accompanying videos. 2. Understand the standards that can be met while integrating technology into the classroom. 3. Participate in respective discussion board.

~"technologies are tools students use to create knowledge and to create personal and social change"~

 Technology is a growing trend in society and within the education system as well. An increasing number of various types of technologies are becoming more and more available in schools. Studies have shown that technology is a great way to enhance classroom instruction for all types of learners. “Technology in the classroom increases student motivation, increases the task complexities accomplished by students, changes student and teacher roles, and develops deeper cooperative relationships amongst students.” (Means, 2001) Combining the use of technology and effective teaching in the classroom provides a great learning program for any and every student. The following is a link to a study done on the effects of technology on classrooms and students with results including increased student motivation and self esteem, gaining of technical skills, accomplishment of more complex tasks, and increased collaboration with peers.

http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html#increased

A 21st Century Classroom engages students as well as provides differentiated instruction, for classrooms that are diverse, with the use of technology.  It satisfies the different learning styles of various students whether they are hands on learners, visual learners, or need the use of sound to guide them. 21st Century Classrooms have an entirely different look and feel than the traditional classroom. Teachers must use 21st century tools as vehicles to implement the curriculum including: computers, interactive whiteboards, web 2.0 tools, student response systems, mobile laptop carts, etc. A twenty-first century classroom should be engaging and interactive for students with a variety of materials and resources available. The room should be overflowing with materials, technologies, apparatus, and supplies.

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Technology is a great way to affect the classroom environment in a positive way. By using technology you have the chance to show students the available resources that are out there as well being able to give the students the opportunity to use and learn it for themselves. Technology in the classroom has been sorted into three categories: ‘a learning tool, a data tool, and an enabling force.’ (Jan Delaney, 2006) If technology is used with all three roles, it can be very useful in a classroom. There are many studies that show the advantages of the use of technology and hands on activities in a classroom and it has been shown that the use of various technologies enhances student learning. “Educational technology complements what a great teacher does naturally, extending their reach and broadening their students' experience beyond the classroom. With ever-expanding content and technology choices, from video to multimedia to the Internet, there's an unprecedented need to understand the recipe for success, which involves the learner, the teacher, the content, and the environment in which technology is used." (Marshall 2002)

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Here is a link to an excellent educational paper on "using the technology of today, in the classroom of today":

= Bloom’s Taxonomy =

It is important for educators to consider Bloom’s Taxonomy, while creating daily lesson plans for the classroom.



** Remembering ** Searching in Google, bookmarking a favorite webpage, creating links in social networks ** Understanding ** Blog journaling, twittering ** Applying ** students initiating a program and/or operating and manipulating hardware and applications, gaming technology, uploading and appropriate sharing of materials on a site such as Flickr ** Analyzing ** <span style="font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 1.53846em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">mash ups of several data sources that are melded into a single set of usable information, proper establishment of links within documents and web pages where students are able to validate their information, tagging web-pages <span style="font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 1.53846em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">** Evaluating ** <span style="font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 1.53846em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">blog commenting and reflecting where students comment and reply to other postings, testing a product or application <span style="font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 1.53846em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">** Creating ** <span style="font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 1.53846em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">can involve audio and video and come in the form of a film, an animation, a videocast, or a podcast, mixing and remixing to ultimately produce unique products in a blog or wiki, creation of a program application or the development of a game.

= NETS for Teachers = Educational technology Standards and Performance Indicators

1. TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS AND CONCEPTS //Teachers demonstrate a sound understanding of technology operation and concepts. Teachers://
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**demonstrate introductory knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts related to** **technology (as described in the ISTE National Education Technology Standards for** **Students)**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay abreast of** **current and emerging technologies.**

2. ENVIRONMENTS AND EXPERIENCES **<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 25px;">//Teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology. Teachers:// **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology enhanced** **instructional strategies to support the diverse needs of learners.**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**apply current research on teaching and learning with technology when planning learning** **environments and experiences.**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**identify and locate technology resources and evaluate them for accuracy and suitability.**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal;">**plan for the management of technology resources within the context of learning activities.**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal;">**plan strategies to manage student learning in a technology-enhanced environment.**

3. TEACHING, LEARNING, AND THE CURRICULUM **<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 25px;">//Teachers implement curriculum plans that include methods and strategies for applying technology to maximize student learning. Teachers:// **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**facilitate technology-enhanced experiences that address content standards and student** **technology standards.**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**use technology to support learner-centered strategies that address the diverse needs of** **students.**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**apply technology to develop students' higher order skills and creativity.**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**manage student learning activities in a technology-enhanced environment.**

4. ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION **<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 25px;">//Teachers apply technology to facilitate a variety of effective assessment and evaluation strategies. Teachers:// **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**apply technology in assessing student learning of subject matter using a variety of** **assessment techniques.**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**use technology resources to collect and analyze data, interpret results, and communicate** **findings to improve instructional practice and maximize student learning.**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**apply multiple methods of evaluation to determine students' appropriate use of** **technology resources for learning, communication, and productivity.**

5. PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE **<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 25px;">//Teachers use technology to enhance their productivity and professional practice. Teachers:// **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**use technology resources to engage in ongoing professional development and lifelong** **learning.**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**continually evaluate and reflect on professional practice to make informed decisions** **regarding the use of technology in support of student learning.**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**apply technology to increase productivity.**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal;">**use technology to communicate and collaborate with peers, parents, and the larger** **community in order to nurture student learning.**

6. SOCIAL, ETHICAL, LEGAL, AND HUMAN ISSUES **<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 25px;">//Teachers understand the social, ethical, legal, and human issues surrounding the use of technology in PK-12 schools and apply those principals in practice. Teachers:// **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**model and teach legal and ethical practice related to technology use.**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal;">**apply technology resources to enable and empower learners with diverse backgrounds,** **characteristics, and abilities.**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**identify and use technology resources that affirm diversity**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal;">**promote safe and healthy use of technology resources.**


 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal;">**facilitate equitable access to technology resources for all students.** ====