Digital Portfolio-Final Project
By: Amy Schwarz
ED205-05
12/13/07
ISTE’s Educational Technology Standards for
Students
Students demonstrate creative
thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes
using technology.
In my semester of ED205, I worked with various forms of technology that could benefit both teachers and students in a classroom. Some of these projects and activities we worked on applied existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes. An example of this is the Basic Application Project, where I used my prior knowledge of word processing and graphs and created a new product—an article on cockroaches. Other things we worked on created original works as a means of personal or group expression. An example of this was my Digital Story, where I used Photostory3 to create a visual and audio “story” that explained why I decided to become an elementary teacher. Thus, I created an original work as a means of a personal expression. Another thing I worked on was a Second Life Discussion, in which I wrote my thoughts on Second Life. We studied Second Life in class, and it’s a virtual world in which people can meet others online, change their identities, and also can help kids learn about weather patterns and experience virtual tornadoes, in Second Life’s NOAA program. This discussion shows how models and simulations that explore complex systems and issues can be used in the classroom. Lastly, under creativity and innovation, I was able to identify trends and forecast possibilities in my Current Topic in Technology Podcast, and in my Web 2.0 Discussion. In my podcast, I talked about the latest things going on in the world dealing with gaming—in education and society. I identified the latest trends and talked about possible uses of gaming in classrooms for the future. In my discussion on Web 2.0, I discussed the pros and cons of Web 2.0 and how it could be used in the future and in the classroom.
Students use digital media and
environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance,
to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
Throughout ED205, I worked with
numerous forms of technology that could benefit both students and teachers in
the classroom. One thing that we did each week in class was comment on a
specific topic through
Students apply digital tools to
gather, evaluate, and use information.
ED205 allowed my peers and I to
work with multiple types of technology that could benefit us in our future
classrooms. A couple of things we worked on allowed us to plan strategies and
to guide inquiry. These activities were my Webquest
Discussion and my Interactive
PowerPoint. In my Webquest discussion, I talked about the benefits and uses
of Webquests in the classroom. In my interactive powerpoint, a partner and I
collaborated to produce a powerpoint that liked to various slides and outside
videos and information. Something like this would be a great activity to
implement in a classroom because it has students working with technology and
producing a powerpoint that is effective and engaging. For teachers, an
interactive powerpoint is a better version of a linear powerpoint, and if used
in lecture form, would keep students’ attention better. To locate, organize,
analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of
sources and media, our Website
Evaluation allowed us to do this. In my evaluation, I analyzed and
evaluated two different websites that covered the same topic. Something like
this in a classroom setting would be good for students to do, as it gives them
a chance to explore and analyze various forms of technology. I evaluated and
selected information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to
specific tasks when I worked on the Basic
Application Project. When searching for information and facts on
cockroaches, I evaluated and selected information sources and digital tools
that would aid me in getting correct facts, figures, and photos about
cockroaches. Also using the Basic
Application Project, I was able to process data and report results. In
preparing for the cockroach article, I had to understand and process the data I
had found, and recreate it in my own words. A project like this would be a good
one for students, because it has them research information from the internet
and recreate it in their own format and words.
Students use critical thinking
skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make
informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.
In ED205, I learned various forms
of technology, and how they could help a future classroom of mine. To identify
and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation, this
entire class itself helped. ED205 is geared around preparing us for being
future teachers by giving us a broad range of technology to consider for our
future classrooms. Throughout this class, we talked about the problems and
benefits to each type of technology out there—old, and new. To plan and manage
activities to develop a solution or complete a project, my Kidspiration concept map was important. In my concept map, I used
Kidspiration to show all the things that influenced me to become an elementary
math teacher, and it was laid out nicely in a map format. Kidspiration is a
great program for elementary teachers, because both young students and their
teachers can use it for lessons or assignments. Also, to collect and analyze
data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions, and to use multiple
processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions, the PSA was very useful. We had to collect
numerous facts about the benefits of drinking water, and then had to analyze
what the most “shocking” or relevant information was that we should use in our
video. Thus, we made informed decisions. We also used different processes and
diverse perspectives in coming up with solutions. We had to work with iMovie, a
camcorder, different group member’s thoughts and perspectives, and editing the
video different ways had us coming up with different solutions for a
background, voiceover, etc.
Students understand human,
cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and
ethical behavior.
Throughout ED205, many aspects of
digital citizenship came into play that could be helpful to teachers and
students. The first component, to advocate and practice safe, legal, and
responsible use of information and technology, came through in my Fair Use Discussion, as well as my Handhelds in Education Discussion. We
as a class had a discussion talking about how teachers should try their hardest
to emphasize the safe, practical use of technology in a classroom setting. In
my handhelds discussion, I discuss the pros and cons that having handhelds in
education could do to a classroom. I believe that it is the teacher’s role to
use information and technology responsibly, and I mention something similar in
my discussion. Another component is to exhibit a positive attitude toward using
technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity. I feel that
throughout the semester of ED205, we focused on this. ED205 is all about the
positive benefits that different forms of technology can have in a classroom
setting. I feel that as a result of this class, I now have a definite positive
attitude towards using technology in the classroom that benefits collaboration,
learning, and productivity. Also, I feel that this class has prepared me to
demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning—to my future students
and fellow teachers. I think as a teacher, you must always be striving to learn
the latest technology, forms of teaching, and activities that will benefit
students learning in your classroom. In my future classroom, I will try to
always be up to date on the latest technology, and implement it as much as I
can in my lesson plans throughout the school year. The last component to the
digital citizenship standard is to exhibit leadership for digital citizenship.
It would be terrible to show kids the latest technology, but not tell them the
dangers, vices, problems etc with it, and nor is it right to just let students
use whatever piece of technology I introduced without proper leadership. This class
has prepared me to be a good leader in digital citizenship.
Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations.
In this class this semester, many
things have stuck out as being clear for teachers and students. In
understanding and using technology systems, throughout the semester, our class
worked with programs that were new to us, and we had to learn how to use them.
Simple things like saving files became hard if it was in a different program,
like Nvu, or iMovie. It is important
that students and teachers in a classroom setting learn how to work new
technology and understand what it’s about. Another aspect is to select and use
applications effectively and productively. In my future classroom, I would like
to plan on having a day of introduction to a new aspect of technology, just so
that students can become knowledgeable of the program and learn how to work it
effectively. In troubleshooting systems and applications, I would like students
to perhaps struggle initially with the technology for a little bit on their
own, and then come to their aid if they are really struggling. I know that in
ED205, a lot of times the problems with technology are so simple, they are
easily mistaken as challenging! There were a great number of times when I asked
Professor LaBeau for assistance! To transfer current knowledge to learning of
new techniques, I feel that creating my own website was the most foreign to me, and that it was with Nvu that I
struggled the most. I feel like I constantly was taking current knowledge of
what I already knew about technology and learning new things every time I
worked on my website.
