Chapter 3 Developing Lessons with Technology

*All links are highlighted in yellow*

Focus Question: What is meant by "lesson development using technology"? 

• Lesson development is central to the work of every teacher.
• Lesson development is a process of creative design and decision-making that includes three elements: 1. What to teach 2. How to teach it 3. How to know what students have learned.
• Technology tools support all three aspects of lesson development. 

Photo credit to dkzody on flicker

Teachers have to plan ahead of time what they are going to teach each day of the school year. Rarely do they create a meaningful creative class at the spur of the moment. It would be very hard for teachers to think off the top of their head what they teach for 190 days of the year. The curriculum would be sloppy, and a disaster.  Students would not learn what they need to learn, in the order it should be taught. Teachers should always make a lesson plan to determine what to teach it and how. The national standard of what should be taught is given to all teachers, but it does not give specifics. Teachers have to decide what is going to be explored that goes along with the curriculum. The have to make the intelligent decision of what is going to beneficial to the student and what will not. After they decide what they are going to teach, they have to think about how they will teach it. Teachers will combine goals, methods, and procedures to determine for they will present the material. Some ways that teachers could present the material are large/ small groups, discussions, role play, lectures, inquiry-based activities, creative writing, or learning games. Sometimes students learn better with more interaction, than just a simple lecture. There are also many technologies that teachers can use to teach the class that are presentation software, threaded discussions and email, assistive technologies, digital cameras, movie-making software, web-based diagram, and blogs. There are endless possibilities of technologies a teacher can use to help the class stay interested. They just have to determine what technology goes along nicely with the lesson of the day. Another thing that teachers have to consider is what the students have learned. A way they can do that is by 1. Summative summarizing what the students have learned at the end of a lesson 2. Formative- happening as a lesson unfolds 3. Diagnostic- preceding a lesson as a way to measure what students already knows. A couple different ways that a  teacher can asses what the students have actually learned if by test, quizzes, online surveys, evaluations, and portfolios. It is always important that a teacher makes sure that all the students are on the same page. Teachers have to make sure that students fully understand what they are being taught, and are able to retain it. Before moving on to the next chapter or step of the class, a teacher should always check that everyone understands. 

Tech Tools Link: Gliffy

Teachers have to make lessons plans in order to be able to effectively teach a classroom. Creating a lesson plan may not always be that easy because you have to make sure everything is being covered in 190 days, and flows together. It may be a difficult task to make lesson plans as a new teacher, but there are ways to help. The website above (Gliffy) is a wonderful website, I believe, for new/ experienced teachers. This website has different flow charts, and diagrams that would help organize how things could flow together. It is a good way to first see how you will put everything together. Lesson plans usually have to be turned into the school ahead of time, before class actually begins. Before writing in stone how you will teach the class, it is a good idea to make any type of flow chart. With a flow chart you can see what assignments can go were, what you would do certain days, when you think a test should be given, ect. Another good thing about this website is that you can make a floor chart. It is always a good idea to know what student is sitting were, not only so you know there name, but to make sure they are sitting somewhere where they can learn. Some students at the beginning of the year like to sit next to their friends, and usually talk as much as possible. With a floor chart you can keep an eye on the friends, and then make the decision of what students would work well next to another. Floor charts are also a good way to take attendance. There would be no way that a student could pose as someone else, if you know who exactly is supposed to be there. Check out the website, it could possibly help you in the future!

Summary & Connection:

This chapter has been very beneficial to me because I now I know the importance of making lesson plan. It is important that teachers now how to effectively teach the curriculum. As a future teacher I want to make sure that my students are actually learning something that they will remember, and can use in the future. Each lesson plan that is made usually goes along with the national standard curriculum. Teacher’s final goal is that the students pass the grade meeting the educational standards. Also there are state exams that students need to take in order to pass certain grades. During the year that the student has to pass the test, teachers should make sure that the students fully understand what is being taught. After reading this chapter I think I will give quizzes randomly not only for a grade, but so the students can show me their learning. As a future teacher you have to know when it is okay to move on to the next section, or stay a few more days on the same one. I have to make sure that the students are always on the same page. I will also use electronic grading so that the students can monitor their grade. It is a quick way that the students can have immediate asses to the assignment grade, and overall grade. Guardians can also review how their student is doing in the class and where they might need help. Sometimes students will go home and say they have done all their homework, but when report cards come out it shows the complete opposite. With this new technology of grading, guardians of students will know exactly what is going on in the students schooling. 

This video incorporates what was discussed in my focus question.

The video below gives a helpful example of what to think about when writing a lesson plan. 

References: 

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010).Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon.