A teacher’s job is not only to teach the student the content
that is required for the student to know. Teachers also designs lesson plans
and develop curriculum to teach students. Many teachers integrate technology
into all aspects of lesson design and development. Learning assessments,
National curriculum framework and electronic grading software are three
important tools or concepts that teachers use to help develop lesson plans and
curriculum.
One tool that I really liked was learning assessments they
can help teachers to figure out what a student knows. They have summative
assessments which summarizes what students have learned at the end of a lesson.
Formative which happens during a lesson and Diagnostic which happens before a
lesson to see what a student already knows. Learning assessments can help a
teacher to evaluate student knowledge, understanding and performance. Some
great technology tools to assist with learning assessments is electronic test
and quizzes, digital portfolios, and grade keeping software. I observed in a
first grade class and the teacher did a quick learning assessment after the
lesson to see if the students understood what she was teaching and to figure
out what areas were hard for the students and to give more time to focus on
those areas.
Another concept is the national curriculum frameworks or
learning standards which guide teachers on what to teach. In Florida we have
the Florida state standards, I thought this was really important because as a
teacher there are certain things we have to teach. National curriculum
standards is basically an outline on what to teach. It has certain topics and
skills that a student most learn in that grade level but it still leaves the
teacher room to teach the content how she wants. Which a lot of teachers don’t
seem to like the standards because of the testing, but I think as a teacher you
have to be flexible and adapt to changes. The national curriculum impacts a
teacher lesson plan because there planning their lesson on what the state
mandates them to teach.
Electronic grading
software is something teachers didn't really have when I was an elementary and
middle school student. I still remember the grade keeping book they had and
they would write your name in a column and all your grades next to your name.
Now the grading is electronic which makes things easier for teachers. The
grading software allows for teachers to quickly calculate and record student’s
grades. They have stand-alone software which the teacher personally use and it
only keeps tracks of grades or what I've seen in most schools was a
record keeping system and that keeps tracks of grades, attendance, teacher
correspondence, and supports lesson planning.
It haves the student names and a picture of the student. There are some
pros and cons about using electronic grading software, a pro being the amount
of time it takes to calculate grading and a con being teachers depending on the
software to grade test and not really looking at what students are getting
wrong.
I think that integrating technology in designing lesson
plans and developing curriculum is a great thing to do. It can really help with
getting things done quicker and staying organize. Learning assessments that are
electronic can give the teacher quick feedback on what a student knows, what
questions students are getting wrong. The national curriculum framework can be
found online for Florida and is a great outline on what teachers need to be
teaching at each grade level, and electronic grading software is how most
schools take attendance and keep track of a student’s performance. Lesson planning
and curriculum development with technology can help you get things done
quickly.
Resources:
Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Tackk created by Ella Kies
Tackk created by Ella Kies
I like when you are able to recall or observe the content of what you are reading in the textbook with what you see in the classroom observations - those connections really help to 'cement' the ideas into your knowledge base! And, though, the observations are for another class, I'm hopeful that they impact the integration of learning about your future choice of career for many years ahead. :) Great observations!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like your Tackk is a bit weak with little text and no images, etc, but glad you started it. You can/should embed that digital tool rather than just link it, as well.