Key:
Bold = My Thoughts
Non-Bold = National Educational Technology Standards from NETS*T/S website via Blackboard :)
Teaching high school (transition) level life skills along side of the advancing technological world, I can foresee technology being an avid part of the everyday curriculum. For many of my students transitioning to become an active community member is the premises of instruction which, especially with the influence of technology in modern day society, pairs hand in hand with technological advances. It is important for my future students to learn with the gradient of the technological movement. Some skills I will be facilitating (more on the modern end of the technology spectrum) include, but are certainly not limited to: Using a bus pass and reading the electronic route number on the bus, using electric mixers and blenders, using augmentative communication and alternative communication devices, displaying professional PowerPoint presentations, how to find and read a map, how to research a topic on a web browser, creating a resume, texting, and much much more. I am an advocate for full inclusion in and outside of the classroom, so with some vocational, life skills, and occupational scaffolding, I will include technological conveniences that are a part of the modern community as to better equip my students for success as active community members side by side with peers, colleagues, and co-workers.
As an instructor I need to incorporate these technologies in accordance to some professional standards to ensure my students get the most well rounded benefits my students can apply to school and community life. Considerations I find especially important as a teacher are:
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:
a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning,and creative processes
d. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual
environments
Embracing the above standards grantees that student's are able to participate and engage in a plethora of community opportunities and find creative ways to advocate for him/her/hirself as well as creatively participate in work opportunities as well as creative recreation.
Secondly,
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to
maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:
a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become
active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
d. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching
This standard plays relevant in the ever-changing technological environment my student's will be living and working in. The most critical component of this NETS is that I can appropriately assess students so they know where they're strengths are and where they can improve. With this assessment and feedback, my students will have confidence in executing various technologies.
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:
a. demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
b. collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success
and innovation
c. communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats
d. model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information
resources to support research and learning
It is especially important that I be literate in the modern/and older technologies so I can be a better leader to my students and answer any questions they may have.
4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical
behavior in their professional practices. Teachers:
a. advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright,
intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources
b. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies and providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources
c. promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information
d. develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools
This role becomes especially important in the career world to make sure my students have equal education and equal opportunities to seek and execute jobs of their own interests. Likewise with the below NETS.
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional
community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers:
a. participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning
b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community
building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others
c. evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital
tools and resources in support of student learning
d. contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community
Along with the teacher standards I will be expected to model, my students also have technological objectives:
1. Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes
using technology. Students:
a. apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
b. create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
c. use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues.
d. identify trends and forecast possibilities.
Students can engage in complex pedagogy while being able to creatively express their voice in a variety of different mediums where, especially students with special needs may need to be exposed to the possibilities of creatively communicating thoughts and knowledge.
2. Communication and Collaboration
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. Students:
a. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments
and media.
b. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.
c. develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures.
d. contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems.
For my students collaboration will be exceptionally important. Communication skills and collaborative work efforts will be the greatest advocate for full inclusion.
3. Research and Information Fluency
Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students:
a. plan strategies to guide inquiry.
b. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.
c. evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.
d. process data and report results.
In our classroom this will be especially important, student's will be able to access information in an instance which is something that is becoming more of a need in modern society.
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make
informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Students:
a. identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation.
b. plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project.
c. collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions.
d. use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions.
Problem solving is a necessary part of being an active community member. It will be so empowering for my students to work side by side with colleagues and to provide students with the confidence that regardless of any stigma, he/she/ze will be able to persevere any task in any setting.
5. Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical
behavior. Students:
a. advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
b. exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.
c. demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning.
d. exhibit leadership for digital citizenship.
Advocacy, advocacy, advocacy!!!! This role is so critical towards a full inclusion model. Will these skills student's will be able to better self advocate and in a technological world new ways of advocacy are promising.
6. Technology Operations and Concepts
Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. Students:
a. understand and use technology systems.
b. select and use applications effectively and productively.
c. troubleshoot systems and applications.
d. transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies.
As a student learner and a community member in an ever changing technological world being able to express ideas in a technology medium is going to be an important role as a community member.
I realize I am still exploring the uses and possibilities of technologies in the classroom and as I continue to learn about how to use and how to teach technology I will expand my notion of possibilities in my future classroom :)
