Digital Age Learning Environments
-Technology coaches create and support effective digital-age learning environments to maximize the learning of all students. For the past eight years I have worked as an elementary school teacher in the second and fourth grade. It has been my goal over those years to create a learning environment where my students will learn from me, how to learn without me. I truly believe that with the right tools and instruction students can facilitate their own learning creating and become stronger citizens of tomorrow. |
The 21st Century Learner...
Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, and Creativity
Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, and Creativity
Line Graphs
Students were assigned the task of developing a way to track a ten year trend of the average attendance per season for the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park and it's relationship to the number of wins over that same ten year time frame using line graphs. Directions and data were organized in a Smore (as seen to the right) which also had a link to an online graphing web tool. After analyzing and interpreting their graphs, partners discussed and shared their theories on the trends and created a 90 second video response on Flipgrid, an online video thread web tool that creates grids where students can share and collaborate. |
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Subtracting Across Zeros
In this lesson, students were instructed on how to subtract across zeroes in higher level subtraction problems. I wanted to develop some type of authentic assessment that would capture their thinking and understanding of the process rather than just showing the algorithm on paper. Screencasts and manipulatives were the perfect solution. Students captured their thinking through audio and virtual manipulation of base ten blocks on the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives website. Check out an example of the final produc on the left. |
Too Young to Run?
After reading the Scholastic Reader cover story titled "Too Young to Run?" students were asked as part of a homework assignment to express their opinions on the question "Do you think kids should be running long distances?" I wanted my students to all have a voice and to be heard in an alternate facet rather than face to face discussion. Padlet was my answer! Through the free web tool, I created a discussion wall where students could post their responses in a safe, collaborative environment. To hear the voice of the "quiet kids" in class was truly transformational for me. |
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Communication with Parents
As a teacher, constant communication is a necessity in providing your students with the most comprehensive learning environment in school that will be supported at home. My means of communication to my students' parents happens on a nightly basis through my class wiki. Click HERE to access our class wiki and check out the homework page to see where students and parents can stay up to date with assignments and daily lessons that have been uploaded to provide assistance with nightly homework. Check out the Smore to the left to see another communication tool I use to push information and reminders out to parents and staff. |
Communication with Staff
Communication with staff through Google Forms allows me to get quick feedback with ease. As a teacher, I know how difficult it can be to find the time to sit down and respond to email. For this reason, I have found Google Forms to be the least intrusive yet still effective means of obtaining information from teachers. Check out my short, two question form on the right that I sent out to get information I'll use in developing follow up work sessions from my Tech Bytes workshop. |
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