Problem Based Learning

As a kindergarten teacher, watching the everyday life of the kindergartners at Auburn was school was definitely very inspiring. I love the way they make learning so authentic and most importantly so fun and engaging for the young learners. The project based learning units displayed in the video all seemed very effective and especially motivating for the students. Allowing a thematic curriculum to evolve from the natural curiosity of five and six year olds already makes for specific themes to spark a child’s attention, but then for the teachers to go above and beyond in providing a number of great, hands-on learning experiences for the students made their project based units so much more meaningful.

The teachers on the video described the main elements of each project based unit as first developing a plan, carrying through with the plan, writing about it, and making sure to incorporate problem solving and critical thinking. The teachers of Auburn followed through with those steps in successfully creating such wonderful learning experiences for kindergartners. The children were so motivated through all of the different activities because they were all hands-on, and also presented in a way that children knew what they were doing was for a reason and a purpose. In many situations the children were left to use what they had already known and use they were currently learning to problem solve.

The technology used in their thematic curriculum definitely added to the effectiveness of the project based units. Exposing young children to pictures, videos clips, movies, etc., allows children to see first hand what they are learning and associate what they see to the their own lives. The technology present in the video, especially the Smart Board, definitely opens a door to an endless amount of meaningful opportunity in teaching and learning. It was very evident that the learning that took place through the use of the technology in these projects was effective in creating life-long learners. I hope to take what I viewed in this video to create similar, authentic and meaningful learning experiences for my own class of kindergartners!

Chapter 5/6 Reflection

After reading chapters 5 and 6 in the text, I realized that I actually to utilize more sources of technology than I had realized. While reading about the six categories of software support tools, I noticed I use a quite a few of the tools currently, but also became interested in finding ways to use other useful software tools mentioned in the text. I use desktop publishing software to create my weekly newsletter that goes home to parents each week, activity guides, and most recently to create pretend passports and tickets for our imaginary vacation to Mexico. Data collection and analysis tools we use consist of a district wide computer based testing system, Aimsweb, to assess and monitor student progress, and also a computer system to keep track of attendance. Aimsweb has proven to be a fantastic tool in discovering where students excel and struggle in very specific areas of reading. The data this software provides gives teachers the ability to provide struggling students with material that is specifically directed to an area that holds proof to be in need of improvement.

A very common graphic tool used in my building is KidPix. Students use KidPix a lot in computer class when learning beginning computer skills. Since KidPix is a computer program that kindergartners enjoy and can operate independently, I plan to use it next year as a tool for letter and number practice since my students would otherwise have no exposure to it since next year kindergartners will not have computer class. I would love to use the graphic program displayed in the text called Graph Club. Beginning graphing skills is an important standard in kindergarten and I am always looking for new ways to teach and review these skills throughout the entire year. I think that program would be a great way to incorporate new, fun graphing activities into my instruction. This program also looks like a great way to expose students that may struggle with the concept of graphs to different examples and ideas of graphing.

I currently use clip art for a variety of different ideas in my classroom. Sometimes I enjoy finding just the right picture to add to the bottom of a parent note and newsletter, and other times I search for a variety of clip art for my students to use as a picture sort activity. My students enjoy working with a partner looking through pictures and grouping them. This also allows me the opportunity to accommodate students with specific learning needs by giving them the same clip art to group differently in a way that meets their individual learning needs.

I do not believe I currently use any research and reference tools. However, after reading about online encyclopedias, I think that would be a great source to use to introduce or discuss various new things to my students if I gained the access of a computer projection screen in my classroom. Other software tools I find to be very beneficial in my classroom is the Accelerated Reader software program. As students read more books and pass tests on this program, they receive a variety of prizes. This software serves as a huge motivational source for reading!

My students always listen to audio books, however, I think providing my students with interactive stories or electronic books will definitely add more exploration and involvement to listening to stories. I think this is one of many ways I can take a strategy I already use in my class and enhance it through the use of technology. With the use of software support tools, as well as multimedia and hypermedia technology, there is a great deal of opportunity to overall better student achievement, as well as accommodate specific learning needs.

Technology Integration

When thinking of all the technology present today, I believe there is an endless number of ways teachers can use modern instructional software to engage “Digital Natives” within the classroom. One of the greatest aspects of technology in the classroom is the wide spread active engagement opportunities. Instructional software programs are created to distribute and support multiple kinds of learning activities for students.

Specific programs can provide students with a variety of drills and practice problems and in return will receive the correct answer and even feedback on their corrections. Programs also offer tutorials related to what the teacher has previously instructed in class. Tutorials can be extremely beneficial in that students can watch them over again as many times as they like for a better understanding of content that has already been instructed in the classroom.

Instructional games are usually the most appealing to students, but can also play a very big role in motivating students to become actively involved in learning. Since children tend to love playing all kinds of video games at home, when a game is presented to them in the classroom, no matter what the object or content of the game is, there is always an increased level of interest and motivation. Often times students get caught up in the competitiveness and fun in the game that they may not even realize that the game they are playing is based around content knowledge. Instructional games also provide opportunities for students to achieve higher-order learning, as they are required to think in ways outside of the box. Instructional games are a great way to make learning engaging and especially fun for students!

Technology integration can contribute to more effective differentiated instruction in a variety of ways. As mentioned in the video, “Schools Gaming for Learning and Assessment,” instructional games help un-achieving boys with ADHD gain interest in learning and also serve as a means of channeling that interest positively. Students that may have a hard time comprehending specific areas of text are given opportunities to see connections beyond the text through instructional games and software. Teachers can also provide students that have a difficult time taking written tests other opportunities to express their knowledge through technology such as multimedia and digital media programs. For example, in the video “Digital Youth Portrait: Sam,” a young girl found multiple ways to express what she had learned through the use technology.

Sam also provided a solution for students that may be struggling readers, especially when expected to read and understand text independently at home. Since Sam was having a hard time understanding what she was assigned to read at home, she found the audio book on iTunes and was able to listen to the book on audio, while following along with the text on her iPod touch or book. Teachers can provide audio books in the classroom for students that may benefit from listening to the text as well.

If I was teaching in an ideal technology situation, I believe the benefits of technology integration would be endless. Technology can improve any lesson or activity with meaningful, valuable opportunities of instruction and practice. Educators can provide their students with a number of different lesson and activities that will deepen content knowledge, as well keep a higher level of interest. One of greatest aspects of technology integration in the classroom is the opportunity of meeting the needs of all learners. With the amount of technology present today, I believe that differentiated instruction is made a lot easier for educators, as well as more valuable when used appropriately.

The only pitfall I can think of when integrating technology into the classroom is providing students with an expectation using technology that may conflict with a specific students learning style or personal ability. If this occurs, with the use of the endless available opportunities with technology today, teachers should adapt a technology-based assignment to the needs of that student.