1. Fall 2009

2. Learning Statement #1 I am learning about the importance of having a functional classroom website.

3. Elaboration The website has: helped foster a sense of community within the classroom provided students with a means of completing work when they are absent allowed parents to be more involved with student learning been an effective organizational tool for both students and myself

4. Evidence

6. Most students that I talked to seemed to think that having an online homework board was a good idea. The majority of students who actually visited the homework board were students who did not have homework completion issues. Most students who had homework completion difficulties did not visit the site on a regular basis. I saved about an hour and a half over a three week period simply by directing students to the website when they had been absent.

7. Evidence

8. Self-Assessment In Capacities Participate in and help develop learning communities to support your teaching practice. Engage in a critical cycle of action – reflection to understand and develop your practice.

9. Connection to Educational Theory An Examination of the Perceptions of K-12 Teachers with Active Classroom Websites. By: Julius, J. In C. Crawford et al. (eds), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2005 (pp. 1435-1437). Chesapeake, VA: AACE This article indicated how little research and literature there is on the subject of classroom websites. The majority of teachers surveyed felt that websites were useful. I would assume that is why they had a class website to begin with.

10. Connections to Educational Theory Turning Lurkers into Learners: Increasing Participation in your Online Discussions. By Alley, Jason; Greenhaus, Karen. Learning and Leading with Technology. V35 p. 18-21 Aug. 2007 The article discusses how using tools like Sharepoint for online discussion is a means of engaging students in curriculum based learning. The article states how important it is for teachers to provide a safe and inviting online discussion environment.

11. Vision or Goals Continue using Sharepoint to do the following: Homework Board Organize assignments and handouts Discussion Boards Wikis Hand in box

12. Learning Statement #2 I am learning that there is a distinct difference between being a learner and being a student.

13. Elaboration Webster’s Dictionary defines student as: One who attends a school

14. Elaboration Webster’s Dictionary defines learner as: One who gains knowledge or understanding of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience

15. Elaboration As educators we need to turn our students into learners. How do we do this? Engage them by using technology as well as by presenting phenomena to be investigated

16. Evidence http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o

17. Evidence The only assignment that has been handed in on time by all of the learners on my team was an assignment posted to the website.

18. Evidence

19. “We have learned to play school! We study the right facts the night before the test so we achieve a passing grade and thus become a successful student”

20. Self-Assessment In Capacities Access, evaluate and integrate existing and emerging technologies into your practice Engage in a critical cycle of action-reflection to understand and develop your practice

21. Connection to Educational Theory Eleanor Duckworth “The Having of Wonderful Ideas” Present phenomena and have students generate their own ideas about that phenomena. We create learners by having them investigate phenomena

22. Vision or Goals Facilitate the transformation of my students into learners Find new ways to engage learners Encourage learners to question and investigate phenomena

23. Learning Statement #3 I am learning about how to better deliver curriculum using technology.

24. Elaboration Until this year technology is not something that I was comfortable with using in my classroom The benefits of technology are limitless Technology is a tool to deliver curriculum and to help learners demonstrate an understanding of the prescribed learning outcomes

25. Evidence Before starting the program I used very little if any technology in the classroom At points during the program I’ve felt that I had to try and use some form of technology for everything I’m starting to see technology as simply a tool in helping students gain an understanding of prescribed learning outcomes

26. Evidence http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEFKfXiCbLw

27. Evidence

28. Self-Assessment In Capacities Engage in a critical cycle of action – reflection to understand and develop your practice Use, evaluate and integrate existing and emerging technologies into your practice

29. Connection to Educational Theory Instructional Technology: A tool or a panacea?. By: Kimmel, Howard; Deek, Fadi. Journal of Science Education and Technology. V4. p. 327-332, Oct. 10, 2005 Digital tools for the classroom must be accompanied by systemic change in the educational process Teachers must be provided with the necessary environment for training, tools for instruction, and technology evaluation skills. The teacher must select appropriate technological tools to facilitate learning in a particular curricular area

30. Connections to Educational Theory http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn7rHDRljO0 Jeremy Roschelle and Jim Kaput have taken ideas from mathematics, computer science and developmental psychology to develop an educational technology called Simcalc Ability to bring mathematical concepts to life

31. Vision or Goals Continue to learn new technologies that can be implemented into the classroom Use technology when it is appropriate Become more proficient at technologies that can be implemented into the classroom Engage students to want to learn and create their own knowledge