Standard+II

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 for students. Teachers:
 * 2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments **
 * 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


 * 1. List ways in which you assess and evaluate student learning.**

When evaluating students work, I try use a variety of methods to evaluate their knowledge of the content. When I first started teaching, I used primarily test and quizzes as the largest assessment, but I have changed my approach over the last few years. After taking the course Multiple Intelligences and reading Howard Gardner's learning styles I now try to adapt my assessment to fit most learning styles. I still use tests and quizzes to assess students, however I now use a variety of projects so every student can either utilize their comfort zone, or in some cases get out of their comfort zone. Knowing that students are very intrigued by technology, I have made projects that have to use some form of a digital tool in the last 2 years. Some students really enjoy the challenge and creativity technology tools offer, but other students seem frustrated using technology. I think offering alternative assessments allows students to show their strengths if they are not good at traditional assessments (tests, quizzes, and papers)


 * 1a. List at least 2 ways in which you could improve how you assess and evaluate student learning.**

--I think the first way is just gaining knowledge and making myself more familiar with computer technology. It seems that the range of use in unlimited, and many times I'm afraid to share it with students because I'm uncomfortable with some of the programs. This technology course has really opened my eyes to the opportunities of how students can use technology as an assessment tool.

--Changing my traditional approach and getting away from my personal comfort zone will definitely help my use more technology to assess student work/progress. I think that over the last few years I have become stagnant in the way that approach student assessment. I feel at one time I was very creative with devising projects and assignments, and over the years I have also collected many great examples of student work. However, I have altered some assignments to implement technology; I need to take a giant step into the many tools that are available for educators. Students are eager to use technology and I must be as well. I really think taking this course and discussing computer related assignments with other teachers will help me be more resourceful with student assessment.

Apart from the online grading program (which I suppose was revolutionary at one time), there are not many activities that I use that integrate technology. My plan for next year is to use many of the skills that I gained from the technology course next school year to moniter student growth. As students complete more projects that are associated with digital tools it will not only make presentations more interesting, but will also prepare students for the real world. Students can illustrate creativity by using technology that they may have never realized. I also think student-based projects using technology gives students a sense of empowerment over their product. I have used several technology tools for assessment, however I usually offer that as an alternative option for students. Next year they will have to complete projects using digital tools, and once they do, I think they may really enjoy it. I have never used online quizzes befoe, but after learning how easy they are to construct I plan on using them next year as well.
 * 2. List ways in which technology plays a role in helping you and your students monitor student growth and/or achievement.**


 * 2a. List 2 ways in which you could better utilize technology to assess students.**

--I was never aware of the many uses that cell phones offer. Every student it seems carries a cell phone, and to use them for educational purposes is great. I definitely will use cell phones in the future in my classroom, especially for surveys and idea sharing as websites use bar graphs to show data. There are often times in Sociology class where controversial issues arise, and by assessing students opinions and beliefs via cell phones it would hopefully make them more comfortable with volunteering on those topics.

--Technology project-based assignments would also be an area that I could expand on. Students often complete PowerPoint presentations, however there are so many new and exciting tools that could be used for presentations. Obviously, I would have to show them the tools and give them an example, but students today are fairly quick at picking up on computer tools. Starting next year, I hope to have an equal amount of technology projects (Glogster, MovieMaker, Photostory, etc...) as traditional assignments. I think that is a realisitc goal. **3. List resources that will help you grow in this area.

--**Resources that would help me in this area would be continuing to read and discuss about technology in the classrooms. Taking additional courses and workshops will also help keep me current with new tools. I could never master all of the technology tools there are, however if I just familiarize myself with the educational possibilities, I then can pick and choose several that interest me. Using websites and blogs such as Thinkfinity, Delicious, and Diigo would also help with my understanding of new programs and descriptions of current technology. Also, subscribing to an educational magazine or journal usually offers great insight into what 21st Century schools are doing that are successful.

For next school year (2010-2011) I plan to use online assessments such as online quizzes and surveys. I also plan to give students greater freedom in selecting assessment tools, as they will have several digital tools to choose from. I would like groups to present Glogsters, Photostory, and MovieMaker next school year. It may take extra work on my part initially to create examples of the digital tools, but in the end I think students will be proud of the products that they create. I also plan to use cell phones (with administration approval) to answer surveys in my courses. Since we live in a digital world, any use of technology seems to inspire students much more than the traditional assessments of papers and papers. Next year is going to be quite a big change for student projects, the only downfall is the lack of computer availability, but I'll make it work!
 * 4. Write a summary statement of 1a and 2a above in the form of an action you can take to incorporate digital learning experiences and assessments. Add this statement to the Action Plan.**