Key Concept 1.1 Candidates will be able to design meaningful activities and learning experiences that incorporate the guiding principles of Universal Design for Learning and appropriate technology tools and resources.
Unit Redesign In ET-605 we recreated an ELA unit called "We are the Stories We Tell". The essential question of the unit was "what makes a person memorable?" This unit included 6 different lessons and activities for the students. It gives the students facts and details about people that are memorable. It provides an opportunity for students to distinguish between essential and non-essential details. This unit showed the students how to produce a clear summary that includes the most important details. This unit will also help students understand the difference between first-hand and second-hand Accounts. While completing the learning activities, students will also have an opportunity to use a variety of technology tools such as, and online venn diagram, Blendedspace, Nearpod, Wordle and Edmodo.
In ET-641 I created a 9 minute podcast audio to explain the role that technology plays in students lives now and the role that technology might play in their future. I also gave an overview of UDL and its purpose by explaining how it connects with technology and can enhance student learning. There are ways to include UDL in related instruction through classroom activities. In the podcast I explained ways that UDL can be used in classrooms with low and high technology.
Key Concept 1.2 Candidates will be able to apply a learner-centered framework, including learner-centered principles, to the development of learning activities.
Genially
My partner and I chose to use Genially as our presentation tool. Our presentation was on a 3D technology tool called Tinkercad. We redesigned the 3rd grade unit and incorporated the use of Tinkercad because it will provide students with the opportunity to create a 3D car versus making one with various materials. This unit is learner centered because it allows students to use their own creativity to produce a product that will keep Eggburt the egg safe.
Key Concept 1.3 Candidates will be able to design learning opportunities that facilitate creative problem solving, communication, collaboration and critical thinking.
Critical Information Literacy
In ET-605 I created a website for students to use to help them use their critical thinking skills to determine if a website included factual information. This required students to analyze websites before starting their research on endangered animals. The website includes learning goals, videos for students to watch, and easy access to websites that they can use to get their information from. The goal is for students to critically analyze 3 websites that take a stand for endangered animals before starting their research. Students had to determine which websites are trustworthy by referring to the 5W's (Who, what, where, when and why) After analyzing each website, the students had to complete a google form.
Key Concept 1.4 Candidates model and promote diversity, cultural understanding, and global awareness by using digital-age communication and collaboration tools to interact locally and globally.
Global Educator Project
Objective: Students will be able to create new things out of recycled materials. The goal is to bring awareness to students about resources, and why it is important to recycle and avoiding waste. This matches the 3rd grade science curriculum for Safe Racer. It requires the students to learn the importance of recycling materials and using them to create a safe racer car. The students will be given a month to work on this project. The first week I will place the students into groups of 4. The students will have time to conduct research on why it is important to recycle, reduce and reuse materials. They will also choose a online and offline activity to focus on each week. Through out the month, students are expected to bring materials in from home for their safe racer car. They will use those materials to create a safe racer car and compete with other students.