Curricular Project

Jacquline Breshock - curricular project

1.       Who is the audience?

-          Environmental Science In- class support (supporting High School special education students)

 

2.       What do they need to learn?

-          Goal- To make a connection between technology and are environmental world.

-          Objective-Set up Interactive Notebooks.  Observe rubric for Interactive grading.  First interactive page is to explain the focus of environmental science.  Describe the recent trends in human population and resource consumption.

3.       Create a concept map based on preliminary research: See attached

 

 

4.        What are the delivery options?

-          Delivery options that are being used are word document’s/ Evernote app

 

5.       What constraints exist?

-          Time is the major constraints students will face (interactive notebook will take the student time to put together and work properly)

 

6.       What will the students do to determine competency?

-          Student’s notebook will be graded biweekly using the rubric attached. Quizzes will also be given on information obtained.

 

7.       What is the timeline for project completion?

-          This assignment is an ongoing yearly assignment. The assignment itself will be broken down as followed( timeline is subject to change based on student progress)

-          Day 1- Label your interactive note book on app

-          Day 2/3 reading and paraphrasing chapter/section in the text

-          Day 4- Discussion on reading /notes

-          Day 5- put key information in interactive notebook

 

8.       What are the classroom/Web learning differences?

-          Making sure all students complete all assignments and on the timeline

-          Teaching proper note taking skills/concepts

-          Teaching web concepts

 

9.       What are the pedagogical considerations?

-          Consideration on key size, might be difficult for special education to use the IPAD

 

-          Students might struggle with note taking skills/summarizing, but more time and instruction can be given in this area.
 

Games in the classroom

Isn’t it funny?

When we were younger are parents were always saying to get off the computer and get are homework done, but who would have ever thought that one day we can respond by saying the computer is my homework.  In the horizon report one of the key trends developing is Game Based Learning.  This trend is the most amazing trend to me, because who would have ever thought that we could actually learn from a computer game. Currently the most popular apps sold today are gaming apps such as Move the Turtle and Dabble and because of this teaching has really evolved in today’s society from learning out of a text and to interactive activities and the great part is, are kids finally being able to prove the parents wrong when they said video games will rot your brain.  These games are not only fun to the gamer, but it will foster the gamer’s ability to learn collaboration and engage students in the process in learning. One thing we know about kids is if they enjoy it, then don’t change it by telling them it is good for them and this is beyond good for a learner. Students will develop cognitive skills, communication, problem solving and critical thinking and a safe learning environment away from failure.  Games in the classroom will give the student an opportunity to be excited about their accomplishments and un-judge with failure. With so many great advantages of games in the classroom I cannot wait for the program to take off. Even though it might take three years and some older teachers might be hesitant of the new learning styles, I am confident that we will back away farther from the text and into a world of technology.

Jacquline Breshock

 

Where can we really go???

The question I listed above is one that I wonder about a lot. As I listen to Karen Cator talk about Transforming America, this question is like a broken light that keeps flashing in my brain. The reason I feel this way is because where can we really go with technology, especially in schools with lack of funding? I hate to be the Debbie Downer of the topic, but if we lack the funding, how can we possibly implement the high expectations in which they are hoping for us to achieve. I would like to think of myself as the "cheerleader” of my teaching staff, but reality also needs to come in play at some point. Take for example a student in your class or mine, we would love to say that yes they are going to get an "A" on this test, but reality is outside factors might enable the student from accomplishing that( example: up all night taking care of their siblings, while the mom is working to support the family). In Karen Cator lecture she speaks that in 2020 President Obama would like us to have the highest graduation rate and that we need to pick up the pace, but how do we do this with just words and ideas? I believe that we are going in the right direction with teachers certifications and NCLB, but to really advance and to prepare the future for technology advances is impossible if we do not have the funding to support it. I know some districts in which I have been at did not even have enough textbooks to support the class, rather than having smart boards to advance in education. In order for us to even "Out Innovate, Out Educate and Out build" we as educators are going to need more support.

       Even though I feel that this discussion is hard, because all I can think about is how this is
 possible when in schools we might not have funding or in the community having a computer might not be possible, I did enjoy some things she did express, Key points I enjoyed, especially with me being a special education teacher are:

-          Personalization

-          Focusing with the connection of interest

-          Multiple ways to show a concept and demonstrate

-          Being a highly effective teacher /Re-inspire

-          Mapping out learning progression

 

To sum my thoughts, “If now is the time, where is the money”??