NETS-T #1

Facilitate and inspire learning and creativity using existing and emerging technologies.

Technology has always afforded opportunities for creativity: from cave paintings to the printing press to PowerPoint.   Educators have a responsibly to help learners leverage their technological opportunities in ways that push them beyond the confines of their age and location.  To me, this looks like using technology not only for consumption but for problem solving and creating.   Many people today have access to technology with unprecedented ease and volume.  The leaders of tomorrow will need to know how to interpret and connect using technology.

Artifacts:

Level 1: Knowledge of current research

  1. One of the reasons I chose this masters program is because of its emphasis on strong pedagogy and not specific technologies which change every day.  This artifact is a review of five articles from the well known Edutopia website.  Each article reviewed addresses a different facet of technology integration in a school classroom.  This review demonstrates a growing understanding of best practices and developing philosophy regarding existing and emerging technologies. Edutopia Best Practice Technology Integration
  2. The attached artifact demonstrates my wrestling with the added expectation placed on students as technology integration has become ubiquitous.  It is an evaluation of the well written and respected Framework for 21 Century Learning.  For this portfolio, it clearly demonstrates my developing philosophy of technology integration and an understanding of changing standards and educational expectations. Critique of P21 Framework
  3. There are many websites that purport to organize and promote awesome educational technologies.  This artifact is an evaluation of such a site: educatorstechnology.com.  The evaluation encompasses strengths, weaknesses, and plans to use the site in my own ministry. Educatorstechnology site review

Level 2: Application

  1. This document is an originally created assignment given in an AP Wold History class.  In the assignment the students are directed to use a Digital Storytelling model to share their research.  An additional objective of this project was to inform the rest of the class about the assigned topic.  This assignment demonstrates integration of emerging technologies to encourage creativity and learning in my classroom. Digital Storytelling Assign
  2. This assignment was given to Junior Theology students as we explored conflicts of the Early Church.  They had already used a ThingLink I created as unit introduction and were now asked to create their own ThingLink to teach their fellow students about conflict.  This assignment sheet not only gives directions but also rationale and defines what a ThingLink is. Thinglink Assignment WKS
  3. As God has called me out of the classroom and into the mission field of Kenya I’ve seen my student population change from high school students to career teachers, financial partners, and the audience of the internet.  My classroom is no longer confined to four walls but often to the blog posts of my webpage.  The internet has allowed me to continue to educate a wider range of inquiring minds. The Africa Season

Level 3: Research, innovation, leadership

  1. This unit of study, created for the teachers of students aged five or six, represents the growing need of early digital literacy to facilitate learning and creativity.  This unit combines both existing and emerging technologies.  This unit was created to be used in a developing country. Super 3 Mini Unit
  2. As I continue my transition into teacher development, I see how important teacher support and professional development is.  The tasks of a teacher are many and varied.  So learning about new technologies available can be overwhelming.  This artifact demonstrates not only my own understanding of emerging technologies but also my desire to lead teachers into using technology for learning and creating. Tubechop for teachers