Meaningful Learning

Technology based rubrics can be very helpful for instructors. New instructors may have some ideas but can always use a little assistance. Being able to go to a website for this information is extremely helpful. With rubrics that are technology based, you as a teacher can take ideas from many different locations and put together a finished product that is most useful for you. I believe you must have an idea in your mind about what is to be expected from your students on each assignment that a rubric is used. With this in mind, mold your rubric around the expectations. This will guide the student in what is expected but will also make grading much easier for you.

Clicker assessment tools are amazing. No more raising your hand to answer a question. No more answers from the same student over and over. These tools allow every student to answer and respond to questions simultaneously. The teacher is able to immediately gain feedback about who and what areas students are struggling or succeeding in. This knowledge not only assists teachers in knowing where students are needing more attention but also guides the teacher in knowing where they do not need to spend any more time.

Kidspiration software would not benefit me because I am planning to teach at a high school level. On the other hand, Inspiration software could prove to be very useful. This software allows the students to interact and learn on so many levels. The student is constantly learning about technology and how to use it. Also, the students are able to learn through the useful of visual aids. Most people learn better visually rather than reading a text. This is especially true when the material is new to them. Inspiration software also provides feedback to the instructor about what the student is comprehending. A student who does not test well can still provide proof that he/she understands concepts of the material in the way they display it in this software.

I have a great deal of interest in using each of these ideas in my classroom. Technology is advancing rapidly and I feel that I must do the same to keep up. This also allows me to provide my students with up to date technology and ideas that will do nothing but help them succeed.

Unknown. (2010). Inspiration Software. Retrieved November 24, 2010, from Inspiration Software Inc. Web site: http://www.inspiration.com/

Unknown. (2010). Qwizdom Empowering Intelligent Interaction. Retrieved November 24, 2010, from Qwizdom Inc Web site: http://www.qwizdom.com/

Unknown. (2010). Rubrician.com. Retrieved November 24, 2010, from Rubrician.com: http://www.rubrician.com/

WK 12 Visualizing with Technology

"Digital Storytelling" by Kate Kemker is a great idea that could benefit many aspects of the classroom. This idea allows students to use technology to elaborate on a subject. The students are learning using technology but "technology is not the focus of the activity but rather a tool used to create the story."

(Jonassen, Howland, Marra, & Crismond, 2008) Using this digital storytelling allows the studnets to be a part of many different levels and variables that go into making a project. I feel this could be used in nearly any classroom. Whether it's science, math, or english, the student can learn more through this use of technology because it forces the student to think in different ways. The student is a part of many different aspects of input that make a final product and make it well.

"Understanding equations in algebra, trigonometry, calculus, and virtually all other fields of math is aided by seeing their plots." (Jonassen, Howland, Marra, & Crismond, 2008) This statement provides direct insight into the author's feelings about visualization and the advantages it provides. Handheld scientific calculators also allow the student to enter numerical informaiton and see examples or graphs. When concepts are difficult to learn and comprehend, such as math, it can often be very helpful for the student to have the ability to visualize the concept. Graphing with the use of a calculator can accomplish this assistance very easily.

I believe there are people that have the ability to learn visually without the use of anything else. I persoanally learn more from having hands on somehting. So to answer the proposed question, yes, I feel it is possible but not as easily as if there were multiple methods to learn the new concept.