2.3 Authentic Learning
Candidates model and facilitate the use of digital tools and resources to engage students in authentic learning experiences. (PSC 2.3/ISTE 2c)
Artifact: Engaged Learning Project
Reflection:
The Engaged Learning Project was completed during course 7400, 21st Century Teaching and Learning. For this project we were asked to create technology-supported learning experiences that promote student engagement, deep understanding, higher-order thinking, and transfer of knowledge. As this was completed during the summer semester, I completed the project alone. However, the project does include collaboration between my classes at both the middle and high school level, as I am the choral director for both schools.
Standard 2.3, Authentic Learning asks that candidates be able to model and facilitate the use of digital tools and resources to engage students in authentic learning experiences. During this project I was able to model and facilitate the use of several digital tools and resources such as a wiki, YouTube, Edmodo, and the J.W. Pepper online music catalogue. For this artifact, students took on the role of a choral director and were engaged in the authentic learning experience of choosing choral repertoire. During this project students researched and shared the history of various patriotic songs and chose songs suitable for a Veterans Day program. Through collaboration with the performers, the students analyzed and selected choral arrangements of these songs that are of appropriate voicing and difficulty. Students also learned to complete a purchase order request and ordered the music. Student discussed good programming, decided on the concert order of the songs, and created the program.
Completing this artifact pushed me to create a truly authentic learning experience for my students. The ability to look at and listen to music critically are skills that I hope each of my students takes away from my class. One thing I would change about the creation of this artifact is that I would like to have some type of collaboration with an expert outside of my classroom. I think that the students would gain deeper understanding of the process if they talked to another choral director or a conductor from one of the state-wide choral festivals to ask them about their selection of repertoire.
The work that went into this project will impact student learning, not just in the context of my class, but throughout the school. As students learn to use various digital tools and resources like the ones used in this project, they will be able to transfer their skills to other classes and other tools. This will help improve student engagement throughout the school.
The Engaged Learning Project was completed during course 7400, 21st Century Teaching and Learning. For this project we were asked to create technology-supported learning experiences that promote student engagement, deep understanding, higher-order thinking, and transfer of knowledge. As this was completed during the summer semester, I completed the project alone. However, the project does include collaboration between my classes at both the middle and high school level, as I am the choral director for both schools.
Standard 2.3, Authentic Learning asks that candidates be able to model and facilitate the use of digital tools and resources to engage students in authentic learning experiences. During this project I was able to model and facilitate the use of several digital tools and resources such as a wiki, YouTube, Edmodo, and the J.W. Pepper online music catalogue. For this artifact, students took on the role of a choral director and were engaged in the authentic learning experience of choosing choral repertoire. During this project students researched and shared the history of various patriotic songs and chose songs suitable for a Veterans Day program. Through collaboration with the performers, the students analyzed and selected choral arrangements of these songs that are of appropriate voicing and difficulty. Students also learned to complete a purchase order request and ordered the music. Student discussed good programming, decided on the concert order of the songs, and created the program.
Completing this artifact pushed me to create a truly authentic learning experience for my students. The ability to look at and listen to music critically are skills that I hope each of my students takes away from my class. One thing I would change about the creation of this artifact is that I would like to have some type of collaboration with an expert outside of my classroom. I think that the students would gain deeper understanding of the process if they talked to another choral director or a conductor from one of the state-wide choral festivals to ask them about their selection of repertoire.
The work that went into this project will impact student learning, not just in the context of my class, but throughout the school. As students learn to use various digital tools and resources like the ones used in this project, they will be able to transfer their skills to other classes and other tools. This will help improve student engagement throughout the school.