This is the screencast describing my final lesson plan project. The screencast includes a basic description of the lesson objectives, the tools used during the lesson, differentiation, collaboration, and assessments. It also includes trouble-shooting done prior to and during the lesson as well as a reflection of what could be done to improve the lesson when implemented in the future.
While it is expected that all students use technology to complete school assignments, not all students have equal access to technology. Many students from lower income families do not have access to a computer or other device that can connect them to the internet once they leave school in the afternoon. At the same time many students from higher income families go home to a choice of devices or even carry one in their pocket all day long. According to a research study by Common Sense (2011) only 48% of lower income students have access to a computer at home compared to 91% of higher income students. Due to this “digital divide” among students it has become an important job of the school to help provide equal access to technology for all students.
Schools use a variety of strategies to help make computers accessible to students during the school day. Beginning this year all of the students at Adairsville Middle School and all freshman at Adairsville High School were assigned student laptops. All of these students have access to their laptop throughout the school day and those who paid the insurance fee are also able to take them home. This has made a huge difference in the use of technology, especially at the middle school, across all subject areas. Having every student with their own computer is obviously an ideal situation which many schools do not have the funds to support, but making sure that all students are able to access whatever technology is available throughout the school day is very important. Many schools, including my own, open the media center for computer use both before and after school as well as allowing students with a note from a teacher to come and work at the computer stations during the school day. Computer classes are also offered at both the middle and high school as connections/elective classes. Rideout, V., & Common Sense Media. (2011). Zero to eight : Children's media use in America. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense Media. Today’s classrooms are filled with diversity. Not only are our classrooms made up of students from different cultural backgrounds, religions, and economic situations, but also of students with different learning styles and educational needs. Education is not one-size-fits-all. Students need a more personal connection to what they are learning and the way in which they learn it. Richardson (2012) suggests allowing the students to help create their own personalized learning plan for how they will meet the objectives of a course. This will require teachers to be more flexible so that students can be more self-directed.
Technology is an important tool in creating this type of learning environment. Through the use of technology teachers are able to differentiate their instruction to meet the needs of the various learners in their classroom. In a classroom with personalized learning plans the students would decide which tools would best help them to learn and to present what they have learned. This will mean that not every student has the same technology and/or digital tools, which some might see as unfair. Edyburn (2006) made a great point about fairness being about everyone having what they need, not everyone having the same thing. The choice of tools should be as diverse as the learners themselves. In my own classroom, students come to me with various musical backgrounds. Some have had no experience with reading music while others are also in the band program and have been reading music for years. Having technology available in the classroom or at home would allow students to work on their music reading skills at their own pace. Those with more experience could be using programs such as Finale Notepad to compose their own music while the beginners learn the basics with programs like Music Ace. Along with being a tool for differentiating instruction, technology can also be used to teach students about the cultural diversity of their classmates. Using tools such as Skype in the Classroom allows students to connect to people all around the world to learn more about their culture and beliefs. In the music classroom this type of technology could be used to learn about the musical traditions and musical instruments of other cultures. Students can connect to performers, composers, and other music students in different parts of the country and around the globe. Web 2.0 tools such as blogs and social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have made it easy for students to connect to and learn from others both locally and globally. By visiting the blogs of performing artists, composers, music producers, etc. students can participate in conversations about music of all different types. Students could also create blogs about their musical experiences in order to start conversations of their own. Using social media students can follow the latest news about their favorite artists and interact with other fans. The list of ways that students can interact with others online continues to grow and create even more opportunities for them to learn. Edyburn, D.L. (2006). Failure is not an option: Collecting, reviewing, and acting on evidence for using technology to enhance academic performance. Learning & Leading with Technology, 34 (1), 20-23. Hilt, Lyn. (2011) "The Case for Cultivating Cultural Awareness." Powerful Learning Practice. Richardson, W. (2012). Preparing Students to Learn without Us. Educational Leadership, 69(5), 22-26. Smith, G. E., & Throne, S. (2009). Differentiating instruction with technology in middle school classrooms / Grace E. Smith, Stephanie Throne. Eugene, Or. : International Society for Technology in Education, c2009. |
AuthorKathleen Landolt is the Chorus Director for both Adairsville High School and Adairsville Middle School in Bartow County. Archives
November 2014
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