Karen Moericke

Design learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced instructional strategies to support the needs of all learners

Imagine only approximately fifty years ago teachers would be standing in front of a classroom of children with chalk in hand preparing to teach a lesson speaking and writing on a blackboard. Erasers were clapped daily to rid them of the chalk dust. If a child did not copy down notes once the board was erased the instructions and help form the teacher was forever lost. Fast forward to classrooms of today. The teacher is utilizing a white board helping explain concepts to students. Once the lesson is done the unit is saved into the computer hard drive where the teacher can pullup the information displayed again if the students need time to either write instructions down or need review. See image below for an example of an interactive white board used in classrooms.

Demonstrate knowledge and skills in current and emerging instructional technologies

There are numerous varieties of technology that can be incorporated into classroom education. Another favorite of mine is using concept mapping software during the brainstorming process it helps to capture ideas and then allows students to easily manipulate them. (Lever-Duffy) This helps both visual learners and hand on learners. It offers students a place to put thoughts to later put together the main concepts and/or a story needing to be written; an example of concept mapping is below.

"Based on cognitive theory and research evidence, we recommend that e-learning courses include words and graphics, rather than words alone." (Clark 2008)
Utilizing a program entitled Elluminate is a wonderful way for students and teachers to be connected for open class discussions, teaching specific units while enhancing them with voice, imagery, words and graphics. It gives the teacher the ability to turn on and off a microphone that can be used while in the virtual classroom, as well as, a text chatting ability. Please view an Elluminate Live introduction for an short video presentation of how Elluninate works.

Utilize technology to collect and analyze data, interpret results, and communicate findings

Evaluating students to determine if the content was presented in a clear concise manner for retention is the goal when students are given an assessment. It is important to implement improvements in holding and engaging students in the content to ensure they maintain information after the chapter or unit is completed. The best way is to evaluate is to identify areas that need revision or were the most difficult to learn. Newby, Stepich, Lehman, Russel, Ottenbreit-Leftwich state evaluation can take on many different forms, however, it is important questions are focused on the instruction and what you can do to improve it.

Evaluate technology resources to facilitate effective assessment and evaluation

Creating resources for effective assessment and evaluation can seem very overwhelming initially. however, once it has been implemented effectively it will seem effortless. Technology increases our effective for teaching with immediate feedback available by using simple computer program to assess feedback from students. Please watch the PowerPoint document below for a short presentation on how to make effective surveys and tests. This will aid you in deciding what types of questions to use, what is most effective and how to collect the data.

Making surveys or tests.ppt
Size : 402 Kb
Type : ppt