A. Integrates instructional technology as appropriate to enrich learning opportunities, and
B. Models effective written, oral, and non-verbal communication to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom for ALL students
The integration of technology and the use of effective communication can have incredible impacts on the classroom. Teachers cannot resist the influx of technology in our world, and must strive to overcome the faults of traditional instruction through facilitation of classroom communication. Technology can often have positive results on classroom learning; for instance, if a classroom is equipped with a SMART Board it can pique the interest of students. The interactive nature of technology gets students involved in the classroom like never before. Students become excited to use the new technology and they want to participate. Classroom communication makes the classroom a more pleasant place for all present, and encourages students to become free thinkers. Students that know their opinions are valued will be willing to share them with their classmates in order to get their feedback. If classroom communication is overlooked, these interactions may never happen. The English classroom can make great use of the integration of technology. Because students often want to express their knowledge in methods other than essays, technology allows us to offer assessments in different ways. For example, the final assessment from a unit may be a presentation using PowerPoint, or creating a video with a group. The integration of technology gives students options in showing what they have learned, and makes the class more interesting. Classroom discussion is incredibly important in the English classroom. Literature Circles allow students to discuss novels freely in small groups, if communication within the classroom is not present then group activities will be meaningless. Fostering a classroom community that wants to communicate is instrumental in creating an interesting English classroom. INTASC 6 can have great impacts in the classroom and can make it a place students want to be. The free thinking space that results from classroom communication inspires students to go above the norm, and technology can inspire creativity.
Artifact A is a unit plan that was created during a class I completed at Towson University. The unit plan was intended for a class that had students at varying proficiency levels. The artifact demonstrates my proficiency in this principle because I have included the use of technology in order to assist students that would benefit from it. Although the lesson plan uses very basic technology compared to what is available in the classrooms today, it still benefits students. The unit plan includes lessons wherein the students listen to the audio book of The Giver. Students listen to the novel on audio book in order to hear the novel read by a professional, and to gain exposure to how novels are read to emphasize certain aspects. Audio books can be a useful addition to the classroom as they allow struggling readers an opportunity to follow along with more difficult texts, and also teach all readers how to pace themselves when reading in order to increase comprehension. Although the audio book is only used with the entire classroom on few occasions, students that are falling behind in the reading or find the text too difficult could benefit from using it more frequently. The availability of audio books through services like the public library make sharing the material very easy. This unit plan has a positive impact on student achievement because it ensures students are receiving the attention that they need. All students benefit from using the audio book in during the unit, but it can also increase student achievement. Technology can have an incredible impact in the classroom, and something as simple as using an audio book can lead to great success with the students that need it. The audio book can also be used as a form of differentiation; while not all students need to use the audio books frequently, it can make an incredible difference for those that need it. This unit plan demonstrates the "judging prior learning" aspect of the Planning-Teaching-Learning cycle because I used information about the class to provide the best learning experience possible for my students. Based on the ability levels of the students I decided it would be best to include the audio book of the novel for the full class several times. The ability of low performing students also made it clear that some of them would benefit from having the novel read to them by a professional. The unit plan I have created demonstrates my ability to judge the prior learning of my students in order to effectively plan future instruction. The students benefited from the use of technology in the classroom, and I implemented it.
Artifact B is a lesson segment that I created during my professional year at Towson University. The lesson segment was intended for a class that had students at varying proficiency levels. This artifact demonstrates my proficiency in this principle because I effectively model the interactions that I want my students to have while in the classroom. In order to make sure the students in my classroom fully understand how I want them to run their literature circle I needed to make sure they had a model. The lesson segment that I created includes a portion wherein the instructor joins one of the class's literature circles to model critical thinking and higher level questioning. Modeling the activity allows the students to gain experience, and including yourself in the activity ensures students get an example that is correct. Modeling the activity also allows the instructor to ensure students understand the correct way to use oral communication in the classroom setting. The model should allow students to recognize the types of language being used in the group. By encouraging the participation of the group members the students in the surrounding literature circles learn the types of collaboration that should be taking place. Recognizing the roles each person should play in the classroom is instrumental to ensuring active participation in groups. If students are unaware of what they should be doing at any time the classroom can quickly fall apart. This lesson segment has a positive impact on student achievement because it ensures the students are fully prepared to take place in an active learning activity. Students working with each other is incredibly important in the classroom, and especially important in the English classroom where students benefit highly from peer interpretation of the text. Modeling effective communication ensures the communication taking place within literature circles is based on higher level thinking. Students unsure of what type of questions or comments to make will not benefit from interacting with their peers, and will only be wasting time in their groups; effective modeling is the key to success. This lesson segment demonstrates the "teaching" aspect of Planning-Teaching-Learning cycle because I modeled the type of communication I wanted to take place in the small group discussion. Teaching students the methods to teach themselves is incredibly important in the classroom; if students are able to teach each other there will be incredible benefits, and teaching them the skills to do so is the start. This artifact demonstrates my ability to effectively model the types of communication I want to happen in the classroom and in small group discussion.
Integration of Technology / Communication Skills
A. Integrates instructional technology as appropriate to enrich learning opportunities, and
B. Models effective written, oral, and non-verbal communication to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom for ALL students
Reflection
Reflection on INTASC 6.docx
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The integration of technology and the use of effective communication can have incredible impacts on the classroom. Teachers cannot resist the influx of technology in our world, and must strive to overcome the faults of traditional instruction through facilitation of classroom communication. Technology can often have positive results on classroom learning; for instance, if a classroom is equipped with a SMART Board it can pique the interest of students. The interactive nature of technology gets students involved in the classroom like never before. Students become excited to use the new technology and they want to participate. Classroom communication makes the classroom a more pleasant place for all present, and encourages students to become free thinkers. Students that know their opinions are valued will be willing to share them with their classmates in order to get their feedback. If classroom communication is overlooked, these interactions may never happen. The English classroom can make great use of the integration of technology. Because students often want to express their knowledge in methods other than essays, technology allows us to offer assessments in different ways. For example, the final assessment from a unit may be a presentation using PowerPoint, or creating a video with a group. The integration of technology gives students options in showing what they have learned, and makes the class more interesting. Classroom discussion is incredibly important in the English classroom. Literature Circles allow students to discuss novels freely in small groups, if communication within the classroom is not present then group activities will be meaningless. Fostering a classroom community that wants to communicate is instrumental in creating an interesting English classroom. INTASC 6 can have great impacts in the classroom and can make it a place students want to be. The free thinking space that results from classroom communication inspires students to go above the norm, and technology can inspire creativity.Artifact A
Unit Plan (For Portfolio).docx
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Artifact A is a unit plan that was created during a class I completed at Towson University. The unit plan was intended for a class that had students at varying proficiency levels. The artifact demonstrates my proficiency in this principle because I have included the use of technology in order to assist students that would benefit from it. Although the lesson plan uses very basic technology compared to what is available in the classrooms today, it still benefits students. The unit plan includes lessons wherein the students listen to the audio book of The Giver. Students listen to the novel on audio book in order to hear the novel read by a professional, and to gain exposure to how novels are read to emphasize certain aspects. Audio books can be a useful addition to the classroom as they allow struggling readers an opportunity to follow along with more difficult texts, and also teach all readers how to pace themselves when reading in order to increase comprehension. Although the audio book is only used with the entire classroom on few occasions, students that are falling behind in the reading or find the text too difficult could benefit from using it more frequently. The availability of audio books through services like the public library make sharing the material very easy. This unit plan has a positive impact on student achievement because it ensures students are receiving the attention that they need. All students benefit from using the audio book in during the unit, but it can also increase student achievement. Technology can have an incredible impact in the classroom, and something as simple as using an audio book can lead to great success with the students that need it. The audio book can also be used as a form of differentiation; while not all students need to use the audio books frequently, it can make an incredible difference for those that need it. This unit plan demonstrates the "judging prior learning" aspect of the Planning-Teaching-Learning cycle because I used information about the class to provide the best learning experience possible for my students. Based on the ability levels of the students I decided it would be best to include the audio book of the novel for the full class several times. The ability of low performing students also made it clear that some of them would benefit from having the novel read to them by a professional. The unit plan I have created demonstrates my ability to judge the prior learning of my students in order to effectively plan future instruction. The students benefited from the use of technology in the classroom, and I implemented it.Artifact B
Teaching Segment 4 (Reflection) Complete.docx
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Artifact B is a lesson segment that I created during my professional year at Towson University. The lesson segment was intended for a class that had students at varying proficiency levels. This artifact demonstrates my proficiency in this principle because I effectively model the interactions that I want my students to have while in the classroom. In order to make sure the students in my classroom fully understand how I want them to run their literature circle I needed to make sure they had a model. The lesson segment that I created includes a portion wherein the instructor joins one of the class's literature circles to model critical thinking and higher level questioning. Modeling the activity allows the students to gain experience, and including yourself in the activity ensures students get an example that is correct. Modeling the activity also allows the instructor to ensure students understand the correct way to use oral communication in the classroom setting. The model should allow students to recognize the types of language being used in the group. By encouraging the participation of the group members the students in the surrounding literature circles learn the types of collaboration that should be taking place. Recognizing the roles each person should play in the classroom is instrumental to ensuring active participation in groups. If students are unaware of what they should be doing at any time the classroom can quickly fall apart. This lesson segment has a positive impact on student achievement because it ensures the students are fully prepared to take place in an active learning activity. Students working with each other is incredibly important in the classroom, and especially important in the English classroom where students benefit highly from peer interpretation of the text. Modeling effective communication ensures the communication taking place within literature circles is based on higher level thinking. Students unsure of what type of questions or comments to make will not benefit from interacting with their peers, and will only be wasting time in their groups; effective modeling is the key to success. This lesson segment demonstrates the "teaching" aspect of Planning-Teaching-Learning cycle because I modeled the type of communication I wanted to take place in the small group discussion. Teaching students the methods to teach themselves is incredibly important in the classroom; if students are able to teach each other there will be incredible benefits, and teaching them the skills to do so is the start. This artifact demonstrates my ability to effectively model the types of communication I want to happen in the classroom and in small group discussion.Technology and Communication