Candidates model and facilitate the use of digital tools and resources to engage students in authentic learning experiences. (PSC 2.3/ISTE 2c)
Reflection
I created the Engaged Learner project for fifth grade students in the area of life science. It was designed to refine and increase student’s technology skills while teaching them the life science content standardswhile accommodating for students with disabilities providing students with diverse learning experiences. This project was designed for students of all ability levels and demographic backgrounds. The activities and learning experiences in this project provided interesting and engaging learning opportunities for all students. Digital tools were integrated appropriately throughout this project to enhance student’s knowledge of the content and to extend and refine their technology skills through authentic, engaging, and meaningful learning experiences. The Engaged Learner project demonstrates mastery of standard 2.3 because while creating this project, I included research-based strategies to ensure that all students participating in this project had equitable opportunities to learn and complete all activities. The components were centered around learners and provided premier and well devised learning experiences for the students. The digital tools and resources that were implemented throughout the project were meaningful, appropriate, and carefully selected to guide students towards mastery of the content standards while enhancing their technology skills. While creating this project, I learned that activities must be considered carefully in order to provide authentic and meaningful learning opportunities for all students. Also, I believe that implementing digital tools and resources just for the sake of “using technology” should be avoided at all costs. Digital tools and resources should be closely aligned with the learning activities and be developmentally appropriate for the student and the tasks. If I were to make any improvements to this project, I would create a student survey in Google Forms asking students who completed the project for their input regarding the activities, digital tools, and overall structure of the project. I would use the data collected to improve and adjust the project for future classes. The technology skills the students both gained and refined through this project directly align to the technology improvement plan located within our school’s improvement plan. The impact can be assessed by the student’s products at the conclusion of the project.