Candidates model and facilitate the effective use of research-based best practices in instructional design when designing and developing digital tools, resources, and technology-enhanced learning experiences. (PSC 2.6/ISTE 2f)
Reflection:
I designed the Ecosystem WebQuest to provide students with challenging and engaging opportunities to investigate real-world connected scenarios to the content of their science class using appropriate and impactful digital tools and resources. Since this was an online, independent project, I ensured that I provided many engaging and interactive activities using carefully considered and appropriate digital tools throughout the project to ensure that student interest levels remained high. Students were provided with choice boards containing various activities geared toward different learning styles and intelligences to appeal to all learners and keep the content relevant. This project supports mastery of standard 2.6 because, this this project contained many engaging and high-interest elements that provided students with valuable learning experiences. Students were provided with options for utilizing digital tools and resources to complete various activities, therefore enhancing, and increasing their technology application skills. While planning this project, I ensured that I chose digital tools and resources that were appropriate to the project’s learning objectives. I also determined if they were developmentally appropriate for the grade level, and that they enhanced the student’s technology skills as well as their comprehension of the content. By carefully analyzing each tool and resources before including it in this project, I created a project complete with best practices that demonstrated appropriate technology integrations that furthered the student’s knowledge of the content through higher order thinking skills. While creating this project, I learned that researching and choosing appropriate digital tools, resources, and websites 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. The impact can also be assessed by feedback from the teachers regarding the effectiveness of the tools or resources and the appropriateness of their implementations.