EDT674+Discussion+Questions

**__Discussion Question 1 - completed during Weekend One __**
**What do you know about using technology with students?**

Present day students have grown up with technology in all aspects of their lives. Students should be using technology in the classroom just as they do outside of it. Students are much more enthusiastic and interested in the curriculum when multimedia is involved. Children will be using technology for the rest of their lives, we need to help them learn while using it, so they can have future success. I want to know more about how to manage and incorporate the countless different ways technology can be used in the classroom. How can I use this technology effectively while still meeting my district's curricular requirements?
 * What do you want to know about using technology with students?**

**__Discussion Question 2 - completed during Weekend One__ **
**Look at the Essential 21st Century Skills List - Select one skill and discuss how you already meet this skill via your current instruction.**

- Interpersonal and Collaborative Skills In my science instruction I break my students into groups of four or five. Each group member has a responsibility during the investigation for the day. In the beginning of the school year when these group roles are introduced I spend a lot of time modeling what effective group collaboration looks like. The students get a chance to be each role many times throughout the year. Discussion questions are used throughout the investigation where the students can work collaboratively and share ideas with one another. Empathy and acceptance of new ideas is also modeled.

- Accountability and Adaptability During my teaching last school year I tried to incorporate som goal setting for my students. However, the goals were very specific and only targeted setting goals to improve standardized test scores. In the upcoming school year I would really like to make my students more accountable for their own learning and progress. Setting goals all year long (short term and longterm), in different curricular areas, I think would help increase accountability.
 * Select another Essential 21st Century Skill that you may NOT already touch upon and project how you might be able to meet that need in future instruction.**

** __Discussion Question 3 - to be completed one week after the Weekend One__ **
**Find a TeacherTube/YouTube video that you could use for instructional purposes and copy and paste the address of the video for others to view. Explain how you would use this with your students.**
 * NOTE: Since there are so many videos to choose from, please avoid any repeats.**
 * View two other students’ videos.**

Wakko's America United States States and Capitals Song [|**http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-wkBaBKD0A**] I have used this video at the beginning of my States and Capitals unit. I show this to the students so that they see that there is a fun way, and that it is possible, to learn all of the fifty states and their capitals. I have had students memorize and actually learn the entire song. ==**__Discussion Question 4 - to be completed Saturday/Weekend Two__ ** ==

**To complete the KWHL- what have you learned from the readings, activities and discussions from this course about using technology with your students?**  Through the many readings, activities, and discussions from this course I have learned that you can incorporate technology or multimedia into almost every lesson that you teach. EDT674 built upon my abundance of technology resources by providing me with even more new and exciting options for the classroom. This class also really opened my eyes to the importance of making my students aware of internet bullying and internet safety. I really enjoyed the various hands-on activities like the lego building and claymation video creation. Learning more about Microsoft Excel was also incredibly beneficial. The Excel gradebook, mail merge, address labels, and personalized letters will all make my job a lot easier. I am really looking forward to incorporating many new technology components into this coming school year.