Indicator 4.c Collaborate with educators to design accessible and active digital learning environments that accommodate learner variability.
Embedded Files
Animal Habitats: Collaborative Project
What I Did ✅:
For this artifact, the group first designed a grant proposal to receive Mimio Teach (learn more here) whiteboard system in our school district and wanted to create a grade-level science project demonstrating how the new technology could be used. In our group, we were assigned a specific grade and decided on a topic that would best fit our end project goal. Each member designed slides that included learning standards for a specific science habitat and explained how we would use the technology. I completed a lesson on Ocean habitat in which I was able to use the Mimio Teach board in these ways:
The teacher will use MimioTeach to complete/model graphic organizers and background information students may know.
The teacher will use MimioTeach to list creatures and plants found in an ocean habitat. .
The teacher will also use MimioTeach to share student’s website resources/videos/interactive.
What I Learned 🧠:
Throughout many course assignments, there is typically a "reflective" piece assigned by the professor for each assignment and it was quite interesting visiting the reflection piece from this one. It came at a time when we (teachers) all needed more collaboration during the pandemic and we were all navigating some rough waters with the switch to virtual learning. I remember meeting virtually with my fellow classmates and finding comfort in sharing our teaching and learning experiences and there were lots of discussions on how would we adapt this if we were virtual? Technology is only as assistive as you design its implementation to be. The tech tool was the whiteboard but we each contributed valuable ways to use it and implement it in meaningful ways with children. I learned that it is not just the tech tool alone, it must be partnered with collaboration, engaging fun ideas and topics, hands-on explorative materials and appropriate assessment tools to measure effectiveness.
How I Will Grow 🌱:
I hope to grow professionally by being able to research and explore new tech devices that have value and place in the classroom but also be able to create and design lessons to validate their worthiness. Applying for grants often requires examples such as these as proof of how they will be utilized, before even granting the funds to make it possible. I hope to work with colleagues in the future to secure funding for cutting-edge technologies that can be used in the classroom with young children in fun and meaningful ways.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller
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