Indicator 5.B

5.B- Design authentic learning activities that align with content area standards and use digital tools and resources to maximize active, deep learning.

Reflection

When completing the class LLT 535 Distance Education for k-12 Educators, I created a course proposal for a writing unit. This course was written as an online course to be used for Cyber School or homebound instruction. This is a first grade course that teaches children the foundations of writing through the use of technology. The course is fifteen weeks long. Each week a new skill is taught or uses a new mentor text to give the students ideas for their writings. It is really important for students to practice writing, even though the class is online.

All of the activities throughout this course correspond to a standard, which is why I feel that this unit is a good artifact to represent indicator 5.B. There are also a few digital tools that were used to enhance the children’s learning. One of the digital tools that I chose to use is Flipgrid. Flipgrid allows students to video a response to teacher directed prompts. The reason that I like Flipgrid is because it allows students to see the other students and hear their responses on a more personal level than just reading a story. It also allows the children to respond to others with a video response. The other digital tool that is used throughout the course is Seesaw. Seesaw is a great app that allows students to post their work using multiple different tools. From drawing pictures to recording themselves, students are able to use this app to complete multiple different activities that relate to their learning. The last digital tools that are used are Google Docs, Youtube, and Skype.

This was the first course proposal that I have made. Because this was my first proposal, I feel that I did a good job at including the necessary sections. I think that I was able to take a course that is usually used in an in-person classroom and transform it into an online course. There are some things that I would do to improve my course if I were to ever use this online course in my career. I would like to spend more time researching some additional digital tools that would be more user friendly for first grade students to complete their writings. I am not sure the Google Docs would be the easiest for first grade students to use. I would like to find a tool that is easy for this age group. I know that this was just an outline of a course and not an actual lesson plan for each week, so for the actual course I would take the time to write a detailed lesson plan for each week. Overall, I think this course would be very beneficial for first grade learners with a few improvements.