Technology Integration Portfolio
1. Monitoring Plan and Internet Usage
Whenever students are working on sustained research projects, it is advisable for teachers to rearrange the room so that monitoring of all computers can be improved. I recommend an outward facing circle where students sit on the inside facing out. This makes it easier for teachers to monitor and for them to reach and see all students easily without any obstructions or distractions. It is also advisable that students sign an internet policy contract at the beginning of the year with clearly outlined behavior contracts so that students know explicitly what is expected and the direct consequences of their behavior. This, of course, needs to be fairly and swiftly enforced if it is to mean anything to students.
2. Sample Lesson Plans with Technology
What I have decided to do in the following links is to include specific classroom assignments and projects that I assign in class that utilize all of the technology requirements that are called for in the portfolio:
Keyboarding and Word Processing
SmartBoard or Handheld Computer devices
3. Differentiated Lesson Plans
Modifications:
AIG: For students with AIG, this assignment is perfect because it is self-driven, self-motivated, and a truly challenging assignment. This assignment also allows AIG students' minds to wander creatively and pursue their own creative interest. To further challenge AIG students, I could allow them to be team leaders, responsible for teaching their peers about certain aspects of the assignment and to allow them to take ownership in their projects. I could also allow these individuals to come up with their own IEP--which challenges them to read and perform at a higher level. It serves as a contract with the student to challenge themselves while completing the assignment and the course.
EC: While I do not have a lot of experience working with EC children, it would be important to not have universal accommodations but rather individualized plans based on the child's needs, their IEP, and their caregiver's requests. But if I did have to put general specifics in the assignment, I would make sure that there are no hindrances in the assignment (which there are not, to the best of my knowledge) and that each child is left to creatively contribute their necessary and possible part to the group. The assignment allows for students to contribute as they wish to a group project, it pushes students to contribute based on their interest and learning style. All of my assignments are provided online and in print format so that parents and caregivers can view and access the assignment and the graded feedback. I would provide any accommodations necessary based on visual, auditory, or other physical disabilities.
4. Instructional Guide for Multi-media Project
If you wish to use any of the following media in a multi-media project, I recommend consulting the specific details of each software company because their specifications are constantly changing as each is updated and improved. They are linked as follows:
Digital Photos (this will greatly depend on what kind of camera and operating system you are using)
Downloaded Images/Music (and more generally, how to design a multi-media presentation)
I have decided to include these general guidelines because it really depends on for what purpose a student is creating something as what advice or guidance I would give to them. Quite frankly, a full description of how to use these various software programs would be ridiculous exhaustive and I could much more easily answer this question in person than go to the tedious detail to record the specifics.
5. Rubric for Assessing a Multi-media project
Click on this link to see an example of a rubric I use for a multi-media project in class (Look under "Group Project" on the second page for group multi-media rubric)
6. Webquest
Click on this link to view a VERY unorthodox Web Quest I created to use as a end of the year review and reflection on what we had learned and read that semester. Enjoy!
7. Guidelines for Fair Use and Multimedia Copyright Guidelines
I would advise students to first peruse the following websites for in-depth advice on Fair Use and Multimedia Copyright information:
In general, the guidelines are considered on a case-to-case basis, not a universal standard. From these three informative websites, we can glean the following principles and guidelines for students:
Everything is not permissible, just because it is for educational usage, but it is more likely to be permissible because of the purpose of the usage. Teachers are more protected under the law because it is for educational, as opposed to commercial, usage.
Factual work is more permissible to be copied than creative works.
Reproducing a small portion of the work (thumbnail image or excerpt or quote) is generally more acceptable than a complete copy of the original.
Newer work is less likely to be permissible than older work because its market value is still high and potential owners still stand to profit from its sale.
When citing sources in papers, projects, and presentations always use the proper citations as outlined by your teacher and their discipline by consulting one of the following resources:
8. Sample Web page for SCS Technology Policies
Click on this link to view my summaries of the SCS Technology Policies. This took quite a while to create, I hope it is a useful summary of the SCS policies and a helpful resource for others.