In this class, we are developing an online course using a LMS (Learning Management System) called Schoology. My course will be a way for the parents to help their child who is age four to five in order to build a foundation of technology skills. This class can coincide with their pre-k school year to help build their foundation in regards to the Pre-K Guidelines for the State of Texas. Not all students qualify for pre-k, so the parents could work on this course with their child at home to ensure they have the necessary skills when entering kindergarten.

This course was developed with the idea of the UbD model and the Three Column Table in mind. I expanded it to cover all five of the Texas Pre-K Guidelines in the Technology Domain. I also used the Planning Questions provided to us. A rubric of 4 categories will be used to help assess the child's learning and skills. Parents will need to supervise their child while completing each activity, assist them, and post the necessary information and or documents in each unit.

I have not taught an online course in the past, so this is all new to me. I want to create my course for the parents to help the students. I made a rubric that will help ensure the progress of the students. When I look at their responses to the assignments if they are not what I wanted or expected, I will return the assignment and ask they do it again.

I am using the 5 domains of the technology pre-k guidelines to help create this course. They are very basic skills the students need to know going into kindergarten. This course will help reinforce what they are learning. There are specific qualifications for students to meet the guidelines for pre-k, so ideally this will help those learning at home with their parents.

I am listing the state guidelines in the online course materials so the parents can see what the state expects. I want the student to explore, practice, and share learning. Any resources they need are going to be listed in each assignment. I am letting them do it how they want, so they feel at ease with using technology and so the parents can help them fulfill the requirements as easily as possible. I know the parents are busy, but each lesson is short and to the point.

As for desired results with this pre-k technology course, I want them to start building the basic skills needed to be successful in pre-k. I am wanting to set them up for success in kindergarten. The students should know the basics of using technology properly.

The basics consists of opening an app and how to use it, as well as requirements such as navigating in an app, using appropriate gestures, writing and drawing with digital tools, gather information, and follow safety rules which are all part of the foundation. The assignments are basic and are more about them exploring and learning, than taking a grade. We don’t take grades in pre-k. The students are either still developing or developed which is what the students receive on the district report card.

I am designing the course so the parents can help the students at home. Some of the students do not meet the qualifications for pre-k and parents are willing to help them learn at home and get them ready for kindergarten. By reviewing the standards covered in the online course, the students will have a basic understanding of the necessary skills to help them be successful in kindergarten at age 5.

In the video, “Amazing Method of Teaching”, (2012) it showed how technology not only has progressed, but also what it lacks. It was a great video and well thought out. It did make us laugh, but it made me think. As much as I love using technology and want to learn more as it progresses, it shows that we still need human beings. With all of the technology we have, we are losing some of the human interaction and people are losing that.

In the video, “Cognitive overload -- rewire your brain in the digital age”, he mentions taking a break from technology. I love doing this! It really is necessary. It is nice to check social media and see what everyone is doing, where they are going, and what is happening. BUT...

“Quite time” as he called it, is something that I really like. At times, I just like sit with my Gizmo (my four-legged “human” dog) and just listen to my own thoughts. Does that sound weird? I think you have to unplug to unwind. I think you brain needs a break for all of the "whirlwind" going on around you. Sometimes, you just have to do those things.

When I go to a “class” or "workshop" like sewing or crafting, I take pictures of what we are doing, but I am not checking social media. I have several friends that the second they get somewhere or if they have one second of down time, they pick up their phones. It is a shame that we are loosing touch with humans and our friends. There does need to be a little more of a human side to things. It amazes me how far technology has developed, yet I remember the day when you actually needed a camera with film which meant you had to wait to see a picture!

For my online course in Schoology, I am using the Texas Pre-K State Guidelines. It works out that there are 5 units required for this class, and there are 5 standards in the technology domain. They are basic rules, and the students will be able to complete them with the help of their parents. The parents will need to read the instructions for their child and help them send in the assessment portion. Parents are allowed to help guide their child, but it says in the instructions they are not to complete the assignment for their child.

Everything in the course is minimal because the students are four years old, and they are just now being introduced to academic technology. In Pre-K we keep everything basic and simple. One step directions or maybe two steps are what we provide in class, so I want to maintain simplicity for them online. I need for them to be able to understand and comprehend when their parents are reading the directions. Part of their learning process, at this age, is learning to follow instructions.

I do not really see that integrating a discussion board would be beneficial to the students. The students are four years old and do not understand the purpose of a discussion board. They wouldn’t be able to type their own responses and would need additional assistance in reading all the information that would be posted on a discussion board.

However, I did make a place for the parents to ask questions. The parents can communicate to one another there if they would like, but it is not a requirement of the course or even necessary at this time. If, at a later date I see that it is necessary, I can add a discussion board with specific posts.

For most of the students in my area and district, attending Pre-K is the first time they are away from their parents and haven’t been around other students or children except for within families.

The active learning section will be the hands-on part of the activity. Each one of the standards requires the students to do some type of hands-on activity, like explore an app, try the tools, or use correct hand motions. The parents can take pictures or video of their actions which will be the assessment component. I will be checking if the students attempted the assignments rather than trying to give them a grade. We do not administer grades in pre-k. Grading is based on what skills the students have developed, or if they are still developing.

I developed the course material based on the conclusion that the parents already know how to use the Schoology website. I did not want to add “how to use Schoology” as part of the course, because parents might get too confused with the lessons of the Pre-K students.

I will offer information, links to help videos, or PDF handouts by using the Bloomz app for parent communication, if they are needed by the parents, or they ask for more information. Most of the parents (in the past) have been able to use the technology we need for their students to do assignments at home activities. They are young parents that seem to be up-to-date with things and are able to with new apps or sites when given the links.

I appreciate the copyright standard. It is important to remember that we must document everything. I know that is a challenge sometimes, but it has to be done to protect all involved.

Also, number standard 31 is important to me. Some of my students are ESL students. They need that hands on part/manipulation of the learning so that they can actually do the particular skill in real-life. They need to practice internalizing the skills which assists them comprehending what they are doing.

The video, “Scaffolding for Student Success”, really applies to my situation. I taught Kindergarten for 6 years, and I am now in Pre-K for the second year. I understand the thought process of the little ones and can relate to what they need. I know they are entering school with very little background knowledge, so I am the one helping them building that foundation and preparing them for entry into Kindergarten.

The video says it perfectly, “The construction of learning is built from the ground up.” (Alberta Education, 2015). This is what happens in Pre-Kindergarten, the foundation. This is what I envision for my online course, building a strong technology foundation.

My course in Schoology is for the parents of my Pre-K students, or it could be used by parents that weren’t approved for Pre-K. Not all students are approved to enter the Pre-K program in my district. There are very strict guidelines and requirements.

I did add a discussion board for the parents. This way they can collaborate on things if they have questions. They might be able to answer each others questions out of each of the units. I also added an introduction video and included our class mascot, Gizmo. I also included an “attention-getting” photo for each of the sections.

Any resources that are needed will be listed in each of the units. If a website is needed for the assignment or a list of example websites for a task, I will include the links so the parents will not have to Google it. Also, having the examples might help them realize they know another app that does the same task. Parents are allowed to use the app of their choice, or they can use one that I provide, as long as it still gets the task completed.

Depending on the assignment in a particular unit will determine the requirements for each of the assignments. The first unit involves the students exploring, so a picture or video of them exploring will be sufficient. On another assignment the student has to perform a certain task and will need to use certain tools. The parent would need to screenshot their creation and turn that in as the completed task.

I related to the comment, “the way people learn are as unique as their fingerprints” in the UBD video. I thought about this in a Professional Development class that teachers recently attended. It seems like learning agrees with this, but when we do the “testing” it is not unique. We have to give all the students the same test. In Pre-K we have all these centers and now the requirement is that each center be color coded with a differentiated lesson, but we give all the students the same CLI (Children’s Learning Institute) test. It does base the color coded score results according to their age and peers in “months.” Now when I typed “months”, I cringe. These little students are about 48 months old. They are only four years old.

Personally, I think it is too young to give Pre-K a test of any kind. I understand that the administration needs a base measurement of students “growth,” but I believe and support the idea that we should just allow them to learn in Pre-K and worry about measuring them later. The students are only at school for about 3 hours, and they are 4 years old. I can not imagine how the students in Pre-K next year will feel when they have to stay at school all day long. I worry more about their mental health rather than their education at this age. I have to say that I see why students get burned out before they get to 12th grade.