Outcome 5:

Synthesize best practice research and apply these findings to the development of effective communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration and guided interaction in positive Instructional Technology learning environment.

Project Title 1: Virtual Presentation - What does TPACK look like in a Mathematics Classroom?

Class: DMET 510 - Online Tools and Strategies in a Learner Centered Classroom

Artifact 1: Virtual Presentation

Summary:

This artifact is a virtual presentation that can be used as professional development for math teachers to understand how technology can be used in a math classroom. Math teachers tend to teach math with paper and pencil and do not see the use of technology in their classrooms. This artifact addresses this and has participants reflect on how they use technology and how they could introduce technology in their classrooms at their comfort level.

Reflection:

As a math teacher, this project allowed me to reflect on my fears with technology and analyze how it could enhance my lessons and engage students sitting in my classroom or sitting at home. The reality of teaching is that students may not be in the classroom but still need to learn and be engaged or professional development for teachers is not held always in a physical location but virtually. The methods we use to teach either students or adults has to evolve so learning can also evolve and reach everyone learning style.

Project Title 2: Virtual Environment - Introduction to High School

Class: DMET 540 - Multimedia I

Artifact 2: Virtual Environment

Summary:

Virtual environments are a creative and interactive method to present information, but time consuming and can be costly. Creating a interactive world does require the designer to be creative and use a logical approach to the interactive portion of the virtual world. Programing audio, visual and movements does take critical thinking to have things happen when they need to happen. Virtual worlds can not be created quickly, time and patience needs to be applied to make the design a success. The end result allows the user to learn at their own pace as they move around the environment and feel like they are part of the learning process. Virtual worlds allow students to use discovery to learn.

Reflection:

Creating this project took time but it was not overwhelming, it was enjoyable to learn how to make the environment interactive. Tutorial videos were available to create the world and assist in programming objects to move, audio to play and load videos. This is not a method that can be used regularly to teach a concept but for a change of pace for students especially for a lesson or activity that students can work individually it is a great learning tool. I would implement virtual worlds into a lesson or training.