Learning Design

Reflections

Getting a chance to design lesson integrated with tech tools is about the only thing that can make lesson planning exciting. I often times have to design admin approved, stick to their script lessons that follow what they want, not what I teach. I admittedly stray from what I have submitted, but only in good ways. I may say that we're talking about mental health, but I may not include that we might throw on The Martian on Friday to take notes on how Mark Whatney's mental health is holding up (as well as the crew that left him stranded) on Mars all alone. Or that we use Tik Tok or YouTube skits that the learners make to assess them on what they learned about Depression. There's always fun ways to integrate technology and promote digital citizenship amongst our learners.

I chose to use Google Docs, Padlet, and Tik Tok as my digital tools of choice with this lesson I cooked up. I chose these mighty companions because they have unlimited benefits when it comes to our learners and their creativity of expression. Group work is one of my favorite ways to challenge learners, and I can see everything that they write and who did or didn't contribute with Google Docs, this is an essential tool for assessment. Padlet was newly introduced to me with this class, and there are unlimited possibilites for customization & sharing information.

These tools & the way the lesson is designed meets the needs for diversification for the learners because of all the different options available for them. They can write in Google Docs, or if they have difficulty with writing they can use Tik Tok to make videos. I have a lot of ELLs, so this is a major tool for them, it allows them to be apart of the class and contribute without the pressure of them having to do something they're not the best at, which is writing. Advanced learners are encouraged to dig deeper in their exploration of the topics, while learners with IEPs are able to have thought starters on Google Docs to help them express what they learned. Everyone is covered here, we are practicing and encouraging active participation & supporting an inclusive classroom environment.

All throughout the lesson, learners are reminded to use technology in ways that help their mental health; discussing and researching the responsible way to use social media, proper online behaviors and how to interact in non-toxic manners, these things help learners practice positive digital citizenship.

We had to create a lesson plan that incorporated a digital tool (or tools) to support a learner centered environment , I'll post it below!

Ellison-Banks

Unit 1 – Mental Health

Lesson 3 – Understanding Mental Health

9th Grade Health Lesson Plan: “Understanding Mental Health”

Lesson Objective:

I can understand the importance of mental health, recognize at least 3 common mental health challenges, and learn at least 3 strategies for maintaining mental well-being. Learners will also explore digital citizenship concepts by reflecting on the responsible use of technology to support mental health.

Materials:

                  •               Digital tool: Google Docs & Padlet.

                  •               Chromebook

                  •               Wi-Fi

                  •               Mental health resources (online articles, videos, infographics)

Learning Standards:

                  •               National Health Education Standards (NHES)

                  •               Standard 1: Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.

                  •               Standard 2: Analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology, and other factors on health behaviors.

                  •               Standard 7: Practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks.

Lesson Activities:

1. Warm-Up (10 minutes)

                  •               Ask the learners to share what mental health means to them. They can write their ideas in a shared Google Doc or add them to a Padlet board.

                  •               Differentiation & UDL: For learners who struggle with writing, they can share verbally with a partner or record a short video using Tik Tok.

2. Exploring Mental Health (10 minutes)

                  •               Share a brief video on mental health (YouTube video on the basics of mental health).

                  •               After watching, learners will get in their groups to discuss the following prompts:

                  •               What does good mental health look like?

                  •               What are some common mental health challenges for teenagers?

                  •               How does technology (social media, gaming, television) impact mental health?

                  •               Groups will post their discussions in Google Docs, where each student can contribute.

3. Responsible Use of Technology (10 minutes)

                  •               Introduce digital citizenship and how responsible use of technology can either help or harm mental health. Discuss topics like cyberbullying, too much screen time, and the benefits of using technology for wellness or mental health resources.

                  •               Learners will then individually create a short reflective piece in Tik Tok on the following question:

                  •               How do you use technology, and how does it impact your mental health?

                  •               What changes could you make to support your well-being?

They could also, alternatively, write their reflections in a Google Doc shared with the teacher or class.

4. Interactive Activity: Mental Health Toolkit (15 minutes)

                  •               Learners, in their groups, will create a “Mental Health Toolkit” in Padlet or Google Docs. This toolkit will include:

                  •               Strategies for maintaining good mental health (sleep schedules, exercise, limiting screen time).

                  •               Resources (websites, apps) for mental health support.

                  •               Personal antidotes for maintaining good mental health.

Each learner must contribute at least one tool to the toolkit.

5. Wrap-Up and Reflection (5 minutes)

                  •               Bring the class together and review the mental health toolkit created. Discuss some things they learned from the lesson, focusing on the importance of maintaining and caring for your mental health and how responsible technology use can either help or harm mental wellbeing.

                  •               End with a final reflective question in Google Docs or Tik Tok:

                  •               What is one thing you learned today that you can apply to your own life?

Assessment:

                  •               Participation: Learners are assessed based on their contributions to class discussions, group work, and the creation of the mental health toolkit.

                  •               Reflection Piece: Their personal reflections on technology & mental health will be evaluated for thoroughness and how relevant they are.

                  •               Toolkit Contributions: Learners will be assessed on the quality of what they contributed to the Mental Health Toolkit.

Modifications for Diverse Learners:

                  •               ELL/Struggling Writers: Learners can submit verbal responses using Tik Tok or partner with group mates to help with writing reflections.

                  •               Advanced Learners: Encourage deeper exploration of topics, such as research on how different forms of media (gaming, music, TV) affect mental health, and have them present findings to the class.

                  •               Students with IEPs: Provide thought starters or templates for written responses in Google Docs, and allow for extra time to complete activities.

Digital Citizenship Emphasis:

Throughout the lesson, learners will be reminded to use technology in ways that help their mental health, rather than harm it. By discussing responsible social media use, proper online behaviors, and how to seek help online if ever needed, learners will practice positive digital citizenship.

This learner-centered health lesson integrates technology in a meaningful way, while also promoting responsible tech use and mental health awareness.

Module 3 Forum Post

Hola all! Elliot Ellison-Banks here, below is my forum post for Module 3.

The options are limited for me as a PE teacher to use technology tools during instruction (for now, I'm working on changing that, best believe!), so I go all in during the 1st half of the semester (now) when I'm teaching Health. I love group activities, projects, learning, etc, so I often times find myself anxiously trying to get through the PowerPoint/lecture part of my lesson for the week so we can get to the fun stuff. Every learner is different, diverse, and when you mix them all up in groups, you get to see how different learners' weaknesses can end up being someone else's strength, and when they work together, they can be scaffolds for each other. 

Google Classroom & Docs are like socks and sneakers when it comes to technology tools, absolutely essential. The learners love how interactive we are with the Google Classroom, it's so useful. The Google Doc gets shared on Google Classroom, and the learners are able to contribute when they're brainstorming ideas for whatever project I assign. The cool thing about Google Docs is that you can see who's in there, who's typing, and who isn't. I always challenge the learners to create some sort of visual representation of whatever we just learned, and they never cease to amaze me, how they turn the ideas that collaborated on on the Google Doc into amazing artwork. I'll attach a picture of what one of the groups in my 9th period class did about depression below.

Padlet is the new tool on the block for me, one of the tools that this Module listed along with Google Docs & Classroom. Quizlet is another that I always want to use but end up just reviewing the old school way. I have to double back to Google Classroom and it's unlimited potential when it comes to customization, feedback, and communication. My learners have straight up conversations with each other under post, relevant conversations to the material, and always ask me questions and tell jokes on Google Classroom. We have our assessments on Google Classroom, and I'm able to give all sorts of valuable feedback on questions they may have gotten incorrect. All of the Google arms are just so useful and work hand and hand, Google Forms, Docs, Classroom. 

I don't often times have many problems outside of the normal things you get with mischievous learners; they may post irrelevant things or the bold ones might be a bit inappropriate, but you can see who does whatever is done, so it's easily remedied. Also, the learners' parents are also connected to their Google Classrooms, so they're always an email away. Padlet is something that will be added to the toolbox soon, and I don't know it well enough to know what problems could be encountered, but I doubt it would be too many.