Technology-Enhanced Facilitation

Reflections

Independent learning is something that I always try to foster as an educator. The most important tool that we could give to these wonderful learners is the ability to think. When I was in undergrad, I stopped by my high school to see my old teachers, and when I told one of the best teachers that I've ever had that I was going to be an educator, the sole piece of advice he gave me was to always empower the learners to think. That made me reflect on everything that we learned in his classes, from Greek Mythology class to English Lit, and how much fun I always had because of the way he taught us. He always seemed to know the perfect counter question whenever we asked him one, and there was always an overwhelming rush to think about the retort he just gave and answer the question. This stuck with me, and I have always tried to do the same as an educator.

Option 1 for Module 5 tasked us with developing a lesson plan using tools like Pear Deck or Thinglink (I chose Pear Deck, more on that later) that promotes ownership or learning and integrates responsible digital citizenship. I created a 9th Grade Mental Health lesson that uses Pear Deck to support independent learning and meet ISTE Standard 6.

Pear Deck is yet another magical tool that is hidden from the education world (at least in my district). I had no idea that this existed, I'm not sure why we aren't encouraged to use tools like this. Making Google Slides interactive is the most genius idea; learners will be engaged and looking forward to the next slide to see what else they get to interact with. In this lesson, I have the learners respond anonymously to prompts via Pear Deck add on on Google Slides that will be displayed on the Smart Board, allowing them to not just describe but draw, take interactive questions, use the flash card factory, even have the exit ticket questions all on Pear Deck. What a tool!

ISTE Standard 6 says it's essential to create a culture where students take ownership of their learning goals and outcomes in both independent and group settings, and encourages educators to empower students to actively participate in their learning experience. This includes opportunities for students to choose their learning activities and projects, something that was talked about all the time in undergrad as a Physical Education educator. All around the country, districts are leaning towards having learners choose what they want to be taught in terms of PE.

My lesson plan is posted below!

Ellison-Banks

Unit 1 – Mental Health

Lesson 4 – Mental Health & Digital Citizenship

Lesson Objective:

By the end of this lesson, learners will:

• Classify at least 3 key aspects of mental health, including signs of stress, anxiety, and healthy coping mechanisms.

• Learn the importance of responsible digital citizenship, particularly in relation to mental well-being.

• Engage with interactive tools (like Pear Deck) to foster ownership of learning and self-reflection.

Materials:

• Pear Deck (Google Slides/PowerPoint integration)

• Computers or tablets with internet access

• Digital citizenship handout (PDF or Google Doc)

• Videos on mental health and digital responsibility (linked in the slides)

• Reflection journals (digital or physical)

Lesson Structure: 60 Minutes

Introduction: (10 Minutes)

1. Hook Activity (Pear Deck Slide - Drawing/Interactive Response):

   • Prompt: "How do you feel when you're overwhelmed or stressed? Draw or describe it!"

   • Learners respond anonymously on Pear Deck, giving them the chance to express emotions freely. Display responses to show common experiences.

2. Objective & Overview:

   • Introduce the lesson objectives and explain how mental health connects to digital habits.

   • Emphasize how learners will use Pear Deck to reflect on their understanding and own their learning process.

Part 1: Understanding Mental Health (20 Minutes)

1. Video Introduction (5 minutes):

   • Play a short video that explains basic mental health concepts, such as the difference between stress and anxiety, and the importance of coping strategies.

   • Suggested video: "What is Mental Health?" (3-5 minutes).

2. Pear Deck Interactive Questions (15 minutes):

   • Slide 1 (Multiple Choice): What are common signs of stress and anxiety?

     • A) Increased heart rate

     • B) Feeling irritable

     • C) Both A and B

     • D) Neither

   • Slide 2 (Open-ended response): "What are some healthy coping mechanisms you can use when you feel stressed?"

   • Slide 3 (Agree/Disagree): "Social media contributes to feelings of stress and anxiety for teens today."

   • Slide 4 (Poll/Scale): "On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident are you in managing your own stress?"

Part 2: Responsible Digital Citizenship (20 Minutes)

1. Digital Citizenship Overview (5 minutes):

   • Explain the concept of digital citizenship—emphasizing responsible social media use, avoiding cyberbullying, and how online interactions can affect mental health.

   • Show a short video on responsible online behavior and how to protect your mental well-being when using digital tools.

2. Group Discussion (5 minutes):

   • Prompt: "How can our behavior online (comments, posts, etc.) impact someone's mental health?"

   • Use Pear Deck Flashcard Factory for group collaboration: learners work together to create flashcards defining terms like "cyberbullying," "empathy," and "digital responsibility."

3. Interactive Activity: Responsible Social Media Use (10 minutes):

   • Pear Deck Template: Scenarios: Present scenarios where learners evaluate whether digital behavior is responsible or not.

     • Scenario 1: A friend posts about feeling anxious, and people leave supportive or dismissive comments.

     • Scenario 2: Someone shares a meme mocking a classmate's appearance.

   • Peer Review: Learners submit their thoughts on how they would respond in the situation and discuss in pairs how their choices align with responsible digital citizenship.

Part 3: Self-Reflection and Ownership of Learning (10 Minutes)

1. Exit Ticket via Pear Deck (5 minutes):

   • Question 1: "What is one thing you will do to manage stress more effectively?"

   • Question 2: "How will you practice responsible digital citizenship moving forward?"

   • Question 3: "Rate your understanding of today's topics on a scale of 1 to 5."

2. Reflection Journal (5 minutes):

   • Have learners reflect on the connection between their digital behaviors and mental health in their reflection journals. Ask them to set one personal goal related to stress management or digital citizenship.

Homework/Extended Learning:

• Digital Wellness Challenge: Over the next week, learners will track how much time they spend on social media, identifying how it makes them feel. They will submit a reflection on the impact of their digital habits on their mental health.

• Optional Extension Activity: Learners create a social media post or infographic promoting responsible digital citizenship using platforms like Canva or Google Slides.

Assessment:

• Formative: Pear Deck responses, group discussions, and reflection journal entries.

• Summative: Reflection submission on digital habits and mental health impact.

Technology Integration:

• Pear Deck (formative assessments, interactive slides, group collaboration).

• Google Classroom (for submission of homework and reflection).

Differentiation:

• Provide sentence starters for learners who may need help articulating their thoughts in reflection activities.

• Allow learners to work in pairs or small groups for collaborative activities.

• Use visual aids and video content to cater to different learning styles.

Conclusion:

This lesson uses Pear Deck to actively involve learners in understanding mental health and promotes self-awareness in digital spaces. By integrating responsible digital citizenship, the lesson fosters empathy, self-regulation, and positive online behaviors, empowering learners to take ownership of their learning and well-being.