Technology Integration

Introduction

Canvas is a hefty online Learning Management System (LMS). It is used to deliver online courses to students. It has the capability to delivery instruction, house materials, resources, administer and grade assessments, provide data reports that are aligned to standards, host discussion, and can send grades to Power School (Being piloted at the moment in the WCPSS). Canvas can allow for students to submit a variety of types of files and media. Canvas can create mastery paths and allows for instructors to provide students with individualized feedback in written, video, and audio formats.

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Benefits and Pedagogical Implementations for using Canvas

Storage - You can upload and store your files into your Canvas course. You can batch import your files into your future courses.

Post Grades to Power School - Canvas has this capability. The WCPSS is currently piloting this feature and should be made available soon or may already be enabled.

Create Pages & Modules - Unlike Google Classroom that has one stream for course work, Canvas has the ability to create pages and modules that drive students through the content of the course.

Standards Based Alignment - Student Learning Mastery Gradebook provides a way for students to quickly view progress on course learning outcomes. Outcomes are presented in a Gradebook-like format and progress is displayed both as a numerical score and as mastered/near mastery/remedial.

HTLM Content - You can embed web 2.o content into Canvas pages, discussions, and assignments as opposed to linking to an external source. This will bring the content into Canvas and not direct students outside of your course.

Create Standards Aligned Assessments -You can create assessments that allow you to align each item to a specific standard(s). Your can also create assessments that mimic the format of formal standardized assessments. There are also a wide variety of item types to select from. You will also get data reports that reflect students performance on the aligned standards.

Mastery Paths - Configure individual learning paths for students based on assessment results.

Technology Integration

The following are just a few samples of technology integration that can engage your students, enrich your content, and enhance learning experiences for your students. The Canvas course that is used it an ELA course but the principals, concepts, ideas, and formats of these samples can be used for other subjects and other learning platforms, example Google Classroom. The gist of samples is to demonstrate how to take analog learning experiences and digitize them into technology enhances learning experiences.

Discussions

Original Assignment: Looking at Pictures

Directions: Now spend a few minutes looking at the pictures. What do you notice? Why? What part of the text did this author choose to illustrate? Make some notes for yourself below. Be prepared to share out with a partner.

Technology Integration Version: Synth Audio Recording

Note: Synth is currently pending approval at the moment. The status should be updated in the near future.

In this activity students listen to the directions about looking at an illustration. They then look at the illustration and use the provided graphic organizer to plan out what they will say in their audio response to the prompt. They can listen to the other audio replies that have been posted.

Benefit of the use of Technology:

Students can share their replies to the prompt with a verbal thread. They can edit their thread and re-record if they are not ready to publish their audio recording.
Students do not have to physically speak in front of the entire class. They are in a safe digital environment.
Students can hear everyone's thread quickly and easily.
Students can comment on other students threads in audio or written format.
Students can practice digital citizenship by being in an online environment

Synth

Class Code (myqwi)

Digital Annotations & More

Original Assignment: Read & Answer Questions

Directions: Read the “Abolition” text. Then answer the questions below.

Technology Integration Version: Actively Learn

Note: Teachers get 3 upload per month with free account

Students can read a text and add digital annotations to the text using color coded and categorized notes. They can also add images, memes, and prerecorded video comments. There are several text settings to choose from including the Dyslexic setting. Students can also have the text read to them. There is a translator and dictionary.

Teachers can monitor comprehension by embed standards aligned short answer, multiple choice, and poll questions into the text. Students will not be able to continue reading until the respond.

Actively Learn is a powerful tool that is worth checking out.

Benefits of the use of Technology:

Students can digitally annotate for a specific purpose based on the provided categories.
Students can learn from one another by reading the notes others have shared to the class.
Students can use the text settings to meet their personal reading preferences.
Students can define terms or have portions of the text translated into their native language.
Students can hear the text read aloud to them.
Students can process what they have read by stopping to answer comprehension questions.
Students can post images and prerecorded videos to their notes/comments.

Multimedia Presentations

Original Assignment: Illustrated Children's Book

Directions: Choose one episode from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Write and plan the illustrations for a children’s book that tells this story in a way that is appropriate to your audience, conveys a message that is broadly applicable to situations beyond the story, and uses language to create a powerful story. Your story should demonstrate your knowledge of the life of Frederick Douglass and of narrative techniques.

Technology Integration Version: Digital Illustrated Book

Note: Book Creator has a limited number of books that are included in the free account.

Project Options - you can select one of the following digital tools to use to create your illustrated children's book.

Book Creator - Students can make their own drawings, import images, or import illustrations they have made with Google Drawings, or photos of hand written illustrations. Students can add audio recordings to each page to provide narration.
Google Drawings & Google Slides - Students can create their illustrations in drawings and then import them into Google Slides to create the book. They can add audio recordings to each slide to provide narrations. They can even screen-cast their illustrated book in order to create a video of their book that can be accompanied by audio narration.
Make a Paper Slide Show - Students can use paper, pencil, and a video camera to create a video slideshow of their hand written illustrations.
Digital Portfolio Artifacts - All of the above artifacts can be included into students digital portfolio along with their reflection of their learning experience.
Adobe Spark Video - ( 13 and older) students can import their illustrations onto each slide in Adobe Spark video. They can add narration to each slide ( up to 30 seconds). Students can add background music, select a theme, and add text.
Flipgrid - students can upload their screen-cast to Flipgrid so that you and other students can easily watch and comment on videos students have posted.

Benefits of the use of Technology:

The use of technology offers students a choice in order for them to share their voice.
All of these books can include audio narrations.
Students can use digital tools, shapes, lines, images, animated gifs, and png files to create their illustrations.
Students can convert their illustrated books into videos.
Students final artifact can be embedded into their digital portfolio.
Students can easily share their projects so they can be seen by others.
Students can provide other students feedback and comments.

Flash Card Set

Vocabulary Acquisition

Original Assignment: Knowing the Terms

Directions: In class, we will read a several texts. Knowing the terms below will help you better understand these texts. Read the definitions, and underline or highlight key words in each definition.

Technology Integration Version: Quizlet Flashcards

Note: Canvas has a built in button you can use to embed directly from Quizlet or you can paste in your embed code.

In this activity students will practice learning the terms by reading the terms, hearing the term read aloud, seeing related images, viewing concept maps, playing games, and taking a practice quiz.

Benefits of the use of Technology:

Students can interact with the flashcards
They can hear how the word is pronounced
Quizlet gamifies the learning experience
Quizlet can add visual images and concept maps
Students can gauge their retention of terms by taking practice assessments

Online Discussion

Original Assignment: Read & Answer Questions

Directions: Answer the following questions. Each answer should be at least 2- 3 sentences and should include evidence from the text.

Technology Integration Version: Podcast & Discussion

Note: Questions can be added to drive the discussion.

Students can hear a podcast that features a subject matter expert. The students can then be guided on how to respond to what they heard or even reply to questions provided by the teacher.

Benefits of the use of Technology:

Students can develop their replies before answering.
Students are exposed to a subject matter expert and another person besides their teacher.
Students can read each others responses and learn from one another.
Students can reply to each others discussion posts.
Students can practice digital citizenship in an online environment.

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