I believe Monica and I managed to use technology in meaningful and engaging ways in our lesson plan and unit. We did not just want to use technology for the sake of using it. The use of the ELMO to display “Mr. Bones,” the e-sheet, and the online skeleton game enhanced the understanding of lesson’s content. Using the online stopwatch was a great way for us to easily keep track of time while students worked on the e-sheet.
One challenge I foresee in the future is teaching the lesson, using technology, and monitoring the students simultaneously. Since Monica and I were both teaching the lesson, we did not have issues with multitasking that may occur if there was only one person teaching. Before our presentation, we made sure that the video and other links we intended to use during the lesson were working properly. I think it is important for teachers to test technology before using it in class so the teacher is more comfortable and there is no class time wasted when something does not function properly.
I very much agree with you that preparation is 50% or more of the battle for learning.
ReplyDeleteYou might consider the TPCK model to help you plan, and reflect on your units/lessons. The TPCK model highlights that your choice of technology will affect the content you teach, and the way you teach it. Being aware of such effects will help you plan, and can guide your reflection too.