NLGL Synthesis
Throughout my matriculation in NC State New Literacies and Global Learning (NLGL) program I have done projects and research that help me gather the knowledge to create this professional development module. Below is a list of class I've taken, products, and reflections based on my experiences.
My Compelling Question is: How can teachers integrate technology in the classroom?
I chose this question for several reasons.
1. I work in a school with lots of technology tools for classroom use. I wanted to explore ways to use these and
share my knowledge with other teacher in my school.
2. I wanted to find ways to keep students engaged in class. Students are very interested in computers and they seem
to keep students attention. I wanted to get more experience in using internet sites in order to teach my student how
to use them.
3. I wanted to find ways to help students connect with people around the world through internet communication tools.
ECI 546: New Literacies & Media.
Question: How teachers use technology to assess students' comprehension
Products of Learning: Video documentary of my project based inquiry lesson.
Reflection: In the class we were introduced to the TPACK model for integrating technology, pedagogy and content knowledge into classroom intruction. This model and an explanation can be found on this site. This is a very useful model when thinking about how those there elements of a lesson are related. In this class we als learned about various web 2.0 tools and ways that they could be used in the classroom throug a "cool tool" project. Our last project was an inquiry based learning project. My partner and I did a project on how teachers could use technology to assessment reading comprehension. I will use this on this site as well as a way to show teachers a way integrate technology into the classroom.
ECI 524: Theory & Research in Global Learning.
Question: How can I add global learning into the curriculum?
Products of Learning: Philosophy of Global Learning
Reflection: In this class I learned a lot about globalization, teaching a global curriculum, and encouraging students to be world citizens. A way that this can be done is to use technology to communicate with others and to read about diverse cultures. This site will provide teachers with the tutorials about how to use web tools to communicate with others and ideas that could be used to teach global skills in the classroom. I developed my own theory about why global education is important while teaching 20th century learners.
ECI 523: Teacher as Researcher
Question: What strategies can be used to help low performing African American students in literacy?
Products of Learning: Research paper
Reflection: In this action research paper I explored strategies that targeted low performing African American students in the area of literacy. I used 2 types of reading strategies infused with technology and online stories. Through my research I found that interactive reading was very beneficial for the students. Since then, I have used interactive reading with online stories in my diverse classroom to help with all student that struggle with literacy. I want to share this strategy, through this site, with other teachers.
ECI 508: Teachers as Leaders.
Question: How can I help teachers in my school integrate technology into their classrooms?
Products of Learning: Individual leadership project
Reflection: My project was to develop a professional development workshop for teachers. This site serves as a tool to do this. I wanted to help teachers learn about way to implement technology in the elementary classroom. The leadership aspect of this project was a challenge for me because I have never designed or taught a workshop for other teachers. This project encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and share my knowledge with other teachers.
Conclusion: I found that there are many ways to incorporate technology into the classroom. It can be something as simple as having students set up twitter accounts or following a favorite author. It can also be a very detailed lesson where teachers address the areas of TPACK to make the usage of technology meaningful and content related. I have learned that technology helps students connect and communicate with people around the world and that students are more engaged when technology is used. This project has helped me grow as a leader because I am planning to share what I learned in the NLGL program with my coworkers as a professional development workshop.
My Compelling Question is: How can teachers integrate technology in the classroom?
I chose this question for several reasons.
1. I work in a school with lots of technology tools for classroom use. I wanted to explore ways to use these and
share my knowledge with other teacher in my school.
2. I wanted to find ways to keep students engaged in class. Students are very interested in computers and they seem
to keep students attention. I wanted to get more experience in using internet sites in order to teach my student how
to use them.
3. I wanted to find ways to help students connect with people around the world through internet communication tools.
ECI 546: New Literacies & Media.
Question: How teachers use technology to assess students' comprehension
Products of Learning: Video documentary of my project based inquiry lesson.
Reflection: In the class we were introduced to the TPACK model for integrating technology, pedagogy and content knowledge into classroom intruction. This model and an explanation can be found on this site. This is a very useful model when thinking about how those there elements of a lesson are related. In this class we als learned about various web 2.0 tools and ways that they could be used in the classroom throug a "cool tool" project. Our last project was an inquiry based learning project. My partner and I did a project on how teachers could use technology to assessment reading comprehension. I will use this on this site as well as a way to show teachers a way integrate technology into the classroom.
ECI 524: Theory & Research in Global Learning.
Question: How can I add global learning into the curriculum?
Products of Learning: Philosophy of Global Learning
Reflection: In this class I learned a lot about globalization, teaching a global curriculum, and encouraging students to be world citizens. A way that this can be done is to use technology to communicate with others and to read about diverse cultures. This site will provide teachers with the tutorials about how to use web tools to communicate with others and ideas that could be used to teach global skills in the classroom. I developed my own theory about why global education is important while teaching 20th century learners.
ECI 523: Teacher as Researcher
Question: What strategies can be used to help low performing African American students in literacy?
Products of Learning: Research paper
Reflection: In this action research paper I explored strategies that targeted low performing African American students in the area of literacy. I used 2 types of reading strategies infused with technology and online stories. Through my research I found that interactive reading was very beneficial for the students. Since then, I have used interactive reading with online stories in my diverse classroom to help with all student that struggle with literacy. I want to share this strategy, through this site, with other teachers.
ECI 508: Teachers as Leaders.
Question: How can I help teachers in my school integrate technology into their classrooms?
Products of Learning: Individual leadership project
Reflection: My project was to develop a professional development workshop for teachers. This site serves as a tool to do this. I wanted to help teachers learn about way to implement technology in the elementary classroom. The leadership aspect of this project was a challenge for me because I have never designed or taught a workshop for other teachers. This project encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and share my knowledge with other teachers.
Conclusion: I found that there are many ways to incorporate technology into the classroom. It can be something as simple as having students set up twitter accounts or following a favorite author. It can also be a very detailed lesson where teachers address the areas of TPACK to make the usage of technology meaningful and content related. I have learned that technology helps students connect and communicate with people around the world and that students are more engaged when technology is used. This project has helped me grow as a leader because I am planning to share what I learned in the NLGL program with my coworkers as a professional development workshop.