9410 - eMINTS year 2:
Advanced Integration of Technology in k-12 (Fall06) 33117 and Advanced Integration of Technology in k-12 (Wint07)
UMC Course Description
The purpose of the course is for teachers to gain advanced knowledge, insight and experience in the integration of multimedia technology into curriculum. Emphasis is on assisting teachers in the creation of classrooms where learners construct their own understandings and new knowledge about how the world works. In addition to learning that thinking is engaged by activity, teachers will develop an understanding of how to integrate multimedia technology into the curriculum in all subject areas. They will learn how technologies can stimulate and support activities that engage learners in thinking, which may result in learning. Teaching strategies consistent with best practice will be explored for all subject areas. Student assessment (both formal and informal) will be studied with emphasis on using assessment to inform instruction.
Personal Reflection
This course was presented over two semesters for a total of 5 credit hours. I was involved in a face-to-face collaborative learning group facilitated by a regional mentor as well as being involved in an online learning group through UMC. The second year of eMINTS fostered further involvement with the integration of technology as a means to increase student achievement by working higher on Bloom's Taxonomy and Grappling's Technology scales. There was a continuation of learning associated with the various programs and technology tools, but the emphasis transitioned more to improved techniques. Constructivist lesson plans were developed that encouraged technology to support the learning. The course required the development of a unique lesson created using the eMints Constructivist Lesson Plan Form (CLPF). For this particular assignment. I developed an assessment that challenges students to educate others about the particular biomes for an ecology unit (CLPF Biomes).
I developed a video for the eMINTS program highlighting the performance of my students in my Advanced Environmental Science course. In an attempt to connect our small, rural school students with real-world research and science methods, I developed a course that was a tribute the constructivist model of teaching. The students were involved in grant writing to fund their research, evaluation of the prevalent literature on their specific component, field studies to collect data, and computer analysis of the data for sharing. The field studies brought the students outdoors in Maine's marine biomes to all the way to Bermuda where they were able to compare and contrast the ecological differences and roles of human impact on such ecosystems.
Towards the end of the eMINTS training which spanned two years, it was required to create a unique presentation to inform others on the impact of the eMints program. For this particular assignment, I developed a PowerPoint presentation that offered a variety of statistics and descriptions of how eMints programs benefit education. (Role of eMints and Technology in the Classroom PowerPoint) This particular presentation was given to the staff at Shead High School to initiate our entrance into the Maine Laptop and Technology Initiative (MLTI). Participants with a variety of backgrounds from non-computer users to self-professed computer experts all engaged in thoughtful dialogues to improve technologies role within the school.
Over the past two years in the eMINTS training, I have increased my understanding of technology in the educational setting. This has meant developing greater knowledge of computer programs as well as instructional methods. I intend to further my integration of these skills into my teaching. The primary element that will remain a mainstay of my teaching repertoire is the classroom website. Prior to eMINTS, I simply posted occasionally to the school website and used Moodle. Now, I offer my students resources, lectures, notes, and scheduling through my website. The second component will be the continued analysis of my lessons using Grappling’s Spectrum to analyze the assignments and look for ways to improve them. I have modified many lessons over this year, but have a new format for my classes coming next year with a trimester system that will require me to further enhance my course structure and class lessons. Next, I intend to incorporate a computer skills component into my course introduction that will better prepare my students. For students who feel deficient in any application or procedure, I will offer assistance after school to help them along. This will enable me to be more confident when I give assignments integrating technology but not require me to expend so much class time that will be precious under the new schedule.
For my personal and professional development and growth, I intend to continue my training through the University of Missouri – Columbia’s Masters program. I will take advantage of the courses offered, but hope to expand the scope to include a little more technical slant than the MEd solely. I want to further my knowledge of servers, Linux programming, and web development so that I may offer science resources beyond my limited resources now. I am pursuing a domain for my work that will free me from the limitations of our school server. As I progress, I hope to convince the school to allow more training opportunities for staff to appropriately integrate technology and be able to troubleshoot minor problems. Currently, most of our staff has little understanding of the tools and any little glitch leads to a disruption of my class to assist. Lastly, I intend to further the progression of our school to a Web-based SI and grades system that has parent access to student performance. With our student population, there is a great need to have as much information available to parents in real-time as possible. We have put forth a proposal and are hoping for funding to cover the initial costs. The long-term costs are no greater than what is in our current budget, but the startup is significant. This will offer all of our staff a mechanism to communicate classroom activities, lessons, and grades without them needing to learn web-development.
