Assignment # 3

Check out my lesson plan: Racism in Huck Finn

I liked the lesson before . . . but now that I've added a bit of technology to it, I like it even MORE!! Even so, I recognize that for this lesson to actually be of use to my students, there are definitely some newer technological capabilities that would have to be available in my classroom. In the lesson, we used Inspiration technology, and the students all used it individually. That is assuming, then, that I not only have computers available for the use of each of my students, but also that Inspiration software is installed on each of their computers. They also were required to either download photos from the web or use Flickr to download personal photos, so the internet would obviously have to be available to them. Additionally, they would need to use digital cameras in order to use personal photos adapted from Flickr. I also requested that each of the students participate in the class blog to discuss racism, which means that I was assuming the existence of a class blog which all of my students had access to from home.

This definitely changes the learning environment, because it requires even more connections to be made for the student. They are, through technology, able to organize and connect their thoughts on racism as well as those thoughts they shared with the parent/authority figure interviewed with the photos that they have identified. They are also challenged to present those ideas to other classmates using software. Additionally, the class blog allows those students who are more reserved or take longer to develop their thoughts to participate in discussion as well. Technology allows a platform for the students to not only learn about racism, but to develop their own thoughts and concepts through several different means:

1) Visual aids/models

2) Outlining thoughts/concepts

3) Writing their ideas in a blog

4) Presenting their ideas with software through speech

Clearly, the use of technology greatly enhances the learning mastered by each individual student.

Several challenges are faced in bringing this technology into the classroom:

1) Setting up a class blog: requires that I, the teacher, learn how to efficiently set up a blog that all of my students can access and discuss on. It further requires that I can not only teach those of my students who may not know how to use it, but also that I can assist each of my students to access the student blog through passwords, etc. For those students who perhaps don't have computer access at home, I would additionally need to allow them time to access resources in the library.

2) This also requires that my students would have time in class to use the computers, because they not only need to set up Inspiration projects in class, but also need time to share in small groups about their computer projects. Therefore, it would be necessary for me to communicate with other staff in order to provide time for my students to use in the computer lab during my class session.

3) I think the greatest obstacle to overcome would be encouraging the administration to install Inspiration software on all of the computers, so that each student would be able to work individually on the project. To do this, it is necessary for me to show the admin. how necessary this is to the growth of my students, and how much it will benefit and enhance the learning process for them.

NETS for students (Grade 12 proficiency):

3. "Students collaborate in teams to illustrate content related concepts integrating a variety of media (e.g., print,audio, video, graphic, probes,simulations, models) with presentation, word processing, publishing, database, graphics design software, or spreadsheet applications."

4. "Students routinely apply touch typing techniques with advanced facility, accuracy,speed, and efficiency as they complete their assignments."

5. "Students understand and apply advanced software features such as templates and styles to improve the appearance of word processing documents,spreadsheets, and presentations and to provide evidence of learning, productivity, and creativity."