Standard II
II. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the Standards.
a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
b. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
c. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
d. Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards, and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching
Reflection
Standard II covers the topic of creating and developing digital age learning experiences and assessments. The podcast and movie are the epitome of digital age learning tools. A podcast allows you to create audio resources for students who are auditory learners. I feel the best way to use this resource is to keep each podcast simple. Podcasts are relatively easy to create; therefore, you can create a podcast for each objective or segment. Podcasts differ from traditional lectures because they can be added to a course site, and students can review them as often as needed. A traditional classroom lecture does not allow students to access it multiple times, unless they record it. The movie, similar to the podcast, allows both audio and video display of course material, which will benefit the visual learner. It too can be accessed electronically multiple times. Providing appropriate course resources is important for students to fully understand and learn course material, and assessing students’ comprehension of the material is equally important. Grading rubrics can be used to provide feedback on daily assignments for students so that they know how they are performing before taking tests. This gives them an opportunity to ask questions or learn material. Quizzes and tests can be administered at this point. Small quizzes can be useful if administered often or after each objective is taught to ensure students are effectively learning each objective. You do not want to get too far into the semester and realize that students did not understand concepts taught at the beginning of the semester. Major tests covering a group of objectives can be electronically administered throughout the semester as well to be used as effective assessment tools. Grade books should be kept up-to-date.
Artifacts
Future Learning Goal
As I can see the value of podcasts and videos for disseminating course material, I will promptly begin creating them for my classes. I want to keep each podcast and video short, so I will create one for each segment of information. Grading rubrics are effective tools for providing students with useful feedback on course assignments. Using RubiStar, I will create rubrics for my graded assignments. Finally, I like to review and update tests periodically, so I will begin this task as well.