2.3 Authentic Learning
Candidates model and facilitate the use of digital tools and resources to engage students in authentic learning experiences. (PSC 2.3/ISTE 2c)
Artifact: Engaged Learning Project - ITEC 7400
Reflection:
This artifact that best represents standard 2.3 is an Engaged Learning Project that was designed in ITEC 7400. This project was designed for a 3rd grade class to address ELA content standards. The objective of the lesson was for students to apply narrative writing skills to summarize and describe the travels of their very own Flat Stanley character using the Flat Stanley Project through Edmodo to collaborate and learn about other students and cultures around the world. By engaging in authentic and meaningful tasks, the teacher becomes a facilitator and allows students to engage with other students around the world to discover new things. This project was designed as year-long project for students to connect with many different people in different places around the world. The students kept a journal documenting the adventures of their Flat Stanley. In the end, the student presented a PowerPoint or Prezi to share their Flat Stanley’s adventures for the year with the class. Students wrote and published a narrative of their Flat Stanley’s adventures for the year to add to a class book. All presentations were published to Edmodo and the class website for outside audiences to view.
This artifact demonstrates mastery of standard 2.3 because the students were required to use digital tools, the Internet and Edmodo, to connect and communicate with audiences around the world. The students used these tools to engage in authentic learning experiences. The task were real-world tasks that were meaningful and useful to the students. The students had the opportunity to learn about different cultures of their choice. Since they could not physically visit these other locations on their own, they send their Flat Stanley to see, hear, and experience these other cultures for them. This activity was engaging and authentic because the students had the opportunity to build relationships with these audiences and learn how they live. Without the use of technology, this would not have been possible.
Authenticity is very important for student learning. When students are more engaged and take more responsibility of the learning process, they are more likely to master the content. For this project, students were working toward mastering ELA standards focused on the writing process. The students were so excited to report what their Flat Stanley had experienced that writing was a treat. The students were excited and motivated to write about the adventures of their Flat Stanley and produce a final product to share with outside audiences. Overall, it is apparent that this engaged learning project enhanced student learning and student achievement. The practice the students had writing throughout the year will be assessed during the third grade writing assessment. It will be interesting to see if it will have a positive effect on these scores.
As a result of completing this artifact, I feel better prepared to plan, design, and implement engaged learning projects with my students in the future. I learned the importance of using technology to enhance my instruction to provide authentic learning activities for my students. Technology allows me to expose my students to things that once were impossible. If I were to complete this artifact again, I would plan a parent night and invite parents, administrators, and board members to view the students’ presentation. This would provide an opportunity for students to show off what they have worked on all year. Hopefully, this would also give stakeholders the opportunity to see how technology is being used in the classroom.
Reflection:
This artifact that best represents standard 2.3 is an Engaged Learning Project that was designed in ITEC 7400. This project was designed for a 3rd grade class to address ELA content standards. The objective of the lesson was for students to apply narrative writing skills to summarize and describe the travels of their very own Flat Stanley character using the Flat Stanley Project through Edmodo to collaborate and learn about other students and cultures around the world. By engaging in authentic and meaningful tasks, the teacher becomes a facilitator and allows students to engage with other students around the world to discover new things. This project was designed as year-long project for students to connect with many different people in different places around the world. The students kept a journal documenting the adventures of their Flat Stanley. In the end, the student presented a PowerPoint or Prezi to share their Flat Stanley’s adventures for the year with the class. Students wrote and published a narrative of their Flat Stanley’s adventures for the year to add to a class book. All presentations were published to Edmodo and the class website for outside audiences to view.
This artifact demonstrates mastery of standard 2.3 because the students were required to use digital tools, the Internet and Edmodo, to connect and communicate with audiences around the world. The students used these tools to engage in authentic learning experiences. The task were real-world tasks that were meaningful and useful to the students. The students had the opportunity to learn about different cultures of their choice. Since they could not physically visit these other locations on their own, they send their Flat Stanley to see, hear, and experience these other cultures for them. This activity was engaging and authentic because the students had the opportunity to build relationships with these audiences and learn how they live. Without the use of technology, this would not have been possible.
Authenticity is very important for student learning. When students are more engaged and take more responsibility of the learning process, they are more likely to master the content. For this project, students were working toward mastering ELA standards focused on the writing process. The students were so excited to report what their Flat Stanley had experienced that writing was a treat. The students were excited and motivated to write about the adventures of their Flat Stanley and produce a final product to share with outside audiences. Overall, it is apparent that this engaged learning project enhanced student learning and student achievement. The practice the students had writing throughout the year will be assessed during the third grade writing assessment. It will be interesting to see if it will have a positive effect on these scores.
As a result of completing this artifact, I feel better prepared to plan, design, and implement engaged learning projects with my students in the future. I learned the importance of using technology to enhance my instruction to provide authentic learning activities for my students. Technology allows me to expose my students to things that once were impossible. If I were to complete this artifact again, I would plan a parent night and invite parents, administrators, and board members to view the students’ presentation. This would provide an opportunity for students to show off what they have worked on all year. Hopefully, this would also give stakeholders the opportunity to see how technology is being used in the classroom.