Digital Classroom Tool

As teachers, how we assess student learning is a difficult process to master.  When I first began teaching, I created my own assessments to give the students and then would pour over them for hours on weekends grading.  Then I switched to using scantron sheets for the multiple choice / true false / and matching portions of my tests.  This fell into the substitution level of the SAMR model.  All it did was save me time as the teacher in grading student assessments. 

At our last textbook adoption, I selected a new "tech package" to add to our texts.  It is called Class Performance Systems. This company offers hardware and software through textbook adoptions.  I was given a set of "classroom clickers" to use in my classroom.  They are kind of like a small cell phone where students can digitally insert their answers to an assessment and I can track them "in real time" from my computer to monitor progress.  Students simply "text" their answers to me and I see them pop up on my screen.  I can see how well the class as a whole is responding, or if individual students are struggling.  The clickers work for most of the assessment except the extended writing portions. 

The students love taking their tests using the clickers!  I feel like they have moved the assessments I give in my class from the "substitution" level from the scantron sheets to at least the "augmentation" or possibly even the "modification" level.  The ability to track the students performance using real time data allows me to see where I have erred in their instruction.  This allows me to change my teaching for upcoming units.  It also lets me see where I may have placed poorly worded questions into the tests.  It's not always the students' fault when they miss an item.  If the entire class falls below a certain percentage on a test item, I will often try to point them back to that question and provide clarification or allow them to ask questions about it. 

The CPS system can also be integrated into PowerPoint presentations to create a mini quiz for instant teacher feedback and informal assessment data.  After a few slides you can have a few questions that students respond to using their clickers.  I can create pretests to see what information my students know prior to starting a unit.  The system allows me to give reports to each student on their performance and study guides showing them incorrect answers, so that they may prepare for the final summative assessment. 

I know I don't use CPS to its fullest potential.  There is still so much more that I haven't used or discovered.  So far though, I have enjoyed not only the time it saves me as a teacher, but the interactivity it has created with my students in what can otherwise be a very dull circumstance (test taking). 

 

Technology Integration Matrix

It is very tough to put myself into a spot on the Technology Integration Matrix.  I feel like depending on the project or what I'm doing I could fall into one of a few areas.  It's not like I fit in one box and never any others.  If I were to choose the boxes I feel most comfortable in, I would say I fall under authentic under the characteristics of the learning environment.  Adaptation is where I feel my curriculum fits the best.  I don't think my teaching or approach to my curriculum will change much by the end of the school year.  Growth requires time and dedication.  Many teachers need to see something working with students to be encouraged to put the time and dedication into learning new skills.  I know that's what has happened for me each time I begin to use a piece of technology in the classroom. 

Barriers in Education

The way I see it students have at least four options when it comes to schooling within our state.  Traditional "brick and mortar" public schools, charter schools, homeschooling, or cyber schools.  As with any form of education there are barriers within the traditional "brick and mortar" classroom.  Sometimes enrollment reaches so high a number that students "fall through the cracks."  They receive less and less face time interaction with their highly qualified instructor.  For one reason or another, several schools see high mobility rates of students coming and going throughout the year.  They may not thrive within the social hierarchy of the school.  The pacing of the course is dictated by the instructor and peers can cause continuous distractions which prove harmful to the educational environment.  Some schools have moved to attempt to solve these issues by trying a variety of programs such as computer assisted instruction, distance education, or competency based learning.  I feel that creating a blended environment for students is what would work the best.  Each student's situation is going to be unique, but if the majority of students are provided with the best approaches from differing educational pedagogues.  From my own experience I wouldn't want our educational system to be completely converted to digital learning.  There is still value to the "brick and mortar" classroom.  One of the biggest strengths I see to online content and curriculum is the possibility of the content repository.  Having access online to everything a student needs to be successful would eliminate many of the barriers found in a traditional classroom.  The biggest weakness I see is the asynchronous learning.  The time laps can be quite a hurdle in itself!