Data Projection

As I was getting ready to write this lesson I thought it would be really easy. I use data projection in my classroom multiple times during a class period. Data projection systems can display your computer image and “can also display a videotape, a TV program from the school’s cable connection, or the images from your digital camera” (Lever-Duffy & McDonald; p. 148). I typically use this projection for displaying notes, projects, and showing videos.

As I was writing this lesson plan, I wanted to try something different. Since I teach ancient civilizations, I thought it would be cool to use the projection to take a virtual field trip with my class. I found an awesome webquest on the Great Wall of China. (http://www.chinavista.com/travel/greatwall/greatwall.html) This website has lots of pictures as well as information. At times I have had students explore websites like this on their own, but this one looks a little bit challenging; however, it has great information. I decided this would be great to go through as a class. As we do it together, I can point out key information and the students will fill out a worksheet as we go over it. I thought this would also be a great way to utilize the airliner. As a page pops up with an answer on it, I can have a student use the airliner to highlight where they found the answer on the website. This will be a great visual for all students.

The reason I choose a lesson like this is that I am able to use it this year. I already have the projection and the airliner so I would not need to purchase any extra technology for this lesson.

Decision-Making Process for GPS Lesson

I really struggled with this lesson early in the week when I first learned that I would have to develop a lesson using a handheld technology. First of all, I don’t have much access to handheld technologies in my classroom. Secondly, I couldn’t figure out how to make a handheld technology applicable to a lesson on ancient civilizations. However, as the week went on and the more I researched, the more I started seeing how handheld technologies do fit in my classroom.
I started researching lesson plans that other teachers have used and I began to see how the GPS could be a great tool for social studies lessons. Many of the lessons were about geography and mapping which makes sense. I teach about the geography of the different ancient civilizations but I was still struggling with this idea. Then I started thinking that we do a lot of stations where the kids have to analyze artifacts or pictures of things that represent that civilization. I normally have these artifacts already sat out on a table. But then the more I researched, I thought it would be great to hide these artifacts and have the students use the GPS to find them. This helps them with geography, science, and finding the artifact, which makes the lesson even more exciting for the kids. After I wrote the lesson plan, I decided I want to ask for GPS’s for my classroom. I can really see how this could benefit my curriculum now.
I started researching prices so I can present this plan to my teaching partner and principal. The TomTom, Garmin, and Magellan all ran about the same price. All brands run anywhere from $80 to over $1000.

Future Implementation

As I was researching some of the technologies, there were many that I found that would benefit all of my students. Here are the ones that I really liked for my content:

Google Earth: free (would allow my students to visit the ancient civilizations we study by viewing satellite imagery, maps, terrain, and 3D buildings.)

Google Earth Lit Trips: free (would connect the civilizations that are studied in my classroom to literature that goes along with the content.)

This year I had a student that really struggled with dysgraphia. He was not on an IEP but he had a 504. There weren’t very many resources for me to use to work with him. I thought that this guide would have offered some great advice for me:

Handwriting Solutions Problem Guide: $34.95 (offers resource guides and Handwriting Solutions equipment, resources, and teaching strategies for kids with writing disabilities)

Dilemmas in Applying Research to the Identified Needs of Students

Following research is a great way for teachers and the general population to develop and implement strategies; however, there are some dilemmas that come with applying research to the identified needs of students. One of the biggest dilemmas is the cost of such research and the funding it takes to implement many of these programs and/or strategies. Schools are really struggling with all funding right now. It is nearly impossible to start new programs at this time unless they are free because there simply just isn’t any money to support these programs. The Internet often provides free access to some of this research but that doesn’t help if you need money to apply the research. Another dilemma that goes along with that is time. As I said, the Internet often provides free access to research but it is really hard to find the time to search for that research. The biggest complaint I hear from teachers is there is never enough time. Sometimes we learn of new programs that are available but when you don’t have the time to figure out how to make that program beneficial to your individual classroom, the program never gets utilized. Another dilemma is that the research and technologies are always changing. About the time a district, school, or teacher analyzes the research and finds ways to implement it in a classroom, the technology, program, or maybe even the research changes. Then a whole new process begins before the old process has fully reached it’s potential.

Decision-Making Process for Creating Lessons for Students with Diverse Needs

It is very important for teachers to create lessons that meet the diverse needs of all students. At times this can seem very overwhelming because every single kid has different needs and learning styles. As a teacher, I feel it is my responsibility to design lessons that meet all of these needs and learning styles.

Differentiation is necessary when meeting the needs of all students. There are times where I have my students working on three or four different assignments which all reflect the same standard and learning target. Usually, my gifted students work on a higher level thinking assignment. I give modified assignments for my IEP kids and kids that are struggling with the content. Then I also have a general assignment for the rest of the class. Differentiation is something that I want to get even better at. I don’t feel that I do as good of a job as I could with this but I think it is very important when meeting the needs of every single child.

It is also important to create lessons that meet the needs of all learning styles. This is one of my favorite parts of being a teacher. As I reflect on my learning, I see that I get bored very easily especially when I’m not being taught in ways that reflect my learning style. It’s very hard to engage in the learning. Knowing this about myself, I am constantly trying to teach using lessons that reflect as many learning styles as possible. This not only meets the learning styles of all of my kids, but it keeps the style of my lessons from being repetitive and boring. When every kid walks into my classroom everyday, I want him or her to be excited and inquisitive about what is going to take place.