Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Blog Post 3 - Pre-Teaching Reflection 1

Section I: Reflecting on Assessing Prior Knowledge and Planning Instruction
What do the students need to know prior to the lesson?
Prior to my lesson students will need to know some basic map skills, such as recognizing grid lines, the compass rose, the key, and other map symbols. Some skill in locating various physical and human features on a map. Basic computer skills, such as using the mouse and keyboard will also be necessary.

How will prior knowledge and experience be assessed?
The map skills necessary will have been taught and assessed in a previous lesson. However, in order to make sure students actually learned and remember the information, the teacher will briefly review map concepts with students before this lesson begins. 

How will you use this information in the planning process?
Knowing what the students already know will help me plan what they can work on in the next lesson. If they appear not to know the information necessary, we will go back and work on that skill again.  

Why should the content of this lesson be taught at this grade level?
According to the AZ State Social Studies Standards this content information (recognizing and locating physical and human features using maps, illustrations, images, or globes) is skill that should be taught in second grade. According to the state standards, 2nd graders are ready for this level of map use and understanding. 

How do the objectives that you have for the lesson align with the standards?
I pulled my objectives directly from the standards. The standards want students to "Recognize characteristics of human and physical features " and "Locate physical and human features using maps, illustrations, images, or globes" (from AZ Social Studies Standards) and "Identify and choose technology applications for a given activity/project" (from AZ Educational Technology Standards). My objectives are that students will be able to:
  • Find various local human features on Google Earth
  • Find various human features in the U.S. on Google Earth
  • Find various physical features in the U.S. on Google Earth
  • Locate and properly label the approximate location of various human and physical features on a blank U.S. map
  • Use applications in Google Earth Pro to complete given task
Each of my objectives relates directly to one of the standards of the lesson. Some ask students to find human features on a map, and the standard wants students to recognize and locate human features. Some ask students to find physical features and the standards want students to recognize and locate physical features. The technology standard wants students to use technology applications for a given project. The objective is having students use specific Google Earth applications for our scavenger hunt project. They are aligned. 

When will the lesson be taught in the course of the school year? Why?
This lesson could go almost anywhere in the school year, as long as the previous map lesson has been taught. Personally, I think I'd do this around September. This way the lesson is early enough in the school year that students will be prepared to use maps in future class projects and to further understanding of where other historical or current events happened or are happening. 

Section II: Reflecting on Designing Instruction (InTask Standards 7 and 8)
Why are you using the instructional methods you have described?
I choose to demonstrate the activity to the whole class then have students work individually on the project. Because we are using a new technology I thought it was important that I demonstrate to students how to use it. I wanted them to work individually so that they could practice using the skills and so that I could later assess if they were able to meet the objectives. It is not stated directly anywhere in my lesson plan, but students will be allowed to speak together and help each other with the activity. 

How do the instructional methods align with what you know about best practices (think about your methods classes)?
I know that students learn best when activities are scaffolded for them. Instead of just giving the assignment and hoping students figure it out it will provide them with various levels of support. First I will demonstrate how to do the activity. Then students will work to do so themselves, but I will be there to provide assistance for anyone who needs it. 
I also understand that students (and all humans) are naturally social beings. I don't like the idea of demanding that students sit quietly and work on their own assignments, especially not on something like this lesson. Students learn well from their peers and from teaching their peers. If they want to help each other or discuss ways that they found the locations on the scavenger hunt, that's great. Obviously I will be wandering around to make sure that no students are simply doing the work for other students. I will encourage collaboration and helping, not cheating. 

How are you engaging students in creative and higher order thinking?
I don't think my lesson has a ton of room for creativity and higher order thinking, but I did provide some opportunities. I left room for individual differences and preferences to be expressed in this assignment. Students can search for their favorite store and restaurant. I also did not give super specific search requirements. For example, I am allowing students to search for whatever lake, river, and mountain range that they want. The way to find things is not strictly set either. I will show students two different methods, but they will have the opportunity to use what works for them in each situation or use another method altogether. 

Section III: Reflecting on Planning Assessment (InTask Standard 6):
How does the assessment align with the standards and objectives of this lesson?
My assessment will be the activity that the students complete during class. The activity is having the students recognize and locate human and physical features of a map, just like the standard and the objectives say. They will have two different objects from the activity to turn in that I will then assess with a rubric. The rubric criteria is exactly what the objective says. The levels on the rubric measure the objective skill to varying degrees. 

How does the assessment demonstrate that the students have been successful in learning the content?
The standards, objective, activity, and assessment are set up so that they are all aligned. The assessment tool allows me to look at what the student completed. The rubric is lined up with the objectives. If the students do well based of the criteria on the rubric I know they will have an understanding of the content. 

How does the assessment demonstrate student engagement in higher order thinking?
Looking at my objectives and the tasks that students are completely, I don't think students are engaging in much higher order thinking. All of my objectives are "finding" and "recognizing." Recognizing is only on the second tier, the 'understand' tier of Bloom's taxonomy. 

How does the assessment demonstrate that individual student needs were met?
In the lesson I included differentiation for ELL students, gifted students, and students with cognitive delay's. The rubric that I created and included with the lesson plan is specific to the mainstream activity. However, a rubric to reflect the varying levels completed by other students could easily be created and they would obviously be assessed according to the work that they completed, with whichever differentiation they used. Students would complete the activity at whatever level their individual need requires and they will be assessed at that level. 

Section IV: Reflecting on How your lesson meet each of the ISTE NETs Standards?
How does your lesson meet Standard 1: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity?
My lesson allows for students to work at the activity on their own while I am present to provide help and direction; thus I am facilitating student learning. I leave room in the lesson for students to be creative individuals with by allowing them to choose the specifics of several things that they have to search for, such as their favorite restaurant and whichever lake they want. 

How does your lesson meet Standard 2: Provide Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments?
The AZ Social Studies standards wants students to learn how to use maps, illustrations, and globes. I think it is important for students to know how to use traditional maps and globes, but that is also not the way that most students will use maps in the future. In this age of phones and internet connection, everyone uses Google Map or other map apps or websites to look up directions and places. Hardly anyone pulls out a paper map. That is why this lesson is providing digital-age experiences for students while still meeting standards. It is more practical to have students learn how to use both paper and electronic maps. 

How does your lesson meet Standard 3: Model Digital-Age Work & Learning?
Aside from learning standard content in a digital-age manner, students will also practice basic digital-age concepts. They will be printing things from this computer, using a search function, and using zoom functions. The teacher will be modeling and explaining how to do all of this as part of the lesson.

How does your lesson Meet all four elements of Standard 4: Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility by:
  1. advocating, modeling, and teaching safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources.
    1. My lesson does not address this topic.
  2. addressing the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources.
    1. I am providing students with an opportunity to explore and use Google Earth technology on their own at their own pace in this lesson. Everyone will have equitable access because this will be completed in class; students will not be expected to have access to Google Earth at home. 
  3. promoting and modeling digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.
    1. There are not really any social interactions using this digital technology, so I don't go over this either.
  4. developing and modeling cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools.
    1. This aspect of digital communication for cultural understanding and global awareness is not addressed in my lesson






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