ISTE2 EDTC6433 Resolution Reflection

Triggering Question:  How can I use contemporary technology to create and assess authentic learning experiences in social studies for my 4th graders, in relation to ISTE-S 2-communicate and collaborate with others?

 Program Standards: 11. Utilize formalize and summative assessment in a standards based environment
12. Evaluate and use technology for teaching and learning

Incorporating technology into my 4^th grade classroom has seemed to be a more of a challenge than one must think. Even though in my room, I have a class set of Chromebooks and kiddos that have a want to be technologically involved. In order to meet ISTE 2 standards, as their teacher I really want to focus on section C: customize and personalize learning activities to address diverse learning styles, working strategies and abilities using digital tools and resources; and section B: develop technology enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own goals… My question for Module 2 was: How can I use contemporary technology to create and assess authentic learning experiences in social studies for my 4th graders, in relation to ISTE-S 2-communicate and collaborate with others? With this triggering question, I really wanted to find a way for my students to pursue their individual curiosities about the world and people around them. My students all come from many diverse backgrounds but are very unaware of the world around them. My goal was to find a way for my students to research the world around them relating to our social studies unit of Citizenship, and also be able to communicate and collaborate with others, connecting with our speaking and listening standards.

 In the first article I found “Pen Pals in the 21^st Century” is told by a 5^th grade teacher who started a Pen Pal activity and has shared many resources to get started, along with the benefits of her students being pen pals. The benefits of having students become pen pals is that it gives their writing a purpose. They have an “authentic audience” who will read their letter and then RESPOND, giving their work meaning. Not only does this project connect kids socially, but also helps improve their writing skills. Also offered though the blog was ideas on how to get your class involved with another classroom as pen pals. There are a couple different ways: Skype in the classroom, Global Read Aloud Project, and the Edmodo group titled “Pen Pals that WRITE” which allowed me to further research the sources available for my students to get globally connected.

The first technology project that sparked my interest was the Global Read Aloud project. “The project was created in 2010 with a simple goal in mind; one book to connect the world. From its humble beginnings, the GRA has grown to make a truly global connection with more than 1,000,000 students having participated” (Ripp, 2016). This project picks a book that spans a 6-week period. Teachers pick how in depth they would like to take the project, connecting with either one class or multiple classes for the project. Classes connect and then begin communication amongst each other sharing personal narratives about their lives, where they live, and reactions to the book that they are reading together. Unfortunately the 2016 session began in early October and will end mid-November but this is something that I am going to try and get my students involved in next year. Through the GRA, it gave some suggestions for how teachers can use technology to connect their classrooms such as Skype, Twitter, WriteAbout, or Edmodo. Which led to my next area of research, Skype.

The second article I came upon in my researched was titled “A window on the world: Using Skype in theclassroom” by Cindy Phthisic. In the article Phthisic gives ideas on how to get started with skype in the classroom and different possibilities on how to actually use it. She talks about how important it is to make that initial connection with your Skype Partner and how finding a partner for your classroom may rise as a challenge. Offered are suggestions of starting out with a local partner or checking out Skype In Schools which offers teachers a place to sign up to look for other teachers in search of classrooms to connect with. “One of my personal favorites, Around the World with 80 Schools, is the brainchild of Silvia Tolisano. She challenges teachers to connect with 80 different schools. At the “Around the World” website, you can sign up to become a part of the project and connect with other like-minded educators, read technical advice, see where Skype fits in with national educational technology standards, and learn about simple practices to help you make the most of your Skyping experience” (Phthisic, 2010).  In searching, I went on to find Skype in the classroom which offers Skype Lessons (learning about a particular topic from an expert or another classroom around the globe), Mystery Skype (connect with a classroom from across the globe or in the same area, it’s a mystery!), and Virtual Field Trips (out in the field adventures without leaving the classroom).

Through this research I have found numerous ways for my students to get globally acquainted and found ways for them to connect and collaborate with students in various locations, really answering my question on ways to have my students experience an authentic learning experience in the subject area of socials studies, as well as, hitting upon those speaking and listening skills. Ideas such as reading with another class, reading buddies, polishing language skills, taking virtual field trips, and connecting with experts really allows my students to explore areas of interest and provide for those diverse learning styles. Where I believe I need to further research, is how to assess these experiences that is technology based. 

With connecting with my learning circle, we all seemed to have different outlooks on our triggering questions, but I found Conrado Julian’s link he posted to be a great resource titled "10 Best, Shockingly Good Apps for ESL Teachers." Again, my classroom has over 50% English Learners. His linked provided a variety of different applications that students could use to develop language skills, again, meeting those needs of diverse learning styles and needs.

Mims, L. (2013, November 6). Pen Pals in the 21st Century. Retrieved October 23, 2016, from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/pen-pals-in-21st-century-lisa-mims

Phthisic, C. (2010, November). A window on the world: Using Skype in the classroom. Retrieved October 23, 2016, from http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/6573