Best+Examples+of+Instructional+Activities+with+Student+Engagement+through+Technology

//**Learning about polygons using a Smart Board and Student **// //**Facilitators using a Flip Camera **//

Description: **  Instructional Applications of Technology (our course title) is an equivalent phrase to technology integration and instructional technology. The simplest "definition" is using technology to achieve an instructional objective or outcome. This can be as simple as a drill and practice program where the learner develops a specific skill, such as, arithmetic facts or multiplication facts to more complex simulation and graphing software where higher order thinking skills are used to solve complex mathematical equations in authentic problem solving.
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Notice that both examples had students using technology. Student use is the goal of building out the infrastructure and placing computers (technology) in our schools. The No Child Left Behind law includes Enhancing Education Through Technology (Title II, Part D). The primary goals of the Enhancing Education Through Technology program is to improve student academic achievement through the use of technology in schools, assist students in crossing the digital divide by ensuring that every student is technologically literate by the end of eighth grade, and to encourage the effective integration of technology with teacher training and curriculum development to establish successful research-based instructional methods. If the students rarely touch the computer, we need to develop instructional strategies that will allow students to access our available technologies to supplement instruction that utilizes the higher order thinking that is described in the upper levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy (analysis, synthesis, evaluation). Remember, it’s all about instruction and using technology to support that instruction.

Based on your classroom experiences and the material you have reviewed in this course so far, what are your two best examples of instructional activities with student engagement through technology (that you do, you have seen, you have heard / read about, or you want to do)?

Avoid administrative applications (i.e., Accelerated Reader) and instruction that only involves the teacher using technology (i.e., PowerPoint presentation). Instruction should engage the students while THEY are using the technology so the students develop the 21st Century skills they need to compete in a global environment.

[|Audio Recording (Podcast) of Instructional Activity with Student Engagement through Technology] Select one of the two best examples of Instructional Activities with Student Engagement through Technology that you submitted in the last assignment. Create an audio recording (podcast) with music as a lead in (and optional trailer – trailer is the piece at the end!) of that best example with the following script:

“I’m _ _ from __ and my best example of an instructional activity with student engagement through technology is _ _. _ _.”


 * Audio: **


 * media type="file" key="BestExampleStudentEngagemen.mp3" width="240" height="20"

Process for Selecting These Technology Activities : **

I selected these activities because they will get students engaged in the learning process. Being able to use the Smart Board to manipulate objects gets students really excited. Students love to be able to show what they know and I find that they really care about helping their fellow classmates learn. The Flip Camera captures the students interest and they want to work hard to show that they are doing a good job. When students are engaged and excited they are more likely to retain the information they are learning. Both of the activities I have chosen are engaging and exciting to students.


 * Reflection: **

This activity really gave me an opportunity to reflect on what type of technology is available for teachers to use to engage students. Unfortunately there are too many schools that cannot afford technology for their students. Luckily, I was able to receive a Smart Board in my classroom and I use it to engage my students, however there is so much more that I feel I could be doing with it. I keep putting off investigating what new activities I can do with it; because I feel like I don't have the time right now maybe this summer. Although, this activity has inspired me to make the time so that I really can actively engage my students in their learning.