Artifact #6-Experimental Technology

Description:

This project was completed individually for the course ISTC 731 Theory and Practice for Integrating Digital Resources into Learning and Teaching with professor Sadera in the Summer of 2023. This course focused on theoretical perspectives on learning involving technology integration in diverse settings. For this project, we were to explore two new technology tools that could be used for instruction and explain how they could be implemented based on different technology integration models. 

The tools that I chose for this assignment were Thinglink and Storybird. A presentation was created for each to provide information on the tool, how it could be used based on the technology integration model chosen, and an example of its use with students. The examples provided for these technologies were intended for a first grade class of about 20 students of various learning abilities in Harford County Public Schools. The experimental technologies researched and used for this assignment were posted on websites that were created for this course, allowing other educators and students in the program to view examples of different types of technology that could be used for instruction.

Standard Alignment:

Standard #3-Collaborator

3a. Establish trusting and respectful coaching relationships that encourage educators to explore new instructional strategies.

The research involving the different technologies that could be used in the classroom for instruction, allowed for the ability to learn about and explore new instructional strategies. Viewing the different types of technology that other educators had researched and the ways that it could be incorporated in the classroom was motivating.

3d. Personalize support for educators by planning and modeling the effective use of technology to improve student learning.

Through this project, planning and modeling of effective use of technology occurred through the development of the example for each technology. An example of how the technology could be used in a lesson was provided so that educators could gain perspective on how the technology could work to improve student learning in the classroom. Each technology was integrated using a researched technology integration model that was explained so that the use of the technology would be effective.

Reflection:

Research for the experimental technology project occurred over the Summer in 2023 allowing me to learn about new technologies that I could integrate into the classroom to improve teaching and student learning. The technology that I researched was Thinglink and Storybird, and I was able to learn about how they could be integrated into lessons so that they could be used effectively using the SAMR integration model and the Thomas and Boysen Taxonomy for integration. These experimental technologies were posted on a website that was created for this course which allowed other educators to view examples of the different types of technology and tools and how they could be integrated using the different integration models.

The Experimental Technology project aligns with the ISTC standard collaborator. This project allowed me to collaborate with other educators to learn and teach about different kinds of technology tools that exist for teaching and learning. It was motivating to try to use the new technology with lessons and to see how others were trying to use different technologies in their classrooms. The examples provided based on the integration models provided support on how different types of technologies could be used effectively to improve student learning.

Thinglink and Storybird were intended to be used in a first grade classroom in Harford County Public Schools with students of varying ability levels. Since the research completed on this assignment, I have been able to use Thinglink in the classroom to teach about maps in social studies and it was very effective. I still intend on using Storybird but have not used this yet with my students.  The knowledge gained on SAMR and the Thomas and Boysen Taxonomy will continue to be useful when developing lessons with technology.