EDLD+5364+Week+5

EDLD 5364 Week 5 The focus of Week 5 has been assessment, reinforcing effort, and the future of teaching with technology. The Week 5 readings included examples of authentic assessments made possible by Web 2.0 technologies. In an era when so much emphasis is placed on improving standardized test scores, it is important to learn authentic ways of using technology for instruction and assessment. Suggestions for using Web 2.0 included podcasting, videoconferencing, social bookmarking of critical Web sites, developing class wikis, engaging in multinational conversations, and creating e-portfolios. Each of these tools allows students to demonstrate skills in a format that allows for ongoing or “formative” evaluation (Solomon & Schrum, 2007). Teachers are encouraged to target a state standard and plan interesting instruction for that subject area through a variety of technology activities.

Web 2.0 tools allow teachers to abandon the static instruction of the past and provide engaging, interactive learning experiences for their students. Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and videoconferences are some examples of technology that facilitates collaboration for both teachers and students. Solomon and Schrum (2007) encourage teachers to collaboratively plan instructional and assessment methods to expand the options available to them.

This week we also examined the ways in which effort can influence success. Success is viewed as the result of several factors, but the only one of those factors a person can really control is effort (Pitler, 2007). Teachers have an opportunity to influence their students’ perceptions of the relationship between effort and outcome. According to Pitler (2007), “The instructional strategy of //reinforcing effort// enhances students’ understanding of the relationship between effort and achievement by addressing their attitudes and beliefs about learning. Beyond explicitly teaching students the importance of effort, we have tools available to use that can track effort and achievement. Spreadsheet software and data collection tools give students the means to chart this relationship; they are able to graph the results and see the relationship between effort and achievement. Even the old ways of acknowledging student effort can be enhanced through the use of technology. Instead of creating a bulletin board at the front of the school, information about student efforts can be disseminated using the school Web site. The goal is for students to realize that as they increase their effort, their achievement improves as well.

The Week 5 video clips gave us a glimpse into what may be the future of teaching with technology. We were challenged by Gee and Barab to consider games as learning tools and cautioned by Gardner to be ethical in the new digital media. Video games were described as a problem solving exercise that does not separate learning and assessment; that assessment is constant and ongoing. James Paul Gee (2009) stressed the need for collaborative learning to prepare students for the global competition that exists in our world. He concluded that games focus on production rather than consumption and advocates teachers modeling the learning process as they learn to use technology along with their students. Sasha Barab (2009) encourages teachers to consider games that engage students in authentic problem solving. He sees the student of today no longer as a passive “watcher” but as an engaged “doer.” The video clips also dealt with ethical issues we face in the new digital media. Much like Gee challenges teachers to model the learning process for their students, Gardner (2009) challenges us to be role models of ethical behavior in the digital media.

References Edutopia.org (nd). //Big Thinkers: Howard Gardner on Digital Youth.// Retrieved on Oct. 5, 2009 from []  Edutopia.org (nd). //Big thinkers: James Paul Gee on grading with games.// Retrieved on Oct. 5,2009 from []

Edutopia.org. (nd). //Big Thinkers: Sasha Barab on New-Media Engagement.// Retrieved on Oct. 5, 2009 from []  Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). //Using technology with classroom instruction that works.// Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 155-164.

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). //Web 2.0: New tools, new schools.// Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education, 168-176.