Personal Learning Reflection II

Through this class I have been able to improve the design of my technology based lessons. Specifically by learning about UDL, StAIR and instructional design strategies. I have been developing lessons already but by using the pedagogy used in the regular classroom setting which does not always apply. There were a great deal of frustrating trial and error experience. Utilizing the aforementioned strategies, I feel confident that my lessons have a high probability for success the first time around. This save frustration for the students and myself. Almost as important is that this save me time. Now instead of redoing a lesson I can just fine tune it to meet every one's needs.

My long term goal has been to develop a online parallel to my chemistry and AP environmental science class using Moodle. UDL has guided me to diversify my instructional delivery to meet the needs of a wider base of students. For example, in my StAIR I included closed captioning, video, audio and quiz questions. The StAIR design has allowed me to streamline my online instructional lessons making the experience for the user more cohesive. The Goal Directed Instructional Design (GDID) helped my to organize my goals for each lesson allowing me to make an over all unit plan that covers all of the standards effectively.

Moving forward, I will continue to improve my Moodle courses by creating more StAIR activities while incorporating the SCORM reporting capabilities if Camtasia Studio to monitor students progress. These and other lessons will be created following the UDL, GDID and ISTE principles. The next step for my long term goal will be support and improve my instructional techniques through research and best practices. In CEP 812 the main objective is to define a specific educational problem and find a solution. Current problems I could address are, how to more effectively involve parents with online curriculum, improving student's ability to self pace, improving student note taking, implementing online assessments, and improving overall performance on summative assessments.

Teaching in the IBE (Internet-Based Environment)

The online experience that has proven most beneficial to my students has been the use of the Learning Management System called Moodle. This is our internet based classroom. All of our documents are posted there, teacher and student produced tutorials are there, our calendar is there, they have discussion there and they are safe there.

By using Wikis in Moodle we are able to utilize all six of the State's quality characteristics. This allows me to teach and reinforce all of my content. This year I have been using it mostly for reinforcement and review. By including more instructional videos like this one on Nuclear Energy, I will be able to flip my classroom and spend more time in class re-teaching and refining student knowledge instead of teaching one way and at one pace.

Online projects have been the most difficult technology for students to use because it often requires multiple technologies and many team work skills. 10th grade students have struggled with planning, collaboration, coordination, communication, and problem solving. While it is good that they learn these things, planning to teach these skill gradually will be a goal of mine the next time around.

Wiki Wiki

Our school did not have its own wiki information, but there was a page for the school district that I was able to add on to. I added a link to the high school's page. Information about the academics at Grandville as well as information including a link about the aquatics programs a Grandville.

For my AP class, I added a Wiki for them to discuss test taking strategies, answer questions, share study techniques and share links to help each other prepare for their upcoming exam.

http://moodle.kentisd.org/mod/wiki/view.php?id=51002