CO-PBST+7

The CO-PBST 7 standards are the Colorado Performance-Based Standards for Teachers, section 7; these standards relate to teachers' understanding of technology, ability to use various technological tools in the classroom, and ability to provide students with the education necessary to use those technological tools themselves. In this reflection, I discuss how this class has helped me achieve these standards, as well as how I will continue to meet and exceed these standards in my remaining time as a student, and as a future teacher. ---
 * 7.1 Apply technology to the delivery of standards-based instruction. **
 * Using the free site-building software on Google Sites, I developed and built a WebQuest site/assignment for high school history students. The assignment combined skills learned in English class, knowledge gained in history, and technological skills and abilities learned prior to completing this WebQuest; however, in completing the WebQuest, students ultimately will also have more knowledge regarding American history, more direct practice with creative writing skills, and a better understanding of the Internet and how to use it appropriately and effectively in order to solve a problem/complete an assignment. The WebQuest was built to meet the standards described in CMCS.HIS.1-3, 5-6; CMCS.RW.1, 3-6; NETS-S.1-4, 6.


 * 7.2 Use technology to increase student achievement. **
 * By presenting information to students in an interesting manner (such as with SMART Board), and providing them with unique and interactive assignments and projects (i.e., WebQuest, WikiSpaces, and other online learning-based games), students will ideally not only be more motivated to participate, but will be reached in a more personal level – resulting in better learning, stronger retention, and more powerful critical thinking skills.


 * 7.3 Utilize technology to manage and communicate information. **
 * By learning to create and manage a wiki, specifically with the on-line program WikiSpaces, I have gained an understanding of how to use technology to manage and communicate information with students and/or other teachers. The WikiSpace can be designed to allow as few as one user, or as many as anyone in the world, to add to it or edit it, allowing students and teachers to communicate in an up-to-date, ongoing chat room of sorts; to use this in the classroom, a teacher could recommend using a WikiSpace for group projects, post assignments and/or group discussions, or any number of two-way communications.


 * 7.4 Apply technology to data-driven assessments of learning. **
 * Part of building my WebQuest was also including a rubric for students to view, as well as use as a guide, in reference to how they would be graded on the various aspects of their project. The rubric was created using an on-line tool called Rubistar, where teachers (or anyone) can go and either select from a list of pre-constructed rubrics, or create their own, with their own requirements and the correlating possible scores. As well, I discovered and explored many websites that offer interactive games and quizzes/assessments (again, either previously built or individually created) that teachers can use to not only make learning a bit more fun for students, but also to get another view of how their students are doing academically.


 * 7.5 Instruct students in basic technology skills. **
 * Because I now have an understanding of how to use various technological tools, such as WikiSpaces, Google Sites, SMART Notebook/SMART Board, etc., I feel confident that I can not only use these tools to better instruct and connect with my students, but that I can also pass along that knowledge to them, so that they too may be able to use such technology. Particularly when using SMART Notebook and presenting to the class using the SMART Board, I incorporated various tips and abilities available through that program, and explained how to use them, so that my fellow students (as will my future students) understood better how to use the program too.

- Elizabeth Croswhite, 5/7/2012