Reflecting on something large is always difficult. I've mentioned in this blog, probably too many times, that I can barely remember how I ran my classroom without some of the tools I've learned from this program. So as I sat down to start putting together my portfolio, it was tough to pick artifacts to fit those standards. I couldn't remember "Oh yeah, it was in 515 that we talked about that," or "It was 520 where we did this activity." So when I sat down to start matching activities to ideas, I realized what I've done didn't necessarily match what we've discussed.
The clearest example for me was trying to find an artifact to demonstrate instruction of digital citizenship. It's a concept we've talked about plenty among a number of different courses, but I couldn't find an activity that I had completed that directly addressed that issue. It made me think that this could easily be an issue with a rubric used to assess any project where students are given much freedom- they may not take it in the direction you had planned. Thus, if you want to use a rubric, you had better be sure the students see it and understand it before you begin, or make sure that they understand which tasks have to be completed.
Note: I'm not saying anything was lacking from this course- it just got me thinking.
I too am realizing that we have been assigned many things that do not always reflect the objects and standards of the program. It will be tough to match items, but the idea of working with teammates and other classmates will make things much easier!
ReplyDeleteI think it is a difficult task for teachers who teach specific content to incorporate some of these standards or objectives into their lessons/curriculum without some help and reminders. My role at my school for next year is to do exactly that. We are breaking the mold of the structured "Computer Class" time and trying to integrate it into the regular classrooms K-8. More and more schools are following this model where they have an integration specialist or (fill in blank) that helps the staff with the integration of technology into their everyday classrooms. Hopefully you have, or will have someone at your school that can do the same.
ReplyDelete