III. Teaching, Learning, and the Curriculum.  

Educational technology facilitators apply and implement curriculum plans that include methods and strategies for utilizing technology to maximize student learning.  Educational technology facilitators:

TF-III.A. Facilitate technology-enhanced experiences that address content standards and student technology standards. Candidates:

·         Use methods and strategies for teaching concepts and skills that support integration of technology productivity tools (refer to NETS for Students).

·         Use and apply major research findings and trends related to the use of technology in education to support integration throughout the curriculum.

·         Use methods and strategies for teaching concepts and skills that support integration of research tools (refer to NETS for Students).

·         Use methods and strategies for teaching concepts and skills that support integration of problem solving/ decision-making tools (refer to NETS for Students).

·         Use methods and strategies for teaching concepts and skills that support use of media-based tools such as television, audio, print media, and graphics.

·         Use and describe methods and strategies for teaching concepts and skills that support use of distance learning systems appropriate in a school environment.

·         Use methods for teaching concepts and skills that support use of web-based and non web-based authoring tools in a school environment.

TF-III.B. Use technology to support learner-centered strategies that address the diverse needs of students. Candidates:

• Use methods and strategies for integrating technology resources that support the needs of diverse learners including adaptive and assistive technology.

TF-III.C. Apply technology to demonstrate students' higher order skills and creativity. Candidates:

• Use methods and facilitate strategies for teaching problem solving principles and skills using technology resources.

TF-III.D. Manage student learning activities in a technology-enhanced environment. Candidates:

• Use methods and classroom management strategies for teaching technology concepts and skills in individual, small group, classroom, and/or lab settings.

TF-III.E. Use current research and district/region/state/national content and technology standards to build lessons and units of instruction. Candidates:

• Describe and identify curricular methods and strategies that are aligned with district/region/state/national content and technology standards.
• Use major research findings and trends related to the use of technology in education to support integration throughout the curriculum

Digital Story- Catcher in the Rye Landmarks

        Integrating technology into the classroom can be a very difficult task even for the most tech savvy teacher. Teachers want to be able to incorporate new types of tech enriched lessons into their lessons, while still ensuring the students understanding of the material. There are times, when a tech enriched lesson cannot begin without a few lessons about the technology that is going to be used in the lesson. Whether it is a new computer program, a Smart Board or other tool, students need to know how to use it and be comfortable with the media device before they can begin to learn the content that they need to know.

            A digital story is one way to incorporate several aspects of technology, while maintaining student interest and getting the lesson across. Students can work at their own pace in the digital story, learning along the way the different programs being used. My digital story incorporates several technology aspects, while concentrating on the literary aspect of the novel Catcher in the Rye. Students use Google Earth, Microsoft Photo Story and United Streaming to learn about the places that the main character visits in the story.

             A web quest is also an artifact that I choose to show how technology can be integrated into the classroom. Again, students can work at their own pace, exploring all of the videos, pictures and literature that they find in the web quest, all while completing a series of questions. Students learn about the new programs, websites and learn a valuable lesson about the Amazon Rainforest.

            Technology is a great thing, especially in a classroom. Learning how to incorporate it into a classroom correctly is sometimes difficult. The more teachers are exposed to new technologies and ways to use it in the classroom, the more students will be open to a new way of learning.