Using+An+Innovative+Technology+in+the+Classroom

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= Creating Innovative Uses of Technology:  = = An Individual Project  = = Learning Opposites at the PreK Level  =

Rationale
==== Storytelling is one of the most common techniques for teaching concepts in all levels of the learning curriculum. Digital storytelling is a wonderful way to capture and engage early childhood students by using their auditory and visionary senses. The learning concept of opposites in the early childhood curriculum involves illustrated examples incorporated with the opposite word vocabulary. The innovative technology of digital storytelling allows the early childhood audience to participate in the learning process of opposites. ====

1. Description of #1 Lesson Plan
==== The teacher will create a digital story to present in the early childhood classroom that focuses on the learning concept of opposites. The digital story will feature real-life images that narrate the correct word opposites. Students will participate in the lesson by viewing, listening, and discussing opposites. ====

3. Prior Skills and Knowledge Required
==== Basic fundamental skills of the knowledge of opposites are required in order to prepare and deliver the lesson and discussion on opposites. The pedagogy of the teacher in this lesson would be teacher-centered where the teacher instructed the early childhood learners on the concept of opposites via the digital story on the laptop. The teacher needed to have prior knowledge and skills in creating a digital story using Microsoft Photo Story 3 and how to navigate a computer. ====

4. Prior Skills and Knowledge Required of Students
==== The prior knowledge and skills for the students learning the concept of opposites via the digital story would be the ability to sit quietly and listen to a story being read. Children also need to have prior knowledge of the real world around them such as identifying and recognizing images of a mouse, arrow, earth, etc. from pictures. ====

5. Student Actions (Product or Process)
==== The early childhood students are asked to break into groups of 8 for small group time. The students will sit at their assigned small group table were the laptop will be placed at the head of the table. The teacher will introduce the concept of opposites and have the children view the digital story via the laptop computer. The teacher will play the digital story three times allowing questions and discussions on opposites during and after the digital story. ====

After the early childhood students are asked to break into groups of 8 for small group time:

 * 1) ==== The teacher will introduce the concept of opposites by using the digital story “Opposites”. ====
 * 2) ==== The teacher will have the students view the digital story a second time, allowing the students to say the word opposites as they are shown. ====
 * 3) ==== The teacher will play the digital story a third time, pausing the digital story when the word opposite image will be displayed thus allowing the students to answer the word opposite before the digital story narration of the answer. ====
 * 4) ==== Teacher and students will then discuss other opposites they can see in the classroom. ====

The advantages to the digital story of learning opposites are:

 * 1) ==== To engage learning with another mode of lesson instruction. ====
 * 2) ==== To enhance the students with technology integration lesson instruction. ====
 * 3) ==== To connect real-world concepts to the learning material. ====
 * 4) ==== To be taught in a small group setting to increase the concept knowledge of opposites. ====

The disadvantages in the digital story of learning opposites are:

 * 1) ==== The inability to have a screen projector to enlarge the visual images for all students to be able to see equally. ====
 * 2) ==== Limited images on the real-world images of the objects and their word opposites. ====
 * 3) ==== Background music could result in a distraction for the learning delivery of the concept of opposites. ====
 * 4) ==== Lack of title displayed on each of the word images. ====

Effective instructional strategies are included in the digital story of learning opposites:

 * 1) ==== Connection of real-world images and its personal application to the early childhood students. ====
 * 2) ==== Integration of technology (computer and video) that connects the early childhood student to learning application in the home environment. ====
 * 3) ==== Delivery of different learning styles that meet the needs multiple learners. ====

10. Innovation Transferred Across Curriculum
==== The digital story can be transferred to other teacher and different school settings because it is made available by You Tube. A computer and Internet are needed as well as the technology compatibility to download and display videos from You Tube. The digital story learning of opposites can also be used for ESL (English as a Second Language) learners. The digital story can also be used for special education classes to introduce and reinforce the learning of opposites. The digital story can be used as a teaching tool for more advance learners in designing their own digital story creation via Microsoft Photo Story 3. ====

= Creating Innovative Uses of Technology:  = = An Individual Project  = = Learning Opposites at the PreK Level  = = By  = = Kari Holmberg  =

= ONLINE NEWSLETTER  =

Rationale
==== An online classroom newsletter is a wonderful way to connect and increase parent/teacher communication. An online newsletter helps to ensure that parents are able to keep up-to-date on all classroom information as well as being informed with important school dates. The innovative technology of an online newsletter allows the parental audience to participate in the extension of their child’s classroom learning process of opposites. ====

1. Description of #1 Lesson Plan
==== The teacher will provide essential information into the policies and activities of the early childhood classroom for the school year. An emphasis will also be placed on the link between home and educational communication, interaction, and environment. Home-to-school activities will be developed throughout the school year as well. ====

2. Technology and Resources Involved
==== The technology and resources involved for the teacher was a laptop computer, Wikispaces account for site creation, Microsoft Word Clipart, Internet connection for Flickr, YouTube and other informational websites. ====

3. Prior Skills and Knowledge Required
==== Basic fundamental skills of the knowledge of opposites are required in order to prepare and deliver the lesson and discussion on opposites. The pedagogy of the teacher in this lesson would be child-centered where the parent and child were able to interact and learn about the concept of opposites through the different online activities in the newsletter. The teacher needed to have prior knowledge and skills in creating a Wiki page using Wikispaces, the know-how to surf the web for instructional activity enhancements, and how to navigate a computer. ====

4. Prior Skills and Knowledge Required of Parents/Students
==== Parents need to have access to a computer and the Internet on a weekly basis. Parents also need to have the ability to use a computer, access emails, use a web browser and MS-Word. Parents need to have the basic fundamental skills to read, write, and the knowledge of opposites in order to instruct and direct their child through the online newsletter extended lesson activities on opposites learned in the classroom. ====

6. Procedures of the Project
==== Students will explore the different concepts of word opposites while reading, listening, problem solving, and creating art found in the online newsletter. This online newsletter allows families to help their child begin a deeper awareness of types of opposites. ====

The advantages to the online newsletter of learning opposites are:

 * 1) To connect learning from the school environment to the home environment.
 * 2) To enhance the students with technology integration lesson instruction.
 * 3) To connect real-world concepts to the learning material.
 * 4) To be taught a new learning concept through multiple activities and examples.

10. Innovation Transferred Across Curriculum
==== The classroom online newsletter may be accessed by all parents, family members, and school educators due to the public domain of Wikispaces. Online newsletter information and learning activities can be shared and used by any that visit the wiki site, allowing ideas and concepts to filter throughout other areas of the academic curriculum. Familes and school educators may "join" the online newsletter through Wikispaces which will help keep the lines of communication open and connected. Collaboration from all members can help to also connect learning across the curriculum with other academic subject areas in its integration into the online newsletter (science, math, reading). ====