Tech For Learning

As a school administrator and instructional leader, I would support and expect the use of technology that supports an increase in student collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking, and decision making. Technology tools that stimulate the creativity of students and allow for reflection by students related to the curriculum while applying these skills are the types I would expect to see embedded in the written curriculum and actively in use in the taught curriculum.

There are many technology tools that can be used to support the written and taught curriculum. The types of tools that students can use to demonstrate learning are blogs, wikis, discussion forums, podcasts and many others. I suggest these types of tools because they allow students the opportunity to reflect on their learning. Thinking about thinking and processing the hows and whys of learning experiences are very valuable for students. When teachers incorporate technology tools that encourage higher levels of thinking for curriculum topics, students will be able to make connections across content areas. Most recently, I have been working to define the learning space for my teachers. They are constantly focused on the physical space and have a hard time identifying which tool to use for which purpose from the digital space.

Learning Spaces on Prezi

With the learning focused schools model, we have a real opportunity for teachers to see that technology must be embedded within the learning activities and not simply something that is used at the end to create a product to summarize learning. In fact, when technology is used that way, it is often a waste of time and effort. A summary report project is not the best use of technology.

Students can use a blog or wiki site to develop a portfolio of their learning experiences and as a place to host evidence of learning. Podcasts can be used to reflect on learning, but also as a way to share learning in a higher order way. Preparing the script for a podcast forces students to think about content in a new way, a way that requires critical thinking and decision making that is not present in a simple summary report. A wiki can be used by multiple students to collaborate on research, by entire grade levels to organize learning or by a global community to share in a learning experience.

Technology tools are not currently present in our tested curriculum, however, it is my opinion that when effectively included in the written and taught curriculum then the skills that are developed when using these tools will result in better results on the tested curriculum. Technology tools can be used to increase critical thinking, problem solving and decision making and these skills will be beneficial to students as test takers.

Technology is an excellent tool for differentiation, when used appropriately. There are software tools that turn text to speech, assistive hardware, and web tools. These tools can help teachers tailor learning experiences to individual needs in the area of multiple means of representation.
Teachers can meet the multiple means of expression with creativity technology tools that promote problem solving, such as Scratch or increase critical thinking, such as when using a digital storytelling tool. Collaboration tools, such as wikispaces, reflective tools, such as blogs and portfolio tools, which can be a wiki, blog, or other reflective environment are all technological tools that are helpful when teachers are trying to provide multiple means of engagement.

Visit my Universal Design for Learning resource links:

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Post prompts:

• As a school administrator and instructional leader, what instructional technology would you expect to see in the written, taught, and tested curriculum of a school or school district striving to meet the needs of 21st century learners?
  
• What instructional technology would you promote to differentiate instruction for all learners? Consider some of the Web 2.0 tools discussed in Week 3 and some of the tools/ applications suggested in the UDL discussion.