Week 4- Literature Review

Article: Using Technology in the Classroom- Stephanie Reeve Boles

Using Technology in the Classroom is an article written by middle school science teacher, Stephanie Reeve Boles.  It is an essay encouraging teachers to be on the cutting-edge of technology and to take advantage in the classroom.  The article offers examples of Boles use and helpful suggestions for other teachers to incorporate into their own classroom.  The internet proves the best resource for her students, as the textbooks are outdated.  She states that her students gain a better understanding of the content using technology tools.  

Credit: skynesher

Podcasts, simulations, presentations and assessment are media Boles supplements into her lesson plans for enhanced learning.  When content is hard to explain in lecture, Boles uses animation and simulation to better describe the topic.  Students watch a process unfold when they experience a simulation through a website’s video or animated diagram.  Students record podcasts to review lessons.  They write scripts and record themselves reviewing what they have learnt.  They then upload it to their personal media players to use for studying.  Another great suggestion by Boles is to use the internet to spark interest in upcoming topics.  She provides links for the students to visit and has them create presentations from the findings.  Presenting work gives students a higher level of understanding because they have to explain the topic to their peers.  Boles also uses technology to poll her students and record results.  Both are interactive ways to assess what students have learnt.  The article concludes saying that Boles does not use technology in all lessons but adding these tools are beneficial to her teaching and student’s learning.  

Credit: Erink Isakson  

I have learnt several new ways to incorporate technology into my teaching.  I am motivated to find links and presentations that relate to all subject matter I teach.  I would like to adopt Boles’ practice of providing websites for students to check out at home.  This would promote lifelong learning and help students prepare for topics.  Having a digital file of all lesson plans is another great tip that I will use.  Sharing a digital file with children who are out sick guarantees they don’t miss out nor will be confused when building upon that topic.  As I continue through my master’s program, I will keep this blog running and active.  It will serve as a tool to share articles I find and hear comments from peers.  By keeping a blog and continuing my research on learning through technology, I will gain a global network that I can continue to interact with through out my teaching years. 

Link: Free Teaching Tools from Microsoft

Video:

Course Objectives:

Demonstrate the understanding of how technologies can effectively promote student learning

Offering links for students to use at home promotes deeper exploration of topics.  Students look and interact with pages and decide what information appeals to them.    

Evaluate and use a variety of current technologies to enhance content instruction and to advance students' technological literacy

Boles encourages using the internet as a resource.  She also incorporates podcasts and presentations, both tools that the students will use in future classes and in their careers. 

Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of safe, ethical, legal and moral practices related to digital information and technology

Boles recommends specific tools to use and suggests programs that are safe for both software and students. 

Demonstrate an understanding of the use of adaptive technologies and other digital resources to personalize and differentiate learning activities for every student

Several different tools that appeal to different learning styles are mentioned.  Podcasts would appeal to auditory learners while animated processes spark visual learners’ interest.  

Evaluate, adapt and reflect upon emerging tools and trends by participating in local and global learning communities and by reviewing current research and professional literature

For each example, Boles writes how she used it in the classroom and why it was effective.  Using technology in her classroom allows for students to be actively participating and piecing together knowledge.  Boles promotes a global learning community by having students share links that they found to be helpful.  

Boles, S. R. (2011). USING TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM. Science Scope, 34(9), 39-43. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/872797272?accountid=3783