Technology Teaching Horizon

Moving to the 21st Century Teaching

As a technology teacher, I feel lucky to be teaching in this 21^st Century Education era that has a lot of openness for new technological trends. That is why I always like to make changes to my learning units to be able to asses my students learning needs. This master’s course had made me reflect on the important role that I have as a facilitator and guide for my students, Also on how I need to continue modeling and practicing 21^st Century Skills to enhance: analysis, collaboration, sharing and creativity.

This year, I am teaching 6^th grade middle school students and one of the units I really enjoy teaching in on Digital Citizenship. This is an important unit because we discus who we are in the net and the importance on having a positive attitude and action. All of the units follow the MYP Design Cycle, which involves four different stages:

1) investigation, 2) planning, 3) creation and

4) evaluation.

Unit:  Digital Citizenship

Area of Interaction: Health and Social Education

Significant Concept: Global Education

Unit Question: How can positive Digital Citizenship help when using the net? Technology: Google Apps, Chrome, phones, ipads, cell phones and ipods.

My Unit Presently:

1) Investigation – Using different search engines, to research the following concepts: Digital Dossier, digital Citizenship, Digital Dossier and Digital Immigrant. Students will receive some guidance on how to select appropriate and validated sources; to understand whom their role in the net. Students will annotate in their findings in their electronic notebooks made in evernote.

2) Design – The students will design with some guidance in groups in a collaborative way a mental map, with Lucid Chart, to highlight: who they are in the net and the positive and negative impacts they have in their daily lives when it’s usage.

3) Plan- Students will evaluate the proper Digital Citizenship when using the net and will produce with some guidance using Google Docs, a storyboard for a (1-2 minute video), that displays the tech era they live in today and recommendations of a proper usage to have a positive Digital Citizenship.

4) Create – Students will videotape the scenes in teams following the storyboard an will edit these in iMovie; with the use of any device of their choice.

5) Evaluate – Students will evaluate the video created against the design specifications and will also reflect if the final product (the video), had an impact of the viewers.

Next school year:

I will continue working with Google Apps and Chrome to be show different applications and tools to give students the technology skills that can be used for other classes and their every day lives.

Technology: Google Apps, Chrome, phones, ipads, cell phones, ipods, flip camera’s, green screens, earphones and any other device needed. (BYOD).

1) Investigation – Using different search engines, to research the following concepts: Digital Dossier, Digital Citizenship, Digital Dossier and Digital Immigrant. Students will receive some guidance on how to select appropriate and validated sources; to understand whom their role in the net. Students will research and annotate their findings on Google Docs and that way they will take advantage of all the tools they have in one space.

2) Design – The students will design with some guidance in groups in a collaborative way a mental maps or in any other type of organizer: who they are in the net and the positive and negative impacts they have in their daily lives when it’s usage. Students will use any mental map maker of their choice to highlight their knowledge understanding on written or visual form according to their learning style.

3) Plan- Students will evaluate the proper Digital Citizenship when using the net and will produce with some guidance using Google Docs, a storyboard for a (1-2 minute video). Students may choose what theme according to their interest they would like to teach others about Digital Citizenship. Students may analyse and plan the presentation freely on the theme selected that displays the tech era they live in today and recommendations.

4) Create – Students will videotape the scenes in teams following the storyboard an will edit these in any application of program of their choice.

5) Evaluate – Students will evaluate the video created against the design specifications and will also reflect if the final product (the video), had an impact of the viewers. Students will be asked to make an assessment to students using Google Forms, Today’s Meet or Socrative.com to show to their peers their instant knowledge an feedback on the theme.

Three years from now:

I will continue working with Google Apps and Chrome to be show different applications and tools to give students the technology skills that can be used for other classes and their every day lives.

Technology: Google Apps, Chrome, Cloud Computing and Mobile Device (BYOD )and remote labs.

1) Investigation – Using different search engines and Pinterest to research the following concepts: Digital Dossier, Digital Citizenship, Digital Dossier and Digital Immigrant. Students will receive some guidance on how to select appropriate and validated sources; to understand whom their role in the net. Students will research and annotate their findings on Google Docs and that way they will take advantage of all the tools they have in one space. Students will also create an account on Diigo, to start building up their online resources.

2) Design – The students will design with some guidance in groups in a collaborative way, a short visual with words using the application or program of their choice of their understanding on: who they are in the net and the positive and negative impacts they have in their daily lives when it’s usage.

3) Plan- Students will evaluate the proper Digital Citizenship when using the net and will produce a Google Hangout of five to eight minutes of their knowledge and expertise on the unit theme and will share it to the class.

4) Create – Students will create a video, site, magazine, radio station, etc of all their findings with the use of any application of their choice.

5) Evaluate – Students will evaluate the created against the design specifications and will also reflect if the final product, had an impact of the viewers. Students will be asked to make an assessment to students using Google Forms, Today’s Meet or Socrative.com to show to their peers their instant knowledge and feedback of the theme.

I feel ready to be part of this learning and teaching transition. I believe that the exposure with applications and technology tools and devices are important for this 21st Century Global Education. Therefore, "In all aspects of school life students are encouraged to love learning, live purposefully and to become responsible, contributing citizens of the world". I am sure that with my guidance, students will be able to be ready for this 21st Century Learning that goes beyond the classroom doors.

References
New media Consortium.(2013) Horizon Report 2013, K-12 Edition. Retrieved From HZ NMC Horizon Report:http://www.nmcorg/pdf/2013-horizon-report-k12.pdf

The American School Foundation.(2014). Mission and Vision. Retrieved from the American School Foundation. Education Global citizens for a ChangingWorlds:http//www.asf.edu.mx/about/mission-and-vision/index.aspx