Spotlight on Emering Technology: Online Learning in K-12 Schools

EDUC - 6715I - 5
New and Emerging Technologies
Instructor: Jacqueline Derby


Promoting creative thinking in the classroom is an important factor in my teaching style. The use of technology is very common in my everyday lessons. Because of this, my students feel comfortable using a computer, creating a Power Point and presenting a Voice Thread Project. When visiting the web-based course management systems, I was able to reflect on how teachers may implement these tools in their classrooms.


The needs of students vary from classroom to classroom, student to student, and because of this, all kinds of instructional tools are being used. With the course management systems, teachers are able to present and post information on the Internet for their students in an easy way. These tools allow students to “select, combine, coordinate their cognitive strategies in connections to the new knowledge and prompted to reflect on their strategy use, extending their metacognitive knowledge with strategy and capacity beliefs” (Boekaerts, 1997).


Students today are very familiar with technology tools and its lingo. Children today spend more time on the computer than they do on written assignments. As a teacher, it is important to continue to grow and learn as well, in this area, so that our students are up to date with these technological tools.


Students are more engaged with lessons when it involves them to be creative and to think outside the box with the use of technology. As a teacher, I feel that if my students are succeeding with the use of technology within the lessons, why not assess them with the use of technology as well. “Millennial students might be disappointed by the absence-or the uninspiring use-of technology to enhance instruction, but they also must be disappointed by the lagging use of technology to assess and measure their leaning” (Howell, S. 2003).


•How are students still learning how to read and write if all they do is use a computer?
–Students are actively engaged. There are many online tools to assist students with their various needs. Every student learns differently and with websites such as http://www.tumblebooks.com/ where students can hear stories, read stories for themselves and answer comprehension questions about what they read, can assist students with their needs.
–For online writing tips with students, there are many online sites to challenge students throughout the writing process, help them create stories with the use of a prompt and practice grammar skills. These websites, http://www.pppst.com/ and http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/storystarters/storystarter1.htmhtm are just a few of great ones to get started with in your classroom.


•How can I assess my students with online tools?
–I progress monitor my class once a week in the areas of math and reading. The site I use is called http://www.aimsweb.com/. Here I can create a class list where I can chart and graph the progress my students are making.


•How can my students practice for assessments using online tools?
–There are many great assessment preparation sites such as http://www.prepdog.com/,
http://www.studyisland.com/, http://www.gamequarium.org/dir/Gamequarium/Math/Test_Prep//Math/Test_Prep/, and http://www.columbia.k12.mo.us/fie/jgerhart/MAP.htm#3mP.htm#3m


It is important for all students to learn and as teachers, it is our goal to make sure that we are reaching the needs of all of our learners. Using online tools only are beneficial to our students. We all want to see them find success!