TPACK lesson plan and reflection

Negative Integers Lesson Plan

Learner age- 4^th graders

Learner outcomes- learners will understand the concept of adding and subtracting integers

Assessment- practice problems

-          The lesson will begin by introducing the students to the tight rope walker analogy. This will take one to two minutes

-          I will have my students draw a number line with ten positive and ten negative numbers. two to three minutes

-          Next I will give an example problem to the class and relate it to the hot and cold cube analogy. This will take one minute.(-4+2)

-          I will next give a more difficult problem to relate to the analogy. This will take one minute. ( -2- -3)

-          The next part of the lesson I will introduce a problem that does not work with this analogy and have the class discuss why it doesn’t, so they know when to use the analogy.

The use of technology didn’t occur much in my lesson because I had an activity and a time constraint. Also, the website I wanted to use (nlvm.usu.edu) did not work because java is not supported on the computer connected to the smartboard. If I had had time to try out my website ahead of time I would have known and downloaded java to be used.

The website I wanted to use would have enhanced the learning of my students because it gives visuals and practice for number lines. In the subject of number sets there are a lot of resources for visual aids; however the concept of less than nothing is very hard for students to grasp and understand. I believe, in this instance, the teacher has to be able to explain in an easier way how to understand what is happening. I and a fellow classmate both used analogies that work for adding or subtracting two integers.

For this specific content my strategies are: give an analogy, involve my students, ask them questions and try to help them make sense of it, and practice. For this content an analogy is appropriate because it is abstract and for most students, they have trouble understanding that you can have less than nothing, the analogy shows an easier way of thinking about it. Drawing out the number line on the floor engages a classroom and makes them want to participate which makes the students interested in what is to be taught.

Students from different ethnic backgrounds and different social status might have previous knowledge of this and know how to solve the problem, but they will most likely not understand why we do what we do. Even if my lesson is a review for some students, they will better understand the why and how when I am finished teaching and they can help others in group work which will further their understanding even more.

The website I was planning to use would have given visual and practice for my students. Using this technology will help them to know if they do understand the concept, and if not I will be present for them to ask questions. I can even explain different analogies or teach them differently, whichever suits my students best.

I believe in this situation the best way to implement the smartboard would be to write class notes on it, draw examples, etc. and post them to my class website for the students to access anywhere if they need a reminder of what we did or were absent.

Without the use of technology my students could not have access to the notes unless they took some themselves, which middle school students never do. Without the use of tech in my classroom the students would have no opportunity to be able to remember what we did in detail.

The use of technology didn’t occur much in my lesson because I had an activity and a time constraint. Also, the website I wanted to use (nlvm.usu.edu) did not work because java is not supported on the computer connected to the smartboard. If I had had time to try out my website ahead of time I would have known and downloaded java to be used.

The website I wanted to use would have enhanced the learning of my students because it gives visuals and practice for number lines. In the subject of number sets there are a lot of resources for visual aids; however the concept of less than nothing is very hard for students to grasp and understand. I believe, in this instance, the teacher has to be able to explain in an easier way how to understand what is happening. I and a fellow classmate both used analogies that work for adding or subtracting two integers.

For this specific content my strategies are: give an analogy, involve my students, ask them questions and try to help them make sense of it, and practice. For this content an analogy is appropriate because it is abstract and for most students, they have trouble understanding that you can have less than nothing, the analogy shows an easier way of thinking about it. Drawing out the number line on the floor engages a classroom and makes them want to participate which makes the students interested in what is to be taught.

Students from different ethnic backgrounds and different social status might have previous knowledge of this and know how to solve the problem, but they will most likely not understand why we do what we do. Even if my lesson is a review for some students, they will better understand the why and how when I am finished teaching and they can help others in group work which will further their understanding even more.

The website I was planning to use would have given visual and practice for my students. Using this technology will help them to know if they do understand the concept, and if not I will be present for them to ask questions. I can even explain different analogies or teach them differently, whichever suits my students best.

I believe in this situation the best way to implement the smartboard would be to write class notes on it, draw examples, etc. and post them to my class website for the students to access anywhere if they need a reminder of what we did or were absent.

Without the use of technology my students could not have access to the notes unless they took some themselves, which middle school students never do. Without the use of tech in my classroom the students would have no opportunity to be able to remember what we did in detail.

3D printing technology

3D printing technology is an extremely cool resource. We are able to think of something, design it, and then create it! Only one problem, how can teachers use this resource to help their students? It makes sense to have if you are in space and need to built a bolt to fix a satellite, or to have a business that creates a persons design, but how can we use this in the classroom setting?

 Utilizing 3D printing can be a great tool for a classroom. For example, a physics class can now build the problems they have in the book to visualize and measure. Another example is for a STEM class, if the class is exploring puzzles the class can design and print a 3d puzzle of a building. An English class can make a model of the story and its setting. Even a Spanish class can utilize this tool by creating skulls for Day of the Dead.

3D printing can be a difficult resource to implement into a classroom, but if the teacher studies, researches, and looks for ideas in every direction this resource can and will be extremely effective. 3d printing will also keep a class interested and wanting to work on their homework and coming to class everyday. 3d printing will make a class fun, which keeps students involved and ready to learn.

TPACK

TPACK, technological pedagogy and content knowledge, is essential for the classroom today. In todays society, technology is more essential than student knowledge. Because of the internet any information can be accessed within seconds on a Google search; in order to survive in the ever so changing world one needs to know how to use the resource of the web. What we should be teaching in schools today is how to find something on the internet, how to research, how to learn to adapt. Yes, content is important and needs to be taught regardless of technology; however, technology is our greatest resource and should be used and relied on.

The purpose of high school is to prepare you for life and for college. Today, college requires an understanding and usage of technology. In order to prepare students for this jump from paper to digital teachers need to teach, with expertise, ways of using tech. At BYU-Idaho all the classes have their content online; At this college you turn in your homework on a website you created or on the class website to be graded digitally (even math).

the argument against technology that it is relied on to much is valid, but it does not change the fact that one will have to use it in their life. Computers are the next generation and we need to help our students prepare for life. TPACK is a program and concept that we need to learn and implement in order to teach technology for this preparation.

technology in todays' society

 Technology in society today

               

                Good? Bad? What I mean is, what is the point of technology? Technology has been very good for society, but it has also been bad. The unfathomable information that can be accessed within seconds or less is an exceptional resource for anyone to access. However, technology has also caused humans to become distant from each other and less social. The point of technology, the most important part of it, is its ability to help us learn.

                The use of technology is growing and has grown rapidly in the last decade. This increase has led to schools implementing tech into their classrooms. It has given humans better ways to communicate with others. Technology has been great for society and the expansion of our knowledge in a much faster and efficient way.

                The increase in technology has also harmed society. The interaction between individuals has gone virtual. When one has the need to talk to someone they send a text or email instead of meeting them face to face, even if it’s across the dinner table. Technology is the sole reason behind the decreased human to human interactions.

                In regards to Albert Einstein’s quote about technology, saying it will create idiots, I disagree with him. I believe that technology has helped learning in a classroom. For example, If I watch a movie I will remember what I saw and heard versus reading with which I have to reread two or three times to understand. Tablets have also helped learning because now it is more interactive than at any time in the past. That is why technology is good for todays’ society.