Module 7 Technology

How can I facilitate a student-centered classroom?
To facilitate a student-centered classroom, I will, first, need to be able to change my role. I need to be able to allow the students to be in charge of their learning, and I take on the supporting role. I am there to provide positive feedback, make suggestions, and assist if needed. The classroom becomes an active learning environment with the students working collaboratively. Through collaboration they develop confidence, problem solving skills, leadership roles, and enjoy learning. The use of unit and essential questions provide the opportunity to help develop the thought process. To help implement this new teaching style, rubrics, checklists, printed directions, and scoring guides will be provided as a packet. They will be used to guide the students on their learning adventure.

How can I use technology to support my instructional practice?
Technology is at the core of our project. The students will be developing skills in the use of Microsoft Word, Publisher, and Excel. They will learn practices necessary for searching the internet for research. The inclusion of developing a wiki and blog site increases the development of 21st century skills. Our own development of a wiki provides my partner and I with an accessible location for all the components of the unit. Eventually, the unit could be all completed through the use of the computer.

Through the development of the student sample and our wiki, I have increased my own technological knowledge. Each module seemed to introduce another step to the development of a student-centered classroom, providing a variety of methods. The class made me look at learning in a different, but effective way.