Designing Engaging Lessons
Designing an engaging lesson plan is difficult. With the use of technology, traditional learning activities can seem new, fun, and exciting to our students. Differentiating instruction is always important in maintaining the interest of our students, and technology is just one more tool that can be used. Blogs can replace traditional paper journals, and not only provide a more efficient way of doing the same thing but also takes it one step further. Students can peer review each others work, and can submit things from home or while away for one reason or another.
Also, Webquests are a great tool for teaching engaging lessons. They outline the lesson, but the student must navigate the different pages in order to complete the task. These are also useful because the student is able to see the information laid out for them in an organized manner, and refer back to the pages if they run into a component of the task that they are not sure about. Webquests also provide a great way of assessing whether a student is self regulated or needs interaction to succeed. Below is a first grade social studies webquest:
http://questgarden.com/89/12/7/091027162835/
Also, Webquests are a great tool for teaching engaging lessons. They outline the lesson, but the student must navigate the different pages in order to complete the task. These are also useful because the student is able to see the information laid out for them in an organized manner, and refer back to the pages if they run into a component of the task that they are not sure about. Webquests also provide a great way of assessing whether a student is self regulated or needs interaction to succeed. Below is a first grade social studies webquest:
http://questgarden.com/89/12/7/091027162835/
Technology Rich Lesson Plans
Technology rich lessons provide a great support to traditional lessons already in place, and also provide new ways of teaching that were not possible before. The following are a few great example of technology tools and how they can be integrated into the classroom for more effective learning.
Webquests walks students through their assignment step by step, and includes the rubric of exactly how the student will be graded. The students learn the content and at the same time become more comfortable navigating through the webpage. The students are able to refer back to the instructions and self propel themselves through the lesson without step by step instruction from the teacher. Also, teachers can share webquests with each other easily because they are self sustaining.
Blogs are also amazing tools. These can be used in place of paper journals by requiring post be made online. Students may also read their peers posts and comment on them as an on going peer review. Blogs provide for students to continue work while they are sick or out of school for any reason. Blogs also create great new ways to assess affect through peer reviews, and to assess students creative writing ability. Below is the blog I created for my mock 5th grade language arts class along with 2 assignments and 2 extra credit activities.
http://jessicahighstreet.21classes.com/weblogCategory/stc389bt7p2i?slsid=1260585259445&p=0
The privacy options are great so it will require you to sign in to view the blog. Use the username and password SampleStudent00 to log in.
Webquests walks students through their assignment step by step, and includes the rubric of exactly how the student will be graded. The students learn the content and at the same time become more comfortable navigating through the webpage. The students are able to refer back to the instructions and self propel themselves through the lesson without step by step instruction from the teacher. Also, teachers can share webquests with each other easily because they are self sustaining.
Blogs are also amazing tools. These can be used in place of paper journals by requiring post be made online. Students may also read their peers posts and comment on them as an on going peer review. Blogs provide for students to continue work while they are sick or out of school for any reason. Blogs also create great new ways to assess affect through peer reviews, and to assess students creative writing ability. Below is the blog I created for my mock 5th grade language arts class along with 2 assignments and 2 extra credit activities.
http://jessicahighstreet.21classes.com/weblogCategory/stc389bt7p2i?slsid=1260585259445&p=0
The privacy options are great so it will require you to sign in to view the blog. Use the username and password SampleStudent00 to log in.
