Online Course Design Ponderings

Blended learning is a common course design due to the accessibility of technology within our schools. Every student in my middle school has a school-issued Chromebook and access to numerous digital platforms. We do not have textbooks, so as a content team, we have to create our own courses and lesson plans based on what is available from our district and the online community. Designing a blended course on electricity for gifted 8th-grade students has been a rewarding yet challenging experience.  This course consists of PhET and Gizmos simulations, an online circuit builder program, hands-on exploration, a flipped lesson, numerous collaboration experiences (both face-to-face and online), and a final project. While the goal was to increase engagement and deepen conceptual understanding, I encountered a few difficulties, mainly because some of the delivery methods were new or not something I typically do with my students. One of the biggest hurdles was using technology that offered th...

This lesson digs into digital storytelling for both instructional and assessment purposes. Students deepen their understanding of a concept, but storytelling encourages students to develop their creativity and communication skills. The concept of digital storytelling is not new to me as an educator, but it is not something I use frequently. Students record themselves during our Nuclear Energy Debate unit, but we do not do many other storytelling activities. I have used the website Storyboard That in the past as an enrichment activity, not an assessment. Using a rubric will allow students to express their understanding, stretch their creativity, and let me assess their knowledge. All of my students have 1:1 school-issued Chromebooks. These Chromebooks can access the Storyboard That website. Currently, my students only have access to the free version, which limits the images, voice recording aspect, and a few other features. PhET is a free virtual simulation software available to all st...

    I am Kim Lockhart, a doctoral student at the American College of Education. This blog will be a place for me to reflect on my learning during the Technology-Driven Curriculum and Social Media course. I will also post work from various course assignments and discuss how I currently integrate technology into my classroom and how I plan to use concepts from this course to enhance my teaching. Reflecting on the learning that has occurred during this lesson and throughout this technology course has given me insight into the importance of using digital tools to enhance teaching and learning. As I compile this professional ePortfolio, I was able to revisit and reflect upon discussions and assignments.           Reflection on teaching practices is crucial for professional growth, improving instruction, and student academic success (Larrivee, 2020). Many of these assignments have challenged my way of teaching and thinking. Other assignments have confi...