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1. Were you aware of these standards for K-6?

I was not originally aware of the Indiana Department of Education Academic Computer Sciences standards for kindergartners through 2nd grade.

2. How might you implement one of these standards in your classroom?

The following standard is one that I can clearly imagine using in my future classroom with my students:

K-2.PA.2 "Create developmentally appropriate multimedia products with support from teachers, family members, or student partners."

I have always loved the idea of keeping student portfolios and with advanced digital media and children today becoming so technologically advanced, I do not think that there is any reason to not introduce digital portfolios in kindergarten. With the help of the teacher, aids, librarians, older students and families, kindergarten students can create and design their own digital portfolios that they will hopefully maintain until they graduate from high school. The aim is to help students take greater pride and responsibility in their learning and projects, have a developmental tool to refer to, and familiarize students with the educational purposes of and seemingly limitless possibilities  of technology and computers.

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1. Please indicate the grade level and subject area for an academic performance standard and explain how you might integrate computers, digital devices, and/or social media to effectively teach that particular standard.

The grade level I chose is kindergarten and the subject area for an academic performance standard is English/Language Arts.

Standard: K.W.4- "Apply the writing process to –

With support, revise writing by adding simple details; review (edit) writing for format and conventions (e.g., correct spelling of simple words, capitalization of the first word of the sentence).

Use available technology to produce and publish writing."

How I plan to include computers and digital technology to effectively teach this standard is to introduce students to Book Creator, an app that does exactly that- creates ebooks!

2. What technology would you integrate? How? What would you expect your students to be able to do with the technology? How do you think it might improve the learning experience and/or the teaching experience?

Book Creator is an app that is compatible with personal devices and tablets as well as accessible online. I plan to allow students access to classroom computers, including desktops and/or tablets. The most important aspect here is to model expectations and proper use of the app. Once students are familiar with what is expected of them, I will encourage students to create, design, edit, produce, and publish ebooks related to class material and personal interests. I believe Book Creator has the ability to improve learning and teaching by giving students the freedom to express themselves in their writing, take responsibility and ownership of their learning, and demonstrate how technology can be used for creative, intellectual, and educational purposes.

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1. Explain why/how the tools are useful to you in your ELED classroom (now or in the future).

I personally do not have a Twitter or an Instagram, but I do have a Facebook so I explored the Facebook link provided! Of course the most recent post was an invitation to celebrate digital learning day 2019! This tool (and even the other two) will be useful to me in my future ELED classroom because of the access I have to information about upcoming professional development opportunities, connections with other teachers, help and advice from other educators, and more.

2. Connect what you learned to one or more of the objectives for this module.

This learned information applies to one of the objectives from week 2 of this module-

"Students will become familiar with and discuss two different instructional models of new media and tech-mediated instruction (TPACK and Digital Literacy) "

How this applies to TPACK and Digital Literacy is modeling technological responsibility, knowledge, and awareness.

3. How might these resources help you improve your instructional practices in an elementary classroom?

These resources have the ability to improve my instructional practice by ensuring that I do not fall into the trap of familiarity. Instead, I can constantly be referring to resources provided to improve my instructional strategies and overall performance to foster an enriching learning environment for the children.

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1. Explain why/how the tools are useful to you in your ELED classroom (now or in the future).

Symbaloo seems like such a fantastic tool! I'm beginning to realize just how many fantastic resources exist, which has been a bit overwhelming, but I do get very excited when I've discovered a source that I feel confident I can include in my future classroom! I am a huge advocate of family, community, and school partnerships and Symbaloo seems like a very appropriate tool to create an online community for that purpose. I also really loved the Pinterest boards!! I spend way too much time on Pinterest as it is, but this resource is definitely time well spent. I am always looking for resources to expand my knowledge and it's reassuring to have credible resources to go to when I have questions and concerns that need answered.

2. Connect what you learned to one or more of the objectives for this module.

This information applies to the objective in week 2 of module two-

"Students will identify performance standards related to computer implementation within the ELED classroom"

The Pinterest board especially relates to this objective because performance standards are outlined repeatedly in numerous boards. Digital citizenship and digital responsibility are a great deal and the sooner teachers can pass on this information, the better.

3. What resource(s) might you try in your classroom now or in the future? Why? Explain.

In the future I can certainly see myself referring to the Pinterest boards for research-based information as well as feedback from credible, experienced educators. As for Symbaloo, I would love to use this tool to communicate with families and include them in the day-to-day lives of their children! I would also like to use it as a collaborative tool amongst me and my colleagues!

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1. Explain why/how the tools are useful to you in your ELED classroom (now or in the future).

I think the eLearning Day Program is incredible and such a great way to help students not miss a day of learning due to weather or other circumstances that keep them from coming to school. Allowing this program in schools will help erase the need for rushed or missed instruction as a result of needing to make-up for lost time. Modeling to students what should be done is critical as well as communicating to families how they can help.

2. Connect what you learned to one or more of the objectives for this module.

This type of innovation tool applies to the standard found in week 3 of this module-

"Students will explore and examine curricular applications of instructional tools including: communication software; spreadsheet and database tools; multimedia tools; presentation software"

Although the teachers in not an active component of the eLearning Day Program, it still serves as an instructional tool and should be treated as such. Again, I think modeling, communication and practice are very important for proper use.

3. How might you use the resources on this page to effectively teach in your classroom?

I may not directly use the IDOE eLearning Day Program because I live in Nashville, TN and cannot implement the same standards, however I am certainly interested in implementing or advocating for implementation because the great rewards and benefits students receive as a result.

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1. Share ONE digital tech/new media instructional tool that you either want to implement in your classroom OR already do implement in your classroom (not from the IDOE site).

Last semester I was introduced to MERLOT and was absolutely blown away by the seemingly infinite number of resources available. MERLOT offers tools for educators such as lesson plans, lesson materials, learning exercises, and much more. Searches can be refined to details such as discipline, material type, audience, and technical format.

2. Why do you use it? How does it help you effectively teach? How does it improve the learning experience for your students?

I will use MERLOT as a tool for professional development and engagement as well as reference tool for expanding activities based on necessary criteria such as readiness, interest, and learning profile. Because of the large number of academic resources available, this tool will help me effectively teach by giving me the insight and knowledge needed to consistently improve and provide a stable yet enriched learning environment for my students. In this way, the learning experience of my students will be enhanced because of my ability to access and include successful activities that other educators have shared via MERLOT.

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Article on using Book Creator in the Classroom

https://www.edtechteam.com/blog/2017/03/little-authors-book-creator-in/

Book Creator Link

https://bookcreator.com