INTASC+6

INTASC 6

Reflection of INTASC 6: Communication and Technology Given the fact that we will be teaching students who are so technologically advanced, it is very important that we learn to incorporate technology into the classroom. By incorporating the technology into the classroom, we are formulating a basic connection of communication between students and their work. Students today are surrounded by technology. Between their iPads, iPods, games, and other advances in technology, we find that their connection with the technological world can be our connection into their world. So how can we incorporate these technological abilities within the classroom? Within INTASC 6 we explore the methods of integrating technology and communication into the classroom in an effective manner. One way we can incorporate technology into the classroom is to use it in order to model information. Especially for students with IEPs and students who are considered to be more visual, this form of technology incorporation can be very effective. Another way technology is a great asset to incorporate into your classroom is for your lessons specifically. For many students, such as ELLs and students with physical and mental disabilities, the incorporation of technology can be key for communication. There is also the use of videos, the promethean board, flip cams and more. Also it is important for instructors to use the media center with their students. The assistance and instruction of the media specialist is also extremely beneficial. To incorporate communication within the classroom, we also find many elements of importance for our students. As educators, we need to communicate efficiently with writing and speaking. This will help our students develop a stronger ability to write and speak more efficiently. One important aspect about communication, though, is to find that connection with your students. We must build good communication connections in the classroom. We might find that one way to incorporate this within a lesson is to become the questioner. It is more beneficial for students if the teacher performs as more of a facilitator of the lesson and the material. Students need to experience and build their own connections with the material, but supplying the answers will not pose as an effective instructional method to do so. Within technology and communication in INTASC 6, we are building students for success with the connections around them, and also by allowing them to formulate their own deeper connections.



Reflection A: “The teacher integrates instructional technology as appropriate to enrich learning opportunities.” Within INTASC 6, I have incorporated my Lord of the Flies unit plan to demonstrate my ability to use technology within my lessons. All throughout my unit plan, I have examples of PowerPoint presentations, movies, and computers for students who need them. I have incorporated the visual aids through the technology that will be extremely beneficial to my student’s learning. With the assistance of technology in the classroom, I am providing not only a different method of instruction, but I am also providing a connection for my students. Because students today are so engrossed in their technology, I have given them the opportunity to connect with the material on a level that they can enjoy. This will also lead to a more motivated class, and ultimately, a more positive impact on student learning. With careful planning and instruction, I have provided my students with PowerPoint presentations, that will help not only the auditory, but visual learners in the classroom, and I have also provided an opportunity for students to see the movie after they have read the novel. By presenting these opportunities, I have created many different forms of instruction and student learning that will best help and motivate my students to perform at the best of their academic ability.



Reflection B: “The teacher models effective written, oral, and non-verbal communication to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom for all students.” For my second artifact within INTASC 6, I have showcased my Micro-Teaching plan for the Literary Elements. This lesson has provided many examples of written, oral, and non-verbal communication to best help facilitate my student’s learning. As presented in the lesson plan, I have incorporated a PowerPoint, in which I will instruct and question students as we go along, a game to test their knowledge, so students can interact and compete against each other, and an independent assessment, in which they test their own understanding of the material. These examples best prove my understanding of INTASC 6 because I have not only encouraged an engaging lesson for my students, but I have facilitated many different forms of instructional communication to best help my students learn. This leads to a positive and effective learning environment because students were motivated throughout the entire lesson. They have many forms of interaction with the PowerPoint and the game, and then to test their understanding, they will be given a graphic organizer to best demonstrate their knowledge. All of these methods of instruction took different forms of planning, teaching, assessing, and analyzing on my behalf. When I decided to create a lesson on the Literary Elements, I had chosen to plan something that will be engaging for students in order to best help them retain the information. After reflecting upon my lesson and analyzing my students’ participation and performance on the lesson, I have found that these forms of instruction, whether together or separate, are extremely beneficial for student learning. I have found that the key to student’s exceptional performance and solid understanding of the material is the use of engaging and motivational lessons.