12.0 Design and Management
of Learning Environments

Students must demonstrate understanding of how
to create learning environments that complement the use of technology in teaching.

Reflection:  As a teacher it is important for me to get students interested in learning.  One way to do this is use technology when I am teaching and allow students to use technology whenever it is possible.   Students that get interested in learning early will most likely succeed in life, and with technology the way it is now, we should be able to get students interested early
  
12.1 Develop performance tasks that require students to:
(a) locate and analyze information as well as draw conclusions and
(b) use a variety of available and appropriate media to communicate results clearly

Evidence / Artifact:
http://paws.wcu.edu/tc19434/soil.html  -  This web site that I designed for my soil unit has a lot of information for the students to use when they are doing research and when they finish doing work.  I have added a lot of games that students can learn from.  There are soil quizzes and a soil scavenger hunt also.  The lesson plans for the entire unit are also going to be on the site, so parents will be able to see what their children are doing in school and the students will be able to use the site to study at home.

Reflection:  This web site was designed this past summer when I went to ASU for ARTTA.  That was one of the most useful seminars that I've gone to since I've been at WCU because it was interactive and we did work on something that was important to us.  This web site has a lot of information that students can use, and it is designed especially for students to use, so it is kid friendly. I hope that it will teach students about soil and also allow them to have fun while learning about soil and technology also.

12.2 Use computers and other technologies as available to effectively and appropriately to collect information about student learning.

Evidence / Artifact:  While I was at ASU I learned about a program called Kidspiration, it was very helpful when we designed the unit plan because it makes the graphic organizers with the information that students put into it.  It is very user friendly, so students will have no problem using it if the school has a subscription to it.

Reflection:  This program is very helpful, it allows students and teachers to make graphic organizers with pictures and words very quickly and can be changed easily.  There is another product called Inspiration for adults, and that is just as helpful when making graphic organizers.

12.3 Use computers and other technologies as available effectively and appropriately to communicate information in a variety of formats on student learning to colleagues, parents, and others.

Evidence / Artifact:  I will provide the web site address for my soil unit to other teachers in the school and parents will also have access to the web site.  Before I start my unit I will be sending a letter home with my students telling their parents about my unit and also informing them of the web site address so they understand what the students are doing in class.  If they have any questions I provide my email address on the web site for parents to email me.

Reflection:  It is very important for parents and other teachers to be able to communicate with me and other teachers, and I feel that if parents know what we are doing in class and can see the lessons ahead of time and know what to expect in the weeks during the unit.  

12.4 Create physical settings that support active student involvement, inquiry, and collaboration.

Evidence / Artifact: Most of the lessons that I will be doing will require students to work in groups or at least be sitting together so that they can talk about what they are doing.  Since I am teaching third grade we do a lot of group work and I am trying to keep a sense of community  by allowing students to talk about what they are doing and help each other out. 

Reflection:  Students need to feel a sense of community and I think that if students are able to work in groups to complete a task or help each other work complete the task then they will feel like they are a part of something important.  Students need to interact with each other, especially at the younger ages, when they are just starting in school and I feel that working in groups will allow students to be active and learn from each other.

12.5 Employ technology (where available and appropriate) to organizational and management strategies that support active student involvement, inquiry, and collaboration.

Evidence / Artifact:  As stated in other areas, I have a web site that I will be using to allow students and parents see what we are doing and know what we are doing in class everyday.  I will eventually include all of the subjects that I am teaching and the homework that the students have assigned everyday.  This will allow students to be able to go online and see if they have homework and see what they miss if they miss a day, it will also allow parents to keep up with their students daily work and know what they should be doing for homework. 

Reflection:  Technology is a huge part of student's lives now and I feel that parents should be able to see what their children have to do for homework.  It is a way to include parents even if they can not come into school to volunteer or help their child with their homework all the time, they will at least be able to see what they are doing in school and they will know if their children have homework or a test that they need to do or study for. 

12.6 Utilize available resources including satellite, cable, wireless, and ITFS (Instructional Television Fixed Service) to develop and deliver curriculum.

Evidence / Artifact:  I will be using power point to deliver a lot of information and the students will also be using power point to deliver information that they will be researching.  Our classroom has cable in it, and I will also be using videos that come from cable to show my class to help discuss soil. 

Reflection:  Power Point and cable/videos are both big resources in the classroom,  although it is hard to find videos about soil I have found some, and plan on using them to teach my unit and reinforce the ideas that we have been learning.

12.7 Select and create learning experiences that are appropriate for curriculum goals, relevant to learners, based upon principles of effective teaching and learning, incorporate the use of media and technology for teaching where appropriate and available, and support learner expression in a variety of media using a variety of media communication tools.

Evidence / Artifact:  http://paws.wcu.edu/tc19434/soil.html 
    The use of Power Point in my soil unit will help reinforce the research that the class is doing by going over the vocabulary from the unit when needed, the students will be designing the Power Point slides and I will incorporate them  all into one presentation. 

Reflection:  It is important for students to feel like they are a part of something, and I feel that if they are all building Power Point slides that will go together into one big presentation that the entire class will see, then they will feel more responsible for the work and they will have a sense of pride when they see their work on the screen.

Home   Introduction   10.0 Curriculum   11.0 Subject Specific Knowledge   12.0 Design and Management of Learning Environments 
13.0 Child Development, Learning and Diversity   14.0 Social, Legal and Ethical Issues  Links