Week 6 - Assignment 4

Edmodo is a great tool to use in the classroom. It is basically a free social network site for teachers and their students. It is set up similarly to facebook and is quite easy to navigate. Edmodo offers a great way for teachers to communicate with their students. An ELA teacher can use Edmodo to help enhance their teaching and student learning. They can set up their class and send an invite to the students to join the group. Teachers can post notes, assignments, or any other information they need to for their students. It is simple to create a quick quiz using the site. There is a calendar where teachers can post due dates and other important information. There is also a library section, where the teacher can add documents or internet resources for student use. This would make it easier for students to do research. They wouldn’t have to spend hours searching the internet, because the teacher can steer them in the right direction by offering website to go to. Students are also able to comment on each other’s posts. This is a great way to easily create group feedback. Students often feel more comfortable when they are sending a message on a computer, compared to when they are face to face with someone. This site could be used either in class or when the students are at home. Students sometimes forget to write down assignments when they leave the school for the day. Using Edmodo, a student will always be able to know what the homework was. Students will also always have a way to interact with each other from class. There are many benefits to using Edmodo in class.

Week 6 - Assignment 3

Here is my PowerPoint on my game scenario/script. I uploaded it to my dropbox so hopefully you can view it.

Week 6 - Assignment 2

Using games in the classroom can be a very effective teaching tool if done correctly. Games should be used to reinforce what is being learned, not purely for entertainment. Games allow students to develop their new literacies skills, while becoming more accustomed with new technologies. Students are more active learners when they are participating in something they enjoy. An increasing number of students play games in their free time. Teachers need to capitalize on the students’ desire for games by incorporating them into their lessons.

Week 6 - Assignment 1

Teachers are using games in their classrooms to enhance student learning. Gamestar Mechanic is being used to teach students not only how to design games but also how to develop stories. One lesson that I found was done by a teacher to incorporate storyboarding as an element of game design. He had the students develop a storyboard of what the levels of the game would be. Students had to draw their storyboard before they could begin designing their game. This forces the students to fully think through their story. They then had to share their storyboards by talking through them in a group setting. This is a great way for students to work on their writing skills and creativity. The teacher would also have the students reflect on the process to see how the final game compared to their original storyboard. Students could create a story based on any subject. During the writing of their story, students would have to think of 3 main events that will be used in their game design. The three main events would be the basis for their levels of the game.

Week 5

Technology and Adolescence

This article is from the Reading Research Quarterly and was published by the International Reading Association. The title of the article is “Enhancing Adolescent Literacy Achievement through Integration of Technology in the Classroom.” This article looks at 7 areas for further research to improve adolescent literacy that are of interest for policymakers. The seven areas are (1) state-offered virtual courses and delivery systems, (2) communication tools, (3) artificial intelligence, (4) word processors, (5) new literacy practices, (6) professional development, (7) technology for parents. The article discusses Connecticut’s education system, but the same can be true for New York. The reason I chose this article is because many of the areas discussed have significance to this course. The article points out that we need to adapt our teaching styles to the way students learn best. A growing number of students communicate using technology in their everyday life, and teachers need to utilize these technologies in their classroom. Reading this article further supports the use of technology in ELA classrooms.

Week 4 Assignment 2 - ELA Lesson

WORD WARP XTREME
Students will use iPads to play the game “Word Warp Xtreme”. They will play the game using the “Standard Mode” and try to achieve the highest score they can. Students will play a total of 10 rounds of the game.

Grade Level:
This game will be used in 4^th and 5^th grade to increase student literacy.

Common Core Standards and Learning Outcomes:
Reading Foundational Skills.4.3. Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words

Language.5.6. Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, including those that signal contrast, addition, and other logical relationships

Language.5.5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

Writing.4.1. Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.

Instructional Activities: The students will use the class iPads to play “Word Warp Xtreme”. Each student will play on standard mode for a total of 10 rounds. If a student is successful on a round they will move on to the next level. If a student is unsuccessful, they will restart the game. Every time a student plays a round, they must write down one word that they did not guess correctly and do not know the meaning of. After the ten rounds are completed, students must take their list of ten words and define them. To find the word definitions, students will use their iPad and the Dictionary app. Once completed, students must find a partner and share each word and definition with each other.

Assessment:
Students will once again work with their partner. Each group of students must take their list of 20 words and use them in sentences effectively. When all groups are finished, they will present their words to the class and explain what they have learned.

Debriefing:
Students will use their journals to reflect upon the new words that they have learned. Students must use at least 5 of the words in their reflection. Debriefing will also be done during their oral presentations to the class.

Cognitive Skills Cultivated:
This lesson will allow students to take their previous knowledge of vocabulary and build upon it. Not only will they be recalling information, but this lesson will allow them to learn the spelling of new words and their definitions.

New Literacies Cultivated:
Locate – Students will have to locate the definitions of the words that they are unfamiliar with from the game.

Evaluate – Students will have to evaluate the letters they are given in order to spell appropriate words.

Synthesize – Students will synthesize the meaning of the words in order to use them correctly in sentences.

Communicate – The game will allow students to communicate the words that they are unfamiliar with to their classmates.