Reflection 2

Mapping out the TPACK/SAMR framework is an interesting way of building a lesson.  I am not used to this format.  It is difficult to build in a traditional music/choir lesson.  This is why I chose the lesson to do a performance review.  Using and building on technology and it's use for students in a choir class is limited.  I feel this is a good way for students to present their performance reviews in front of the class.  They can stream their iMovie, Power Point, or You Tube video using the classroom Apple TV.  This way is more entertaining and creative than just typing a response and submitting it to Canvas.  I think it provides a way for students to really make their reviews more personal in ways that normal presentations or reports cannot.  Therefore, this add an additional layer for teachers to inspire their students as well.  I, as the teacher, provide my own iMovie performance review as an example.  I like being more of a designer to create this lesson and method for a performance review lesson.  

I hope this lesson is a good example of teacher creativity, seeing that the possibilities are endless and experience is invaluable. I would rather see my students learning from and collaborating with their peers, opposed to having to listen to me lecture and talk at them. My lesson is novel because it provides students with a unique opportunity to showcase their work and receive valuable feedback from others outside of the classroom, including professionals in the entertainment industry. My lesson is also effective because it is relevant to "real world" practices found in any industry, not just theatre. As for wholeness, this project has a necessary structure but allows for organic growth within each group. All this being said, I have laid out a framework that should direct all students and groups to properly reach their end goal without micromanaging, achieving the role of "teacher as designer."

I feel the decisions I made for this lesson are an example of teacher creativity through the use of optional technology. This lesson gives the students the options to use technology for quizzes and worksheets, as well as to listen to performances or to do everything hard copy/in person. I believe this demonstrates creativity because as a band teacher, I feel technology can be used more than it is currently. However, I believe technology shouldn’t be as heavy as it is in other subjects. I believe by giving students more options in this lesson, you will see the students learning through different means while still getting the overall lesson objectives in a class that technology isn’t as prominent in. The decisions have been an example of teachers as designers through the use of different sources of technology for performances. The fact that students could record live performances and use that to analyze later or allow other students to analyze the same thing who couldn’t be there is incredible. While other classes and subjects could incorporate more, this small step for a band class could do the same amount at the other classes. 

My choices for this lesson were based off of different levels of technology I could have in a classroom, I started with minimal and moved up to having whatever I wanted, and I think that is apparent in each level of SAMR I wrote about. I think this lesson has some repetition but changes scenery enough to allow for a good lesson. I think looking at options outside of the basic mold helped me think as a designer.

As I worked through this plan, I wanted to make sure it would allow students to work with technology and create something using their knowledge and creativity. I believe this plan allows for both with students in the classroom. By allowing students to create their own images, it gives them a freedom of choice as well allowing the teacher to see each students individual abilities. This lesson is effective by having the students create the image to first check their understanding of what the shape is or what an angle is. By manipulating these images, it allows students to build a further understanding of how the shapes are built and how different angles play a part in that. In terms of this plan being whole, it allows for students with a computer program that can be easily learned and be very useful in learning many parts of geometry. It is also very organized and easy to complete builds on the program. With all of this in mind, I was build this plan thinking deeply about how each part would affect and benefit the students being taught. I also had to tweak and rethink of how I wanted to approach different parts of this lesson to make it the best I can. 

Teachers as designers How have your decisions in the process been an example of teacher creativity? As a Social Studies instructor in an Virtual & Online School Environment (Indiana Connections Career Academy” our/my Pedagogical approach focuses on giving our online students “traditional” classroom instructional experiences via google classroom. Using online google slides with embedded video access, google forms for demonstration of understanding, choices to demonstrate understanding by supplying self-evaluation questions regarding individual mastery levels and breakout rooms for discreet and 1-1 direct instruction opportunities. I believe that my lesson plan is “Novel” by way of providing a variety of examples of “Indiana Boarding School” primary source materials such as Narratives, Photographs & added video that depicts ways in which Native Americans experienced forced “Assimilation” and ask students to collaborate and discuss different points of view regarding Westward Expansion. The lesson demonstrates “Effective” use of technology and pedagogical formats in that students are provided with a variety of ways to receive and experience content knowledge regarding the Westward Expansion and the Native American Experience while still adhering to structured learning and assessment options to gage learning and demonstrate knowledge and practice expressing what they learned through essay reflections and class discussions. The lesson demonstrates "Wholeness" and "Understandability" by the way students are allowed to view primary sources, utilized Historical Analysis Questions provided by the National Archives and reflect upon the content, objectives, and essential questions drawn from US History State Standards in a way that is personal, meaningful and individualized based upon student abilities, independent critical thinking skills and ability to work through a variety of primary sources and points of view of major historical events that occurred in US History during the period of Westward Expansion. While provide traditional classroom level collaboration, discussions as well individualized support for students who need additional guidance and mastery support. "Teacher as Designer" is signified based up utilizing a variety of Primary Sources, Media, and various instructional and assessment practices that are available through the Zoom Classroom Setting such as Breakout Rooms, Video link embedded within google slides and Green light, Red Light, and Yellow Light Google Forms and Links that allow for students to evaluate their own mastery and allow for the teacher to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of students in the classroom via whole group, small group, or individualized instruction.  

My lesson shows an example of teacher creativity by incorporating different options for technology use into the lesson. This shows creativity because I am creating new ways for the students to be able to engage in the content that is being taught. My decisions made in the process of this lesson show an example of a teacher as a designer because I was able to design learning opportunities for my students that aren't typical learning opportunities that they've had in the past. I am able to design an opportunity for them to take ownership of their learning by making on a choice on how they want to show their learning and to be creative in demonstrating their knowledge of the standard. My lesson is Novel in that it is a different opportunity for the students to show their learning that they may not have had in past classes. My lesson is Effective in that the students are able to experience different strategies with the content to help them be able to master the standard and learning goals. My lesson is Whole in that it moves from being teacher-centered to student-centered while also giving them more creative ability in how they show their learning as the lesson progresses. 

I think one way my decisions have shown teacher creativity is by allowing for multiple modes of assessment. Knowing that not all children learn the same way and that they respond differently to various assessments, giving them multiple opportunities to show what they know and to grow on that learning is a creative way to get data without just using a paper and pencil test. The lesson is Novel in that escape rooms have been growing in popularity over the last several years. It's also Novel in that it is a fun, unexpected way of showing understanding of a math topic. My lesson is Effective because it teaches students two critical math standards that they will need for the rest of their lives. My lesson is Whole because it has meaning and complexity. My decisions have been an example of teacher as designer because of the backwards planning it takes to get 25 students to make escape rooms. The careful, thoughtful creation of each day's lesson plans to get to that final task must be in order and intentional.

During the process of this assignment, I have been able to see that I can design lessons that put the thinking and thought work on the student and not necessarily on the teacher. The more the student can think and grow and learn through trial and error the better they will understand the content. Because of this thought I believe that my lesson is novel, effective, and whole. I will use this thinking in the future to create lessons that incorporate all aspects of a child's life including technology to create new understanding of new material.

The term "Teachers are designers" makes me think that teachers are designing students future, but not in the terms of planning the future for them. Teachers are just progressing students to have a better future than what they would without school. The decisions I made in this process were an example of teacher creativity because as teachers we have to be creative when coming up with new ways to bring up topics. Teachers have to be ready to come up with a new plan on the spot.
This lesson is novel because students usually don't use technology that much for math skills. 
This lesson is effective because it helps students develop new skills. 
This lesson is whole because it touches on many different techniques to figure out addition up to 100.