Technology Proposal Mid-Point Reflection

Having completed the first three steps of the Technology Proposal Plan, I feel that I am off to a good start! The process of identifying a problem or need was fairly easy for me as I am always trying to find more ways to make the curriculum in Accounting 1 more relevant and engaging for high school students. Thus, my plan entails incorporating active learning strategies and tools into the Accounting 1 course. This proposal aligns with my school's current initiatives as professional development for teachers has been structured around creating and implementing high quality assessments and Webb's Depth of Knowledge levels 3 and 4.

The hardest part about the process has been trying to narrow down the active learning tools I would like to incorporate this semester. There are so many different tools and I am excited about each one, however, I want to make sure I am selective about the tool to ensure the learning process is effective. Finding and researching the tools is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the proposal, as I have so many ideas, and I have even been able to apply the tools in other courses I teach.

I have really appreciated learning the instructional design models such, as, ADDIE and TPACK. It makes understanding the process, so much clearer and really makes the instructional designer think about the purpose of the lesson and use the most appropriate tools that will make the lesson more effective, efficient, and engaging. I really enjoy taking a step back from the day-to-day routine to look at my lessons, to ensure they are well-designed to meet the needs of all my students.

I am looking forward to implementing and evaluating the plan!

Self-Evaluation of Framework

Prior to my school going 1:1, the staff received professional development on integrating technology into the classroom. The school chose to focus on the SAMR model. "SAMR is a model designed to help educators infuse technology into teaching and learning. Popularized by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, the model supports and enables teachers to design, develop, and infuse digital learning experiences that utilize technology. The goal is to transform learning experiences so they result in higher levels of achievement for students" (http://www.schrockguide.net/samr.html).

This image defines each stage of the SAMR model:

Source: https://www.showbie.com/using-showbie-with-the-samr-model

As I think about where I fall on this spectrum, I believe I would be at the modification stage. In my accounting course, we used to use an old-fashion paper workbook and pen. I eventually switched to using Microsoft Excel (Augmentation). Finally, I was able to use the functionally of Excel in order to generate immediate feedback to students. This increased in functionality of the task and, I believe, is at the modification stage. There are courses I have taught where I was able to reach the redefinition stage, for example, students advertising their businesses on social media (i.e. Twitter and Facebook). However, I have not been able to consistently stay at the redefinition stage. But, maybe one doesn't always have to live at redefinition and can fluctuate between the stages. I think it is important to think about the purpose of using technology in your lessons. Will it increase effectiveness? Will it make learning more efficient? Will it increase student engagement?

Additional Resources:

8 Example of Transforming Lessons Through the SAMR Cycle

A Guide for Bringing the SAMR Model to iPads