Description of Artifact
The artifact was created for the course GDIT 706: Developing a Learning Environment using IT with Dr. David Carbonara, taken during the spring 2019 semester. The objective of this project was to create a learning environment for a content area of our choice, covering two to three sessions of content using the pedagogical and technological knowledge that we learned during the course. As we created the learning unit, a rationale was written to justify the various technological resources used.
Reflection and Rationale
As I created this learning environment, I had to decide and then justify the technologies that would be used to create learning materials, facilitate the instructional process, and then assess student learning. For example, one of the objectives of this lesson was to have students identify acids and bases they use at home. So, I chose to use Flipgrid; a social media app, to have students create a video of them showing their peers examples of acids and bases they found in their homes. This replaced a writing activity, previously used at the beginning of class, where students were asked to write down a few acids and bases they had seen around the house. This was ineffective as many students couldn’t remember the names of the substances. However, using a tool like Flipgrid eliminates this issue and further gives the students a chance to connect the material being learned in school to real-world experiences, and a chance to collaborate with their peers.
AECT (2012) stated that for candidates to achieve proficiency in Standard 1.2 they must “demonstrate the ability to select and use technological resources and processes to support student learning and to enhance their pedagogy.” I believe that the knowledge and skills gained from this project best demonstrates my proficiency in this standard. In addition to using technological resources in my teaching, I continue to apply them to my position as a graduate assistant (GA) for the Center for Global Engagement in Duquesne University. As a GA I am responsible for planning the new international student orientation each semester. This has given me the opportunity to use my knowledge and skills about various technological resources to support student learning during these programs as well.
Artifact 2 - Word document describing a learning environment created to teach students about acids and bases.
Standard 1.2 - Using
"Candidates demonstrate the ability to select and use technological resources and processes to support student learning and to enhance their pedagogy" (AECT, 2012).