Module 3

Technology-related best practices for all students and teachers (January 18-24, 2016)

Course Objectives:

1. Model and promote strategies for achieving equitable access to digital tools and resources and technology-related best practices for all students and teachers (ISTE 5a).

Module Objectives

1. Reflect upon the debate over whether learning with technology makes a difference in the learning process AND on the use of constructivist pedagogy.  
2. Evaluate the reflective post of a peer.
3. Evaluate a technology-integrated lesson plan based on the readings from this week.  

1) Before we get too far into best practices, I think it's important to ask this question: Does technology make a difference in the learning process or could you teach just as well without it?  This is a seminal question in educational technology and was debated in the 80s and 90s as "higher tech" technology was making its way into schools.  Yes, the readings this week are older, but they are the first of their kind and still relevant.  It's important to ask these questions because they determine how you use technology in the classroom.  Can technology support learning in new ways or is it simply doing the same thing through a different medium?  Clark and Kozma had a well known debate on this topic.  The readings are somewhat dense, so feel free to skim as necessary, but make sure you understand the main points of the article.  Take notes!

• A summary of the debate to help as you read; in addition, my notes to 3/4 of the articles for this week can be found in our diigo group.
• Clark, R. (1983). Reconsidering research on learning from media. Review of Educational Research, 53(4), 445–459.
• Kozma, R. B. (1991). Learning with Media. Review of Educational Research, 61(2), 179–211.

2) In the educational technology world, constructivism is widely considered to be the learning theory that best supports learning with technology.  The discussions around constructivism and technology also began in the 80s and 90s.  One well-known thinker was David Jonassen.  These two readings are somewhat lighter and shorter.  One is from the 90s by Jonassen and one is more recent.  Take notes!

• Jonassen, D. H. (1994). Thinking Technology: Toward a Constructivist Design Model. Educational Technology, 34(4), 34–37. (Posted on Blackboard in the Documents section.)
• Redefining Equity: Meaningful Uses of Technology in Learning Environments

3) Write your reflective blog post.  This should include 4 summary paragraphs, one on each of the 4 readings (You don't need to write one on the summary of the Clark/Kozma debate.) and a reflection paragraph or two.  Consider these questions in your reflection paragraph(s).  How does the Clark/Kozma debate interact with the suggestion that constructivism underlies best practices in educational technology?  How do these ideas overlap and support one another, or how do they differ and contradict?  In addition, how does the way we as educators decide to use technology make it more or less equitable?  Use evidence from the readings to support your argument.

4) This week, you will review a classmate's blog post using the rubric for reflective posts found on Blackboard and this blog.  Once you have finished your post, visit the blog post of another classmate.  Read their blog post and use the rubric to give them a grade and some feedback regarding your grade.  Post this as a comment to their blog.  If you already see someone else's feedback there, please visit another blog. 

4) This week's activity requires that you find a technology lesson online (or you may post one of your own) in your content area that you would consider exemplary, constructivist and equitable based on the readings this week.  To be clear, you should find a lesson in your content area (Science, for example) that integrates technology (if you are not a teacher, you may select any content area).  A good place to start is the Ohio Resource Center or sharemylesson, though there are many of these types of sites available.  Create a blog post in which you share your lesson, summarize it and explain why this particular lesson is exemplary, constructivist and equitable.  Bonus points if you also find a lesson that is a poor example of constructivism and equity in educational technology.  Use evidence from this week's reading to support your explanation.