Individual Reflection #2

Schools that are striving to meet the needs of 21st century learners should be overflowing with instructional technology. The written curriculum should be clearly outlined and accessible via the Internet and other print resources. The taught curriculum should be should be presented in a myraid of ways using technological tools and advances. For instance, software applications and Web 2.0 tools should not only be used to help students construct meaning of the content they are learning, but should also be used to help them analyze, connect and interpret the curricular content presented to them as well. Technology can be used with the tested curriculum by providing a way for formative benchmark assessments to occur more frequently than just the annual state standardized test. The use of computerized systems will also make is easier to disagregate test scores and key in on areas of improvement and those where more strengthening must occur.

One tool that we use at our school and that I would promote in the future is Study Island. This is an online program that assists students in mastering state benchamrks. Teachers can assign benchmark strand for students to work on. Students have the option of answering questions in test mode, game mode or on a handout. Students are allowed to click on the lesson whenever they feel they may need additional guidance. After scores are calcualated, students may be prompted to move on to the next lesson if mastery is achieved, or they may be remediated to a building block lesson, which will present questions to the student in a more basic format, possibly a lower grade level, all without the student knowing, thus attempting to reteach the strand and strengthen the students understanding of it. Other Web 2.0 tools I would promote using are blogs, wikis, and videoconferencing. These are all great ways for students to share their insights and what they have learned while allowing instructors the latitude to create prompts and directive options based on students readiness levels.