Developing Technology-Enriched Curriculum Units

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Developing Technology-Enriched Curriculum Units

• USVI 1998 Summer
• Technology Institute

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Workshop Goals

• To overview the variety of ways in which
  instructional technology can be integrated into
  the curriculum so that students will be engaged
  in powerful learning experiences.
• To think about moving from the traditional
  approach of adding technology to traditional
  directive classroom instruction to adapting
  curriculum to be student-centered using a variety
  of technology tools.

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Concept Mapping a Unit

• Activities should be based in curriculum
  objectives and make use of existing technology.
• Understand that not all areas will be
  technology-enriched. Dont force the fit.
• Activities make use of multiple technologies and
  applications

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Example Dinosaur Theme
Design cover
for "If I Were a
Create a dino
Create a slide
Dinosaur"
flipbook.
show for
book.
Software
dinosaur
downloaded
research
from Field
reports.
Museum of
Software Kid
Natural History
Pix
VISUAL
Create 3-D
plasticine
ARTS
dinosaurs
Children will
create their
own fossils.
Create a class
book
"Whatever
Happened to
Dinosaurs?"
Software The
Writing Center
Dinosaur
Research
Reports
Software Kid
Pix, Dinosaur
Adventure,
Dinosaur
Discovery
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Technology Resources and Access to Resources

• What technology resources do you have available
  (hardware and software) and what access do you
  have to those resources?
• Understand different categories of technology
• Tutorial, Application, Exploratory Communications
• Who can help you locate technology and
  non-technology resources?
• Technology Coordinator, Librarian, Other
  teachers, Parents.

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Develop Your Big Picture

• Map One of Your Curriculum Units.
• Inventory Your Technology Resources.
• Develop your Project.

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Map One of Your Curriculum Units

• Should show particular activities that support
  various learning objectives.
• Can be an entire thematic unit or a particular
  subject area unit.
• Make it something that you can use.

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Inventory Your Technology Resources

• What is available?
• What do you need to use these resources?
• In-school support
• Training, documentation
• Time to experiment and learn.
• Physical access

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Choosing a Unit and Developing a Project

• Examine your Curriculum Map.
• Where could technology improve student learning?
• Where do technology resources and ideas exist to
  support learning objectives?
• Rewrite the lesson/unit.
• Revise your goals to reflect changes due to
  Technology infusion.

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• Prepare your unit/activity materials and
  assessment tools.
• Create a schedule that allows students maximum
  use of technology.

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What Constitutes a Good Technology Project?

• One that fulfills existing curricular objectives.
• One where technology expands student learning of
  a particular objective or topic.
• Something that is do-able given existing time
  and resources.
• Something that does not focus entirely upon the
  use of technology.

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Technology Used by Students, Not Just for
Students.

• Requires alternative instructional strategies.
• Students become co-learners or even teachers.
• May necessitate changes in classroom management
  style.
• Changes the way students interact with others.
  (students, teachers, other school staff)

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Developing Your Project

• Understand your goals and objectives.
• Seek additional assistance from colleagues and
  technology support staff.
• Use the project template as a guide.

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Summary

• Important question to ask yourself.
• What value does the use of technology add to my
  lesson/unit?
• If you cant answer the question, then you need
  to rethink the use.

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Getting More Information

• SEIRTEC
• Email or Call
• seirtec_at_serve.org
• 800.659.3204