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Using Technology with Cooperative learning
In creating this lesson plan, I feel standard number three, "teachers implement curriculum plans that include methods
and strategies for applying technology to maximize student learning," (National Education Technology Standard for Teachers
[NETS*T], 2005), is applied. For many teachers, using the same methods they are familiar with over again is easy and less
time consuming for them. However, the National Education Technology Standard for Teachers ([NETS*T], 2005) challenges teachers
to be more creative in their lessons by incorporating technology. I have learned a new method of teaching called cooperative
learning. In cooperative learning, students are placed in small heterogeneous groups and require active participation by
all members. A teacher can use this method of learning and incorporate the use of technology to meet the needs of diverse
learners. I feel that by applying this method, the lesson is more learner-centered rather than teacher-centered. My role
as a teacher now becomes a role of a facilitator, to guide the students and encourage their creativity to be expressed using
these technology tools.
My lesson plan is based on using technology with cooperative learning. It differs from the first lesson plan in which
it assigns each group member a task that needs to be done in order for other group members to do their part; this is called
interdependence. This method of learning encourages students to be dependent on the others for achieving their goal; students
will have to learn to work with each other. It also helps students develop and practice their social skills while learning
from one another. Another difference this lesson plan has from the first lesson is that it requires my students to use three
technology tools rather than one. Students will use MS Excel, which they are familiar with, to make tables and charts, and
they will learn to use Yahoo Briefcase and Google Page Creator. They will use Yahoo Briefcase for storing their files and
Google Page Creator for designing their web page to present their findings. Additionally, this lesson plan is obviously different
from the first lesson plan in which submission was required in the form of a web page. This was the first time I had a "hands
on experience" creating a web page and I found Google Page Creator to be user-friendly. I am excited that I have learned
another tool that I can use to enhance student learning in my future lesson plans.
To make my lesson plan more challenging, I could require students to look for cities globally, rather than just nationally.
Also, I could make it more challenging by requiring groups to research topics on the different types of weather around the
world, why some cities rain more than others, or why some places have a higher percentage of humidity than others. After
they do their research, another challenge will be for groups to use another technology tool, such as Google Docs & Spreadsheet,
to write a group report. Having them use more technology tools also means that I would need to learn more technology tools.
I don't mind so much to learn more technology tools. I feel that as I learn more, I will become an effective teacher and
I will be able to fulfill the needs of my students.
There are two things that I like best about this assignment. First, I like the fact that I am familiar on how to use
the Assure model lesson plan (Heinich, R., Molenda, M., Russell, J.D., and Smaldino, S.E., 2002). The steps in creating a
lesson plan using the Assure model (Heinich, et al) make it easy for teachers to complete. It is clearer to me now how important
it is to state the objectives of the lesson and how these objectives must be used in evaluating student learning. Second,
I really enjoyed learning how to create and design a website of my own using Google Page Creator. I have always thought that
creating a website was too difficult and tedious, but surprisingly it was easy and fun. I was patient with linking my pages
to one another, and I enjoyed uploading pictures to the site. I am now interested to know how to determine the number of
people who have visited my website. Also, I would like to use this tool in my classes where my students can create their own
website to express their thoughts and ideas. This may be helpful to teachers and administrators to see what is going on in
the minds of our students and to make necessary adjustments in our lesson plans or school policies.
There really isn't anything that I like the least about this assignment. I am amazed at how much I have learned. Many
times I have used MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Power Point in my assignments and I find them very useful. Now, I have learned
several more tools such as Yahoo Briefcase, Google Docs & Spreadsheet, I Keep Bookmarks, and Google Page Creator that
can enhance student learning. I feel it is important for me to learn various technology tools to help me become an effective
teacher. As a teacher, I can choose among a variety of technology tools that can be useful to teach my students.
I like the idea of using technology with cooperative learning and will use it often in my future lessons as a teacher.
In many ways it meets the needs of diverse students; many students enjoy working in groups, and many students enjoy using
technology. My awareness of the limitations of cooperative learning such as student compatibility, student dependency, and
individualists, will surely make me sensitive to the needs of each learner. I know that there are many technology tools that
I am not aware of and even as I begin to learn the ones already introduced, as a teacher I will "demonstrate continual
growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay abreast of current and emerging technologies" ([NETS*T], 2005).
References:
Thomas, L. (2005). ISTE National Educational Technology Standards Project. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from http:/cnets.iste.org/teachers/t_stands.html
Heinich, R., Molenda, M., Russell, J.D., and Smaldino, S.E., (2002). Instructional media and technologies for learning.
(8th ed.) Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Merrill Prentice Hall.
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