Rationale: Collaboration is a key 21st Century Skill that teachers can model for students. Making connections with the community and collaborating in the classroom enriches the learning experience for all involved. One technique I enjoy using to bring the community into my classroom is through the use of web conferencing technology. I have now conducted three “virtual field trips” in my classroom. The first was done for my EDT 674 class “Learning with Technology” and involved connecting with the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. The attached lesson plan explains the event, which was conducted on May 11th, 2010 with my sophomore, junior and senior world history students.
After the very successful first web conference I decided to conduct two more as part of my action research project. I truly believe the experiences have helped me to grow as an educator, developing connections with agencies like these museums in the community and becoming more comfortable using web conferencing technology with my students. They also benefitted from the experience as web conferencing is becoming more common in the business world and at some institutions of higher learning. The experience itself was enriching and the students gained knowledge I would not have been able to provide.
KSD 10.K.1 The teacher understands schools as organizations within the larger community context and understands the operations of the relevant aspects of the system(s) within which s/he works. Thanks to distance learning opportunities the entire community can help with the education of students. Museums offer web conferences and virtual field trips like the one mentioned in this lesson plan to connect students with the resources and experts available in museums and the community at large.
10.S.3 The teacher can identify and use community resources to foster student learning. The CILC and TWICE websites are two great community resources that can help teachers identify and use the distance learning opportunities provided by museums. The CILC website helped me to conduct web conferences now with three museums, the National WWII Museum, as mentioned in this piece of evidence, as well as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Milwaukee Public Museum.
10.D.5 The teacher is willing to work with other professionals to improve the overall learning environment for students. Some teachers fear using web conferencing tools in the classroom since they give up the role of "content expert" to someone else during a virtual field trip. I, however, find this to be a very rewarding experience, demonstrating to students an available source of information and expertise, outside of the classroom. Working with professionals in museums like the National WWII Museum provides a rich learning experience for the students as well as for me.
Standard 10: Teachers are connected with other teachers and the community.
The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support pupil learning and well being and acts with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner.
Evidence: EDT 674 Learning with Technology Lesson Plan Web Conferencing WWII
Rationale: Collaboration is a key 21st Century Skill that teachers can model for students. Making connections with the community and collaborating in the classroom enriches the learning experience for all involved. One technique I enjoy using to bring the community into my classroom is through the use of web conferencing technology. I have now conducted three “virtual field trips” in my classroom. The first was done for my EDT 674 class “Learning with Technology” and involved connecting with the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. The attached lesson plan explains the event, which was conducted on May 11th, 2010 with my sophomore, junior and senior world history students.
After the very successful first web conference I decided to conduct two more as part of my action research project. I truly believe the experiences have helped me to grow as an educator, developing connections with agencies like these museums in the community and becoming more comfortable using web conferencing technology with my students. They also benefitted from the experience as web conferencing is becoming more common in the business world and at some institutions of higher learning. The experience itself was enriching and the students gained knowledge I would not have been able to provide.
KSD
10.K.1 The teacher understands schools as organizations within the larger community context and understands the operations of the relevant aspects of the system(s) within which s/he works.
Thanks to distance learning opportunities the entire community can help with the education of students. Museums offer web conferences and virtual field trips like the one mentioned in this lesson plan to connect students with the resources and experts available in museums and the community at large.
10.S.3 The teacher can identify and use community resources to foster student learning.
The CILC and TWICE websites are two great community resources that can help teachers identify and use the distance learning opportunities provided by museums. The CILC website helped me to conduct web conferences now with three museums, the National WWII Museum, as mentioned in this piece of evidence, as well as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Milwaukee Public Museum.
10.D.5 The teacher is willing to work with other professionals to improve the overall learning environment for students.
Some teachers fear using web conferencing tools in the classroom since they give up the role of "content expert" to someone else during a virtual field trip. I, however, find this to be a very rewarding experience, demonstrating to students an available source of information and expertise, outside of the classroom. Working with professionals in museums like the National WWII Museum provides a rich learning experience for the students as well as for me.