Katrina Lifer's Blog

Part 1:  When starting to develop the LMS for this class I had a moment where I realized I have already been put in charge of something similar for my district. I have been asked to create a repository of resources for teachers that allows them to figure out the best technology to use for certain situations. Using the Triple E Framework I will be able to evaluate the technology before outlining it for teachers. Though the Triple E Framework will be the best approach for me to examine the technology I am putting out for teachers to use, I do think that they will need an introduction to the framework to develop a better understanding for what I am using to evaluate. The teachers and staff in my district will be the lead learners in this project and I will be creating the course for them to build a resource that allows them to access technology to enhance, engage and extend. This will allow teachers to make sure that their students are moving forward with technology in the most bene...

       The technology framework that would best serve the district I am in is the Triple E Framework by Dr. Liz Kolb. This is a way to evaluate how effective technology is by looking at 3 points: engagement, enhancement and extension. Using these components technology is evaluated by how much it helps to achieve the learning goals and objectives. Instead of looking at technology as fluff and more as how it can be most effective for the students. The engagement aspect of the framework helps to look at how well the technology is helping with achieving these learning goals and how little the technology is distracting the students. The enhancement part looks at if the technology adds value to the lesson more than a traditional method could. Extension is considering how the students can be connected to real world life outside of the classroom.   ( https://www.tripleeframework.com/framework-models.htm , 2020)      In my district, using technology i...

Part 1: Article Summary In the article I read, “Digital Tools and UDL-Based Instructional Strategies to Support Students with Disabilities Online” written by Rao, Torres, and Smith they take a look at how digital tools are supportive to students with disabilities by using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework and the three core principles. In online learning situations students have struggles that must be taken into account and support must be issued. During this article ways to do this are examined. Representation: This article discusses the importance of making content accessible to students from many different ways. This UDL principle discusses the importance of making sure students have access to their instruction in many different formats. Content is presented to students in many different forms, with text being a large part of it. Having to access textbooks, workbooks, websites, etc. students with reading challenges will struggle and lack the in person instruction to...

Using a lesson plan generator found on magicschool.ai I created a lesson that would be used for teaching a second grade classroom about addition with regrouping. Students would have the prior background knowledge of adding two digit numbers without regrouping. The lesson can be found at:  https://app.magicschool.ai/tools/lesson-plan-generator?share=44bc0b90-5b9d-4821-bed2-c649b1dd119c The lesson created with Magic Schools lesson plan generator did align with the standard I was hoping for, however the lesson itself lacks direction and opportunities for practice. The assessment listed is aligned with the standard, but again lacks content. There should be much more direction in the lesson and many more examples given. Teachers will also need to explain and demonstrate the why. This lesson plan tool is a great example of where to start. There is very little guided practice for students listed. (Frey & Fisher, 2013) Teachers should add in more examples as well as give the students ...

  What is the nature of Authentic Intellectual Work?  How does it differ from traditional approaches to instruction and assessment?  Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW), is more important today than it has been in years past. Our students do not work on the same wavelengths as students in the past and times have changed that. Traditional approaches of instruction and assessment are more of a teacher centered learning environment. It focuses on memorizing content, drilling of information for the surface level answers, and lacking differentiation in a true sense. When applying a more AIW approach the learning environment becomes more student centered. Application of knowledge goes much deeper, focusing on the production of finding the answers and not just on knowing the answers. This approach brings about a more practical approach to knowledge and real life situations.  Discuss the components of Authentic Intellectual Work and provide deep consideration of at least one c...