April Sauline's Blog (9)

Learning-by-doing is generally considered the most effective way to learn. The Internet and a variety of emerging communication, visualization, and simulation technologies now make it possible to offer students authentic learning experiences ranging from experimentation to real-world problem solving.  Authentic learning typically focuses on real-world, complex problems and their solutions, using role-playing exercises, problem-based activities, case studies, and participation in virtual…

Blended learning is a formal education program in which a student learns at least in part through online delivery of content and instruction with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace.

What do you notice about the implementation procedures?

• Based around centers
• Require…

I have been fortunate enough to use and experiment with interactive whiteboards.  Specifically, I had a permanent SMART Board in my last classroom, and I currently have access to reserve the classroom/computer lab with a SMART Board.

From my experience, classrooms with ample space near the front of the room or the area where the SMART Board is located provide for the best student-interactions.  Moreover, spaces where projectors can be hung from the ceilings provide the least amount of…

          saulinea_LT8_GoogleAppsMatrix.docx

          Google Apps is the epitome of efficient.  As an educator, I could use it to streamline all of my student contact information.  By requiring students to create a G-mail account using a specific file-naming convention, I could quickly contact any one of them.  Additionally, Google Talk and G-chat sync with my Google…

         After experiencing an online Mathematics course (The Math of Finance), I feel I have experienced the promises and pitfalls of online learning.  Granted I only took one lesson of the course offerings, which was being offered as a sample lesson, but the results were interesting.  For starters, I was given an introductory scenario involving the interest rate on varying mortgages, so I can see how the class would be authentic and applicable.  The lesson clearly identified the objectives…

For the first time throughout my reflection process I am feeling rather negative about the topic at hand. I initially voiced my skepticism of Virtual reality/simulation in the classroom. It is not that I am against the use of Virtual Reality in the classroom, but in the high school English classroom, I struggle to think of many practical applications, or at least ones that do not take up more time and effort than they are worth. Throughout my research, I have found many advantages of virtual…

          Through this week’s assignments, I have learned a lot about the complexity of digital citizenship.  Prior to this week, it was my understanding that digital citizenship involved using technology for the appropriate more so law-abiding purposes.  Issues of health and wellness or commerce never entered my mind.  Funnily enough, my school has recently made it one of you SIP initiatives or goals to create digital citizens out of our students.  One would think that these nine facets…

         After locating and researching the background of my high school's Acceptable Use Policy and comparing it to the six standards of an exceptional AUP, I have uncovered some clear distinctions (though I cannot say I was surprised by them).

        While my high school’s AUP contains no specific PREAMBLE, the policy it self is located within our Parent/Student under the code of conduct, suggesting not only that the AUP is an extension of the school’s code of conduct but also that…

I was introduced to Bloom's Taxonomy when I began my undergraduate teaching degree almost 8 years ago, but I was not introduced to Marzano's Instructional Strategies until I began pursuing my masters degree last year. In either case, both have had an impact on my teaching.

Each of the schools for which I have worked have placed an emphasis on higher level thinking skills and thus higher levels of Bloom's taxonomy; this has positively affected my lesson plans. I was once required to…