Meaningful Learning

     The term rubric is a code or set of codes designed to govern action. In education, it has evolved to mean a tool represented as a set of scales used for assessing a complex performance.
     Technology-Based Rubrics fall into 2 categories: rubric banks and rubric generation tools(Dornisch & Sabatini McLoughlin, 2006). Online rubric banks have already created rubrics for a bunch of different learning tasks. Use caution when using a rubric bank. Make sure to evaluate what you need and then  evaluate what that specific rubric is offering. Make sure you find the intended outcome of these rubrics so they match what you are trying to accomplish. Rubric banks save teachers on a lot of time. The second category of technology- based rubrics is the rubric generator. This simply helps a user create a rubric. You can customize however you see fit. Using the generator, you are doing it yourself, but it will actually help you scaffold and support the user through out the process of generating. In which ever method you use, make sure your rubric is effective, comprehensive and descriptive. You want them to communicate to both the student and the parent.
     Clicker Asessment tools consists of small wireless keypads with alphanumeric keypads that are linked to the computer. Clickers are being used throughout all levels of education, from elementary to college. The clickers are dispersed to the class to answer questions by clicking buttons and not by raising their hands. The answers are sent to a receiver connected to the computer at the front of the classroom. The computer can analyze the results for the teacher. A few ways the clicker assessment tool is beneficial to learning is using them as pretests, after instruction, use them to see whether or not you are getting your point across. Another way is to have students predict the outcome of a class demonstration you are about to perform with common misconceptions etc..
     Inspiration/Kidspiration software  is a program that helps students build graphic organizers, such as concept maps, webs, mind maps and idea maps that help inspire the mind to brainstorm, plan, organize, think, outline, and present. I think this is a very neat program. If a teacher did their research before and knew exactly how things were supposed to go, it would be very relevant to get kids to really use thinking skills and to just be able to brainstorm and think of ideas and things on their own. This is also a way that can take the student away from the traditional ways of pencil and paper and get them doing it in a way that can be fun and exciting. Kidspiration on the other hand was created for k-5 learners. It is a program that helps develop thinking, literacy, and numeracy skills using proven visual learning principle. It can strengthen word recognition, vocabulary, comprehension and written expression. So these two programs are the same but made for different age groups. I do not plan to teach k-5 so Im thinking the Inspiration program may be better for me. I think that I would definitely try to use it in my class but Im not sure how yet. Im not sure what Im going to be teaching so I dont know how I would integrate it in yet.
     The technology based assessment I would use because I would try to make some rubrics for assignments or get one offline. It would be a tremendous help for any teacher. The clicker assessment tool would also be helpful because it can be used for test purposes or just in class lecture and comprehension. I liked all these assessment tools and I know I will be using them in some way or another. 

Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Marra, R., & Crismond, D. (2008). Meaningful learning With Technology (3rd Edition). Columbus, OH: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
    

Chapter 9: Visualizing w/ Technologies

          Digital Storytelling is a tool used to create a story. Students can use their creative skills to create a storyboard on paper, use a camera to shoot their video, and also edit their videos on a computer using different types of software. Students develop critical thinking skills as well as learning how to work collaboratively in different roles such as director, actor, videographer, and editor. The way Digital Storytelling works is in preproduction, students will research, write and organize information about the structure of their story. An important part of preproduction is storyboarding. It is a document that provides students the opportunity to create a plan for their story from which they can start filming. After preproduction, students will start the actual production of the story. This is where the students will actually shoot their video. The final stage is postproduction. This is where the editing takes place. Through all these stages, students learn how to put together a story using technology. The technology is not the focus of the lesson but merely an instrument to help aid in the lesson. There are so many different aspects of learning with Digital Storytelling it’s endless. It is an awesome application to implement to the classroom!

          A few different methods suggested in the textbook are programs such as Mathematica, Math Lab, Statistical Analysis System, and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. These apps can help students manipulate problems and see the effects of it. They are very helpful in learning the dynamics of mathematics; putting things into perspective to understand the effects.

          I do think it is possible to learn from TV alone and learn how to do something as well. There are so many different channels now days that people can subscribe to that aid in learning. Not only that but channels such as Animal Planet and Discovery channel, and different channels like that that aid in learning about animals and the earth that we all live on and evolution. These are all important things that go into detail that people may not get to pick up in the classroom or anywhere else. Not everything is meaningful or educational but there is some that I feel is very meaningful!        

Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Marra, R., & Crismond, D. (2008). Meaningful learning With Technology (3rd Edition). Columbus, OH: Pearson/Prentice Hall.