The main focus of this lesson is to evaluate Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, including the concepts of literary devices, and to critically analyze the text through a literary analysis essay. Students will familiarize themselves with the play through reading, quizzes to test comprehension and completion, games to engage the student and promote knowledge mastery, as well as a literary analysis outline to being their essay process. Students will be demonstrate the citation of strong textual evidence, themes, and central ideas, analyzing of figurative language and tone. Students will also exhibit deep examination and conveyance of complex ideas and concepts, as well as their skills using technology such as word processors and researching material.
Here is the link for my Jeopardy Classroom Review Game
There will be questions in the form of the television game show Jeopardy that relate to the text and literary devices required to understand the material, its context, and form.
This, is the link to my reading comprehension and completion quiz that gives an idea of who is reading and studying the material.
Last, is my literary analysis outline worksheet that will provide students with a scaffold to build their ideas and evidence off of. You will find that link here.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Monday, November 26, 2018
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Reflections on Educational Technology
Educational Technology has been an eye-opening course this semester. While I had always thought of a high school English literature class as a setting that easily accommodates technology, I still wasn't fully aware of just how much I could incorporate into my lessons and classroom to truly drive home the criteria. My chance to teach will still take some time to reach; however, technology is flourishing, meaning that when it is my time I can expect to have the opportunities to incorporate as much technology use into my instruction as possible. I love the Smart board as a interactive and instructive tool, and have even researched into DIY smart boards due to the high costs of commercially produced ones. Projectors are also a fantastic tool to I'd like to use in the classroom, and are often commonplace these days. Computers and tablets within the class will also allow for in-class research and the huge array of software such as word processors and presentation programs, even digital blog development such as the ones we've used in this course.
While the majority of people have access to technology basically everywhere they go, for those who may not have those same opportunities, or even if the class didn't provide the technology needed, local libraries, including school libraries are still available to access most of the software and websites needed to navigate any class and assignment. The class may not be as digitally interactive, but I think that within public means a solution could easily be come to in providing what was needed for the students. I envision a class where most of the student work that needs done can be done within the class itself so I can provide the students with as much one-on-one instruction as possible when they need it the most. This is why I believe digitizing most of the work done is so crucial; I can create lessons they can access when they need it, whether they're in class or not. The use of the QR codes intrigued me, and after learning what they're capable of doing helped with the idea of the lesson being outside the class with the scan of a QR code I can whisk them away to whatever supplemental material I deem necessary or interesting.
Teaching a high school English literature class, full of 14-18 year old students doesn't strike me as a group that would be limited in their knowledge of technology. Though they may be introduced to new software, and research criteria, I am confident that it wouldn't pose as any barrier to teach them how to properly utilize it. A real concern that I have contemplated involved the use of phones within the classroom. Checking into other teacher blogs/vlogs many had a system where as the students walked in the placed their phone within a clear plastic wall hanging and would receive the phone after the end of the class on their way out. If the students followed the policy they were shown as in attendance, and for those who chose not to acknowledge the policy, they would be counted as absent in the class. I felt it was a good policy because the phones were hung on a wall, in clear view, so no one had the worry of a phone getting misplaced, stolen, or damaged. Many teachers had a pretty high success rate with this policy as well, so I assume it would be at least worth a try.
Some of my concerns involving incorporating technology in my classroom mainly boils down to funding. What if the school I'm working with just isn't able to provide this for their students? Lack of funding will not deter me though, if I have to DIY, or do some fundraising to make things happen I would be willing and able to do so. Communities, regardless of demographic, want to see school children doing well, and often times, when called into action, can rally together and help out as long as they know their help is needed. I have grown up pretty familiar with technology; although, I may not be the most savvy when it comes to social media, but when it comes to technology in general I rarely have too many difficulties I can't troubleshoot myself, so I've no real frustrations with technology being a major influence in the class. Some of the main concerns I have as far as technology progressing in education is ways to keep the students focused, and to also teach them how learning goes beyond technology and the classroom in general. Finding a balance between the two will be interesting to explore and I look forward to seeing how the students transform themselves, their ideas, and the world with the help of technology.
While the majority of people have access to technology basically everywhere they go, for those who may not have those same opportunities, or even if the class didn't provide the technology needed, local libraries, including school libraries are still available to access most of the software and websites needed to navigate any class and assignment. The class may not be as digitally interactive, but I think that within public means a solution could easily be come to in providing what was needed for the students. I envision a class where most of the student work that needs done can be done within the class itself so I can provide the students with as much one-on-one instruction as possible when they need it the most. This is why I believe digitizing most of the work done is so crucial; I can create lessons they can access when they need it, whether they're in class or not. The use of the QR codes intrigued me, and after learning what they're capable of doing helped with the idea of the lesson being outside the class with the scan of a QR code I can whisk them away to whatever supplemental material I deem necessary or interesting.
Teaching a high school English literature class, full of 14-18 year old students doesn't strike me as a group that would be limited in their knowledge of technology. Though they may be introduced to new software, and research criteria, I am confident that it wouldn't pose as any barrier to teach them how to properly utilize it. A real concern that I have contemplated involved the use of phones within the classroom. Checking into other teacher blogs/vlogs many had a system where as the students walked in the placed their phone within a clear plastic wall hanging and would receive the phone after the end of the class on their way out. If the students followed the policy they were shown as in attendance, and for those who chose not to acknowledge the policy, they would be counted as absent in the class. I felt it was a good policy because the phones were hung on a wall, in clear view, so no one had the worry of a phone getting misplaced, stolen, or damaged. Many teachers had a pretty high success rate with this policy as well, so I assume it would be at least worth a try.
Some of my concerns involving incorporating technology in my classroom mainly boils down to funding. What if the school I'm working with just isn't able to provide this for their students? Lack of funding will not deter me though, if I have to DIY, or do some fundraising to make things happen I would be willing and able to do so. Communities, regardless of demographic, want to see school children doing well, and often times, when called into action, can rally together and help out as long as they know their help is needed. I have grown up pretty familiar with technology; although, I may not be the most savvy when it comes to social media, but when it comes to technology in general I rarely have too many difficulties I can't troubleshoot myself, so I've no real frustrations with technology being a major influence in the class. Some of the main concerns I have as far as technology progressing in education is ways to keep the students focused, and to also teach them how learning goes beyond technology and the classroom in general. Finding a balance between the two will be interesting to explore and I look forward to seeing how the students transform themselves, their ideas, and the world with the help of technology.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Classroom Design
For my high school English classroom I wanted to section off certain aspects of the room for specific utility purposes. I like a layout that is both flexible, accommodating to suit multiple purposes, yet engaging and well-connected. Windows aren't noted in the design plan, but an abundance of lighting is crucial to overall well-being, but so are light-dampening blinds to allow for efficient use of the projector, smart board, tv, and computer screens. The large, darkened rectangle in the front of the classroom represents the whiteboard area, hence my positioning desks to focus on this multimedia area. I want each student to have their own personal space, but to be able to easily collaborate with their fellow classmates for group works. The extra kidney tables are also collaborative stations that can be centered on quiet work, or focus on more technology based learning through tablets, and tv resources.
Being an English classroom, writing and reading are essential components to the curriculum, and are accommodated with plenty of storage spaces and shelves for books of all sorts. To create a reading-friendly atmosphere bean bag chairs, rugs, plush, chairs, and sofas are integrated into the design to make reading comfortable and relaxing to keep the student engaged for extended reading sessions. I have tried to eliminate to many multimedia distractions from the reading area; however, a line of computers are arranged along the wall for student access to research materials, and do any necessary school work required. Last, but not least, the teacher's desk is tucked off to the corner of the room, as I feel like the focus shouldn't be so much on the instructor, but how the students interact with the material presented, and as a teacher I would like to be seen as a facilitator, who is there for whatever extra help is needed, moving throughout the room accordingly, and checking on everyone's progress.
I dreamed a bit big on the size of the classroom, but I felt that with the increasing class sizes, and the diversity of each student's needs, classrooms like the one I've created should become part of the norm to help propel students into educational experiences they'll feel comfortable exploring in.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Pinterest in the Classroom
As an already avid Pinterester, I've only recently understood the capacity to which I can utilize it for not just personal interests, but professional ones as well. I happened upon two amazing high school English Language Arts teachers who YouTube, blog, and use Pinterest themselves, then opening up a plethora of new ideas, and thinking about teaching in general, in a new, more interactive way.
Thinking about the My Classroom board, it finally got my gears going about what I wanted, and think the students will need from a work/thinking space. A realization came to me that, especially in Literature studies and growing as a write requires a flexible, cooperative, engaging classroom is going to enhance and engage students to their maximum potential. I realize that there will be constraints to what is allowed and accepted in certain schools, as well as staying withing something budget-friendly, but leaving that behind and just dreaming of what my ideal classroom would be was fun and exciting, and made me brainstorm on ways I can make that possible, even if I have to DIY some things myself, or get the class involved in creating and learning for the sake of their learning space.
Not only does Pinterest have amazing pins to be found in classroom decor, but they have some pretty amazing student activities too. I found an enormous amount of teacher created, tested, and approved activities, worksheets, games, and topic ideas, including fantastic ways to interact more, and give the students a more hands-on approach to their subject matter. Also, Pinterest is where I first began seeing content from TeachersPayTeachers, a place with amazing lessons and activities made by teachers! It's a wonderful resource that can help you, and help other teachers too, as some of the content is sold, but a great deal of it is free.
I plan to continue using Pinterest to help inspire my future classroom, and find it an extremely valuable resource if you just dig a round a little. There may be a few bumps along the way, one being that sometimes the images for pins don't always want to reveal themselves, but aside from that minor, occasional hiccup, Pinterest is a great tool, and an engaging platform.
Thinking about the My Classroom board, it finally got my gears going about what I wanted, and think the students will need from a work/thinking space. A realization came to me that, especially in Literature studies and growing as a write requires a flexible, cooperative, engaging classroom is going to enhance and engage students to their maximum potential. I realize that there will be constraints to what is allowed and accepted in certain schools, as well as staying withing something budget-friendly, but leaving that behind and just dreaming of what my ideal classroom would be was fun and exciting, and made me brainstorm on ways I can make that possible, even if I have to DIY some things myself, or get the class involved in creating and learning for the sake of their learning space.
Not only does Pinterest have amazing pins to be found in classroom decor, but they have some pretty amazing student activities too. I found an enormous amount of teacher created, tested, and approved activities, worksheets, games, and topic ideas, including fantastic ways to interact more, and give the students a more hands-on approach to their subject matter. Also, Pinterest is where I first began seeing content from TeachersPayTeachers, a place with amazing lessons and activities made by teachers! It's a wonderful resource that can help you, and help other teachers too, as some of the content is sold, but a great deal of it is free.
I plan to continue using Pinterest to help inspire my future classroom, and find it an extremely valuable resource if you just dig a round a little. There may be a few bumps along the way, one being that sometimes the images for pins don't always want to reveal themselves, but aside from that minor, occasional hiccup, Pinterest is a great tool, and an engaging platform.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Khan/Koller Review
Perusing through some of the MOOC (massive open online course) options available in an open access form revealed two shining stars, Khan Academy and Coursera; one I was already familiar with, having taken courses myself, but the other was unfamiliar, only having been heard of, and vaguely. Khan Academy was something I had not anticipated, and was quite surprised at when a visit was made inevitable. The amount of instruction and the lessons available are mind-blowing, and I guarantee you I will be advocating it to anyone who doesn't know about it, and will be starting some lessons myself very soon. The amount of content is reassuring and uplifting; to be able to freely access this kind of information that allows a person to better themselves in ways that may have been completely unattainable, are now readily available. You can even go to your local library and use the computers there to access the site, in case you don't have that kind of access at home. The material is in a format that allows it to be repeated back as many times as needed so every student can work at their own pace, making it easier than ever to grasp any concept one may be struggling with, and without the frustration of holding up the class or an instructor or tutor. I agree immensely with Khan when he envisions the future of credentialing relying more through the use of online courses. The last thing we need is a facility to hold us back from education, it should accessible is every form available to us, because the technology allows for that now, and at a cost much lower than running an entire facility that is holding staff and students. we can reach the furthest corners of the earth this way, and bring out some of the brilliant minds that are cut-off from the rest of the world because of their geographical location, or the lack of facilities in their part of the world.
Comparing Coursera to Khan Academy, however, is difficult, because in reality they can work in tandem of one another. Khan Academy offering the framework instruction, and Coursera offering the environment to utilize it a format that varies depending on your given expertise or area of interest. Coursera has a unique variety of courses that interest me in areas I'd otherwise not known I'd have an attraction to. In the past I took the creative writing course, and it matched up pretty well, and in some areas exceeded the difficulty of the many literature and writing courses I've taken at Columbus State.I I had a difficult time finding out whether Columbus State accepted the transfer credit, but I believe the answer to that is no, but please correct me if I'm wrong. I never received a credit transfer for the course, but I didn't try either. I'm sure there are classes that may be more difficult than some are use to, but I believe it's because Coursera is specifically seeking out the best of the best instructors to prepare the information for the students, and that's fantastic if they are. Imagine being taught by the leading minds of today for free, or next to nothing in terms of what an education costs. I think MOOC's are going to become more prevalent, and I think the most difficult task is how accreditation will be handled compared to that of a brick and mortar university. I like the idea especially because I can browse around and try out different courses I may have been too intimidated to pursue in college, or couldn't afford to pursue on top of the already expensive costs of secondary education. If I want to give coding a try, I can. Philosophy, what's holding me back? This kind of technology is going to grow the mind of anyone, anywhere, at any time.
Comparing Coursera to Khan Academy, however, is difficult, because in reality they can work in tandem of one another. Khan Academy offering the framework instruction, and Coursera offering the environment to utilize it a format that varies depending on your given expertise or area of interest. Coursera has a unique variety of courses that interest me in areas I'd otherwise not known I'd have an attraction to. In the past I took the creative writing course, and it matched up pretty well, and in some areas exceeded the difficulty of the many literature and writing courses I've taken at Columbus State.I I had a difficult time finding out whether Columbus State accepted the transfer credit, but I believe the answer to that is no, but please correct me if I'm wrong. I never received a credit transfer for the course, but I didn't try either. I'm sure there are classes that may be more difficult than some are use to, but I believe it's because Coursera is specifically seeking out the best of the best instructors to prepare the information for the students, and that's fantastic if they are. Imagine being taught by the leading minds of today for free, or next to nothing in terms of what an education costs. I think MOOC's are going to become more prevalent, and I think the most difficult task is how accreditation will be handled compared to that of a brick and mortar university. I like the idea especially because I can browse around and try out different courses I may have been too intimidated to pursue in college, or couldn't afford to pursue on top of the already expensive costs of secondary education. If I want to give coding a try, I can. Philosophy, what's holding me back? This kind of technology is going to grow the mind of anyone, anywhere, at any time.
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