EDUC 630: Technology Practices for Instructional Improvement

Personal Philosophy In today's society, technology has a constant presence in everything we do; it is in our cars, houses, workplaces, financial and health institutions, entertainment, communication, and social systems, and as innovations occur, so will our interdependence upon it (Parkay et al. 2014). As educators, we are responsible for including technology in our classrooms to help mold students into successful global citizens with the skills needed to thrive in a fast-growing technological society. We need to develop content on different platforms so students who cannot or choose not to be physically present in classrooms can participate in lesson activities while learning new material; we also need to use some of the latest technology tools, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help automatize routine tasks and help create individualized activities that focus on different learning styles. Curriculum goals need to use relevant and current information that provides students w...

    Video Transcript: Hello, my name is Helena Wallace, and my topic is about Differentiation through Technology. Curriculum standards tell educators what students should be learning at specific stages of development and how to assess the application of that knowledge. According to Pak et al. (2020), a standards-based curriculum is focused on “rigorous academic standards and accountability measures” (p.1), so the use of technology to create engaging lessons that deliver personalized instruction is essential. According to Hughes and Roblyer, technology integration in a classroom is affected by “leadership, policies, infrastructure, safety, and equity and justice” (p.13), so focusing on state standards, the needs of the community and the school population, creates a sense of belonging while promoting collaboration and growth. In my classroom, we use technology daily; every student has a Chromebook, and we use it to practice concepts, participate in classroom discussions, and v...

Hello, my name is Helena Wallace, and I live in Northeast Georgia, in a rural area 2 hours north of Atlanta. I am a high school Spanish teacher and love using games and interactive software in my classroom. We are a pilot school for Clear Touch interactive screens, with one per classroom equipped with Apple software. Also, we are a 1:1 technology school where all students have an assigned Chromebook, so we have access to technology daily. As a daily routine, my students use Google Classroom for daily assignments and homework, as backup lessons, and for review for absent students or those who need extra time to process information. To help students practice vocabulary, I use game apps such as Quizizz, Kahoot, Quizlet, Boom Cards, and Duolingo. For the visual presentation, we use Google Slides, Canva, Smore, Prezi, and PowToon, and to record voice and video, we use Flip and Screencastify.  Our school is a no-phone school, so students are not allowed to use them during the day except ...