Age appropriate integration of multimedia into the presentation and student assignment was the goal of my lesson plan creation. The lesson plan topics were: Surface tension, adhesion, cohesion and capillary action. When I created my first lesson plan I was aware of only a handful of multimedia tools. Now that I am aware of more tools I had to decide on what technology would be appropriate to integrate into a lesson plan targeted at 8th graders. It is said that technology should be only used when it helps students meet your objectives. When the use of technology is reviewed, studies suggest that technology can increase learning, but the effects are generally quite small (Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology, 2004; Blok, Oostdam, Otter, & Otter, & Overmaat, 2002). Technology can also detract from learning if it is not properly employed. For instance if the students are spending too much time playing with fonts, colors, pictures and video clips for multimedia reports they have less time to plan and conceptualize ideas, which is the reason the reports are assigned in the first place (Bransford et al, 2000). For these reasons I chose to keep the integration of technology fairly simple.
NETS*T Standard II, I believe best applies to the creation of my lesson plan on water properties. Standard 2A specifically since it states that teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology. Standard 2E also applies since technology was utilized to enhance the learning environment and was not the end goal in itself. NETS*T Standard III A is also applicable since the students were required to search the internet for examples of how what they learned, by instruction and hands on investigation, affects them in the real world.
What I learned most about planning lesson activities is that there is much more that I need to know. I need to develop an understanding of what students at various grade levels already know academically. I also need to understand their level of technological proficiency. How long a specific learning activity should take is also something that I need more familiarity with. By reading the examples of lesson plans that Dr. Cyrus supplied and by searching the web for other examples I realize that there are many ways to write an appropriate lesson plan. I am sure that once I am employed as a teacher there will be a standard format to utilize.
NETS*T Standard II, I believe best applies to the creation of my lesson plan on water properties. Standard 2A specifically since it states that teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology. Standard 2E also applies since technology was utilized to enhance the learning environment and was not the end goal in itself. NETS*T Standard III A is also applicable since the students were required to search the internet for examples of how what they learned, by instruction and hands on investigation, affects them in the real world.
What I learned most about planning lesson activities is that there is much more that I need to know. I need to develop an understanding of what students at various grade levels already know academically. I also need to understand their level of technological proficiency. How long a specific learning activity should take is also something that I need more familiarity with. By reading the examples of lesson plans that Dr. Cyrus supplied and by searching the web for other examples I realize that there are many ways to write an appropriate lesson plan. I am sure that once I am employed as a teacher there will be a standard format to utilize.
Before enrolling in ED 451 Audio Visual Education I never created a blog or a web page. For my second lesson plan assignment I created a simple web page to post my lesson plan to. By doing this I was able to import pictures, a PowerPoint presentation, an appropriate youtube video, web links to additional reference material and an animated graphic. If a substitute teacher had to teach this class he/she could easily refresh their knowledge of the subject matter by accessing the recommended sites as well as what is posted on the web page.
What I like least about creating the multi-media lesson plan for water properties was trying to develop a plan that expressed my technical competence without overkill. If the concept was to produce a multi-media lesson plan utilizing every "trick" in my tool bag that may have been a more enjoyable exercise. We learned in ED451 class that one should not over-animate, utilize too much text, use too many graphics and sound effects, in a Power Point presentation. I believe one should also develop lesson plans that are efficient to create and simple to implement. I would not consider the development of my multi-media lesson plan an efficient process. Much of my frustration was external of the ED451 class. My laptop would not boot up on many days and the computers at the UOG Computer Center had internet connection problems and were running several versions of MS Office. The lack of sound capability on the UOG Computer Center machines was also an irritation. The fact that I missed spending time on the MAC Lab computers because I have been ill for a couple of weeks caused me additional frustration.
I did like the way my finished lesson plan looked on the web page I created. The lesson plan assignment can be compared to physical exercise. It may hurt and be uncomfortable while performing the activity but you feel so much better when you are done.
References
Blok,H., Oostdam, R., Otter, M., & Overmaat, M. (2002). Computer-assisted instruction in support of beginning reading instruction: A review. Review of Educational Research, 72 (1), 101-130
Bransford, J., Brown, A., & Cocking, R. (Eds.). (2000). How people learn: Brain, mind, experience, and school. Washington, DC: National Academy Press
