Eclectic Technology

Jackie Gerstein shares nine questions that you might consider asking yourself as you design new units. Two are listed below. The infographic she designed, with nine questions is in the image above, and you can access a list of the nine questions as well as the infographic in her post.

* Will the learners get the chance to share their work with other learners with a more global audience?

* Will the learners find the learning activities engaging? interesting? relevant? useful?

Gerstein's questions help you focus on the learner.They may help you transform lessons in ways you had not envisioned.

Additional categories include:

* Curriculum Mapping

* Lesson Planning

* Learner Choice

* Student Support

* Classroom Management

Each category has four tips. Four tips (each from a different category) are below. To see the full infographic click  through to the post.

* Technology is a means, not an end

* Bloom’s Taxonomy (or related learning taxonomies) is/are used to move students from basic to complex thinking daily

* Rigor is omnipresent, from bell ringers and quizzes to accountable talk and assessments

* There are exemplar models immediately accessible to students of all important work and activities

Check out this 4-step guide to creating effective lessons that integrate technology.

Step 1 - What level of learning is being addressed? The infographic looks at Bloom's, but you could use other resources as you design your lesson plan.

Step 2 - What level of technology will be used? SAMR (as in Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition) are shown in the infographic, but there are other ways to look at the level of technology.

Step 3 - How should your classroom look? Four choices are provided.

Step 4 - How will you evaluate your students? Ten ideas are listed. You may find additional ones that you prefer to use.

As an initial framework to consider working with this visual may be a great tool, especially for folks who are still at the beginning phase of integrating technology into lessons.

What if you merge the six steps for Direct Instruction from Madeline Hunter with the TPCK Model? The image above shows how the two might work together. 

The TPCK Model looks at Technological Knowledge (TK), Content Knowledge (CK), Pedagogical Knowledge (PK), Technological Content Knowledge (TCK), Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK) and last but not least, Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK). 

This post suggests that components of the Direct Instruction Model relate to the TPCK Model and using both will assist us in designing curriculum. 

If the TPCK Model is new to you the links below is one the resources that I find valuable. 

http://activitytypes.wmwikis.net/