1111211331

 Why Should We Move Backwards ...     ...in a field where we are constantly pushed by the ever-competitive world to move forward? This is the question we will explore today as we discuss Backwards Design Lesson Planning , a succinct and student-focused method of lesson planning that starts with the desired end results and works down to how students will achieve those goals. There are 3 Main Sections that Comprise a Backwards Design (or UbD) Lesson Plan: The Desired End Results Included Parts : Essential Questions, Big Understandings, New Knowledge, Measurable Objectives               Since the whole idea of a backwards lesson plan is to start at the finish line, t he first part of a UbD lesson plan is the Desired End Results that you as the teacher want the students to learn or achieve. Some questions that teachers should ask themselves when drafting this section of their lesson plan are: "What transfer and content goals should be...

 There is no Escaping Technology... ...whether we like it or not, it's here to stay for good. Over the last two centuries, the number of technological advancements have skyrocketed exponentially; it seems like every day there is some new invention being advertised. So why not bring that technology into the classroom? Luckily, integrating what might seem like complicated and unrelated technology into the classroom is not as hard as you think, thanks to Technology Integration Models , which detail different methods for meaningfully incorporating aspects of technology into the learning environment.  Each technology integration model specifies different levels of technology integration, like the SAMR model, whose incorporation of technology ranges from pure substitution to utilization for the creation of new things (SAMR article). Although there are many integration models, the three main ones are SAMR , Triple E (not the mosquito one), and TPACK . All of these are great fra...

  The Internet: A Digital Frontier... ...full of endless possibilities and vast resources for its users to explore. Nowhere else can people find an ever-expanding library that shifts and grows exponentially by the second. Now more than ever, the internet has become a vital asset in almost every aspect of our society, including that of education. From Zoom to Google Classroom to Kahoot, the internet provides a variety of tools for both teachers and students to utilize. But with these tools, there comes a concern of safety. Just as there are people out there who wish to use the internet for good, there are people out there who seek to harm others with it. Whether someone steals your personal information or hacks into your bank account to drain your funds, the question for students and teachers alike becomes: How do teachers keep their students safe, and what can students do to aid in this process? For Teachers Especially when incorporating technology into elementary and middle level ...

Imagine this : You are at your desk and your boss presents you with a task to complete that you know little about. You've got until the end of the week to have the completed task on your boss's desk, but you don't know where to start. OR You're interested in looking into a topic that you've been curious about, but no one in your professional circle has the expertise to help you expand your knowledge. OR You're the leader of a club and want to bring in some new and out-of-the-box inspiration to your next meeting or event, but you don't know where you would even begin to search. What if I told you that I can solve all of your problems with the stroke of a key? Wonderful people of the internet, let me introduce you to the concept of a PLN , or Personalized Learning Network, an extremely helpful resource that, according to Tom Whitby's article "How Do I Get a PLN?", "uses social media and technology to collect, communicate, collaborate and cre...