Concept Map

While creating this concept map I had to think hard about what was most important to include. There is so much and what do I choose and how detailed do I get? I decided to start with the syllabus and then go with what I found most helpful to me. Every item I included made me think of another important piece of this big puzzle. It just kept getting bigger so I finally stopped and started thinking how all of this was connected to everything else and the mini unit I implemented.

The problem solving steps combined with Craig’s lesson plan template were very helpful in coming up with the mini unit. I kept seeing connections between Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences, model types, critical thinking skills and the assessments information in Barell. I kept thinking about certain students and how all of this could be applied to help them have a rich learning experience.

I created a concept map with my second graders and we talked about what they wanted to accomplish and how they thought they could make it happen. They ended up making a physical model and then “Got Graphic” by drawing what tools they thought might work and what those tools could do. We then created a second map for assessment purposes. They had a great time and I learned a lot about how second graders think and learn.

Essential Questions

Essential Questions for Teachers

--with thanks to Faith Rogow, Ph

Am I trying to tell the students what the message is? Or am I giving students the skills to determine what they think the message(s) might be?

Have I let students know that I am open to accepting their interpretation, as long as it is well substantiated, or have I conveyed the message that my interpretation is the only correct view?

At the end of the lesson, are students likely to be more analytical? Or more cynical?

-- from Literacy for the 21st Century: An Overview and Orientation Guide to Media Literacy

Who is the Teacher in Your Classroom?

What is the best way to collaborate with parents?

How can teachers best model effective use of emerging digital tools?

Why should we use questions as the scope and sequence of unit?

What is the best way to frame connections between content, skill, and assessment choices?

What is the role of the tech teacher in an elementary or middle school?

What does it mean to be part of a team?

What is the role of the specials classes in elementary or middle school?


1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student
learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.


2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to
maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S.

3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society.


4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical
behavior in their professional practices.

5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional
community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources.

These are questions that I found online or wrote myself.

I’ve been talking with students and teachers for a few months about the ideas within these questions. They will be used for a number of projects throughout the rest of the year, mostly in the tech lab but scaffolded in the classrooms as well. All the NETS for students apply here.

Essential questions for students in the tech lab


In a world of constant technological change, what skills should we learn?

How do I choose which technological tools to use and when it is appropriate to use them?

What are my responsibilities for using technology?

What constitutes misuse and how can it best be prevented?

How can I transfer what I know to new technological situations/experiences?

Can we control the pace at which technology is created? Should we, even if we can?

How does technology extend human capabilities?

What are the positive and negative consequences of technology?

Should technologies that produce negative impact continue to be used?

When are the most sophisticated tools required and when are the simplest tools best?

http://www.state.nj.us/education/aps/njscp/Phase1allAreas.pdf

What does it mean to be part of a team?

Why do this project as a team instead of individually?

1. Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes
using technology. Students:
a. apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
b. create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
c. use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues.
d. identify trends and forecast possibilities.

2. Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance,
to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:
a. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments
and media.
b. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.
c. develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures.
d. contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems.

3. Research and Information Fluency
Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students:
a. plan strategies to guide inquiry.
b. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and
media.
c. evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.
d. process data and report results.

4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make
informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Students:
a. identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation.
b. plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project.
c. collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions.
d. use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions.

5. Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical
behavior. Students:
a. advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
b. exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.
c. demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning.
d. exhibit leadership for digital citizenship.

6. Technology Operations and Concepts
Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. Students:
a. understand and use technology systems.
b. select and use applications effectively and productively.
c. troubleshoot systems and applications.
d. transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies.


For animal habitat project…2nd-3rd grade

Why is it important to stop deforestation?

What would it take to get all of America to recycle newspapers every day?

I left the incorrect post up just in case anyone wanted to see the links.

Essential Questions plus Some Interesting Sites on the Subject

Hey guys...I misunderstood this assignment and am in the process of repair...bear with me. The links are pretty cool though. I'll put up the correct info then make another blog with the resources I found. Thanks

Here is my list of essential questions. Some are more essential than others and I cited the websites where I got the ones I did not write myself.


What is an essential question?

Why are essential questions important in the classroom?

http://www.authenticeducation.org/bigideas/article.lasso?artId=53

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What is problem solving to you?

How can problem solving be taught to you?

Why is it important to stop deforestation?

What would it take to get all of America to recycle plastic bottles every day?

What is the role of the tech teacher in an elementary or middle school?

What role does technology play in the history of a people?

What is the role of the specials classes in elementary or middle school?

What are the essential steps needed to attain a teaching position in an elementary school?

What does it mean to be alive?

What does it mean to be part of a team?

Why is it important to support family members when they won’t support themselves?

________________________________________________________


How is "understanding" different than "knowing"?

http://www.takingaim.org/components/teaching.htm

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In today’s world of women’s equality would the “women and children first” rule of a sinking boat be valid? Why?

www.rmstitanic.net/pdf/essential-questions.pdf

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In what ways are animals human, and in what way are humans animals?

http://www.oakcrest.net/news/essential.pdf

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What traits make someone a good friend?

Why do rules have to be followed?

What is the best way to balance the need for resource development with protection of the environment?

What is the price of progress?

http://questioning.org/mar05/essential.html

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Why is art necessary?

http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/League/esques.htmlhttp://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/League/esques.html

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If answers to essential questions cannot be found, why bother to ask them?

http://www.k12.hi.us/~dtisdell/webquest/ssessques.htm

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Interesting links I found on the subject

http://ozpk.tripod.com/0000000EQ

http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/models/elem.html

http://classroomcoaches.com/?inc=egquestions