Technology EducationCurriculum Framework

Presented at AETASeptember 28. 2009

The technology education curriculum is somewhat different from other curriculums in that it is not a stand-alone curriculum.

But…the process is the same.

Readiness Planning and writing curriculum Learning Implementation Selection of supporting materials Maintenance

Curriculum Development Process

Reviewed the State Course of Study as well as the source of the state document—ISTE’s National Educational Technology Standards for Students: The Next Generation

Sent technology coordinators to state and national conferences such as the following:◦ T+L (Technology and Learning) Conference,

◦ AETA (Alabama Education Technology Association) conference, and

◦ NECC (National Education Computing Conference)

Researched Best Practices, Trends, and Laws In the Spring of 2008 appointed the Technology

Curriculum Committee of over 60 teachers, administrators, and parents.

Readiness

Readiness Planning and Writing

Curriculum Development Process

Compared previous curriculum to new state curriculum

Planning and Writing

Strand Differences

2002 2008-2009

Basic Operations and Concepts

Technology Operations and Concepts

Social, Ethical, and Human Issues

Digital Citizenship

Technology Productivity Tools

Creativity and Innovation

Technology Communication Tools

Communication and Collaboration

Technology Research Tools

Research and Information Fluency

Technology Problem Solving and Decision Making Tools

Problem Solving and Decision Making

Revised state standards to be continuous from K-12

Planning and Writing Compared previous curriculum to new state

curriculum

STATE

MOUNTAIN BROOK

SCHOOLS

Deconstructed standards

Planning and Writing Compared previous curriculum to new state

curriculum Revised state standards to be continuous from K-12

Compared previous curriculum to new state curriculum

Revised state standards to be continuous from K-12

Deconstructed standards

Planning and Writing

Developed a scope and sequence

Mountain Brook Scope and Sequence

Mountain Brook Scope and Sequence

http://www.mtnbrook.k12.al.us/cms/Scope+and+Sequence/10720.html

Compared previous curriculum to new state curriculum

Revised state standards to be continuous from K-12

Deconstructed standards Developed a scope and sequence

Planning and Writing

Created a subcommittee to review best practices in regard to keyboarding skills

Wrote philosophy and goals

The Mountain Brook Schools Technology Curriculum Committee believes the Technology Curriculum should be an integrated, interdisciplinary program that is effective, challenging, and engaging. 

Specifically we believe that : Current technology is a powerful tool for research, problem-solving,

communication, and collaboration, and its mastery is a defining characteristic of a successful 21st century learner.

An effective curriculum is designed to create digital citizens who understand their own responsibility in the use of technology in a safe, legal and ethical way.

Effective technology instruction is relevant, engaging, authentic and seamlessly integrated through all the disciplines.

Successful implementation of the curriculum engages students of all ability levels and learning styles.

The technology curriculum reflects the dynamic, fluid nature of technology, preparing students to own their knowledge of current technology in order to transfer their learning to the successful use of technologies yet to be developed.

Philosophy

The ultimate goal of the technology curriculum is technology fluency for all students so that they might use technology to communicate effectively, acquire knowledge, produce creative solutions and engage in a global environment. It is imperative that students are provided with technology instruction to procure information, improve problem solving skills, enhance curriculum, and work collaboratively.

The following goals were derived from both the Alabama State Course of Study for Technology Education and the ISTE National Educational Technology Standards for Students:

Students will understand, utilize and apply knowledge of both current and emerging technology systems.

Students will be responsible digital citizens by practicing safe, ethical and legal use of technology.

Students will gather, organize, evaluate, synthesize and report information from an appropriate variety of sources.

Students will communicate, interact, collaborate and publish to produce original works or solve problems using a variety of digital tools.

Students will engage in global communication that develops cultural understanding.

Students will use appropriate digital tools and resources to plan and conduct research, make decisions, create projects, solve problems and think critically.

Students will apply knowledge to generate new ideas, create original works as a means of expression, explore complex systems and issues, and identify trends and forecast possibilities.

Technology Curriculum Goals

Readiness Planning and writing curriculum Learning

Curriculum Development Process

Charge:Examine best practices for teaching keyboarding skills and based on best practices and the Technology Curriculum Framework standards, determine how keyboarding will be taught in the elementary schools.

Recommendation: Kindergarten and first grade should focus on understanding that

there are specific finger positions.

Second grade should focus on learning specific finger placement when typing words and sentences.

Third grade should focus on practicing correct finger placement when typing paragraphs.

Fourth and fifth grades should focus on reinforcing/increasing accuracy when word processing.

Keyboarding Subcommittee Findings

Keyboarding Training

http://www.mtnbrook.k12.al.us/cms/Keyboarding/10786.html

5th AND 6th Grade Technology Committee Meeting

Learning—Staff Development and Summer Technology Conference

Overview of the Standards Review 5th Grade Sample Project Sample Projects (It’s Your Turn) “The Who” “The How”

EasyTech Discussion and Lessons Professional Development

Agenda for 5th/6th Technology Committee Meeting

Social Studies Project Sample—Voicethread

Bill Andrews, 5th Grade, Social Studies, MBE

A new technology that I am in the process of using is VoiceThread. On VoiceThread, the teacher can post videos, pictures, PowerPoints, and other media and then have students view the VoiceThread at school or at home. They can comment on each item with their “voice” through a microphone, type in a comment, or even manipulate the media using a drawing tool. This allows for a unique interactive environment that increases student interest in the curriculum. Our first VoiceThread project is on the Middle Passage and slavery. To register for an account on VoiceThread, students must have an email account. We decided to activate ePals email accounts for each student. Each student comment is represented by a graphic, so I had each student draw a self portrait using the Paint program and save it so that the picture could be uploaded to the student’s VoiceThread account. I began by posting slavery pictures to my VoiceThread. I assigned each class a specific picture on which to comment, hopefully, collecting everyone’s feelings and thoughts on this sad part of history. The cool thing is that their “voice” will be there for the other students, their parents, and me to hear. Next I plan to have my students create their own VoiceThreads on which others can comment.

Current Project Description

1. Accurate Terminology (Use throughout teaching the project)

3. Safe removal of storage media including digital cameras

4. Connect/copy files from storage media (Pulling ppt files and pictures from flash drive or

pictures from digital camera) 5. Navigational features of programs,

navigating windows (Navigating the Internet to find pictures,

organizing files/pictures in a folder on the computer, using the Paint program)

6. Presentation software/online multimedia software (Text done in PowerPoint, VoiceThread is an online presentation

software.)

Technology Standards

7. Identify file types with .ppt, .jpg, .bmp (When saving/locating files to import to VoiceThread, discussing file

types) 8. Basic Troubleshooting (Using the microphone, volume, wireless connectivity,

refreshing the website, restarting—typical issues that arrive when

using hardware/software—what if statements that prepare

students) 11. Responsible/ethical use—posting

information online/passwords private (What they say/type in VoiceThread is public, being

responsible, choosing you’re your identity—not your neighbors, protecting

password) 12. Acceptable Use Policy 13. Citing Sources

(Give credit for pictures and information)

Technology Standards

Technology Standards 14. Influence of technology on society

(In your parents’ lifetime, how would they have communicated their ideas with others? How has technology helped you communicate and share?)

15. Organize, locate, collect, present information(Shared folders to organize, file names to identify

pictures, Internet search strategies for pictures and information, presenting using online tool)

16. Electronic Reliability(Reliability of information from web for the VoiceThread—

using other VoiceThreads for information—why that would/would not be reliable)

17. Digital environment to collaborate and communicate(Shared folders/files, sharing on the web through

VoiceThread—inviting parents, other students to comment)

18. Produce digital work collaboratively(Whole class working on project, commenting)

20. Create a product using digital tools.(Digital Camera/PowerPoint/Paint/Online tool)

It is your turn….. Pull out your grade level standards.

Who will be accountable for teaching what standard?

Curriculum Mapping

Technology Projects

Grade Level/Curriculum Project

Professional Development/Summer Technology Conference

http://www.mtnbrook.k12.al.us/cms/VoiceThread/10437.html

How Do We Know?

Elementary ◦ From 2004-2009 documentation was expected for

the completion of Easytech Lessons at 80% accuracy. Now, documentation is required for the teaching of standards through curriculum projects.

Secondary◦ From 2004-2009 documentation was required

through the use of a checklist and sample projects. This process is being continued.

Technology Fluency

Documentation

http://www.mtnbrook.k12.al.us/cms/Documentation/11360.html

We ARE 21st Century Learners!