The NETS T Standards have shifted and evolved to the technology-rich society that we live in today (2013). During the year of 2000, I was a junior/senior in high school. I did not have a cell phone. I did not know what social networking meant and we still used 3.5 floppy disk. Times were much different. Technology has been nothing but a "race-to-the-top" since. During the years of 2001-2002, I did receive my first cell phone (once I was in college), as well as, took an Introduction to Technology course through Fairmont State University (FSU). The 2000 version of the standards was focused in this same direction. Microsoft Office was up-and-rising and was the "Google" of 2000. Computers and the "Internet" were all very new to a large part of society. Therefore, the 2000 version was more focused on teachers using technology to enhance their lessons (PowerPoint), teachers using technology to be more productive (Excel), and/or teachers were using technology (computers) to share lesson plans on the world wide web. The new direction that NETS T took was absolutely appropriate. Eight years later, revisited and revised, the NETS T standards revolve around teachers and students using technology to enhance learning experiences and collaborating in ways which we would have never imagined in 2000. In summary, we went from teachers using technology to using technology as teachers and students.
Wordle is a great digital tool that teachers & students (along with many others) can use to create "word clouds." After completing the Wordle assignment, I began to ask myself, "What did Wordle force me to do?" I think Wordle is a great tool for focusing on key words or concepts when reading text. I think any assignment where students were asked to read a text and then create a "word cloud" as an assessment of the reading and comprehension by using the key words and key concepts. It is also a unique form of assessment and student won't even realize they are being assessed.
The NETS T Standards Involved are: #1- Did this Wordle
Activity facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity? I do believe by facilitating experiences such
as the one involved in this lesson, students will advance. Virtual environments are so much more fun. Using Google Docs I designed an
English/Language Arts (ELA) center that engages students through text with
technology to focusing on key words and concepts when reading and
comprehending. Standard #2 states that I
(the teacher) can design and develop digital-age learning experiences and
assessments. Is my Wordle Center a
digital-age learning experience and can I use it as an assessment? Yes and yes! The center is technology rich: the Google
Docs, the digital-age tool called Wordle, and then the emailing of the finished
product. Students are also watching me
(the teacher) exhibit the knowledge and skills of an innovative professional in
a global and digital society. Using this
digital tool will also allow my struggling students a more unique learning experience
that may enhance the experience. By
engaging in professional growth and leadership, I am providing digital-age
learning experiences not only to myself but also modeling that leadership for
my students. My goal is to engage my
students in creative processes that will allow them to grow and evolve along
with technology instead of years behind it.
Through taking this course, I have realized that I do need to put more
of an emphasis on my “technological side.”
I also feel as though this course has prepared me for teaching in this technology crazy
world. I have high hopes of teaching my
students how to blog and utilize that blog in order to communicate with me (the
teacher) and their peers (their classmates).
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