Narratives of Achievement

 I.      Technology Operations and Concepts:  Teachers demonstrate a sound understanding of technology operations and concepts.

     I demonstrated a sound understanding of technology operations and concepts by creating a unit that showed students how to use HyperStudio software.  I began by creating a small stack and presenting it to the class. I next demonstrated to students how to use the variety of tools and colors available on the program.  With my guidance, students used the tools and colors to create pictures.  In addition, I assisted students in learning to create and write within a textbox.

 II.   Planning and Designing Learning Environments and Experiences:  Teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology.

     I accomplished this goal by integrating Language Arts and Social Studies standards into this unit.  I followed the Michigan Standard and Benchmarks Guidelines.  The purpose of this unit was for students to understand how the choices they make influence others and impact the environment.  Students were read the story, The Lorax.  In this story a character named the Once-ler visits a beautiful town and starts utilizing the resources.  Eventually the town becomes uninhabitable and the characters are forced to leave.  In groups students created their own endings to this story.  Students were put in groups, brainstormed ideas, created rough drafts using a specific writing rubric, and wrote their final copies using HyperStudio software. 

III. Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum:  Teachers implement curriculum plans that include methods and strategies for applying technology to maximize student learning.

     Lesson plans were designed to support the diverse needs of all learners.  All students participated in writing part of the story.  All students created and designed two cards using the HyperStudio program.  To maximize time and student learning several instructional tools were used.

Job Responsibility Worksheet 1

Job Responsibility Worksheet 2

Pre-Writing Organizer Worksheet

Writing Rubric

V.    Productivity and Professional Practice:  Teachers use technology to enhance their productivity and professional practice.

     I accomplished this goal by participating in the MITTEN project and designing an Electronic Portfolio of my experience.  In addition, by designing a unit that integrated the  HyperStudio program, I needed to learn more about technology myself.  After students created their stories using HyperStudio, I put their cards together into one stack.  At the end of the unit I presented the entire stack to the class.  We also had an assembly and presented the project to the school as well.

VI. Social, Ethical, Legal, and Human Issues.

     This unit embodied all of these important concepts.  The unit focused on problem solving and how the choices people make impact others.  Throughout this unit we discussed many important issues such as pollution, recycling, and personal responsibility.  The stories created by the students themselves, demonstrate their awareness of creating a clean environment where all people and creatures can live together in harmony.