JANE P. SHELDON

Introduction

Overview 

Narratives 

Exhibits

Reflection

How Technology Enhanced My Teaching in Project #1:

• Achievement of National Educational Technology (NET) Standard 1a--Demonstrated introductory knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts related to technology 
  • By incorporating into my Psychology of Adolescence course an assignment utilizing National Public Radio's "Radio Diaries" Web site, I demonstrated my knowledge about (a) searching for and accessing Web sites, (b) providing students with the Web address, (c) linking the "Radio Diaries" address to the course Web page, and (d) explaining to students how to print a copy of the transcript of the audio version they heard on-line. 
• Achievement of NET Standard 6c--Identified and used technology resources that affirm diversity
  • The "Radio Diaries" series provides students with the opportunity to find out about the lives of individuals very different from them. The "Teenage Diaries" consist of stories concerning 11 adolescents from diverse backgrounds. For example, Jeff discusses being biracial, Brina attends her first year at Brown University, Amanda is discovering her bisexuality, Josh copes with Tourette Syndrome, and Ricky struggles with exploring his religious beliefs while having an atheist father and an agnostic mother.
• Achievement of NET Standard 2c--Identified and located technology resources and evaluated them for accuracy and suitability
  • National Public Radio is a highly reputable media source and produces superb documentaries, so I felt very comfortable using their Web site for a class assignment.  I made sure to read each of the "Teenage Diaries" to assure its appropriateness for the assignment.  At one point the link from the "Radio Diaries" site to the "Teenage Diaries" site was not functioning, so I emailed the site manager, who instantly fixed the problem.
• Achievement of NET Standard 3b--Used technology to support learner-centered strategies that addressed the diverse needs of students
  • I noticed when perusing the "Radio Diaries" Web site that there were also "Prison Diaries" related to adolescents in the juvenile justice system.  For my students majoring in criminal justice, I strongly suggested that they pick one of the "Prison Diaries" to analyze, because those diaries would be particularly relevant for their major and possible future career.
• Achievement of NET Standard 3c--Applied technology to develop students' higher order skills and creativity
  • The "Teenage Diaries" assignment addressed both critical thinking and creativity. Students had to apply their knowledge and understanding of the psychological theories they learned about in class to the adolescent's life chronicled in the diary. The ability to apply one's knowledge to real-life situations is part of higher order thinking.  Additionally, part of their grade on the assignment was for creativity in both writing and visual presentation.
• Achievement of NET Standard 4a--Applied technology in assessing student learning of subject matter using a variety of assessment techniques
  • Part of the grade for the "Teenage Diaries" assignment was creativity in both the writing and the visual presentation of the material.  One student chose to give me a multimedia presentation using word processing, videoclips, and photos.  He even lent me the hardware necessary for viewing the material on his Superdisk!
• Achievement of NET Standard 5a--Used technology resources to engage in ongoing professional development and lifelong learning
  • I presented a poster session on the use of the "Teenage Diaries" class assignment at the American Psychological Association (APA) conference held in Chicago August 2002. I also wrote a short article concerning the pedagogical benefits of the assignment.
• Achievement of NET Standard 5d--Used technology to communicate and collaborate with peers, parents, and the larger community in order to nurture student learning
  • The poster session I presented at the APA conference in August 2002 allowed me to share with hundreds of other psychology instructors throughout the U.S. the "Teenage Diaries" class assignment.

How Technology Helped My Professional Development in Project #2:

• Achievement of NET Standard 5a--Use technology resources to engage in ongoing professional development and lifelong learning
  • I presented a poster session at the American Psychological Association (APA) conference held in Chicago August 2002. I was much more comfortable in that environment, because my poster was more professional-looking. Also, I demonstrated to colleagues my understanding and use of technology in scholarship. 
• Achievement of NET Standard 5d--Use technology to communicate and collaborate with peers, parents, and the larger community in order to nurture student learning
  • The poster session I presented at the APA conference in August 2002 allowed me to share with hundreds of other psychology instructors throughout the U.S. my teaching idea. Compared to my previous "home-made" posters, the professional-looking poster was much easier to display and was more visually appealing to conference participants.
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How Technology Helped My Teaching and Professional Development in Project #3:

• Achievement of NET Standard 2c--Identify and locate technology resources and evaluate them for accuracy and suitability
  • My research project concerning gender stereotyping in educational software allows me to evaluate the suitability of various software packages for young children in terms of the gender stereotyping that may be present.
• Achievement of NET Standard 4b--Use technology resources to collect and analyze data, interpret results, and communicate findings to improve instructional practice and maximize student learning
  • Using a coding scheme in order to systematically collect data concerning gender stereotyping in educational software, my research assistants and I will be able to then enter the data into the computer and use statistical software for analysis. Thus, the two research assistants, who have limited knowledge of technology, will not only become very familiar with educational software for young children, but they will also learn about research methodology, data analysis, and statistical software.
• Achievement of NET Standard 5a--Use technology resources to engage in ongoing professional development and lifelong learning
  • The study of educational software for young children allows me to combine several different research interests into one study. As a developmental psychologist, I am interested in how children develop socially and psychologically. Another of my interests in the field of developmental psychology, which is also shown by my membership in the Women's Studies program at UM-Dearborn, is gender role socialization.  Finally, I have several publications concerning pedagogy; thus, the study of educational software ties in with my interests in teaching and learning.
• Achievement of NET Standard 5d--Use technology to communicate and collaborate with peers, parents, and the larger community in order to nurture student learning
  • The research project concerning gender stereotyping in educational software will provide educators and parents with extremely important information concerning the messages about gender that children are given via technology.  Educators and parents can then make informed decisions about what educational software to provide children and what topics to discuss with youngsters.
• Achievement of NET Standard 6c--Identify and use technology resources that affirm diversity
  • The main purpose of the research project is to identify which educational software packages do a good job of affirming gender diversity, both in the number of female and male characters in the software and in the behaviors, activities, and appearance of the characters.  Educators are concerned about the gender gap in technology; therefore, my research project may provide information that will help researchers and educators reduce the technology gender gap.

Questions or Comments: jsheldon@umd.umich.edu