Comprehensive Classroom Technology Plan (Benchmark Assignment)

During this course, you have created a classroom website that included a multimedia presentation, technology task cards, assessment technology, and blended learning.  Using the feedback that you received from your instructor, compile your Comprehensive Classroom Technology Plan that will include the sections listed below as well as a reflection essay.
The plan is composed of the following components: 

• Section One: Mission and Vision Statements
• Section Two: Communications Plan
• Section Three: Integrating Instructional Technology
• Section Four:  Differentiating Instruction through Technology
• Section Five: Technology to Support Assessment
• Reflection Conclusion

Section 1: Mission and Vision Statement: Create Mission and Vision Statements.

Section 2: Communications Plan: Write a 500-750-word description with rationale for your Communications Plan for your first year of teaching. Include the following:

1. How you will communicate with all engaged groups in the educational community.
2. How technology can be used to communicate in a classroom setting.
3. How you will address Internet security and safety.

Consider communication and collaboration with students, parents, the community, and the global community. Items you may consider:

1. A class website
2. Emergency contact list
3. Alternative methods of communications
4. Critical communications links
5. e-mail
6. VOIP
7. Student websites
8. Partnerships with other schools
9. e-pals
10. Others

Section 3: Integrating Instructional Technology
Write a 500-750-word-description with rationale of how technology would be used to facilitate and enhance instruction in your classroom. Include the following:

1. Explain what the possible pros and cons might be in using technology to facilitate learning.
2. Discuss the differences between wired and wireless classrooms.

Section 4:  Differentiating Instruction through Technology
Write a 500-750-word description with rationale of how technology would be used to differentiate instruction in your classroom. Consider the following:

1. Explain what the possible pros and cons might be in using technology to differentiate instruction.
2. Should a teacher only use technology to differentiate instruction? Why or why not?
3. What is the impact on student achievement when technology is used to differentiate instruction?
4. What is the importance of student-centered technology in the classroom?

Section 5: Technology to Support Assessment
Write a 500-750-word description with rationale on how you will utilize software to support assessment in the classroom. Consider the following:

1. In what ways can technology facilitate the ongoing effort to assess student learning
2. What is the difference between formative assessment and summative assessment, and how can technology be used to facilitate both?
3. What are the pros and cons of using technology to assess student learning?
4. Should a teacher only use technology to assess student learning? Why or why not?
5. What is the importance of assessment technology in connection with the ISTE standards?

Reflection Conclusion

Write a 500-750-word reflection that summarizes how your comprehensive classroom technology plan can increase productivity and efficiency for both students and teachers.

Support your descriptions and rationales with evidence from the topic materials, and with 7-10 peer-reviewed articles from the GCU Library.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

NOTE:  For a professional presentation please remember to include the Rationale and Standards that apply to this assignment.

Issues in Multicultural Education (Benchmark Assessment)
Explore local issues in your community that affect the education of diverse students. Possible issues may include, but are not limited to, inequities among districts in your area regarding teaching materials, quality of school programs, funding for cultural enrichment activities, etc.
Research an issue described above and analyze possible solutions you would implement in your future classroom. 
Develop a 750-1,000-word plan of action to solve the chosen issue, including the following:

1. A statement of the problem.
2. Who is involved:
   1. As part of the problem?
   2. As part of the solution?
3. What is the proposed solution?
4. What will be needed to implement the solution (such as money, time, manpower, materials, etc.)?
5. What is the projected timeline to implement the solution?
6. What is the expected outcome?

Use the GCU Library to research a minimum of three to five peer-reviewed articles that can be used in support of your content.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

NOTE:  For a professional presentation please remember to include the Rationale and Standards that apply to this assignment.

Charting the Course: Social Studies Web Quest 

(1)   Choose a specific grade and concepts from the Social Studies Standards. You will need to select one (1) particular concept from each of the Social Studies strands: American History, World History, Civics/Government, Geography, and Economics. To assist, visit the Arizona Department of Education’s Social Studies Standards page at:

http://www.ade.az.gov/standards/sstudies/articulated/

ii)        Access the Course Resources for Assignment description details.

Design a five-day Web Quest that could be used to teach and assess one (1) particular concept from each of the Social Studies strands listed above.

1. (2)   Write a 1000-1250 word reflection on why you think the WebQuest you have devised represents best practices for teaching social studies and how your mentor teachers’ practices influenced your design. APA format is not required, but solid writing skill in APA style is expected.

iii)     Provide your instructor with access to your Web Quest.

iv)      Submission of the Practicum Forms as a separate attachment in addistion to the Benchmark  Assessment

(1)   Complete the Practicum Placement Form and Observation and Activity Log located in the Practicum Manuel and include both with the submission of your reflection essay as the Benchmark Assessment.

NOTE:  For a professional presentation please remember to include the Rationale and Standards that apply to this assignment. 

Teaching for Exceptionalities

1. Contact a school, identify yourself as a GCU student, and request an opportunity to observe and participate in two different educational settings/grade levels that serve students with mild to moderate disabilities. Legally, you may not ask what the student’s disability is and you may not look at the IEP without parental permission. Of the total 15 hours required schedule to spend a minimum of 5 hours with the student during this practicum experience in one of the educational settings.
2. Spend a total of 15 hours, approximately 7.5 hours in two different grade levels. Each setting needs to serve students with mild to moderate disabilities.
3. During your initial observations of the student, take note of which modalities are strongest for the student (auditory, visual, kinesthetic, etc.). Also, note the curricular areas in which the student exhibits strengths and weaknesses.
4. Obtain a lesson plan that has been written by the teacher in a curricular area that is a challenge for the student (math, writing, reading, science, etc.). Make a copy of this lesson to submit with the Benchmark Assessment. Review the learning objective, activity/assignment description, and assessment (where applicable).
5. Write an Accommodation/Lesson Plan based on your observations and inclusive of the following. Ensure that you review the plan with the mentor teacher(s).
   1. A brief description of the targeted student with a disability: (a) Age and grade level of student, (b) Areas of academic strengths/weaknesses, (c) Student’s preferred modalities of learning.
   2. A learning objective that would be more appropriate for the targeted student with disabilities.
   3. An activity/assignment that would match this objective and would be appropriate for the student based on his or her cognitive level.
   4. An assessment for this activity that would be appropriate for the targeted student; consider and describe technologies and other instructional supports that would enhance the learning for this student.
6. Implement the modified lesson with the targeted student. Seek the mentor teacher’s feedback on your teaching.
7. Write a 1000-1250-word Reflective Analysis.
   1. Consider the following. Ensure your responses are inherent in the essay, not simply short answers to these questions:
      1. Which accommodations and modifications were successful?
      2. If you taught this lesson again, would you do it the same/different? Explain.
      3. What other accommodations/modifications might the student’s regular education classroom teacher make?
      4. What other accommodations/modifications might the student’s special education classroom teacher make?
      5. What other accommodations/modifications might related service specialists make (where applicable)?
   2. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
8. Ask the classroom teacher to complete the Classroom Teacher Evaluation Form. Include it, the classroom teacher’s lesson plan, your Accommodation/Lesson Plan, and your Reflective Analysis as the Benchmark Assessment submission to the instructor.

NOTE:  For a professional presentation please remember to include the Rationale and Standards that apply to this assignment. 

Individual: LD: The Puzzling Paradox

i)        Part 1: Research the following questions using the GCU eLibrary and the Internet:

(1)   What is a learning disability? (Locate 2-3 definitions/explanations)

(2)   How do individuals with learning disabilities process information? What are challenges related to how these individuals process information?

ii)       Part 2: Identify a student who has a learning disability.answer the following questions:

(1)   In which academic area(s) does the student struggle?

(2)   In which academic area(s) does the student have strengths?

(3)   How does the student’s disability influence ability to socially interact with others (social skills)?

iii)     Part 3: Identify one area in which the student academically struggles.

(1)   Choose one skill you will teach the student using a learning strategy. Note: this strategy must be generalizable and have less than 7 steps. Write a lesson plan following the steps based on Hunter’s model.

(2)   Implement the lesson plan with the student and provide, in written form, a reflection with regard to effectiveness of the strategies. Also, please include a reflection indicating what you would do the same/different if you were to use this strategy again.

iv)     Write a 1250-1500 word essay in which you include information from each of the 3 parts above. Be detailed in the information requested for Parts 1 and 2. For Part 3, reflect on the effectiveness of the strategies you used, and how you would revise the lesson if you were to use these strategies again.

Please be sure to submit the benchmark assignment with any supporting documentation for the Practicum Experience requirement.

NOTE:  For a professional presentation please remember to include the Rationale and Standards that apply to this assignment. 

eMOTION

i)        Make a 3-column chart with the following titles:  Observation, Reflection, and Recommendation. Using your notes from your practicum experience, complete the columns according to the following:

(1)   In the Observation column, write that which you observed in terms of instructional practice, behavior interventions and modifications, and systems. Be thorough and complete in your observations.

(2)   In the Reflection column, write your reflection in terms of whether or not you believe this instruction, behavior, or system to be effective. Do this for each observation you make. Support your opinion with information you have gained from this course (lecture, text, discussion, etc.).

(3)   In the Recommendation column, discuss what you would recommend in terms of improving that which you observed (be specific). Use the course lectures, readings, and discussion forum to inform this recommendation.

ii)       APA format is not required, but solid writing skill in APA style and a title page are expected.

NOTE:  For a professional presentation please remember to include the Rationale and Standards that apply to this assignment.