Assessment 1: Emerging Technologies Investigation

This week, you read about educational technologies coming onto the horizon in one year or less, in two to three years, and in four to five years. Two types of technologies were identified for each time-to-adoption horizon, and a number of examples were given for how these technologies have been used to create powerful learning experiences in classrooms around the world.
 

For this Assessment, you will conduct an investigation of one of the technologies in each of three horizon time frames. The purpose of these investigations is for you to increase your awareness of emerging technologies, adopt the practice of staying abreast of technology trends, and develop a mindset for finding ways to leverage technologies to give your students equitable access to 21st-century learning opportunities.
 

Instructions:

Investigate one of the technologies presented in each of the three time-to-adoption horizons. Conduct and report on each of your three investigations as follows:

Identify the horizon and the technology.

• Which technology within the horizon did you choose?
• Why did you choose this one?
• How does this technology relate to your teaching context, which you shared with your colleagues in your Week 1 Discussion post? 

Explore at least three examples of the technology applied in practice.

• Which examples did you explore?
• What in these examples most impressed or expanded your thinking?
• How could you create similar experiences for your students? How would this help your students reach your classroom academic and/or social vision and goals?
• Describe two challenges you might have to overcome to create such experiences, and explain how you might overcome them.

Read one of the “For Further Reading” articles that is of greatest interest or relevance to you.

• Which article did you read? Why did you choose this article?
• What did you gain from this article that will help you enhance your practice?
• What questions did this article prompt for you?

Save this Assessment as “Investigation_firstinitiallastname” and submit it to the Gradebook by the end of Week 4.
 

Assessment 2: Planning for Technology Infused Learning

Thus far in this module you have been using your PLN to find answers, communicate, collaborate, and be an active contributor to the virtual education landscape. You also have investigated emerging technologies that experts expect will have a significant impact on teaching and learning on a global scale. Given your increased connectivity and your new knowledge of technologies on the horizon, you can begin planning instruction in new and innovative ways.
 

For this Assessment, you will leverage your personal learning network and knowledge of emerging technologies to generate an initial plan for technology-infused learning in your classroom.
 

Instructions:

• Select an area of your curriculum in which to develop a learning experience (e.g., activity, lesson, project, or unit) for your students based on your learning from this module. 
•  Describe your plan for this learning experience and explain how it accomplishes the following:
  • Incorporates ideas you gleaned from one or more interactions/connections on your PLN
  • Reflects 21st-century teaching pedagogy and engages students in 21st-century learning
  • Reflects trends in educational technology and engages students in the use of the latest tools, resources, and/or devices
  • Demonstrates a disposition to push beyond your comfort zone and become more technologically savvy

Save this Assessment as “PlanningforTIL_firstinitiallastname” and submit it to the Gradebook by the end of Week 5.