July+2009+Field-based+Activities



Field-Based Reflections July 2009 Week 2

This is the second Holiday Exchange Professional Development. I attended “Social Studies with Google Earth”. This training provided an opportunity to learn how to use Google Earth for many different courses. Google Earth has potential to be used in Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and different Fine Arts classes.

We began with the basics and then worked in groups to brainstorm. My group had two social studies teachers from my campus. The 7th grade teacher and I prepared an entire lesson for her Texas History class. We did the lesson on the regions of Texas. The students would be able to “go” to the different regions. They could see the physical characteristics, cities, towns, rivers, lakes and how far these regions were from their own. It was a very well-designed lesson and I think the students will enjoy. The teacher will need to make sure that she is able to set specific but flexible objectives and goals (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, Malenoski, 2007). These objectives and goals will be tied to TEKS 113.23 (b)(9) ("Chapter 113," 1998). However, the concern of using her laptop and having to check-out an LCD projector became a discussion. I told the teacher I would meet with the principal about this concern. As discussed by Williamson and Redish (2009, p. 67), this type of technology-enhanced experience will adress both content and student technology standards

I met with Malinda Villalobos, Principal about the limited number of LCD projectors on the campus and the increased number of teachers using them. Malinda contacted the Director of Instructional Technology. After much discussion, it was agreed the department would purchase ten LCD projectors if we would at least match that number. With changes made to details in the ICAP, we will be purchasing fifteen and the custodial staff will be mounting them on ceiling mounts. With the LCD projectors we already have on campus, there will be projectors in every classroom being used on the campus. This is a great advance in technology for our campus. Perhaps the teachers will be more willing to give up their overhead projectors.

References

//Chapter 113. Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies//. (1998). Retrieved May 31, 2010, from []

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E. R., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). //Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works// (pp. 17-18). Denver, CO: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning.

Williamson, J., & Redish, T. (2009). //ISTE's Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards// (p. 67). Washington, D.C.: International Society for Technology in Education.