ISTE Standard 2/3

2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments

c. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources

3. Model digital age work and learning

b. Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation
KSDE Standard 5. Relationships between people, place, idea, and environments are dynamic.

Introduction

            I have chosen to concentrate my standards entry on my lesson over World War I.  Specifically the role the United States played during the war.  I wanted to get my students involved with how the United States got involved in the war and the reasons they stayed out of the fray for as long as they did.  I had the students look into some of the events, which led to the U.S. entry into the war.  I placed them in the role of an average everyday citizen living in America during WWI.  They were required to look into the information about the war and make a decision on whether or not they believed the United States should be involved in the war and to what level they thought we should be involved.  I will have the students create a blog, which would serve as a daily journal for entries about new information they have found.  The goal is to have them process the new information as it is given to them to form and their own opinion.

Description

            The lesson would begin by having the students create a blog of their own using a site such as blogger.  Each day I would post a new video outlining a new piece of information about events of WWI.  One dy I would discuss the Zimmerman Note, and another day we would look at the sinking of the Lusitania.  The expectation is for students to view the videos prior to entering class the next day.  The blog entries will be written during class time at the beginning of the hour each day. Students will be placed into small groups to share the ideas they have gained from the information presented to them in the at home lesson.  Within their groups, they will go over the new information and discuss the possible implications on the United States role in WWI.  After the discussion is over in the small groups, the class will reconvene to have a general discussion about the impact of the new information.  I will lead this discussion, making sure the class has taken a look at all the angles I was expecting them to see.  Following the class talk, students will write a short blog entry in discussing their feelings about the United States entering the war while acknowledging if any of the new information has swayed them one way or the other.  Students will be graded and assessed on the depth of knowledge shown both in the discussions and the blog entries.

Analysis

            While I was developing the lesson, I thought it would be a great way to introduce a flipped classroom concept to the class.  The setup of the lesson works perfectly for the flipped style learning.  Using technology students will have to bring in other people to help them accomplish their goals.  This will drive a conversation, which gears toward the use of technology in the classroom with their friends, fellow students and even their parents.  I also felt like the flipped classroom would be a good way to let all students learn at a pace, which is appropriate for them.  Giving the students the ability to tailor the lesson to their own needs frees them up to engage more freely in the classroom.  I was also happy with the concept of not only using video lessons to introduce new topics for the students, but using the daily blog entries ensures the students are getting a mix of different technology learning styles.  The lesson is also an opportunity for me as the educator to have daily interaction with students on a one on one basis. With the small group discussion students are expected to be able to explain their thoughts and opinions with members of their peer group.  Making use of the flipped lesson allows for all of these things to happen, which is why I chose this specific lesson to use it on.

Reflection

            As I look at some of the potential downfalls or drawbacks to the lesson as presented, I was drawn to the idea of not all students having access to the videos outside of the classroom.  I have always worried about introducing more technology would open up kids who may not have consistent access to the technology at home, to being left a bit behind.  I do have a plan, which should combat this issue relatively well, and I intend to give students who may not have access outside of school some extra time at the beginning of class to view the videos in class.  Students would be required to let me know prior to the start of the lesson if they feel as if they may need to watch the videos in class.  If the lesson is a success, in the future I would like to add some more challenging aspects to the lesson.  One of the ideas would be to assign roles to students and not make them just everyday citizens.  Student would assume the role of a soldier, or nurse.  There are several different roles which would make the lesson a little more divers for each student.