IT+Journal+Reflection+Prompt+1

Describe a technology experience you had this week? = = Description: This past week in my American History class, I had the opportunity to present a lesson from the state standards using technology. Using my powerpoint presentation which is the norm in my class, I presented some questions on terminology from the Industrial Revolution. The students were having some difficulty with some of the terms. In the past, I would have restated and tried to define the terminology in a different way. At Stow High School, this is the first year the students were aloud to use smartphones in the classroom with teacher permission to aid in understanding. I let the students get out their smartphones and work together to present the information to the class themselves. The students worked together and used mostly google to understand and present the material in a different way.

Impact: Although minor, the students were impacted in that they gained a better understanding of the material from the use of their smartphones. Granted this is a first step and because of previous cell phone rules, some students seemed uncomfortable using them in class, even with permission.

Intent: My intent was to show the students that the rules have changed! Letting them use their technology to aid in the learning of the material is just the beginning of my efforts to incorporate more technology in the classroom.     = =