Technology skills are paramount for preparing kids for a 21st century work environment. This week’s assignment took an easy concept like telling a story, and gave it a 21st century spin. This assignment both challenged me and helped me to look at the broader picture of how technology should be used in the classroom.
The technology TEKS for 8th grade are a framework that is used for all grade levels to assess and introduce technology to children and monitor their progress. Students that would participate in a project like this would utilize multiple standards as they created the assignment. The 8th grade TEKS look at multiple domains from creativity to digital citizenship. Creativity and innovation is a cornerstone to these TEKS as it really draws on the synthesis and higher order thinking. These TEKS focus on identifying file types, publishing different types of media, and creating networks to collaborate with peers (“19 TAC Chapter 126”, n.d.). These skills are extremely important to build in students and an assignment of this type builds those skills.
Digital citizenship is the fifth standard. Digital citizenship in the TEKS consists of understanding both copyright and citing sources. Both of these are present in the assignment, and extremely important. I have had several students that did not understand that and used songs without permission and had video projects pulled from websites. The creative commons was a part of this process that was explored in conjunction with the actual project itself. Students need to understand this just as teachers do.
I have to admit that I was skeptical at first about this project. I use digital projects a lot in class, but failed to see what this project would add. The fact was that the project served as an analog and through the creative process. It helped to explore some of the finer points that need to be made with technology. While the technology TEKS are but a small part of the overall standards they highlight themes that are present in all of them. The NET-C standards promote creativity and helping teachers to use digital tools. All of these standards promote responsible citizenship and utilization of technology to promote learning. Children are socially aware and can use technology to socialize, but like with anything else they have to be given some formal instruction on how to use it effectively.
19 TAC Chapter 126, Subchapter B. (n.d.) Retrieved November 22, 2013, from http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter126/ch126b.html#126.16
The technology TEKS for 8th grade are a framework that is used for all grade levels to assess and introduce technology to children and monitor their progress. Students that would participate in a project like this would utilize multiple standards as they created the assignment. The 8th grade TEKS look at multiple domains from creativity to digital citizenship. Creativity and innovation is a cornerstone to these TEKS as it really draws on the synthesis and higher order thinking. These TEKS focus on identifying file types, publishing different types of media, and creating networks to collaborate with peers (“19 TAC Chapter 126”, n.d.). These skills are extremely important to build in students and an assignment of this type builds those skills.
Digital citizenship is the fifth standard. Digital citizenship in the TEKS consists of understanding both copyright and citing sources. Both of these are present in the assignment, and extremely important. I have had several students that did not understand that and used songs without permission and had video projects pulled from websites. The creative commons was a part of this process that was explored in conjunction with the actual project itself. Students need to understand this just as teachers do.
I have to admit that I was skeptical at first about this project. I use digital projects a lot in class, but failed to see what this project would add. The fact was that the project served as an analog and through the creative process. It helped to explore some of the finer points that need to be made with technology. While the technology TEKS are but a small part of the overall standards they highlight themes that are present in all of them. The NET-C standards promote creativity and helping teachers to use digital tools. All of these standards promote responsible citizenship and utilization of technology to promote learning. Children are socially aware and can use technology to socialize, but like with anything else they have to be given some formal instruction on how to use it effectively.
19 TAC Chapter 126, Subchapter B. (n.d.) Retrieved November 22, 2013, from http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter126/ch126b.html#126.16