Standard 1
1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.
a. Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
b. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
c. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
d. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments
Evidence of My Progress
1. Problem -Based Learning Lesson Plan
The problem based learning lesson that I collaborated with two other teacher on is a perfect example of how lessons can help promote creative and innovative thinking. PBLs use teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity to come up with a solution to a problem. In this case, our lesson was about rules and their importance. It was based on a first grade social standard. The whole lesson is designed as very open ended to allow students to learn through their own process, their own thinking and planning, to come up with an answer.
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2. Kidspiration Concept Map
The computer program Kidspiration is a great resource to use in order to create concept webs and visual brainstorming pictures. It is a digital tool that can help clarify students' conceptual understanding because you can put words, pictures, videos, all in a way that can connect ideas, or themes. It engages students in a virtual environment because it gives the students the opportunity to take all of the ideas, and knowledge in their heads and put it in some sort of visual on the computer.
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3. Twitter (Personal Learning Network)
Twitter is a tool that allows you, as a teacher, to connect with other educators, administrators, as well as those who have a passion for education. There are so many great resources on Twitter, and you can easily find anything on a subject using a hashtag. There are so many educational hashtags on Twitter. It really is a community online that encourages collaboration between students and colleagues in an online environment. As social media continues to grow, it is important to educate youth on such a big part of American Society.
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