Artifact # 7
Context: This artifact includes a set of web pages for both students and teachers to use for a creative activity that incorporates both creative writing and critical thinking as well as the use of technology. In this activity I thought of a creative way to use a scrap object and then wrote a story describing the new use I found for the object. Using a digital camera and Adobe Photoshop, I was able to take a picture of the object and crop it and size it to fit the dimensions of the web page on which my story was composed, using Netscape Composer. Also, I added links to the page, so that visitors could see the actual instructions for the activity on one page and that both students and teachers could see an actual example of the activity on another.
Impact: As a future teacher, this artifact can be used in the classroom to enhance both students' creative writing skills, photography skills, and web page composing skills. I plan on using this activity - though it may need to be altered slightly to conform to younger grade levels - in my own classroom because it gives students an opportunity to explore the possibilities of what they can do when integrating technology into language arts.
Alignment: Through the Modern Fashion and Invention Activity, I will
be using quite a unique instructional strategy to encourage critical thinking
within my students. Also, this activity prompts students to assume
responsibility for using learning resources (INTASC
Principle 4). Students will be meeting language arts and technology
standards by writing creatively about their invention and posting that
story on the web. Using a
digital camera and Photoshop, students will be meeting certain technology
standards. Hence, this artifact shows that I will be addressing curricular
standards using technology (Tech-competency III-A).
Also, because the activity requires that students think critically and
creatively to invent a use for their object, it shows that I am applying
technology to develop students' higher order skills and creativity (Tech-competency
III-C.)
Because the activity integrates language arts with technology standards,
I will be managing student learning activities in a technology enhanced
environment (Tech-competency
III-D).
Furthermore, students will be sharing digital cameras to take pictures
of their invented object. Hence, I will have to plan for the management
of technology resources within the context of the learning activity (Tech-competency
II-D).
Because students will be prompted to use critical thinking while interacting
with technology, this artifact also meets Tech-competency II-E.
Last, this artifact meets Tech competency
IV-C because of the fact that I will be evaluating students' use of
technology.