Artifacts:
Module 1: "Let's Go to the Movies!"
Radio is a 2003 film that stars Ed Harris and Cuba Gooding Jr. The movie is based on a true story in which Harris plays a character who is a teacher and high school football coach in South Carolina during the 1950's. Radio, played by Cuba Gooding Jr, is a young man with developmental disabilities who becomes fascinated with the football team. The coach recognizes his interest and takes Radio under his wing. This is absolutely unheard of during this time period and location not only because of the young man's disabilities, but because he is African American as well. Radio is faced with trauma and obstacles created by life, the team, and townspeople. He triumphs over these obstacles to become a beloved member of not only the team, but the town as well. The real-life Radio was in his 50's when the movie was made, and at that time he was still an active community member and assistant to the football team. This is a movie that teaches tolerance, character, compassion, and acceptance.
Radio is one of my family's favorite 'rainy day' movies. My oldest son will be 18 in July, and he is a die-hard football player and fan. We have watched and discussed this movie since he was a little boy as I think there are excellent messages to be learned, and it touches my special educator's heart. I know my son was listening as this past year, as a junior in high school, he volunteered to be a teacher's assistant for a young man with autism; who I will address as 'T.' My son helped this young man in PE class, taught him weight lifting techniques, and challenged him to reach higher goals for himself. Austen, my son, also sought out this young man in a slew of 200 other high school students during prom pictures at the park so he could make sure this young man was not overwhelmed by prom events. This is not a 'popular move' seen by other high school students, but Austen knew the importance of safety and calm for T. Austen also volunteered at special kids day, and DANCED with T! Those that know my 5'10, 245 lb defensive lineman/power-fullback, know that he DOES NOT DANCE! Austen and I haven't watched this movie together in a while, but one day I made the connection between his love for this young man and our movie. He told me he never realized it, he just enjoys spending time with T. T's parents wrote a touching and beautiful letter to my son's football coach that thanked Austen for his willingness to be buddies with their son. My cup have definitely runneth over, and I know this movie and our discussions helped to build my son's tender heart. I only hope that by watching it with my younger two that they will learn the same compassion, acceptance, and love.
This artifact was created to show the importance of building a learning community. By discussing items, in this case movies, that have meaning and are of social norm, we open ourselves to establish relationships that will be essential to the learning process in the online setting. This was an effective ice-breaker as it allowed students to share a piece of themselves as well as respond to others on a personal level.
Module 2: RLO
I agree with the results of the inventory. There are portions of assessment that I have to view differently because of my position as a special educator. We have to assess learning through an approved inventory to determine whether or not students qualify for disability services. Although that is a teacher-centered assessment tool, it is still a tool that must be utilized in order to provide appropriate services for our students based on areas of need identified by the assessment. I also chose not to check the box that viewed assessment as the set of listed tools. In my head I was adding more tools such as discussion, observation, etc. Those were not listed, and those are also forms of assessment that I utilize for my students. Any way that I can view learning, I use as an assessment tool. My students also need that variety as the typical portfolio, or structure based assessment used in a classroom can be difficult for them. Like I stated previously, some of my best assessments of learning come from a simple discussion.
This artifact was created as a way to reflect on the information in the RLO teacher v. student learning inventory. Reflection is an essential tool in online learning, and this note-taking piece was a way to demonstrate the effectiveness of that reflection component.
Module 3: Concept Map
This concept map, made in www.bubble.us, was created to establish an organized way of displaying the process of creating objectives. By showing how the original learning target can stem to assessment, the viewer can easily map the process. This is an effective form of assessment as it is visual, organized, and allows for creativity. Students can demonstrate their learning process in unique maps. These maps may or may not be similar depending on the students' processing and learning styles.
Module 4: Mid-Term Group Assessment
Team Kermit's Toolbox for Assessment was a collaboration project in which group members selected a Web 2.0 tool and created a specific website describing that tool. This toolbox was created as a way to gather information on a variety of tools, with a variety of media, to share with the entire class. Assessment in online education must be creative and varied in it's media form in order to challenge students to reach a higher level of learning. Creating this tools box was an extremely effective method of assessment as the requirement was that the group work together to establish one common goal. What made the group work even more effective was that there was a commonality in which the group members could establish connections. I believe that when connections can be established in group work, members will make more of an effort to work together rather than individually. This was also an effective assessment as a variety of medias were utilized so that we could all learn from each other's examples.
Module 5: Bloom's Taxonomy
Radio is a 2003 film that stars Ed Harris and Cuba Gooding Jr. The movie is based on a true story in which Harris plays a character who is a teacher and high school football coach in South Carolina during the 1950's. Radio, played by Cuba Gooding Jr, is a young man with developmental disabilities who becomes fascinated with the football team. The coach recognizes his interest and takes Radio under his wing. This is absolutely unheard of during this time period and location not only because of the young man's disabilities, but because he is African American as well. Radio is faced with trauma and obstacles created by life, the team, and townspeople. He triumphs over these obstacles to become a beloved member of not only the team, but the town as well. The real-life Radio was in his 50's when the movie was made, and at that time he was still an active community member and assistant to the football team. This is a movie that teaches tolerance, character, compassion, and acceptance.
Radio is one of my family's favorite 'rainy day' movies. My oldest son will be 18 in July, and he is a die-hard football player and fan. We have watched and discussed this movie since he was a little boy as I think there are excellent messages to be learned, and it touches my special educator's heart. I know my son was listening as this past year, as a junior in high school, he volunteered to be a teacher's assistant for a young man with autism; who I will address as 'T.' My son helped this young man in PE class, taught him weight lifting techniques, and challenged him to reach higher goals for himself. Austen, my son, also sought out this young man in a slew of 200 other high school students during prom pictures at the park so he could make sure this young man was not overwhelmed by prom events. This is not a 'popular move' seen by other high school students, but Austen knew the importance of safety and calm for T. Austen also volunteered at special kids day, and DANCED with T! Those that know my 5'10, 245 lb defensive lineman/power-fullback, know that he DOES NOT DANCE! Austen and I haven't watched this movie together in a while, but one day I made the connection between his love for this young man and our movie. He told me he never realized it, he just enjoys spending time with T. T's parents wrote a touching and beautiful letter to my son's football coach that thanked Austen for his willingness to be buddies with their son. My cup have definitely runneth over, and I know this movie and our discussions helped to build my son's tender heart. I only hope that by watching it with my younger two that they will learn the same compassion, acceptance, and love.
This artifact was created to show the importance of building a learning community. By discussing items, in this case movies, that have meaning and are of social norm, we open ourselves to establish relationships that will be essential to the learning process in the online setting. This was an effective ice-breaker as it allowed students to share a piece of themselves as well as respond to others on a personal level.
Module 2: RLO
I agree with the results of the inventory. There are portions of assessment that I have to view differently because of my position as a special educator. We have to assess learning through an approved inventory to determine whether or not students qualify for disability services. Although that is a teacher-centered assessment tool, it is still a tool that must be utilized in order to provide appropriate services for our students based on areas of need identified by the assessment. I also chose not to check the box that viewed assessment as the set of listed tools. In my head I was adding more tools such as discussion, observation, etc. Those were not listed, and those are also forms of assessment that I utilize for my students. Any way that I can view learning, I use as an assessment tool. My students also need that variety as the typical portfolio, or structure based assessment used in a classroom can be difficult for them. Like I stated previously, some of my best assessments of learning come from a simple discussion.
This artifact was created as a way to reflect on the information in the RLO teacher v. student learning inventory. Reflection is an essential tool in online learning, and this note-taking piece was a way to demonstrate the effectiveness of that reflection component.
Module 3: Concept Map
This concept map, made in www.bubble.us, was created to establish an organized way of displaying the process of creating objectives. By showing how the original learning target can stem to assessment, the viewer can easily map the process. This is an effective form of assessment as it is visual, organized, and allows for creativity. Students can demonstrate their learning process in unique maps. These maps may or may not be similar depending on the students' processing and learning styles.
Module 4: Mid-Term Group Assessment
Team Kermit's Toolbox for Assessment was a collaboration project in which group members selected a Web 2.0 tool and created a specific website describing that tool. This toolbox was created as a way to gather information on a variety of tools, with a variety of media, to share with the entire class. Assessment in online education must be creative and varied in it's media form in order to challenge students to reach a higher level of learning. Creating this tools box was an extremely effective method of assessment as the requirement was that the group work together to establish one common goal. What made the group work even more effective was that there was a commonality in which the group members could establish connections. I believe that when connections can be established in group work, members will make more of an effort to work together rather than individually. This was also an effective assessment as a variety of medias were utilized so that we could all learn from each other's examples.
Module 5: Bloom's Taxonomy
staidlassessmenttaxonomy.pdf | |
File Size: | 49 kb |
File Type: |
Bloom's Taxonomy assessment was created as a way so that educators could understand the effectiveness of the process of learning. Understanding that learning must build from a strong base is essential so that students can reach higher levels of critical thinking. This assessment piece also showed the words that must be used to allow students to reach those higher levels of learning. This was an effective method of learning because it gave a visual chart that described each step to show were objectives fit into each of those steps. If an objective didn't seem to fit into the taxonomy, then it was essential that the objective be revamped so that it did fit.
Module 5: Rubric
Module 5: Rubric
staidlvoicethread_discussion_rubric__2_.pdf | |
File Size: | 76 kb |
File Type: |
The rubric created to demonstrate the importance of providing a guideline that students can follow to achieve success in relation to the objective at hand. Rubrics are effective means to guide students because they provide firm descriptions and outlines so that the students understand what is being asked of them. I believe in the online setting it is vital to have a rubric that students can follow as an instructor is not always readily available when students may be working on coursework. A rubric should be specific enough that it can stand on it's own to guide the students in the right direction.
Module 6: Pre-course Survey
This pre-course survey was created through Survey Monkey. This website only allowed ten questions for free therefore the introduction and first two questions are as follows: Welcome to "My Course!" My name is Jen Staidl and I will be your instructor for this 8 week period. Please take a minute to complete the following pre-course survey. This survey will provide me with the opportunity to get to know you and your learning styles better. I will also use the results as I plan activities and group collaboration in this course. Thank you!
Question 1: Please state your name:
Questions 2: Please list your preferred email address:
The pre-course survey was created as a way for instructors to get to know their students. I believe this is an effective way to understand students that in an online setting may be difficult to achieve. The pre-course survey also allows students to tell the instructor rather than the instructor assuming. Projects, collaborative groups, activities, and assessments can be based off of the information that instructors gather in a pre-course survey. I think this is a great way to set the students up for success in the online setting.
Modules 7-8: The Finale
The final assessment piece was created on an individual basis from the works throughout the course. All works were compiled into one assessment website. I found this to be an effective approach to assessment as it truly was the finale. All pieces were brought together to create the apex of this course. Now everything makes sense as all of the pieces to the puzzle come together to create one picture. This assessment piece was designed to show what an assessment should display: the highest level of learning in the student.
Module 6: Pre-course Survey
This pre-course survey was created through Survey Monkey. This website only allowed ten questions for free therefore the introduction and first two questions are as follows: Welcome to "My Course!" My name is Jen Staidl and I will be your instructor for this 8 week period. Please take a minute to complete the following pre-course survey. This survey will provide me with the opportunity to get to know you and your learning styles better. I will also use the results as I plan activities and group collaboration in this course. Thank you!
Question 1: Please state your name:
Questions 2: Please list your preferred email address:
The pre-course survey was created as a way for instructors to get to know their students. I believe this is an effective way to understand students that in an online setting may be difficult to achieve. The pre-course survey also allows students to tell the instructor rather than the instructor assuming. Projects, collaborative groups, activities, and assessments can be based off of the information that instructors gather in a pre-course survey. I think this is a great way to set the students up for success in the online setting.
Modules 7-8: The Finale
The final assessment piece was created on an individual basis from the works throughout the course. All works were compiled into one assessment website. I found this to be an effective approach to assessment as it truly was the finale. All pieces were brought together to create the apex of this course. Now everything makes sense as all of the pieces to the puzzle come together to create one picture. This assessment piece was designed to show what an assessment should display: the highest level of learning in the student.