Final project

College of Southern Nevada

by Srebrina Ayladanova
EDU 214 1003 - 1004

Date: 3/4/2017

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2. Position Paper Proposal to the ABC Community School school board to continue to use
technology in the classroom
My position on whether or not technology is an important part of the education process is
that it undoubtedly is. Technology has become an integral part of our lives and I think every
level-headed educator would agree. I believe that technology should be used in all areas of the
curriculum. One of the mistakes we tend to commit is that we spend hours in teaching theoretical
information that would hardly be of any use for children when they grow up. The ever-changing
and ever-expanding trends and advancements demand an adequate preparation of all students to
be able to compete in the modern world. Technology encompasses every aspect of our
professional lives. Therefore, educators have a responsibility to introduce, encourage, and help
students master technology, as well as subjects, as it applies to school and the future.
Thankfully, I have noticed that the past few years a lot of startups are focusing on
creating applications that teach children (through play) basic social and life skills critical for
independence. Those include managing money and other resources; thinking and reasoning, and
my personal favorite collaboration. The skillset students gain would be rather beneficial when it
comes time for them to start a career. They are important for developing the whole child and
helping them become an active part in their community. Technology empowers children and can
contribute to their personal growth.
Instead of being afraid that technology might replace teachers we should look towards the
future and think how we can implement technology, so it supports teachers in their job. For
example, technology has improved our life as teachers in one way and that is providing instant
feedback about the students achievements. In result, teachers become more responsive and
supportive of individual student progress. Moreover, lets not forget how much more quickly
information is being updated online as compared to textbooks that are published yearly, best case
scenario.
As educators, we are all familiar with Vygotskys theories. One of his researches about
social learning proves how critical for early childhood education is collaboration. In her research
paper, Megan Cicconi says when used appropriately, technology leads to a culture of social
learning by empowering students of all abilities to take on the MKO (More Knowledgeable
Other, as defined by Lev Vygotsky) role. Resources such as ISTEs NETS offer guidelines for
instructional technology in the classroom. Using technology to engage students in collaborative
endeavors deepens their understanding of math concepts by offering rigorous learning through
relevant projects with authentic audiences. I would like to point out how beneficial technology
has been for other areas of the curriculum, such as Language Arts, Foreign languages, Social
Studies, any type of Science class and so on. It allows for more hands-on activities, instead of
just teaching theory. It helps teachers to effectively reach different types of learners. Students are
given the chance to express themselves and to be individually assessed. Megan Cicconi
continues by saying that, As educators prepare the worlds future workforce we must strive to
foster effective strategies in even our youngest students. Technology simultaneously ushers the
tasks of creating, evaluating, analyzing, and applying through collaboration into the classroom
while generating greater enthusiasm for learning.
Technology is an important tool to help the education process and prepare students for the future.

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 3. Identification of Standards
To begin with, I love how the state standards and the national standards emphasize on the
creativity of students and how technology can enhance it. In comparison, the CCSD Technology
Education Standards focus almost entirely on introducing/ teaching tools and concepts. The two
standards that I thought were very meaningful were Students demonstrate creative thinking,
construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology and
Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using
the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals. Those are a
state standard and a national standard, respectively.
In addition, they seem to be concerned and make their primary goal the cognitive, social
and emotional development of students. They comprise of notions such as collaboration and
student empowerment. While the CCSD district standard Students will evaluate the impact and
ethical implication on individuals, society and the environment barely mentions the students
role in understanding their responsibilities and simply talks about the consequences of
technology, the state standard known as Digital Citizenship is more clearly formed and uses
two key words understand and practice. (#5 Digital Citizenship: Students understand
human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical
behavior). The National ISTE standard #2 practically states the same idea. Teaching appropriate
technology uses are important and putting this concept into the right words is crucial too.

State and National level standards seem to consider the same concepts, and discuss
several significant qualities such as expanding on the ability to communicate, think creatively,
problem solving skills, etc. However, ISTE standards stress on the importance of recognizing
and valuing every students individuality. They mention that the learning experiences are
meaningful, that students use their creativity and imagination, as well as the value of expressing
themselves. For those reasons, I have chosen to go with the National level standards when
writing my lesson plan that integrates technology across any area of the curriculum. The
particular standard I have decided to include is Standard #6 Creative Communicator. The
standard reads Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of
purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals.
I think this standard summarizes my goals to introduce tools that will further my students by
allowing them be themselves and manifest their unique individualities.

To sum up, if I were to choose a Technology Education Standard for my lesson plans, I
would definitely choose one from the ISTE standards, because of the goals they set for students.
I think that the skills are clearly outlined and would best navigate me as a teacher when putting
together my lesson plans. I think that the outcomes from teaching technology are defined in the
best way possible. In addition, I love how the standards assign skills to the students who
complete the standard. What Im trying to say is that the way I interpret it is that by
accomplishing new goals, students add a skill to their ever-developing personalities. By learning
technology in class, teachers support students in becoming innovative designers, computational
thinkers, digital citizens, empowered learners, global collaborators, and creative communicators.

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 4. Lesson Plan

Name of lesson: George Melies: The Birth of Special Effects

Grade Level Appropriateness: Could be adapted for grades 7-12
Technology Content Standard Addressed: Standard #6 Creative Communicator -
Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using
the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals
Other Content Standard Addressed: Grade: 07
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.2
Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g.,
visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under
study.
Objective: To inform students about the history of special effects since 1896 and help them
understand how much technology has progressed to where we are at the moment by using
several educational tools.
Materials needed to facilitate the lesson:
- Access to Internet
- Purchase the license for Pixton
- Vocabulary list, depending on the age group the number of unknown words will vary
(distribute as a handout or a digital file)
- Screen a 10-minute long documentary about George Melies (video is available on
youtube.com) Found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifFoMXtPCEc
- Quiz (optional)
- Access to Pixton Comics website
Suggested group size: A group of four would be perfect because everyone could be assigned a
specific task.
Procedures:
1. Begin by asking students what do they know about the history of filmmaking; any
examples of old black and white movies. Ask them also if they know anything about
special effects. Can they define them and give examples of movies they like that use
special effects? Make a transition to the lesson by asking the question Do any of you
know when was the first time special effects were ever used in a movie? Then make an
introduction about the life of George Melies and his contribution to filmmaking.
2. Introduce the new words by distributing the list of vocabulary out as a handout or even an
interactive file where every word will direct students to a new page that explains that
term in greater detail.

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 3. Play the 10-minute long documentary for the whole class to see. Have them look at the
vocabulary as they watch the documentary and take notes too. At the end of the movie do
a quick Q&A to make sure the material was absorbed. Then proceed to opening quizzes
on individual computers or other hardware devices such as tablets. The quiz can be
created for free by the teacher on websites such as https://www.onlinequizcreator.com/ .
4. After making sure that children understand the subject, they will use Pixton Comic a
website that embodies many tools for creating a comic book, at least 4 pages long that
will feature scenes from his movies or his life using their imagination and style. Melies
work was innovational and way ahead of his time. He was also a true artist. Students have
the freedom to create a comic that allows them to express their personality and creativity.
5. Instructions for creating a comic for students:
- Create a comic strip with 3 panels.
- The comic can be about either replicating favorite scenes from his movies or his life.
- Use the props search bar to type in key words like: film, movie, moon, camera, etc.
- Select a character or an item you would like to change, choose from the color palette, the
various movements and the icons on the bottom for overlapping.
- You can also rotate and change the size of an object by pulling in or out the sides or the
edges of that object.
- Add speech bubbles if you would like to make the comic different or use intertitle (a
piece of filmed printed text in silent movies include to vocabulary) if you are more into
the classic or vintage stuff.

Assessment: The only project that will be assessed in this section is the comic book one.
Rubric:

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1

The student has The student has

included many included a few The has included a
There is little
creative details that creative details few creative details,
evidence of
contribute to the contribute to the but they distract
creativity in this
Creativity reader's enjoyment reader's enjoyment from the story
project. The point
of the George of the George making it somewhat
& does not get across.
Melies inspired Melies inspired difficult to
Originality comic. comic. understand.

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 The illustrations are The illustrations are The illustrations only
detailed, beautiful, somewhat detailed, relate to the text on
show the authors beautiful, and relate the page, but fail to The Illustrations are
individuality and to the text on the show the authors absent or they dont
relate to the text. page. creativity. make any sense.

Illustrations

There is an There is not text in

The dialogue or text
appropriate amount There is too much the comic
in this story does not
of dialogue and text dialogue and text in whatsoever and/or it
accurately reflect
considering the fact this story, but it is not clear which
the events, but it is
that the movies are accurately follows character is
at least clear which
Text silent. the line of events. speaking.
character is
speaking.

Grammar was Grammar was good, Grammar was

excellent and the text was clear as mostly correct but Repeated errors in
provided clarity, well as the style and the errors affected grammar greatly
Grammar
style and character character the clarity of the affected the overall
development. development. text. story.

All content
throughout the The content is
comic that the mostly accurate, but Content is often
Most of the content
Content Accuracy student created is is accurate.
there are some unclear or contains
accurate. There are clearly inaccurate more than three
no factual errors. statements. factual errors.

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Student Sample