Ready Set Go: Intro to Learning Technologies: Week one

Week One Blog Post: Intro to Learning Technologies

Part One: Nice to Meet You!

Some baby ducks from a hatch this Summer!

I am Beth Freshour. I am a foster and adoptive mother. Throughout the years, we have utilized many schooling options for our children based on their needs. Currently, we are homeschooling our two youngest children. As a Trauma and Resilience Coach, I have been able to utilize some of my knowledge to support their healthy development and healing from human trafficking.

I have always had a passion for differential diagnosis and how trauma can present as a myriad of learning disabilities and is often overlooked.

We live on a farm in Oklahoma. One of my favorite things to do is work in the garden and hatch ducks. Baby ducks are my favorite. As a Mom Mom, I also enjoy spending time with my grandbabies. 

Most of my educational career has been in early childhood education. I have worked in the private and public sectors, starting new programs, supporting existing programs, and providing professional development to those investing in future generations.

Currently, my career is in adult education, with a focus on online platforms. I hope to be able to share information I gain with others and use what I learn to support the educators I support regularly. 

https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/osde/documents/services/literacy-policy-and-programs/oklahoma-academic-standards/2023-OAS-Health-Standards.pdf

Part Two: ISTE and OK Standard Lesson Idea

The ISTE 1.2 Digital Citizen standard is about recognizing the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of living in an interconnected digital world and acting in safe, legal, and ethical ways. This includes managing one's digital identity and reputation, understanding the permanence of online actions, respecting intellectual property, managing personal data, and making safe, legal, and ethical decisions in digital communities

Students in an 8^th grade class could launch an online kindness campaign. The campaign would consist of individual, daily posts and videos that encourage kindness and how to reach out if you need help or feel alone. Many of the health standards can be addressed in this campaign: 2.AN.2.3, 1.MH.5.1, 1.HR.2.1.

The grand finale can be a service project where a school wide donation campaign is launched electronically to collect socks for a local homeless shelter. This brings awareness to hygiene, community need and a digital footprint that promotes good.

https://www.tripleeframework.com/

Part Three: Independent Lesson idea inspired by Kolb’s Triple E Framework

Engagement is key to learner success. As an educator, I intentionally partner with each student to support their educational journey. Fostering responsibility for their educational journey is impactful and effective. When a student is engaged, they are more opening to learn.

The Kolb’s Triple E Framework offers engagement as a key part of its structure. In order to properly scaffold learning experiences, it is essential to meet the student they are and offering learning opportunities that reinforce material in ways that align with their student’s learning style.

Kolb’s Triple E Framework reiterates technology being implemented as supportive learning strategies, not as a replacement to existing learning strategies. When I think of an area of learning that could use additional support in the form of creative and supportive learning strategies, I think of math.

Mathematical concepts are taught to each student in the class. Everyone will learn each concept in each unit of math for the year. Though everyone is expected to learn all the mathematical components in each unit, they do not all learn the same way. Technology could offer alternative strategies to reinforce learning concepts. Students could have unlimited access to manipulatives from a technological perspective, while a classroom may be limited with tangible manipulatives to support learning concepts.  Videos are also available that can be played back by the learner to reinforce points that need revisited. Technological games and challenges can be affirming and help build confidence. Students can learn by hearing, seeing and doing. Technology can support learning styles of every student.

Kolb’s Triple E Framework can help students connect with math, regardless of their age and begin to think from a math perspective. Engagement is fostered through the interactive and supportive learning experiences. As an educator I can model how to navigate the tool. The student enhancements listed in the teaching strategies can nearly all be experienced in a unit about math. Mathematics extending into everyday life can consist of many different concepts such as navigating fractions as you bake a digital cake.