Technology Innovations Mini-Teach

Rationale:

Reflective teachers shift between the roles of teacher, learner, group member, contributor, and mentor as needed in the common pursuit of professional development and school improvement. This is especially relevant to the adoption of new technology tools. This assignment will be very dependent upon collaboration and promises to acquaint you with new and evolving technologies, and to help you better understand how technology can be integrated to improve student learning.

Purpose of Assignment

• To learn one innovative technology and its possible classroom application(s)
• To learn from your peers about other innovative technologies and their possible classroom applications
• To practice designing and delivering instruction
• To collect usable resources for future class assignments and possible use as a teacher

Description: You will partner with other students (as assigned by your instructor) to become an expert in one innovative technology, then you will design a 20 to 30 minute group demonstration for your classmates. Your instructor will coordinate Group Teach dates.

Evaluation: This assignment is worth 10% of your course grade and should include the following:

• Be a maximum of 30 minutes long (Please plan carefully).
• Explain the innovative technology To the greatest extent possible, engage your classmates in using the innovation.
• Provide ideas and materials for uses in a variety of classrooms (grade ranges, subject areas, special needs).
• Provide digital resources for future use by peers including tutorials, informative websites, and suggestions for classroom uses via the class WIKI.
• Complete a rubric as a self-evaluation THE SAME DAY AS YOUR PRESENTATION. This will be required prior to instructor evaluation.

NO PowerPoint is required for your presentation, unless having one will support your purpose.

Collaborative Requirement:

Each group member will receive the same grade unless problems with the collaborative process indicate members did not EQUALLY contribute. It is expected that the group will make frequent communication a priority to minimize misunderstandings. Should problems occur, professionalism is expected. If you cannot handle problems within the group, please be proactive and ask for instructor assistance. In most cases, if it is not too late, I can mediate group processes, and will be happy to do so. If conflicts alert me to unprofessional behavior, the following could happen:

• The group will receive a reduction in grade.
• The person not meeting his/her responsibilities will receive a reduction in grade.

Procedures Leading to your Mini Teach Presentation

Your instructor will assign groups and presentation topics as requested by the students.

• Group Preparation:
  • BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE: Visit and read the links your professor has emailed you. There you will find pertinent information for your particular innovation.
  • NEW KNOWLEDGE: Learn more about the innovation and prepare your wiki page for viewing by other students. Be sure to follow the criteria listed in the evaluation rubric to assure comprehensive coverage.
  • ACCESS: Make arrangements for access to any special equipment needed on the day of your presentation.
  • POLISH: Practice your presentation paying attention to staying within the 30-minute limit. Everyone should help present and demonstrate proficiency with the innovation.
• Teach your mini-lesson with your group on your assigned date. Come to class early to set up. Be ready to start promptly at the beginning of class. Your agenda item will be first. You will be expected to call the class to attention, start on time, and end on time. You will only have 30 minutes maximum.

Steps Leading to a Successful Project

1. TOPICS: Your professor has already assigned your topics as you requested.
2. PLAN TO PLAN: Complete a Group Contract. The contract must be consensus of all group members and be approved by your professor. It is expected that group members will make frequent communication a priority to minimize misunderstandings.
3. GROUP PREPARATIONS:
   • GET TO KNOW YOUR INNOVATION: Learn the ins and outs of your assigned innovation to the point you are comfortable demonstrating the tool to some one else. It is expected that all students will become experts in the assigned innovation.
   • PREPARE A PAGE OF THIS WIKI for use by other students. Be sure to follow the criteria listed in the evaluation rubric to assure the information will be useful to your classmates, even after the end of the semester. (You can borrow from other class wikis as long as you cite them.)
   • ACCESS: Make arrangements for access to any special equipment or software downloads needed on the day of your presentation. This should be accomplished one week prior to the innovation.
   • PLAN A TEACHING SCENARIO: Prepare for a model teaching experience whereby members of your group are the teachers, and your classmates are the students (grade of your choice) who you ask to use your innovation.
   • POLISH: Practice your teaching event with your group. Please try to adhere to the 20 to 30 minute timeframe. All groupmates should demostrate their expertise in the innovation during the event. I may ask you to “draw straws” to see which member of your group will run the computer. All group members should be able to demonstrate proficiency with all components of the assigned innovation, including advanced features.

     Please, do not provide handouts about your innovation. Save paper. Publish to this wiki instead.

     Do not read to the audience from the wiki. Use good presentation skills: eye contact, interaction, visuals, roaming the room, etc.

4. PRESENTATION DAY: Come to class early to set up. Be ready to start promptly at the beginning of class. You will be expected to call the class to attention, start on time, and end on time. You will only have 30 minutes.

5. SELF EVALUATION: On the day of your presentation, each individual team member will need to complete their own evaluation using the middle column of the Evaluation Rubric.

Materials adapted with permission from The Innovations Project