Connors 800 Reflection

This project focuses on teaching students how to tell time to the hour and half hour. The audience for this project is elementary students. The main focus is 1st graders based on Michigan standards and benchmarks, but could be used at other grade levels as well. The learner will be able to identify and use strategies for telling time to the hour and half hour. This is a lifelong skill that students will use and can be related directly to their lives. This correlates to the following Michigan Standard: (1.M.UN.01.03 Tell time on a twelve-hour clock face to the hour and half-hour.)
The teacher will discuss why telling time is an important skill to learn. Some possible discussion points could include being on time for important events and not being late. The teacher may ask students if they have seen clocks in the school, their homes, etc. It is important to highlight that not all clocks look exactly the same, but that they have the same job. The teacher will show a variety of different clocks including both twelve hour and digital formats. After activating student’s prior knowledge, the teacher will begin by introducing the parts of the twelve hour clock. This will be done visually, orally, and in written format to meet the needs of all learners and learning styles. If materials, allow each student could also be given a paper clock or a clock on the computer to manipulate and experiment with at this time.
Students will then complete the first half of the slidecast created by their teacher. Originally, the idea was for the students to complete the whole slidecast at once. I think presenting the first half of the slidecast on the Promethean Board is more effective. Students are able to see and experience how to interact and advance the slidecast. After, some students will complete the second half of the slidecast, while others rotate through the Math Workshop centers. Some of the choices include: Manipulating clocks with a partner (guessing times), telling time puzzles (digital and twelve hour clock times fit together) and small group instruction with the teacher using plastic clocks. (It is assumed that the students have already been introduced to the Math Workshop model. It is also assumed that class norms and expectations have been set for what is appropriate during this time.
I presented this lesson to my first grade class as an introduction to our telling time unit. The lesson went smoothly. Presenting the first half of the slidecast whole group was effective. It provided students with background knowledge to complete the rest of the slidecast on their own and enough content to begin working on other Math Workshop centers. Computers are limited in my classroom so presenting the first half whole group helped cut down on the individual computer time each student needed.
Question Set One

• What was learned? What were the learning goals of this instructional experience? What were the underlying assumptions (explicit and implicit) about the nature of knowledge?
This project focuses on teaching students how to tell time to the hour and half hour. The learner will be able to identify and use strategies for telling time to the hour and half hour. This is a lifelong skill that students will use and can be related directly to their lives. Some underlying assumptions are that students have past experience using a computer, students are aware of the concept of time, students have seen many clocks and students have witnessed people using clocks to tell time.
• What are the affordances for how knowledge/information is being represented? What are the constraints?
The slidecast uses visual, written, and audio to better meet the needs of all students. Active participation by the student is necessary and the speed of the program is controlled by the student. This allows for differentiated instruction so that students can spend as much or as little time on the introduction and guided practice portions. If students finish early, additional websites for further practice and/or challenges is available at the end. Since the material is presented in different ways, some students may be distracted by all the stimulation. Also, the lack of computer access makes the entire process time consuming and some students may have to finish the second half of the slidecast on a different day.
• How does learning take place? What elements of constructivism did you observe? What elements of behaviorism did you observe? Were any other learning theories present?
Learning takes place through scaffolding. Information is presented at the beginning of the project and guides the students toward working independently as it goes on. This is based on the Social Constructivist Theory. One of the strategies incorporated into the lesson is the inductive strategy. The slidecast provides several examples of various times and has the students analyze the similarities to form a conclusion. The project also incorporates questions and provides the learner with feedback to ensure active participation.
• Was your lesson intended to supplement or supplant existing curriculum? Or, was it intended to enhance the learning of something already central to the curriculum or some new set of understandings or competencies?
This lesson was intended to supplement and enhance existing curriculum. The related Michigan Standard for first grade is: (1.M.UN.01.03 Tell time on a twelve-hour clock face to the hour and half-hour.) This lesson was used as an introduction to the unit. The goal was to provide students with background knowledge visually, written, and orally.
• How are important differences among learners taken into account?
Presenting the information orally, visually, and in writing allows for a deeper understanding of the material. If information is presented in multiple ways, more connections are made and the student is more likely to remember and apply the information later. This also allows for various learning styles to be met. Scaffolding information is important so that the students do not become overwhelmed with new information. Guiding them to understanding builds their confidence and abilities before having them work independently. Some self discovery (inductive strategy) is used in the beginning to increase interest and for the students to express their prior knowledge. Each Math Workshop center can be modified to meet the needs of any learner. Students can control the speed of the slidecast, worksheets can be completed with a partner/adult, puzzle pieces can be removed, etc. Additionally, challenging websites are provided at the end of the slidecast. Students that are ready can be presented with additional times, not just hour and half hour when working with small groups.
• What do teachers and learners need to know in order for your lesson to be a success? What demands are placed on teachers and other "users"? What knowledge is assumed?
Teachers need to know how to create or access a slidecast to meet their needs. I needed basic PowerPoint knowledge to create my slidecast. Teachers need to know the various needs of their learners, have Math Workshop experience, understand center-based learning theories, and have time management skills. Teachers must set-up the various activities, explain the expectations and monitor/observe students throughout the lesson. It is assumed that the teacher and the students have basic computer skills, experience working with partners, and experience with Math Workshop routines.
• How did you assess what students were doing and what they were learning from this activity? How did you hold them accountable for the work they did?
I used a checklist to monitor student performance. Students also turned in their worksheets and crossed their names off a list after completing the second half of the slidecast. Meeting with small groups helped me gauge how students were doing throughout the lesson.
Question Set Two
• What role does technology play in your lesson? What advantages or disadvantages does the technology hold for this role? What unique contribution does the technology make in facilitating learning?
The technology was used to introduce new material. An advantage of the technology was it showed the material visually, orally, and in writing. It also allowed the student to receive and interact with the new information at their own pace. A disadvantage is that the slidecast might have been over stimulating or distracting for some learners. Another disadvantage to the technology is that individual students are able to control the speed of the information and may advance it too quickly. The technology is able to scaffold information based on individual students, provide individual feedback, and provide examples using a variety of senses.
• What did you expect your students to make of their use of technology in your lesson? How did they react when using the technologies? What questions did students have, and how did you respond to them?
I expected my students to enjoy using the technology. Many thought the slidecast was a game. Several students were surprised to hear my voice on the slidecast. Some students were unsure how to advance the slidecast, even after the whole group introduction.

• How would you describe how students were making sense of the content with the technology?
I think the majority of students benefited from using the technology. When I met in small groups, many students understood how to tell time to the hour. This was the section of the slidecast that was presented whole group. Telling time to the half hour is a bit trickier. Most students were beginning to understand the basics, but hadn’t fully grasped the concept. This concept needs additional practice before students master it. I had a few students ask if they could do the slidecast again. I’m not sure if they thought it was fun or if they wanted another chance to process the information.