Module 2

Essential Question- How does instructional design impact k-12 student learning?

Instructional design is a short term for a very long, intricate somewhat complex process. As teachers we are instructional designers. This means we take what we know about how students learn, use our knowledge of best practices and strategies, and our content knowledge to strategically plan and effectively facilitate learning to meet the needs of all of our students. This is a process that takes thoughtful and purposeful planning. It requires the teacher to consider learning styles, cognitive abilities, and available tools and resources. And it requires a repertoire of best practices and strategies. However, when teachers use instructional design in their classrooms, instruction is meaningful, effective, and engaging for all. 

         As a teacher who has taught for 14 years, I have seen and used many different methods during instructional design. One major improvement to best practice has been the attention to student engagement. Through numerous strategies, teachers have increased student engagement in their lessons. Some of the strategies I have seen and/or used include turn and talks, think-pair-share, and the use of non-verbal class responses like the “me too” hand movement. Another huge impact on instructional design over the past 14 years has been technology. The availability and use of technology as a resource and tool during instruction as removed the limitations that the walls of the school created. Teachers now can go on fields trips without leaving the classroom, connect with astronauts in space, and individualize learning in ways that were not possible before. Instructional design enables teachers to create a learning environment where all students has the chance to succeed.  

Module 2 Part 1- Instructional Module Presentation

Inquiry Instruction Model Presentation


Module 2 Part 2-  21st Century Tool

When looking for a tool to use with your students that supports the use of the inquiry instructional model, check out StudyJams! Students can use this tool during the investigating stage of the inquiry model of instruction. After posing a question and forming a hypothesis, students can use StudyJams! to find and watch engaging, fun videos on many topics in Math and Science. This is a great resource for students to use to gather and analyze data and information. After watching the videos students can also take a short quiz to check their learning. StudyJames! is a free web tool that is student friendly. Teachers and students can use this tool with little technology knowledge.  I found this tool through a Pinterest search.  

Module 1 Assignment

Module 1 Part 1- What is 21st Century Teaching and Learning?

As a student in public school many years ago, my learning was limited to the people and resources in my classrooms.  The depth of our learning was completely dependent on the instruction we received and the materials that were available to us while in our classrooms. My work was completed with paper and pencil and you better have your name on it. Today’s students communicate in ways I never imagined, acquire information instantly, and network with each other through social networking sites. Today’s 21^st century classrooms look and feel completely different and its learners require a different approach. As Bloom’s revised taxonomy displays, “the types of knowledge students must acquire and apply are not only more numerous but also more varied.” (Milman & Kilbane, 2014, p. 9) This requires teachers in 21^st century classrooms with diverse 21^stcentury learners to approach teaching with intention and innovative methods to ensure their students unique needs are meet. 

            As the text states, “today’s learners need teachers who…can design effective, high quality educational experiences based on their needs.” (Milman & Kilbane, 2014, p. 22). Our world is vast, yet small. We are connected more now than we have ever been, and this is the only world our students know. It is important that we take the time to self-reflect and assess the instructional practices and tools we use to ensure we are providing our 21^st century learners the skills they need to be successful in our technology driven world.  A resource we can use to help us accomplish this is the Partnership for 21st Century Skill’s (P21) framework. This resource helps teachers identify and integrate skills that students need to be successful in their future endeavors. According to the P21 framework Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic are still very much needed and important in our classrooms, but also suggests that our 21^st century learners need to collaborate, think critically, communicate in a variety of ways, and have the opportunity to be creative. (Milman & Kilbane, 2014) Though incorporating these new skills into instruction, students not only are learning content, but their learning is student driven in creative and collaborative ways. 

            Our 21^st century learners are more diverse than ever. Each student brings language and culture differences and our inclusive classrooms are made up of students with varying educational needs and support. (Milman & Kilbane, 2014) Thus, 21^st century learning requires innovation, collaboration, and real-life applications. Our technology-driven, global society is always changing. (Milman & Kilbane, 2014) Teachers must be innovative when designing lessons for students. Instead of only using textbooks, students can access information from their phones, iPads, and computers. This allows for current research to be utilized in our classrooms making learning more authentic. In order to be successful at the next level, whether that be at college or in their careers, students must collaborate. In the classroom, this is building relationships and learning from each other through figuring out and solving problems together and developing presentations and sharing them as groups. Learning is no longer “one-size fits all” or confined to the walls of the classroom. (Milman & Kilbane, 2014) 21^st century teaching and learning requires new knowledge, ideas, resources, and tools from teachers to support the education of all students so they can be successful in our ever changing, diverse world. 

Module 1 Part 2- Evernote

       While reading and studying about 21^st century teaching and learning, I used the Evernote digital tool. This tool is a web-based tool that allows you to digitally create and organize your notes in notebooks. I was able to take screen shots of diagrams and graphic organizers, add them to my notes, and then annotate my thinking and questions on the same notes. In addition to adding images to notes, I copied and pasted key ideas and impactful statements. Then, I was able to highlight and annotate on those notes. Without this tool, I would have had various pieces of paper and sticky notes everywhere making organizing my thoughts and synthesizing my learning very difficult. However, with Evernote my notes remained organized allowing me to make connections and synthesize my learning. Because of Evernote I was able to keep track of important information, organize my thinking, and note my questions. Using Evernote made such a positive impact on my learning experience that I will definitely use it again.  

      I believe Evernote is a tool that students in elementary classrooms would benefit from using. Students could use Evernote to create their own personal anchor charts as concepts are taught in Reading. The student could use pictures, lists, diagrams, or words when creating their chart. This is something they could revisit as needed to add to or review. This would be a powerful resource for our visual learners. Evernote could also be used when completing a writing assignment for an English class. After students have written their papers, they could share them with another student through Evernote, and that student could help edit his/her classmates’ paper. There are many other ways Evernote could be beneficial to teachers and students. I can’t wait to use these and other’s ideas with my students. 

Evernote Evidence Part 1
Evernote Evidence Part 2
Evernote Evidence Part 3
Evernote Evidence Part 4


Module 1 Part 3- Instructional Design:TPACK

      TPAK is a model that illustrates the importance of integrating the teacher’s content, pedagogy, and technology knowledge when planning and facilitating learning for 21^st century learners. Pedagogical knowledge is the teachers understand of what teaching is and what it takes to teach effectively. Content knowledge is the understanding the teacher has in specific subject areas. And technological knowledge is the skill teachers possess to set up and use technology, problem solve when there are issues with technology, and knowing what educational technology is available. These three pieces overlap and produce 4 different outcomes; Technological Content Knowledge (TCK), Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPS), Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK), and Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). (Kilbane & Milman, 2014)The figure below is a visual representation of the TPACK model. For educational designers, incorporating all three knowledges; pedagogical, content, and technological, is the ultimate goal. (Kilbane & Milman, 2014) This ensures the teacher is effectively facilitating lessons that meet all of the needs of 21^st century learners. 

Figure 1. This is a visual representation of the TPACK model. Reprinted from the Teaching Models: Designing Instruction for 21^st Century Learners (p. 49), by Pearson Education Inc., 2014

Module 1 Part 4- 21st Century Tool (TPACK)

While scrolling through Facebook, I saw a post about a web-based tool and it caught my eye. This was a tool I had not heard of before called HOMER Reading: Learn to Read. After some investigating and reading, this is a tool I am very interested in because it provides systematic phonics instruction. But what makes it better is that it is self-paced and engaging for our youngest students. HOMER would provide engaging, fun application and practice in early reading skills for our students. Because this tool embeds phonics instruction through songs, rhymes, and books, it is beneficial for our auditory and visual learners. Teachers and students could be successful within this platform with beginner technology knowledge. Another huge plus us that HOMER Reading is free for teachers!

Digital Tool Review: Seesaw: The Learning Journal

Seesaw: The Learning Journal is a FREE (with available paid upgrades) web-based tool that can be accessed through its website or app. This tool allows the teacher to assign activities from across the curriculum. Truly the sky is the limit. In addition, it also allows students to complete and submit work without an activity having to be assigned. Students also have numerous ways to complete their assignments. They can upload a picture, take a video, record themselves, draw a picture, or type a response. Another feature of Seesaw that I love is the ability to track student progress over time. As students submit their work through Seesaw a personal portfolio is developed for each child. This portfolio can be downloaded and saved or printed. At any time and for any reason, teachers can access and print the students submitted activities. Another really important feature of Seesaw is the ability to connect parents to each child's account. With this feature, parents can access their child's account and see his/her completed work at any time. Meaning they do not have to wait until papers come home to see what their child has done at school. Seesaw has so many other great features, but the last one I will discuss today is the ability to individual assignments. As the teacher, you can assign an activity to a student, a group of students, or the entire class. The ability to individualize assignments for students is critical for today's learners. Seesaw: The Learning Journal also received a privacy rate score of 82% from Common Sense Education. For me, Seesaw is a win-win and I cannot wait to use it in my classroom!

Competent technology skills will be required by the teacher to use the activity assigning piece of Seesaw. However, beginner technology knowledge is adequate to be successful as a student or parent.

I found this tool through searching the Common Sense Education website. Once on the website, I choose EdTech Ratings & Reviews and then searched by The Top Picks List. Seesaw: The Learning Journal was listed under Tools for Project-Based Learning.

This tool aligns with many of the kindergarten Alabama Digital Literacy Standards. Seesaw requires students to use a mouse, touch screen, or keyboard (Standards 2 and 7). It also provides the opportunity for them to practice keeping their password secure (Standard 3). Through completing actives, students will create products and problem solve (standard 13).

Digital Collage tools in the Elementary Classroom

As a teacher, I am always looking for ways to incorporate digital tools in my instruction and this activity was so much fun!! I used the Pic Collage EDU app to create my collage. It was easy to navigate and had several different ways I could add information. I believe this app would be easy for my students to navigate and use. I could see using this collage app across the curriculum. Students could use it during an introduction to a unit to show what they already know and at the end of the same unit to show what they learned. Students could use it to make individual anchor charts that they could refer to when needed. Collage tools provide endless opportunities for students to creatively demonstrate learning across all subject areas in the elementary classroom.