Week 4-Still Flying High!

Week 4 was a very productive one for the High Fliers! While we did encounter some technical difficulties with Internet Connections at first, we engaged in meaningful conversations about Authentic Assessments, our chapter 6 PowerPoint project, WebQuest, and how Web2.0 tools can enhance education and engage students.


Authentic Assessments

We agreed that authentic assessments allow students to be assessed using their strengths, by performing a meaningful task. Since a lot of students are comfortable using technology and technology is important for students to be familiar with, a lot of authentic assessments involve the use of technology. We also analyzed traditional assessments and came to the realization that they do not embrace all learning styles and therefore authentic assessments are more appealing to students today. However with legislature such as No Child Left Behind, traditional assessments will not be going away anytime soon so we must learn to integrate authentic assessments into the curriculum whenever possible to make learning enjoyable.

“Any sufficiently advanced technology
is indistinguishable from magic.” ~ Arthur C. Clarke

Chapter 6
In our final preparations for our presentation, our group members briefly discussed our PowerPoint for our assigned chapter. We reviewed our slides and determined what still needed to be worked on. It was decided that we would post any additional comments on our group’s wiki, as well as our decisions on how to present our project to the class on Wednesday.

WebQuest
Our group was almost ready to submit our WebQuest project. We were reviewing some of the files that were attached to our wiki. Our last task was to review Birgul’s lesson plan and provide any feedback we had. Then after giving one last review of the project, we will upload it onto the discussion forum.

Web 2.0
Web 2.0 has so many engaging tools for students. Our group discussed how students are so used to having access to technology that traditional lectures in classrooms are boring and mundane. Therefore, it is so important to incorporate the many aspects of Web 2.0 into the classroom. Ruby shared a website she had found that included interactive games that focused on a variety of skills such as fine motor and comprehension that would be excellent for special education students. We also touched on how technology can really appeal to special education students because sometimes traditional textbooks or assignments can appear overwhelming. However because students are familiar with technology, this can help ease their fears about completing assignments with the use of technology.
We also discussed the downside to students relying so much on technology. We brought up personal examples of young children we knew not having an imagination or participating in creative play because technology is always there to entertain them. And when it is gone, students are lost.
As always, our group worked very well together. It has been such a pleasure to work with the High Fliers. It was mentioned during the meeting that the collaboration among the group will be missed when the class is over. I look forward to continuing my work with the group to grow and become more familiar with technology.