Lesson Plan Reflection

         Throughout the planning and implementation of this lesson plan, I have truly learned a lot about the learning of my "students" and my own learning as well. The purpose of this lesson was to teach teachers how to effectively and efficiently manage over 500 iPads within our school. The purpose of these iPads is to assist students with special needs with communication, comprehension, creativity and much more. With that being said, the goal was to teach the faculty how to use an application called Apple Configurator. In order to achieve this goal, I conducted a training session where teachers had to first watch a 20-30 minute tutorial on the use of Apple Configurator and then perform hands-on practice with me. While watching the video, faculty was provided with an instructional guide on how to use the application this way they could take notes and refer back to it when needed.
         Some explicit assumptions were that these faculty members had little to no experience of using a Mac computer or an iPad device. It would've been very beneficial for teachers to have some knowledge on a Mac operating system before coming into this training session. Mac terminology was often used and it would have been helpful if more teachers were familiar with it. However, since most of them did not know much about Macs, I ensured to include a section within my training called "Mac Tips & Tricks." This was very helpful in demonstrating some differences between a Mac operating system and a Windows operating system. One of the implicit assumptions was that these faculty members understood most of technology terminology. I also assumed that most of them knew how to do something basic as log onto a computer.


            The advantages of using a Camtasia video for my lesson plan is that it gave the teachers a visual on exactly how to work the application.  This was helpful because then they knew what to expect before having to perform hands-on practice, which follows the stages of observational learning. Since most these teachers did not know much about Macs, by viewing the video they will were able to watch and imitate what they observed. It also allowed time for teachers to take notes, ask questions and embrace what was being taught. I also had a chance to pause and address certain misconceptions that arose. Some constraints about a Camtasia video is not everyone learns at the same pace. Even though I paused and commented throughout the tutorial when necessary, it was difficult for some viewers to process what was going on through the video. Sometimes listening and watching at the same time can be overwhelming. This is an important difference among learners that I will need to take into account for the next training.


During this training session, learning takes place within multiple activities. The first being a 20-30 minute video tutorial, then hands-on practice and an additional document that could be used as a guide to using the Apple Configurator program. I think most of the learning took place during hands-on practice. Although the video tutorial is very informative and provides a lot of helpful information, it is during the hands-on practice that the faculty takes what they have learned and apply it. This idea of modeling and imitation exemplifies instructional scaffolding and observational learning. The Social Learning Theory is demonstrated through my training session with observational learning. The faculty implements the attention, retention, reproduction and motivation stages through video modeling and hands-on practice.


   After the training session, I had the faculty complete a survey that not only provided me with feedback of my teaching, but also feedback of faculty understanding. Although this wasn't a "test," it was definitely a formative assessment that just had some questions regarding the use of Apple Configurator. I used this to assess their knowledge of the tutorial and how to use certain controls within the application. I was really excited to see that most of the teachers got all the questions correct. The overall 'final' assessment was their ability to deploy the iPads in an efficient matter. For the past three weeks, iPad deployment within the schools has been running very smoothly and without any problems. With that being said, I can say that my training session was very effective and has truly led my faculty to lead a successful iPad Program within our schools.

Lesson Plan

 
Content:
Within my schools I will be deploying over 500 iPads in just a few weeks. The purpose of these iPads is to assist students with special needs with communication, comprehension, creativity and much more. Upon receiving these iPads, a major question struck our concern: How will we manage all these iPads in the most efficient way? After meeting with Apple through a Web Ex(virtual meeting), we were recommended to use a new tool called Apple Configurator. Apple Configurator is a free application that allows you to easily deploy new iOS devices in large quantities by quickly preparing, supervising select devices and assigning them to users. Unfortunately, an iPad is a personal device and does not work up to its full capacity when managed by anyone else other than the user. With that being said, as the Technology Coordinator of my schools, it is my job to educate teachers on the use of Apple Configurator. The teachers will be the ones who will be responsible for updating, synchronizing and charging their iPads on a daily basis. The overall question is how do we use Apple Configurator?

Pedagogy/Content & Pedagogy:
My pegagogy is to address the use of Apple Configurator and how to use it in order to deploy iPads. The teachers will be using my video tutorial and step-by-step guide in order to properly deploy iPads for their students and classrooms. I think by providing the teachers with both a document and a video tutorial, it will accommodate different learning styles and paces. This also connects with UDL principles. While a few percentage already have Mac knowledge, may be they will spend less time with a video and more time looking at the document. The lesson will begin by having teachers watch the video tutorial first and then they will do hansd-on practice with me. They will also receive a PDF guide that we will go over and they can use it to refer back to when using the Apple configurator application.

Learning Theory:
 I feel that this "lesson" connects teachers with the observational learning theory. They will be focusing on Attention, Retention, Production and motivation. Attention and Retention will come into play when tachers are watching the tutorial and using the PDF document as a guide. Production and Motivation occur during hands-on practice with me.

Technology/Technology & Content:
I will be using Camtasia in order to demonstrate how to use the Apple Configurator Application. I feel that a Camtasia video makes a great connection between technology and pedagogy because it will give the teachers a clear visual on exactly how to work the configurator. I will also be providing the teachers with a step-by-step document that will have everything written out, however, I think it is best to see exactly what to do and click in a video when learning how to use a new program. I also think this will be more beneficial because almost 95% of the teachers do not have any Mac knowledge at all. Even though I plan to include images in my step-by-step document, there will be Apple terminology that they may not know unless they view the video.

Technology & Pedagogy
By using a video tutorial in order to explain the content to teachers, it is very helpful in demonstrating exactly what to do. When dealing with things such as computer software and applications, for most learners, dictation wouldn't be helpful. Other learners would probably enjoy taking notes however, for something like learning a whole new operating system, I think a video is the best way to go. Teachers may have questions when just being dictated what to do but with a video, I may be able to answer any questions they have.This video will be available to the teachers on my web site and the school's website for easy access at any time needed. I think this is also a great tool because the teachers can use this video to practice from. They can watch it on one computer and follow on another. Not only does it provide you with a visual demonstration but it also gives you the opportunity to use as a guide hands-on. The video will be broken down into different sections of each feature of the Apple Configurator in order to best facilitate the information. This will make learning much easier by moving along from topic to topic instead of just doing everything at once.

Assessment:
I plan on having a survey after veiwing the video and document not only for my personal feedback on my tutorials but to see how much they have learned by asking them questions about the application. Tey will also be assessed by how well they are able to actually manage the iPads on a daily basis by using the application.

Digital Story-Telling: Heads, Shoulders, Knees & Toes!

Hello Everyone!

Below you can watch my video of Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes! Here is a transcript incase you want to follow along:

When I was student teaching Spanish, there were many activities that I just assumed would really work well. However, when teaching a second language, you can’t always pass out a worksheet with words on it and expect your students to automatically remember everything. You have to provide visuals, engagement and activities that they will retain in order for successful student learning. Unfortunately, when teaching high school freshman Spanish 1, it was a little difficult to always do fun things because maintaining good behavior was not something they could always do. With that being said, I always used more traditional methods in that class. After teaching vocabulary on some parts of the body I had students complete a worksheet where they would need to label a person’s body with a partner. After going over the worksheet, which was also review for their quiz, I was very disappointed with what I saw. Students didn’t know the body parts and they didn’t care. At that moment I told the clas “levantense” which means stand up. I put together a quick powerpoint using some images and I asked the class “Qué son la cabeza, los hombros, las rodillas y los pies?” or in English “Head shoulders knees and toes,” while point to each body part. I repeated myself several times loud and clear. This is where observational learning took place.

Attention: I started by modeling “Head, shoulders, knees and toes” I had my students watch me do it a few times while repeating the vocabulary terms along with me.

Retention: After, I asked the students to do it along with me. I did it with them a few times but then had them do it on their own once they memorized the verse.

Production: After practicing a few times together, I had students get together with a partner to practice it a few times again slowly. I told them that I was only going to give them 5 more minutes to practice and then we would play a game.

Motivation: After practicing the motions and vocabulary words, I turned on music for students to follow along with. I told them we would do one practice round and then play a game. We would play 3 rounds, students do mess up the motions, would need to sit down. Whoever was left after the third round, would get two bonus points on their quiz.

This was honestly a lot of fun. Not just for my students but for me as well. I felt that they were engaged and were motivated by the music and those bonus points. The best part was during their quiz, a lot of students were doing the motions to help remember the words. This made me very happy because that was my intention, to create a memorable activity that would help them on their quiz. I am glad I did this. ¡Gracias para ver mi presentación, adiós!

Society's Misconception on the Spanish Culture

The video file below contains an interview between a recent college graduate and myself, discussing his knowledge on the Spanish culture. I thought this would be an interesting topic to do because it is not common logic and it is something that we can typically discover outside of the classroom.

Most of the time, people associate 'Spanish Culture' with Mexicans and Latin Americans. It is only portrayed as 'one', when it reality there are many different types of Spanish cultures. This interview helped me to realize where some misconceptions may lie and what an individuals misconceptions may be.

Length: 3:29