Technology Enhanced Lesson: Endangered Species

I decided to use create a Power Point presentation to enhance my shared reading lesson about endangered species. After reading the text aloud to the second grade students as they followed along and guiding them to discover each animal's endangerment through various activites, I used my Power Point to assess the students' understanding. I had found pictures of each animal studied on the Internet, and each slide contained the animal's name, picture, and cause for endangerment. I programmed the Power Point so that only the animals' names and pictures were originally shown. For each slide/animal, the students recorded the animal's name and one cause for endangerment, based on their understanding of the lesson's content. They recorded their answers on the corresponding worksheet I had created; the worksheet contained blanks for the students to record the animal and cause for endangerment for all eight animals. After the students had finished recording the cause for endangerment for each animal, I displayed the correct answer.

I was very satisfied with this lesson! I feel that it was an excellent assessment of the focus of the lesson, and the students did a great job on the assessment. Additionally, the students were engaged throughout. This was a great experience!

Technology-enhanced Lesson

I am very excited to incorporate technological activities in my future lessons. An idea for one of my upcoming lessons involves Google Earth. My class will be learning about various continents, and I think that it would be exciting for the students to get a view of the places they will be studying, using Google Earth. This will make the continents -- their geographical features, landmarks, etc. -- more relatable for the students.

I know that this technology will help students better understand the continents of the world.

Classroom Technological Inventory

I am happy to report that the elementary school I am working in really values technology! My teacher has a computer that has access to the Internet, Microsoft Office, and various educational programs that the students take turns using during centers. Additionally, the school values technology so much that they have a computer lab -- complete with about sixty PC computers -- that each class uses at least weekly for specials classes. Although it is not digital technology, my teacher also uses the overhead projector for many lessons, especially math.

The students use Microsoft Office to type their poems and stories, and they use specialized programs to assess their spelling and language arts progress. Addtionally, there are computer programs set up to aid ELL students. I am very grateful that the students are getting such ideal experiences using technology!

Google Earth Virtual Tour: The Transcontinental Railroad

Here is the link to my Google Earth tour.