Leverage Technology for Student Voice and Choice [6:18]

https://players.brightcove.net/2566261579001/HyuWsfFhb_default/index.html?videoId=6315872011112

About

Learn to strategically reflect on the value of technology integration as a critical component of the lesson planning process.
Learn strategies to encourage the use of technology tools to incorporate student voice into the learning process for personal reflection.
Learn strategies to capture data about student learning experiences to benefit future iterations in collaborative lesson planning.

Transcript

It is important to leverage the use of technology for empowerment to strengthen your student's learning process. In this lesson, we will focus on the value of integrating technology and lesson planning, ways to encourage the use of technology tools for this purpose and demonstrate how capturing reflective data about student learning experiences benefits future iterations in collaborative lesson planning.

Integrating technology into the learning gives students the opportunity to discover technology tools as problem solving tools, as opposed to purely entertainment tools. Resourcefulness becomes the expectation as opposed to the exception. Additionally, technology integration allows students to create content and share it widely and instantaneously, improving accessibility and discovery with the proper support from the school librarian. Working with the IT professionals to get devices and an internet connection into the hands of every student, students can learn at their own pace based on their unique needs.

In lesson planning, create a structured intent for purposeful technology usage to ensure the appropriate technology tools are accessible when needed and well suited for the lesson. Begin by outlining suitable entry points for technology and the lesson planning process. For example, incorporate ways to use technology so students learn to critically evaluate online sources for credibility. Define the hardware requirements, the software needs and the necessary instructional support. Determine which technology tools can best be used to hook their interest, gauge their progress, demonstrate their learning and capture reflection. Outline the role in which you will play to support the use of the technology throughout the lesson. How can you best support the teacher with whom you are working?

Consider using technology to connect the learning process to the learning outcomes by capturing student impressions before, during, and after the lesson. Ask students what they hope to gain from a specific unit using tools such as Google or Microsoft forms to ensure relevance during the planning process. Incorporate technology to hook students into a topic through a riveting video and create a back channel for dialogue to capture students thoughts and observations in real time. This can serve as starting points for a meaningful discussion while meeting content requirements.

Leverage technology used to generate a formative assessment halfway through the lesson. This informs how the pacing is aligning with the learning goals. Use technology as a gamification tool for these assessments with online tools such as Kahoot, Jeopardy Labs, or Mentimeter. Benefits of these informal assessments include engaging students to show what they know with an element of fun and without the added pressure of personal identification. The results can advise as to what, if any, teaching practices need to be adjusted.

Technology integration gives learners greater power over how they share the content they create. It allows for strengthening both written and verbal communication skills. While some students may prefer verbal dialogue, others may feel more comfortable and productive with the written word. Cloud-based word processing and video conferencing tools such as the Google Workspace for Education or Microsoft 365, honor voice and choice to best suit the needs of the individual student. Technology integration encourages engaging, personalized learning experiences.

At the conclusion of a lesson request a video, audio, or written submission in which students and teachers reflect and share their teaching and learning process. This will give insight into their experience and future iterations of the lesson planning. Incorporate questions that reflect when the information clicked, when they felt most invested, what was most enjoyable throughout the lesson, and what they learned upon capturing the data from both students and the teacher. Use positive feedback to encourage collaborative partnerships with other colleagues. Based on the reflections received, update the lesson plans so that they are ready for the next learning opportunity.

Intentional technology integration makes the learning more accessible and leads to increased collaboration. It increases student opportunity for sharing and extends their network for feedback and recognition. Placing value on student input before, during, and after the lesson helps assess the teaching and learning for future improvement to reach every student. This, too, serves to reinforce a commitment to a long term partnership in the teaching and learning between the school librarian and the teacher.

Activities

Cultivating Student Ownership

When students reflect on their learning experiences, they are empowered to play a role in the implementation and execution of the school's curricular goals. Establishing an intentional component within the learning process to reflect on the learning will help learners show what they know. It will also serve to inform the lesson facilitators of iterations to improve the learning process going forward while showcasing the role that technology plays in the learning. After reviewing the resources below, complete the Reflect & Practice activity.

RESOURCES:

Course Packet

REFLECT & PRACTICE:

After reading the article "Growing Student Voice and Learning," consider the assessment tools used for capturing student learning and feedback. Then, using page 11 of the Course Packet (found in the Resources above), schedule a follow-up visit with the teacher to reflect on the learning activity, emphasizing that the learning continues through a reflection and revision process. This will inform the final phase of the lesson, receiving authentic feedback and sharing student work and reflections with a larger audience to make the learning visible.

Entry ID: 2294723

Effective Technology Tools to Promote Student Voice

As technology tools routinely evolve, the need to capture, document, and assess student learning is a constant. Having an awareness of a variety of technology tools for these purposes is beneficial. At times, you may determine that students should choose from a menu of different technology tools to best serve their unique needs to demonstrate what they know and/or provide feedback. Alternatively, you may determine that a specific technology tool will work best for capturing student work and reflections in a particular manner for a specific assignment. Knowing the tools that are available and that are accessible will help you create a framework for the ways in which you wish to capture student content. After reviewing the resources below, complete the Reflect & Practice activity below.

RESOURCES:

Best Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning (AASL)

Common Sense Media's EdTech Reviews

Course Packet

REFLECT & PRACTICE:

Explore the American Association of School Librarian's Best Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning published each year for the past several years. Search Common Sense Media's EdTech Tools Review website to consider the reviews of technology tools that can capture student learning. Taking curricular goals, different learning styles, accessibility, and ease of use into consideration, use page 12 in the Course Packet (found in the Resources above) to evaluate a variety of technology tools that can be used to best capture student voice for your unique learning environment.

Entry ID: 2294724

Additional Resources

Bibliography.

About the Author

Stacy Brown, MLIS, is the 21st-century learning coordinator at the Davis Academy, Atlanta, GA. Stacy earned a bachelor's in English and a minor in French from the University of Texas at Austin, and a master's in library and information sciences from Florida State University. She is the author of The School Librarian's Technology Playbook: Innovative Strategies to Inspire Teachers and Learners and chairs AASL's Collaborative School Library Award Committee. Stacy served as a visiting professor at the University of Washington's iSchool teaching about marketing for libraries and information organizations. Stacy shares technology integration strategies and innovative library programming on Twitter @21stStacy. She can be reached via email at stacybrownreads@gmail.com.

Select Citation Style:

MLA Citation

Brown, Stacy. "Technology and Learning in the Library. Leverage Technology for Student Voice and Choice [6:18]." School Library Connection, ABC-CLIO, December 2022, schoollibraryconnection.com/content/course/2282105?learningModuleId=2281499&topicCenterId=2247902.

Chicago Citation

Brown, Stacy. "Technology and Learning in the Library. Leverage Technology for Student Voice and Choice [6:18]." School Library Connection video. December 2022. https://schoollibraryconnection.com/content/course/2282105?learningModuleId=2281499&topicCenterId=2247902.

APA Citation

Brown, S. (2022, December). Technology and learning in the library. Leverage technology for student voice and choice [6:18] [Video]. School Library Connection. https://schoollibraryconnection.com/content/course/2282105?learningModuleId=2281499&topicCenterId=2247902

https://schoollibraryconnection.com/content/course/2282105?learningModuleId=2281499&topicCenterId=2247902

Entry ID: 2282105