Hope High School

Elvin bower
8 October 2015

Education Reform through Technology

Everywhere we go today we see technology. Grocery stores, coffee shops, libraries, and
schools. You cant go anywhere without technology lurking around every corner. Not only is it
being used but it is being advanced and quickly. Years ago cell phones were just a big brick

phone that had a battery bigger than a phone. Today we have a phone that is the size of watch
and you wear a phone for a watch or is it a watch for a phone? It is safe to say that technology
has a hold on our society today and that includes our youth in the classroom. Schools today are
relying more and more on technology to help save our students. The advances that technology
has to offer should make school much easier for students. With the efficient teachers being a
dime a dozen in todays society, we look to technology to assist with what teachers cannot do. It
is easier to put a student in front of a computer for an hour and a half rather than trying to keep
their attention with lectures and lesson plans. With them having the access to programs and
applications that many educational software companies have to offer, this helps make learning
much more interesting. Technology seems to be a necessity for most all of our youth today.
In the U.S. there are so many children labeled and diagnosed with learning disabilities
and have a hard time adhering to the normal standards of a classroom. Matt Mullenweg stated,
Technology is best when it bring people together. Technology can provide a way for children
with disabilities to learn at a rate that is beneficial for them. A large number of special education
programs could benefit greatly from the use of technology. This also helps the children feel
involved when learning. They actually get to have fun while learning especially if they have
trouble in a normal setting. Using the standards for students placement when dealing with the
use of technology has its benefits but should not restrict others from the use of technology who
need it. I-pads and other portable devices are other great examples that would help students in
the classroom. With the advances with these devices, it would help all of the students learn in a
much more fun and active way. Even though the price tag on many of these device raise
eyebrows, it pays off in the long run financially. With textbooks being revised and curriculum
being added, many school have turned to e-books that enables students to access full textbooks
online from a computer or any portable device. This makes text available to all students and not
having to worry about shortage of text for students.
In order for many of our staff to communicate and our students to achieve at the highest
lever we would like them to, we need technology. Our society has built its dependency around
the use of technology. Many companies and corporations would not succeed nor be able to
function without technology and neither would our schools. Our focus is our children and their
future. Let technology be light that can help guide these students to their destination of success.
For our future relies on them and the technology is need to do so.

Sincerely,

Elvin Bower

Identification of Standards
Many of the core standards that are put in place are to help benefit the student with their
learning. By having local, state and nation wide standards, enables all teachers to set the bar with

assignment given. Clark County School District has standards that are for third graders until they
reach to be a senior in high school. These standards are put in place to see whether or not the
student falls under their category of above, average or below standards of technology. Not all
children come from households whom have technology available or even affordable in some
cases. These local standards help teachers determine what a students limitations might be when
working with technology.
On a state level, Nevada bases its standards from NET-S standards. They strive to ensure
that students will be able to gain the knowledge to endure a future in a digital society. Our
students must mix technology with the context to achieve reaching the standard goals to its
fullest potential. Technology should be integrated with all subject matter that is taught in schools
enabling our students to be successful, engaged, and active in the classroom.
The ISTE standards are nationwide standards for students, teachers, coaches, and
administrators. These standards set the precedent for most all standards in the country. Taking
these six basic core standards and exploring your students potential makes learning for your
students much more interesting. When combining two or more standards enables students to
think outside of the box and reach their maximum potential.
In my lesson plan that I have developed, I believe in the ISTE standards. The standard I
will be expecting my students to use would be #1 creativity and innovation, #2 Communication
and collaboration, and #3 Research and Information fluency. Using these three core standards,
students will research and develop a personal life long collage of events that have taken place
throughout their life time. This has students researching life events that took place during their
life time and sharing it with the class. I look forward to the end results and the creativity that this
students will show.
Standards are put in place for structure and so there is not any question to what is
required of them. From National, State, and local all are required to uphold to these standards.
These standards have benefited me as a student and will continue to do so as a teacher. These
bars are set to help us achieve all that we must to give students the guidance needed to succeed.

My Timeline Collage

(100 pts.)

MR. BOWERS 9TH GRADE CLASS

-

In my lesson plan that I have developed, I believe in the ISTE standards. The
standard I will be expecting my students to use would be #1 creativity and
innovation, #2 Communication and collaboration, and #3 Research and
Information fluency. Using these three core standards, students will research
and develop a personal life long collage of events that have taken place
throughout their life time.

Objective -

Construct a collage of events that have occurred in your lifetime.

Include 2 events that occurred in your personal life and a minimum of 6 world
events that occurred. Each event should have a picture to support your event
chosen.

Materials -

Use Google Images or Magazines, Ruler, Markers, Scissors,

Glue, Poster Board for finished product.

Procedures
- Do your research to find events that took place during your lifetime.
Your timeline begins the year you were born and goes until present day.
- Choose your events you are going then use the internet, magazines,
or personal photos to gather the pictures used in you collage.
- Use the poster board and ruler to draw your timeline. Mark the years
with vertical lines on your timeline and label each line with a year.
- After your timeline is written out, cut out and place your pictures
according to the year above or below your timeline. Draw a line between
your pictures to your timeline.
- Write your name somewhere on your project and turn in with a 1 page
summary on the events you have chosen.

Assessment
Completion/ All Events Required

/25 pts.

Creativity/ Structure

/25 pts.

Summary

/25 pts.

Total

/75 pts.