Module 4.4 Key Ideas

Course: Integrated Teaching and Learning with Technology Applications


The assignment this week in my "Essentials of eLearning" course is to begin thinking about a framework for an online course we might develop and teach. By framework, I mean - the essential understandings students will “come away with” after participating in my course. Antioch’s School of Education recently streamlined some of the course offerings for the GATP program. Because they currently are not offering a technology course for pre-service teachers, I thought certain technology applications (as a required competency) could be taught in a workshop format, integrating these applications into several methods courses. Example, teaching students about the “VoiceThread” application by collaborating with the social studies methods instructor. Because integrated instruction is one of my areas of expertise, I am excited about the unlimited potential I see for how technology can enhance learning in the classroom as an integrated component. Here are some essential understandings my students (pre-service teachers) would acquire from this course:

• Multi-disciplinary instruction must make meaningful connections among all subject areas. One subject area should not be compromised and become the “hand-maiden” to the other.

• When teaching from a multi-disciplinary perspective, each discipline needs to maintain its own integrity. Your students will uncover the relationships among each discipline with well developed “guiding questions.”

• Arts concepts and technology applications should be taught and appreciated for their unique modes of thinking and expression.

• Organizing teaching around “essential understandings” provides the learner an opportunity to see patterns and connections to ideas that are often universally applicable. This process promotes critical thinking and creativity (important 21st century skills.)