Reflection: My rationale for this lesson was influenced by many things we talked about in this class. First, I had a strong desire to get away from passive learning and get my students into a more active role when it came to learning about U.S. Government. To do this, I knew I wanted to try to construct a simulation, since we had already discussed an article about how this was an effective teaching method for learning and engagement. Further, I thought I would be able to integrate some good pieces of technology while using the TIP method, This was due to the fact that I had already identified the standards and forms of assessment I was planning on using, I had chosen technologies that would support and increase student learning, and I knew there would be an opportunity once the simulation was over to reflect and evaluate what I could do differently after having a group of students run through it the first time. I felt that combining these two aspects would make for a strong lesson.
I think one of the biggest things I learned about disciplinary technology is that there is no one-size-fits-all: you never have one piece of technology that you can use for just one lesson, and you usually can find a lot of different ways to get your students to the product you want them to create. I think one of the most important things I learned was technology can really be benefit to getting students to communicate with one another as well as engage in ways that they could not before. The fact that you can give students some choice in what they can use is also helpful.
I think that another thing I will take away from this course is the need to make my lessons and activities authentic: sometimes you can get in the rut of just teaching something like social studies "the way it has always been taught" but that is not necessarily the best for students. Technology allows you to change your activities so they are more like professionals in the field; this can help you to create lessons that are more informative as well as more fun for students.
I think you did a great job of really putting everything that we have done in this course together in this. I really like that in your final step, you'll continue to consider what tech tools could help improve upon the project in the future. There could be a better tool in a year that could enhance the lesson. I also like that although a few of your tools might be new to students, you are also incorporating tech tools that they are already familiar with in an activity that might be pushing them out of their comfort zones.
This is an awesome plan! I think your ideas could truly solve the problem you stated in your Problems of Practice challenge. I love how engaging these activities are. The use of technology is interactive. I think students would remember this unit, and therefore retain the information learned! Your plan is also very clearly mapped out.
I think this is really well thought out, and actually works really well with the reading for this challenge! Students are hands on learning. What would be your time frame for this project? I'm unsure how long it would take to brainstorm and come up with a project for their favorite bill, then the committee meeting and revisions, then the official presentation. In my head, that takes a few weeks (but I also don't teach this subject so I may just be slow at it 🤣). Would students lose interest over time if that's the case? Other than curiosity of time frame, as I'm sure you know being a Social Studies teacher, my only other worry would be the "respectful"…