Unit 5: Spotlight on Strategies Reflection and Link

What instructional goal/challenge does your SOS address? 

Geocaching is a form of collaborative and active learning that addresses many challenges.  The most critical of these being student motivation and engagement.  While geocaching, students are problem solving, cooperating, using map skills and technical skills while actively engaged.  Students must work together and focus to complete the tasks.  This gets them talking and listening to each other's ideas to create their own understanding.  Students are motivated because they are using technology to accomplish the tasks and they have specific tasks to complete.  This strategy supports what the Center for Teaching and Learning has to say about student engagement, "Research has demonstrated that engaging students in the learning process increases their attention and focus, motivates them to practice higher-level critical thinking skills, and promotes meaningful learning experiences." 


What additional value does the integration of digital media bring to your idea in terms of students’ understanding of the concept or topic?

Digital integration helps students understand the concept by motivating them, engaging their senses and minds and in this example getting their bodies moving.  The old saying 'hands on, minds on' can easily apply to using digital media in the classroom. This is an excellent way to strengthen 21st century skills while actively engaging them in content.  Students are more likely to learn the material because they are actively engaged and motivated by the GPS devices and the iPad clues and videos.  Without these tools students may be active but not as engaged.  According to a case study conducted by SRI International, "students were able to handle more complex assignments and do more with higher-order skills because of the supports and capabilities provided by technology." In addition, they go on to say that the use of technology for an assignment is highly motivating to students and it builds self confidence.  If students feel confident and motivated they are more likely to take risks, make mistakes and learn from them. More over technology is valued in our society, they see their parents using it for work and their teachers using it for instruction, giving them technology makes them feel powerful and connects them with the real world way of doing things.

Here is the link to my Spotlight on Strategies Smore flyer.

https://www.smore.com/ccse




Bibliography:

faust, J. & Paulson, D. (2013). Active learning for the college classroom. 20 November 2013. Retrieved from http://www.calstatela.edu/dept/chem/chem2/Active/

Hall, T. & Strangman, N. (2009). Background knowledge. Retrieved from
http://aim.cast.org/learn/historyarchive/backgroundpapers/background_knowledge#.Uotv9MSkrgo

Engaging students in learning. Center for teaching and learning. University of washington. Retrieved 20 November 2013, from http://www.washington.edu/teaching/teaching-resources/engaging-students-in-learning/

SRI International; technology and education reform. Effects of technology on classrooms and students. Retrieved 20 November 2013 from http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html