InTASC Standard 3
InTASC Standard #3 Learning Environments:
The teacher works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation (InTASC, 2013).
Brief Discription of Evidence:
During the fall semester of 2021 as part of my EDUC 201- Technology in Education class, I had the opportunity to design my own virtual field trip. We were able to design a digital escape room or a virtual field trip and each of us had to create one on our own. I decided to take a virtual field trip to the Indianapolis Zoo. I had to research what snacks were available at the Indianapolis Zoo, what exhibits were at the zoo, and pictures of the zoo. I even threw in some clickable videos on the zoo’s map. After designing them, we all presented them in front of our teacher and peers.
Analysis of What I Learned:
Throughout designing the field trip, I have learned to make it as easy to navigate as possible. I made back-to-map clickable stars and clickable stars on the map. I made everything that was clickable the same shape and color. Using the clickable links lets children interact with the habitats, the animals, and the “walking path” to each exhibit. Every student learns differently, so I designed a virtual field trip that is easy and explained enough in detail for the students to complete the activities without being confused. I also learned students do not have to have in-person field trips to learn and have fun as virtual field trips can be fun too!
How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the InTASC Standard:
I have demonstrated my competence in creating different environments so that each student could see the different habitats, animals, roller coasters, and skyline. I was able to create different environments virtually for students to interact with the zoo exhibits. I was able to create environments to support an individual to navigate back from the page of the map to the animal exhibit and make it clickable back to the map. A theorist that works well with this project is Lev Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of cognitive development because he believes that children should learn through social interactions such as interacting with the computer and having something to easily navigate a younger child. According to research, “Vygotsky's approach to child development is a form of social constructivism, based on the idea that cognitive functions are the products of social interactions” (Mcleod, 2018). Although the children were learning virtually they were able to work with each other and experience the same thing online just as well as they would if they went in person. This is important because children are able to learn virtually just as well in a regular classroom but if not in more ways. There was a series of problems that included cross-disciplinary subjects like math and reading. Students were able to do this together or individually to explore the Indianapolis Zoo. I encouraged students to interact with all of the exhibits. I was able to know if students did not complete the field trip if they did not complete the questions in the PowerPoint field trip. Students were asked what their favorite animal was and why and what the animal's exhibit looked like. I was able to look up and ask others about how to make my field trip more interactive and engaging for students.
Resources
Council of Chief State School Officers. (2013, April). Interstate Teacher
Assessment and Support Consortium InTASC Model Core
Teaching Standards and Learning Progressions for Teachers 1.0: A Resource for Ongoing Teacher Development Washington, DC: Author.
Mcleod, S. (2018, August 5). Vygotsky - Social Development Theory. Simply
Psychology.
https://www.simplypsychology.org/vygotsky.html
