Technology integration

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5 Lesson Plan Topics

For this assignment I will focus on the following topics, all chosen from SOL standards I will be responsible for teaching in the Spring:

5 Lesson Plan Topics for World History I

1.) The Rise of Islam
WHI.8 The student will demonstrate knowledge of Islamic civilization from about 600 to 1000 A.D. (C.E.) by:
a) describing the origin, beliefs, traditions, customs, and spread of Islam

2.) Medieval Europe
WHI.9 The student will demonstrate knowledge of Western Europe during the Middle Ages from about 500 to 1000 A.D. (C.E.) in terms of its impact on Western civilization by
b) explaining the structure of feudal society and its economic, social, and political effects

3.) African Civilizations
WHI.10 The student will demonstrate knowledge of civilizations and empires of the Eastern
Hemisphere and their interactions through regional trade patterns by
d) describing east African kingdoms of Axum and Zimbabwe and west African civilizations
of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai in terms of geography, society, economy, and religion.

4.) The Golden Age of Islam
WHI.8 The student will demonstrate knowledge of Islamic civilization from about 600 to 1000 A.D.(C.E.) by:
d) citing cultural and scientific contributions and achievements of Islamic civilization

5.) Medieval Japan
The student will demonstrate knowledge of civilizations and empires of the Eastern
Hemisphere and their interactions through regional trade patterns by
c) describing Japan, with emphasis on the impact of Shinto and Buddhist traditions and the
influence of Chinese culture

Parent Communication

When communicating with parents, it is important to remember that they want to know that you care about their child and that you want their child to succeed. They will be more likely to become defensive if they receive a call late in the semester informing them that their child is not doing well. Teachers should try to communicate with parents early on in the semester and make sure to send parents positive messages about their children as well. Parents will respond well to teachers who communicate with them about their child sincerely. Also, while teachers are responsible for many students, parents are only thinking about one. Therefore, when meeting with parents make sure that you know the student's background and progress in the course. Make sure that you are comfortable with both your subject material and pedagogy so that you can answer questions quickly and confidently.

Technology can certainly facilitate communication. Rather than having to call possibly hundreds of parents at the beginning of the year to initiate a relationship, a welcome letter can be posted to the website that is easy to access. In addition, classroom updates that you would like all parents to see can be posted on a class website. Grades can also be accessed on the website so that parents can access their child's grades and remain cognizant of how their child is progressing in your class. Technology can inhibit showing sincerity and warmth. Group messages on the website and grades posted do not convey the relationship that you have built with the student as much as a call home would.

Classroom websites are certainly useful tools. They can keep parents up to date on what is going on the classroom, what homework has been assigned that week, and when big tests are coming up. These things can be accessed any time the parent can access the internet rather than relying on communication via the student. What are some other promising and realistic technologies to use to communicate with parents?

There are many issues that arise because of technology use. First, privacy is a major concern for parents, students, and teachers alike. Classroom websites should be password protected and student grades should only be accessible for the parents of that student. In addition, student work and photos should only be posted with parent permission. Second, technology can erode professionalism if used incorrectly. Teachers should be wary of using Facebook, MySpace, and texting to communicate with their students. All of these can lead to the blurring of the lines between personal communication versus teacher-student communication. Third, technology access can be a problem for parents. Some parents may have limited access to the internet or very slow connections. Consideration of these issues should be taken when writing a web page. For example, web pages should be formatted for easy printing so that the parent does not have to be at the computer to read the information if they do not want to be or cannot be. There are many other issues and possible solutions; can you list some of them?