Phase 4: Problematizing My ImagineIt Project
Problem #1: Teaching in Urban Schools (Resource Allocation and Maintenance)
For my ImagineIT project, students need to have access to consistent and functioning technology.
While students have access to both laptop and chromebook carts, the laptop cart is old and there’s been no maintenance on the laptops. The chromebooks are in great shape. It’s been challenging to keep battery life for both carts because a fuse can be blown if both are plugged in simultaneously to charge.
In order to solve this dilemma, I organized the laptop cart to ensure that they can easily be plugged in after student use. The teacher who houses the carts has so graciously agreed to rotate charging them each night. My colleague and I who use them the most will even keep the carts in our rooms overnight (and charge them separately). My administration is also aware of the technology maintenance concerns, and is looking to hire someone to assist with maintenance on the technology in the building.
Problem #2: Assessment (What does that look like across modes?)
Because my ImagineIt project is focused on alternative assessment, my second dilemma is focused on assessment. What does assessment look like across different modes, which can include oral communication, visual representations, written work, movies, or movement?
In order to solve this dilemma, I am going to utilize the knowledge gained from my Deep Play group, which is looking at multimodality in regards to instruction. A group member has already shared a unique rubric, which focuses just on the criteria set forth in an assignment, not the assignment itself. Therefore, regardless of which mode a student uses to share their thinking, I can utilize the same rubric in terms of assessment.
For my ImagineIT project, students need to have access to consistent and functioning technology.
While students have access to both laptop and chromebook carts, the laptop cart is old and there’s been no maintenance on the laptops. The chromebooks are in great shape. It’s been challenging to keep battery life for both carts because a fuse can be blown if both are plugged in simultaneously to charge.
In order to solve this dilemma, I organized the laptop cart to ensure that they can easily be plugged in after student use. The teacher who houses the carts has so graciously agreed to rotate charging them each night. My colleague and I who use them the most will even keep the carts in our rooms overnight (and charge them separately). My administration is also aware of the technology maintenance concerns, and is looking to hire someone to assist with maintenance on the technology in the building.
Problem #2: Assessment (What does that look like across modes?)
Because my ImagineIt project is focused on alternative assessment, my second dilemma is focused on assessment. What does assessment look like across different modes, which can include oral communication, visual representations, written work, movies, or movement?
In order to solve this dilemma, I am going to utilize the knowledge gained from my Deep Play group, which is looking at multimodality in regards to instruction. A group member has already shared a unique rubric, which focuses just on the criteria set forth in an assignment, not the assignment itself. Therefore, regardless of which mode a student uses to share their thinking, I can utilize the same rubric in terms of assessment.