Wade Dellow December 1st, 2009

Project #3 Write Up Overview EDU 528

1. Compiled Materials for this Project:

Career Search Lesson plan can be accessed at the following web address:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/21321273/Dellow-Wade-Project-2

Sample Career Search Blog can be accessed at the following web address:
http://wdellow-careerseachforteaching.blogspot.com/2009/11/many-of-todays-
young-people-have-not.html

a) Response to the superintendent’s/principal’s request: \ :

You have just completed your first year of teaching in the Wicked
Cool School District. Your district’s principal and school
superintendent have been observing your classroom all year; they
have witnessed your evolving use of technology. In addition to
completing your project and its elements they have asked you to
share some of your ideas about how to use technology to teach
relevant content in your grade level.

The use of technology can be used to teach and connect in all grade levels and
technology is relevant to all content areas. Specifically, it can be used throughout all 9th
through 12th grade courses. I am a technology education teacher and everything I teach
revolves and reflects around the use of technology. I think that we need to change the
thought that technology is only to be used and taught in the technology classroom but
rather technology should be used and taught in all content areas. This is similar to how
literacy is used and taught in all content areas not just English class. I believe that the
term “technology” is much too broad in terms of the definition, so if I may, I will use the
term “computer technology”.
As a result of my past experience, I believe that the administration, faculty and
staff should play a vital role to what computer technology is available to the students. I
believe computer technology is constantly changing or evolving and it is crucial that all
educators keep up with the changes as it is so vital to our impact and/or our contributions
to our global society and our students need to be taught using the most current computer
technology available. I would encourage the administration to use in-services as well as
offer continuing education course to help educate the faculty and keep all teachers up to
date with the changing technology. Along with educating faculty and staff on how to use
the computer technology, I would encourage the technology coordinator and
administration to reduce the number of limitations students and teachers have when using
the school districts computer network. I would encourage all teachers in all grade levels
and content areas to start with one form of computer technology and integrate it into one
unit or lesson (such as a career search lesson). After seeing the positive results from
using the technology and the involvement and participation of the students most teachers
will continue to build on their own repertoires and include some form of computer
technology into their lessons.
Weather you teach Math, Science, History, English or any other content area,
computer technology can be used by the students to increase their knowledge and growth
in preparing them to become future contributors to society. The constructivist theory of
teaching allows the students to explore and problem solve throughout education in all
content areas. It is important that teachers have student centered classrooms rather then
teacher centered. As technology changes we should facilitate the students to learn more
relevant information that will again prepare them for the future. Our students enjoy using
technology and as we are living in the communication age, students can learn in many
different way by using the tools that interest them. The way of educating has changed
and if teachers refuse to change our approach to educating we are doing an injustice to
our students and the next generation. Change is a sign of growth and as technology
changes we too need to change.

Advance Project Description

The instructional plan that I chose to use as my lesson plan is a lesson that I have
taught in the past but have only used “traditional” multimedia for this lesson. This lesson
is titled Career Search. To make use of 2.0 technologies, I selected to have the students
create a blog. Each of the student’s blogs will pertain to the career which they chose to
search. The students will learn how to create a blog and continue to use the blog to
communicate and network well after the classroom assignment. This assignment is for 9
– 12 grade students and it meets many of the requirements to fulfill New York State
educational standards for CDOS, MST, and ELA. This lesson plan is a five day lesson
followed by student presentations. A Student work sample would be a PowerPoint
presentation that fulfills the requirements provided within the rubric. Students will need
a computer lab with Micro Soft Office as well as access to the internet. For
presentations, the teacher will also provide a projector for the students PowerPoint
presentations. Student’s individual needs will be provided to help the student reach their
educational goals weather or not the students have an IEP or a 504 the teachers will be
there to assist the students. Each student will need to adhere to the schools polices
regarding the computer and internet using agreements. As with all lesson plans it is a
work in progress. This is because technology continues to change and well as the
demographic of each classroom. The Career Search lesson will be using the “traditional”
multimedia as well as a lesson plan that includes the blog (2.0 technologies).

• The goal of the project is to:

The goal consist of the students finding the answers to the following questions
but more importantly that the student communicate with professionals around our
global community and find what career is best suited for each student.
 1. What are your interest and/or likes as well as your 1.What is the nature of the
dislikes? work performed on this
2. What are your career options? Or Job Titles. career?
2.What are the conditions
under which you will be working in each of these careers?
3. What education/training is required for these careers?
4. Where can you get the Education/Training for each career?
5. What the expected starting salary is for each of these careers?
6. The job outlook, “what are the chances of getting a job once you have received the
education or training required in this field?
7. What are the job conditions and location?

• The Teacher’s role is to:

I believe that the teacher’s role is to facilitate learning. I also believe that that
best practice for student growth, interest, and learning is done using the methods from
the constructivism theory. The teacher will have multiple classroom roles for each or
any project/lesson. The teacher’s roles for this project are as follows:

o The teacher will introduce, discuss, and question the students on their
interest as well as careers.

o The teacher will instruct the students to make a list of interest.

o Have the students report to the guidance office to meet with the guidance
consoler to discuss career options.

o Introduce computer web 2.0 technologies to the students (their blogs)

o Show the students how using technology they can link themselves to the
global community and learning can continue beyond the classroom.

o The teacher will introduce to Essential Questions as well as the Intended

Learning Outcome.

o The teacher will hand out a copy of the rubric and explain the
requirements and grading scale.

o Teacher will demonstrate a career search on the Occupational Outlook

Handbook web site http://www.bls.gov/OCO/

o Teacher will assist the students over the next 5 day researching their career
and creating their PowerPoint presentations.
 o The teacher will use the rubric to grade the students class work,
PowerPoint, and Presentations.

o The teacher will give the students feedback as well as their grades.

• The Student’s role is to:

I believe that the student’s role is to first desire to learn and be willing to do
the tasks. Students who do not have a desire to learn will do more work getting out of
work and as a result, their future is limited. In this lesson, the students will be self-
directed to search a career and by using technology the students will open the learning
to the global stage and their learning will continue past the classroom assignment. In
this particular career search project the student can get a head start on their peers and
if they find a career that really interest them, they can get the education that best suits
their field on interest, now.

o Students will be engaged in thinking and answering questions related to

interests and career choices.

o Students will list their interest.

o Students will meet with the guidance consoler and research and discuss
what career or career titles might best fit the student’s interest.

o The student will explore the internet career web sites to find the required
information to complete their career search.

o The student will create a PowerPoint presentation and prepare a Word

document that coincides.

o The student will present their PowerPoint presentation to the class and be
fluent in answer question by other students regarding their selected career.

o The students will create a blog related to their chosen career that allows
them to continue communication with people around the world that are
involved in the same career.

o The students will follow the rubrics.

• The role that technology plays is:

Computer Technology plays multiple roles in the career search lesson.

Here is a list:
 1. Using multiple websites, the students will surf the internet to search
for the careers that interest them, as well as answers to questions they
have pertaining to their career choices.
2. The students will use Microsoft PowerPoint to create a slide show for
their career presentations.
3. The students will create a blog with its own unique URL and post
questions for people around the world that are professionals in a like
career. The intent is to have the students facilitate conversation with
others and dialog can be ongoing, informative, and global.

• How students are grouped in the project:

Students will work individually as they each will do their own career search.
They may assist each other by participating in one another’s blogs. They can sign in
as followers of other blogs and they can network to share information if needed.

• How outcomes are assessed:

The guidance consoler may use the RCC Holland Code assessment or
RIASEC for finding what careers best match each students interests.

Realistic – The “Do-ers”

Investigative – The “Thinkers”
Artistic - The “Creators”
Social - The “Helpers”
Enterprising - The “Persuaders”
Conventional - The “Organizers”

The teacher will use the following rubric to assess the students work and
performance/participation.

http://docs.google.com/View?id=dhs7pjpz_2fqgb8vgm

• The range of student skills anticipated, and how this range of readiness skills
will be addressed:

I do not anticipate that the student’s range of skills will play any major factor
when I teach this lesson. I have taught high school mixed grades elective classes for
the last ten years. During this time I have be open and receptive to all aspect of
inclusion. It is my job to teach each student and make him or her ready for each
learning experience in my classroom. It is also my job to help foster the students to
increase their skills and to prepare them to complete the assignments. Even more
importantly, I need to prepare them for life after high school.
 • What are the staffing needs:

Staffing will consist of the classroom teacher and any aid for students with
disabilities requiring a classroom aid. Students will list what their interests are and
will meet with the high school guidance consoler to discuss these interests. The
guidance consoler will give career options as well as related information on careers
that would be of interest for each student.

1. Classroom Teacher
2. Guidance Consoler
3. Teacher Aids

b. How has this Project illustrates current ideas about the value of using
technology for teaching and learning.
• Relate my growth in terms of the use of technology in the classroom; is there
any changes over the semester?

Although I have taught technology education for the past ten years and have
integrated many aspect and different forms of technology in all of my classes, I have
found this course to be enlightening and informational in regards to the area of computer
technology, web2.0. During the semester, I was introduced to many new tools that I can
and will be using in the future. I have used multiple forms of multi-media over the past
few years as my first masters degree was in educational computing/secondary education.
However, until now I was not very familiar with the ways to integrate web 2.0
technologies. The major changes and growth that I have experienced all relate to web 2.0
and the ways to use them to better my students so that they can be better prepared to
contribute to our ubiquitous technological society. As technology is always changing
teachers of all subject areas must keep up with the changes and I would recommend that
all teachers continue their education by involving themselves in a course such as this one.

• What are my plans for continued growth in the area of technology in the
classroom?

I hope to return to teaching in the fall of 2010, as a technology education or a

special education teacher. As you know elective courses are being eliminated or down
sized due to economics throughout New York State. As I return to the teaching
profession I would like to propose to any school that I apply to, the idea of combining
technology education with special education. As inclusion and RTI continues to grow, I
feel very passionate that we need to teach students with special needs to be able to use
different forms of technology so that they can look to their future with an occupation or
career in mind and be prepared after high school graduation to contribute to advancing
our economy. I know that all students are capable of contributing in some way or
another; we need to help them find their way to success by leading them to making the
best choices for their lives.
 At a personal level I have seen many administrators as well as school board
members that are out of connection or ignorant to the fact that technology education is
extremely important and when we allow our school district to disconnect with technology
we are doing and injustice to our students and their future success in our global economy.
We all need to be open to changes, as change is a sign of growth and is inevitable, and I
plan to continue to try to keep up with new technologies and introduce or share
technologies with my students.

• What resources do I anticipate using in the future to foster the growth

process?

During the semester I was introduce to numerous forms of web 2.0 technologies.
I intend to use as many as possible, from my past experience I anticipate that students
often differ in areas of likes and dislikes and can be more receptive to some tools more
then others. I will integrate these resources and as I use them I will find what ones work
best for my students learning styles and adapt them into my various curriculums making
change as needed. I will not limit myself to just a few of the resources learned during the
semester rather I will stay open minded to all of the resources and as time goes on I will
hope to add to my repertoire. My biggest hope is that which ever school district I end up
working for does not limit the uses of technology through censorship and/or blocks
placed on these valuable recourses. If they are, I intend to advocate for freeing up the
blocks so that the students can experience the value learning experiences that I have
experienced myself over the past few months.