Standard 3.

2 Managing Digital Tool and Resources Candidates effectively manage digital tools and
resources within the context of student learning experiences.
The artifact that represents the mastery of standard 3.2 is the engaged learning lesson plan taught
in collaboration with a local author/airline pilot. The implementation and design of the students
PowerPoint presentations on weather anomalies reflects the management of digital tools to create
instruction that is engaging, and meets the diverse learning needs of the students. The project was
developed for my fourth and fifth grade Interrelated Resource Classroom. This is a diverse group
of students with developmental learning disabilities of varying levels. The integration of digital
tools created a visually stimulating format that held the attention of the students in the group with
attention deficit disorder. The use of digital tools allowed students to work independently and
research topics on the internet with read aloud software that gave equal access to the content. The
read aloud software is installed on both the computers in the classroom, and on all of the
computers in the computer lab. We went to the computer lab twice a week since there are only
three desktop computers in my classroom. Students had to take turns using the desktop
computers on days when we did not go to the computer lab. Without the digital tools, the
majority of this class cannot work independently due to reading deficits. Being able to navigate
through the lesson independently, increased the confidence level of my students who are nonreaders. There are many students in todays classroom that are highly intelligent, but learn in
alternative formats. I developed this engaged learning opportunity to allow for differentiation of
instruction that would address these learning needs and allow the students to participate fully and
feel successful. Confidence is a big issue for this group of students. Many of these kids have
speech language issues, learning deficits, and are English Language Learners. These students
often try to linger in the background and not volunteer ideas or offer to answer questions. The
installation of the Promethean Board captured the attention of these students and motivated them
to volunteer for a turn writing on the Promethean Board, or navigate through a flipchart. Students
who had never volunteered before, were clamoring to be the first to use the board. The lesson
plan was engaging, because students were very interested in being able to use the new
technology on a daily basis. This project will impact future lessons that I teach. I will strive to
incorporate digital tools that will be engaging, and will address content standards at the reading
ability level of my students. I would like to try blogging with my students this year. Many of
these students have great ideas, but struggle to get them down on paper. There are many digital
word webs, and graphic organizers that they can use to organize their thoughts and publish their
ideas. Simply changing the format from paper and pencil writing assignments to digital
publishing has motivated even my most resistant writers.