Overview
Applied Educational Technology is an informative hands-on course that provides a detailed learning experience that integrates classroom instruction with computer technology. The activities provided by the instructor capitalize on the basics of Microsoft Office products. The activities allow students with little to no practical experience the chance to learn basic operations and commands that are essential when working with digital imaging and word processing applications. The activities also allow students who possess advanced skills in computer technologies to build and elaborate on those existing skills.
Title: Lesson Plan: Mouse Trap Vehicle – Alternative Energy
The objectives focus on incorporating the design process where students must utilize many of the principles and elements of design to research and build a vehicle that is powered by a mousetrap. Students are encouraged to apply mathematical concepts in their designs in order to build a vehicle that meets or exceeds given parameters and constraints. Once the vehicle is designed on paper, students are introduced to a Computer Aided Drafting Solid Modeling program where they can create, test, and evaluate their design prior to the construction of the vehicle. When the student feels that the vehicle has met the designed criteria on the computer, they can begin the build process where testing and evaluation and redesign can be accomplished.
This is a wonderful activity that lends itself to critical thinking and problem solving skills. Students enjoy the collaboration among each other within the laboratory setting. All students are fully engaged in the process and enjoy the time they spend designing and building their vehicles. This activity is a wonderful project for students and teachers to incorporate in any class that promotes alternative energy research.
Link: Click To View Lesson Plan
Title: Spreadsheet: Mathematical Optimization for a Mousetrap Vehicle
This activity is designed for high school technology students that are researching alternative energy sources. The activity follows the New York State Math Science and Technology Standards that are utilized by the Oswego City School Districts Curriculum department.
The objective of this activity is to introduce the application of Microsoft Excel to students and derive a mathematical modeling spreadsheet. The spreadsheet will be utilized in the preliminary stages of the design process for building a mousetrap vehicle as outlined in the lesson plan of the previous activity.
The spreadsheet allows students to design a vehicle that will travel a specific distance given known constraints. Students will learn how to input formulas into the program and utilize the outputs for optimizing an alternative energy vehicle. They will learn how to write formulas that compare output values to desired parameters. Students will be able to see the relationships between certain design components and apply theoretical concepts based upon their learning experience.
This activity is a great way to incorporate mathematical concepts and formulas into a fun learning activity. Students gain insight in real world mathematical applications and can begin to see the relationship between their other math classes and how it relates to technology in the real world.
Link: Click To View MTV Spreadsheet
Title: PowerPoint: Gender Exploitation in Movie Posters
This activity was a collaborative team effort designed to inform audience members about the exploitation of woman in movie posters. It is geared towards high school students of a mature age. The focus of discussion shows how provocative poses by woman are used to increase ticket sales at the box office.
The assignment incorporated the use of Microsoft PowerPoint. The objectives include the integration of text, sound, animation, and hyperlinks to promote a presentation that was exciting, informative, and interactive. It was a good activity to design because it required me to create an activity that was unrelated to my field of technology and a bit out of my comfort zone. The presentation was well received by audience members and elicited strong feedback from them.
Link: Click Here To View
Title: WebQuest: Global Warming
The webquest is designed for middle school technology students, but could easily be used by other curriculums like Social Studies, English, or Science. In the activity, students are exposed to the social, political, and ecological impacts of global warming through teacher guided websites provided by the teacher. This activity incorporates Standard 5 of the New York State Math Science and Technology standards throughout the assigned tasks. Students will research and synthesize data relating to their interests. They will organize and produce an awareness brochure based on self-guided research using state of the art word processing and digital imaging software provided by the school district. Another activity includes creating a multimedia presentation that identifies an endangered animal’s habitat and promotes awareness on the implications and adverse affects that global warming has caused. Finally, students will be required to research alternative energy vehicles that utilize a form renewable energy and promotes a reduction to the effects of greenhouse gasses. Students will build and present a model of a vehicle using this form of energy.
This webquest has been an engaging activity. It has provided multiple opportunities for everyone to become aware of the world’s environment and learn how to prevent future disasters caused by the emission of greenhouse gasses. There are so many other activities that can be added to this webquest. Teachers can use their imaginations.
Link: Global Warming: Home Page
