Instructional Design

Inquiry Unit - Design Thinking 4th/5th grade

Inquiry-based learning is getting the opportunity to have a front-row seat to what kids are thinking and seeing their imaginations go to work. Inquiry-based learning requires asking good questions, modeling enthusiasm for learning, and triggering curiosity in students, and then taking a back seat and letting students take over through research, reflection, and presentation. Click on the images below to view Design Thinking in Action.

Design Thinking Unit - Simple to complex machines

This unit was designed and implemented in a 3rd/4th grade science class. The design thinking process was the inquiry model students used to define and synthesize their solution to creating a Rube Goldberg machine that accomplished a simple task. Students tracked their progress using an inquiry template in Book Creator.

Design Thinking In Action

This visual display using Book Creator is an up-close and personal look at design thinking in the classroom. It looks at what teachers and students are doing in each phase. The overview includes audio responses from three teachers on their experience of using design thinking in the classroom. Click on the image below to see design thinking in action.

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Presentation and Reflection

After designing and implementing the design thinking unit, I reflected on each step of the learning objectives, formative and summative assessments, and the inquiry process. Click on the image below to view the reflection.

Websites

Rube Goldberg Curated Resource Website for Simple Machine Unit Plan

This Google Site serves as a learning space to support students in their research about simple machines and the design of their Rube Goldberg machines.

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Internship Website

This Google Site serves as a landing space to display all of the activities and projects that I am engaged in for my iternship at APEX. This is a work in progress as I am currently in my internship.

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Website Manager

I oversee and manage our school's website, which Edlio hosts. To stay current on website design and learn tips and tricks for enhancing the website, I follow Edlio's blog. The blog's primary purpose is to continue the conversation around school communication issues. They write about topics like Accessibility, Enrollment, Web design practices, and management. Recently I introduced the mobile version encouraging parents to get the app to stay current on school news.

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Podcasts

The Three Branches of Government Podcast

I created this podcast to explain the three branches of government in an Ameritowne class to foster independent learning and accommodate learners during distance learning.

The InstrucTech Podcast with Jennifer LaVanchy

As one of my research projects for INTE 6720 I chose to interview Instructional Designer and Media Specialist, Jennifer LaVanchy, based on her years of experience across a K-12 and beyond setting. In the interview, she highlights her experience as an instructional designer in education, as well as her corporate position designing training modules for an insurance firm using digital tools such as Camtasia and Articulate Storyline. She makes a clear distinction between the tasks given and how she spends her time in each setting. Furthermore, she discusses trends related to Librarians, Media specialists, the blurred lines between the roles, and how the roles have changed from library literacy to a greater emphasis on technology.

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