California’s Golden History: 1848-18California’s Golden History: 1848-188080

IntroductionIntroduction I teach English and Social Science I teach English and Social Science

at North Valley High Schoolat North Valley High School I try not to burden my friends, but I I try not to burden my friends, but I

am also a graduate of Anderson am also a graduate of Anderson High SchoolHigh School

I am completing my twenty-third I am completing my twenty-third year of teaching: 19 years at NVHS, year of teaching: 19 years at NVHS, 2 years at WVHS, and 2 years at 2 years at WVHS, and 2 years at King’s College in Belize, Central King’s College in Belize, Central AmericaAmerica

I am married and have 5 children I am married and have 5 children ages 13, 11, 8, 7, and 5. (4 girls, ages 13, 11, 8, 7, and 5. (4 girls, one boy)one boy)

I have been attempting for the past I have been attempting for the past ten years to integrate a variety of ten years to integrate a variety of tech-nologies in my curriculumtech-nologies in my curriculum

What was I thinking?What was I thinking?

In addition to the stipend and the In addition to the stipend and the software that went with the class, I software that went with the class, I expected to learn how to use a WYSIWYG expected to learn how to use a WYSIWYG web page editor and develop and web page editor and develop and effective unit based on using the Internet.effective unit based on using the Internet.

I think I have exceeded my expectations I think I have exceeded my expectations and have learned much more than I and have learned much more than I expected about how to effectively expected about how to effectively integrate technology into the curriculum.integrate technology into the curriculum.

Highs and LowsHighs and Lows

Developing a Developing a standards-based standards-based lesson that worked lesson that worked for my studentsfor my students

Finding that my Finding that my students were not as students were not as adept in the use of adept in the use of technology and the technology and the Internet as I Internet as I expectedexpected

Student Data ChartStudent Data Chart

California's Golden History

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Student

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RevisionsRevisions

I added more detail to the student I added more detail to the student checklist so students would know checklist so students would know more precisely what was expectedmore precisely what was expected

I added additional activities for I added additional activities for those students who either wished those students who either wished to earn a better grade and/or earn to earn a better grade and/or earn more credit for this unitmore credit for this unit

ConclusionsConclusions Simply adding layers of Simply adding layers of

technology to the curriculum technology to the curriculum will not result in positive will not result in positive change in learning.change in learning.

Carefully thought out and Carefully thought out and designed lessons that utilize designed lessons that utilize technology can be quite technology can be quite effective, and fun, too.effective, and fun, too.

I believe we can benefit from I believe we can benefit from the use of technology in the the use of technology in the classroom only if we are classroom only if we are willing to take the time to willing to take the time to design excellent lessons.design excellent lessons.

Finally, it can take a great Finally, it can take a great deal of time to develop deal of time to develop excellent lessons.excellent lessons.