Educators design authentic, learner-driven activities and environments that recognize and accommodate learner variability.
-ISTE Standards for Educators
Just as there are no teachers who are exactly alike, there are also no students who are exactly alike. As educators, we need to understand how complex learner variability among our students can be and we need to accommodate to those differences and design or implement lessons to support all students. Educators who have used the online game Minecraft have noted that their students develop important 21st-Century Skills: "A study of elementary students tracked students from 3rd to 6th grade using Minecraft in school. 98% of teachers surveyed cited problem solving as the top skill their students learn from Minecraft. Researchers also noted significant improvements in creativity, self-efficacy, reading and writing skills, collaboration, problem solving and computational thinking, concluding overall that the 'supported, scholastic, and purposeful use' of Minecraft truly leads to substantial learning outcomes."
“Impact.” Minecraft: Education Edition, education.minecraft.net/impact/.
The pre-assessment showed that I wasn't fully able to properly fulfill this particular standard. I understood that there would be many different types of students and that not one of them would learn in the same way. However, I was not aware that there were many tools out there to help me accommodate my students.
The one tool that I did enjoy was ClassCraft. ClassCraft is an online Engagement Management System that includes interactive tools to help aid students with their overall academic achievement. I was able to personally design many aspects within ClassCraft and monitor data and responses. I like that I will be able to use this system alongside with other accommodative technology to help my students thrive. |