7th Grade Texas History : Alamo & Republic of Texas Lesson Plan

1)                  7th Grade Texas History : Alamo &  Republic of Texas

My Lesson plan would be based on connecting a current event to an event in Texas History. I would like to compare what is happening in Libya  to the creation of  Republic of Texas. We would start by outlining the important events that led to the creation of a new government in Texas to the present day situation Lydia  is going through. The connection to present day Libya government of dictatorship that Muammar Gaddafi compared with that of  the dictatorship of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Texas went through.

2.         Learning Goals for the Lesson

I would like my class to see how History repeats itself. The situations and reasons for conflict remains  the same but the individuals, events and time is different. I want them to also see how democracy and different kinds of government differ and how it is established from the ground up. They would be asked what laws they would create, government would be best in the current state of Lydia.

TEKS

3.) History. The student understands how individuals, events, and issues related to the Texas Revolution shaped the history of Texas. The student is expected to:

  B.) explain the roles played by significant individuals during the Texas Revolution, including George Childress, Lorenzo de Zavala, James Fannin,  Sam Houston, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna , Juan Seguin and William B. Travis.

  C.) explain the issues surrounding significant events of the Texas Revolution, including the Battle of Gonzalez, the siege of the Alamo, the Constitutional Convention 1836, Fannin's surrender at Goliad, and the Battle at San Jacinto.

4.) History: The student understands how individuals, events, and issues related to the Texas Revolution shaped the history of Texas.

A.) identify the individuals, events and issues during the administration of Republic of Texas. President Houston, Lamar and Jones. Including Texas Navy, the Texas Rangers, Edwin W. Moore, Jack Coffee Hays, the Cordova Rebellion, the Council House Fight, The Santa Fe Expedition, public debt, and the roles of racial and ethnic groups.

3. Technology In the class Room

A. Students will use the internet to collect data from reliable websites outlining the events of the Alamo and Creation OF the Republic of Texas. In particular the constitution, laws or amendments created after Texas gained Freedom. Students will also look up pictures of artifacts,. maps or other items that can help them outline the events leading up to Texas Revolution and statehood. In the second part they will also look up videos, mass media search engines for background information to the creation of Muammar Gaddafi's Rule and fall from dictatorship. This process will help students how mass media has changed how information travels in present time to past time.

2.As students are placed into groups, students will bring all information gathered individually and create a Wiki page in wish they can communicate and add any new information placed in this WIKI page. This will let students understand the importance of research and mass communication with each other in an individual basis as well as a group communication.

3.As a result students will create PowerPoint presentations using Whiteboard to present their power point presentation.

4. Using the Classroom webpage I will designate a Blogger Page in which students will comment about each others work and create a Survey on Survey Monkey to see which presentation would be the best.

5.Using Google Docs I will create a test in which students will do using the blogger page provided to keep track of Test  given to students. This process will help me keep a better track of grading.

Blogs in the Classroom

Blogs in the Classroom

The more and more I get involved in this class EDT 5372 I realize how important technology is and will become in the near future. I understand the importance of “mass communication” and the important we as teacher must use all outlets to reach all my students in all aspects of teaching and learning. Using Blogs in my class can help my students connect with the teachers, students and school to be in touch with all assignments and important information they might have missed. The following may result by using blogs in the class and create opportunities to increase in the following areas1. Group project participation will increase due to the opportunity the individual may see beyond the classroom, 2.collaborative assignments within the students of classroom, other subjects, other schools or even other students around the world, 3. Blogs can also be used as a reference point to ask question about assignments to teachers and their peers. (Tutoring online) and 4.) it can also give students the opportunity experience collaboration, the importance of preparation and the importance of technology driven instruction. Using blogs in education allows students to always be communicated and give them another outlet to reach their learning goals, teachers the ability to reach every student in the classroom, and parents the ability to see what their son or daughter is learning or progression in the classroom. Blogs ability to be more educational centered than face book, twitter or other mass forms communications give students the opportunity have a learning centered environment that may create a step by step learning opportunity that reaches all types of learning abilities and give students the ability to speak freely with respect. The importance of a students to be heard is very important to them.

TPACK & uasage of TPACK in classroom

Technology Knowledge (TK) & Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK)

1. In my personal experience I believe I need to improve in my TK or technological knowledge because many of my students learning habits can't be met by the my minimal technological training i have received through the training my district has provided. I believe this course plus other courses i have enlisted have let me understand and see how I can improve my teaching in my class without the fear of not knowing what technology can work best for my classes. At times we are given certain pieces of equipment that can be used in one class but will not work well in another subject. The cookie cutter approach to technology cannot be used in every classroom. As educators we must search what best fits each individual classroom. Trust me Electronic whiteboards are great but do not function for every class room. I have seen teachers just use them for viewing movies and minimal work that a classroom like mine would like the hands on experience it provides for all students. Another improvement I feel I need to make is the alignment of technology into my lesson would be the key for the success of my students but ultimately an easier way for me to teach difficult or key concepts some of my students may learn easier or better using technology the appropriate way.

2. As a middle school teacher with three contents MATH, Texas History and Art the challenge has been to create a seamless teaching environment that uses technology to teach all three subjects. I have observed that the electronic whiteboard cannot work in Texas history like it does in art and math. I would like to have in the near future the possibility to have a  video conferencing classroom to be connected  with a foreign classroom to teach my student the difference between cultures and traditions> I believe this concept would help out my students see the how technology can truly be used . In art I would like to use wiki or blogger to communicate with eth art world outside El Paso> I believe ideas from New York, Santa FE, Paris France and other Art Mecca can contribute to the learning process many of my students may not get from me. In art, i believe Ideas must flow from different philosophies to see what true creativity is about enhanced with Video chats, wikis, and blogger many of my students can truly experience their future in video editing, graphic design or art in general. In math i would like to introduce real life concepts in math by using architectural and engineering programs that design structures based on the density of the weight of the beams or columns needed to constructs buildings. This programs could help them see real life problems and may spark interest in the engineering fields or architectural field.

I GENERATION I AM NOT BUT TRYING VERY HARD TO COEXIST

I GENERATION I AM NOT BUT TRYING VERY HARD TO COEXIST

               As a Generation X (Non Native Techy) I have seen the beginning of a Technology Savvy Generation that has a different approach to viewing the world. I guess my take on this generation is of astonishment to easily maneuver an electronical device I never dreamed off but also dismay of seeing many of my students forget to imagine or dream without a device doing it for them. I come from a generation that following your dreams was driven by your imagination. My generation was still able to enjoy certain things without technology ruining teachable moments that were genuine and memorable. My comprehension of creation is based on man made without the assistance of anything that cannot truly comprehend the word passion. I guess I have seen too many movies growing up that outlined the fact machine would take over some day or that the need for artificial intelligence would be so great that it would be the end of the human race. It may sound foolish but living in a current world based on technological advance has caused be to believe those movies have come true.

   As an art teacher, many of my students have failed to realize creation started with pencil and paper. Many of my students think that knowing the technology part of things is the foundation of learning without realizes that technology is a learning tool that enhances a project or makes certain objectives easier to work with or enhance them.  As a teacher teaching several subjects my struggles in the classroom has been meeting the needs of all my students using a non existing technology and teacher based instruction/ curriculum that have been surpassed by my students’ web savvy learning styles. The only way a teacher and I Generation student can meet in middle of the current educational state is based on a fast paced technology driven curriculum that uses innovate lessons with the assistance of every technical equipment and its coexisting teaching curriculum in helping teachers reach the potential of all students. We also need proper trainings in all aspects of technology based curriculum to correctly teach our students in order to see them progress and succeed in the classroom.