Simon Fraser University
A PLAN FOR MEANINGFUL TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

For this assignment you will develop an original lesson plan, featuring meaningful (as Howland would have it) integration of a technology or technologies explored in our class. (Remember that to Howland, meaningful learning is active, constructive, intentional, authentic and cooperative.) Examples of technologies you can consider including in your lesson are simulations, games, concept-mapping tools, community-building tools like wikis and forums, or audience response systems. In your plan you must specify what hardware tools you will need, such as a computer lab, tablets, smartphones or an interactive whiteboard; as well as what software tools or materials will be used on it.

The grade level and content of the lesson are entirely up to you, as is the amount of time the lesson will take up. (However the content your lesson is based on MUST be different from the content on which you based your WebQuest.) Make sure that your use of time is practical, and proportional to the curriculum objectives you aim to achieve. Your goal should be to produce a plan that is clear enough for a TOC (substitute teacher) to use in your absence, and compelling enough that fellow teachers would find it worth using if they found it online.

In order to help you prepare your best work, you will submit a draft of your lesson plan for review by a peer in the class, and have time to discuss their feedback in class before your final submission is due.

In preparing your submission, use this template and be sure to complete all sections fully!

Your Lesson Plan will be graded according to the following rubric

A+

Your lesson plan meets all the posted criteria for an A grade, but stands out in how compellingly it uses the chosen technology to meet the lesson objectives. It reflects deep knowledge of both the lesson content and students' challenges in learning it, and careful thinking about how to practically use the affordances of specific hardware and software in addressing students' difficulties.
A

Your lesson plan is original, complete, and of high quality. A competent teacher on call (TOC) could be expected to use your lesson plan to deliver the lesson with no outside assistance, and a teacher who is experienced in the target subject area and grade level would find your plan compelling enough to want to use it. In addition, your lesson plan:

  • Meets Howland's criteria for meaningful learning
  • Fully describes the lesson objectives, activities, planned technology use, rationale for using the technology (hardware and software)
  • Includes a detailed plan for assessment of learning, appropriate to its objectives (e.g. a grading rubric or criteria sheet)
  • Reflects careful thought about the logistics of the lesson, including time costs associated with the tools (setup, teardown, etc.).
B

Your lesson plan is largely complete and well thought out, though it does not fully meet all the criteria described for an A grade. It may be lacking in one of the following ways:

  • It does not meet Howland's criteria for meaningful learning
  • It is missing crucial details that would be required for another teacher to make use of it
  • The technology to be used (hardware and software) and how it is to be used are not fully described;
  • The rationale for the use of the technology are not clear and compelling
  • The logistical needs of the lesson are not spelled out realistically;
  • There is no plan for assessment,or it is not appropriate to the lesson objectives (e.g. the lesson has ambitious learning goals, but the assessment of learning is very simple)
C

Your lesson plan has two of the flaws described for a B grade.
D Your lesson plan has three of the flaws described for a B grade.
E Your lesson plan has four of the flaws described for a B grade.
F

No lesson plan is submitted, or it is not your own original work.