Assignment #3: Technology Intergration

At first, the lesson plan consisted of the students reading "Princess: Uncovering the Truth Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia" by Jean P. Sasson. In which the students would be assigned to research the history of Saudi Arabia especially the place and treatment of women. Compare and contrast the novel and history of Saudi Arabia with the history of women in America. The second compare and contrast with that of the history of American women is an extra credit optional addition. The finished project would be handed in as a research paper.

Technology Integration - Lesson Plan

Technology changes made to the lesson:

1. Incorporate our class blog into the overall project objective as a means of notating research completed on due dates as well as to be used as an informational sharing source for students.
2. Through SKYPE or SMARTBoard, through a formal interviewing process, interview author Jean P. Sasson.

Technology added/needed (in italics):

1. Class blog(blogger.com): individually students add information on the blog. In class sessions are direct teachings in which I show the students what I am looking for through examples directly to class blog via computer through interactive imaging shown through a projector onto a screen (remote control). In this setting, students can as questions ahead of time before adding personal information and research.
2. SKYPE: After setting up interview will need: computer with SKYPE capability, speakers, and a mic.
3. SMARTBoard: The best interview would be the capability to see Jean P. Sasson as we communicate via SMARTBoard. If possible we would need: computer to connect to the SMARTBoard, extension chord(s), speakers, and SMARTBoard pens and eraser.

Changing the lesson plan by adding technology enhances the learning environment in the sense that the students get personally involved on an entirely different level – an interactive level. I believe the lesson was already learner-centered but adding a knew dimension makes it more interactive and students learn more when they are applying hands on informational learning.

Possible challenges to adding this technology is always going to be little glitches such as: power outage, internet down, and every technical issue one can think of and even some surprises. Good ways to overcome these adversities would be to simply be prepared. Prepared with: handouts containing specific information otherwise gone over in class session, instead of direct teaching – group interaction open forum style, rescheduling interview (or having alternative dates in place before interview in case of emergency or unforeseen dilemma), or back to the research paper without technology.