Technology Integration at ACDS: Using Haiku to Enrich Learning

At ACDS, the faculty has spent time discussing and exploring best practices in technology integration, and more specifically, how we can use technology to meet our school-wide goal of challenging all students. Earlier this week, our Middle School Spanish teacher, Mrs. Hernandez Basta, created and delivered a technology-laden lesson that is an excellent example of how technology can be thoughtfully and effectively employed to best meet the needs of a diverse learning population.  Outlined below are the key components of the lesson and brief explanations of how the use of technology enriched the lesson.

The period was designed to provide students with an opportunity to review and practice the concept of direct objects which was taught earlier in the week. When the students entered the class, they used their iPads to log into Haiku our learning management system, and then Mrs. Hernandez Basta gave them a brief introduction to the lesson. For the remainder of the period, the students worked in pairs and small groups to successfully complete the activities found on the Haiku course page Mrs. Hernandez Basta had created. 

As you can see from the photos, the students worked through several games, practice quizzes, and videos that Mrs. Hernandez Basta vetted, selected, and embedded on her Haiku course page. Research shows that giving students choice and appropriate control over their learning path significantly increases engagement and success in a class. In this lesson, the students designed their own journey through direct objects. 

 

In the photos you can also see that the students were able to take practice quizzes and play games. All of these activities provided the students with instant feedback. In the past, students would complete a worksheet that might not be graded and returned for several days. Haiku and other websites allow teachers to create quizzes, tests, and activities that give students immediate feedback which improves and expedites the learning process.

 Also on the page were two YouTube videos that were created by other Spanish teachers. These videos allowed students who needed more time to learn about direct objects the opportunity to do so while other students moved onto practice quizzes and games.  In short, all students were being appropriately challenged and could move at their own pace.

Finally, it should be noted that while the students worked in pairs and small groups, Mrs. Hernandez Basta met with students individually to assess their level of mastery related to direct objects. 

This lesson is just one example of the many thoughtful technology integration projects employed at ACDS. Next time you are on Haiku, look for other ways that teachers are using technology to meet the needs of our students.