Self-Evaluation of Triple E Framework

Prior to taking this course, I had not heard of any of these technology frameworks like SAMR or TPACK. I plan on showing these to my principal and technology coach at my school as these are important tools that teachers should use to evaluate if their use of technology is effective. Some teachers may feel that as long as they are using some sort of technology in the classroom, then they are good, but they really need to investigate if that particular tool is actually helping the students.

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I investigated the Triple E Framebook this week which focuses on learning goals by evaluating a lesson using the 3 E's (Engage, Enhance, and Extend). Engagement relates to how actively connected  the students are to the material presented via the technology. Enhancement is evaluating if the technology is augmenting the learning by allowing the students to show their understanding in a unique approach that could not have happened without the technology component. Lastly, Extension is how well does the technology in the lesson allow the students to practice and learn skills that they can utilize in their everyday life. There is a Triple E rubric that teachers can use to see if their lesson achieves these learning goals.

Based on this framework, I fall into the Engagement component. I have used and created assignments involving technology, such as WebQuests, that I feel have engaged the students to the material. I have used WebQuests for various lessons where the students would have to explore several sites about a topic and answer questions. Sometimes they would have to watch a video clip as well. These assignments seem to engage the class more than me presenting the information through direct instruction. I have also recorded myself giving a presentation that I have had my students listen to as opposed to me lecturing live to the students. Although I have found these strategies to be engaging for the students since they appear to be more focused, I still have to work on engagement and evaluate myself on other lessons using this framework's rubric.

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In terms of the other two E's: Enhance and Extend, I need to incorporate these more into my lessons using technology. Overall, I need to provide more opportunities for students to create and extend their learning as opposed me feeding them numerous amounts of information. The Triple E website shared a case study of an example 5th-grade lesson about elapsed time that incorporated all the E's. The lesson involved the Iditarod dog sled race where students had to use real data to make predictions, visualize, and analyze information. This lesson really provided an excellent opportunity for students to learn in a way that they could not have without the technology. With practice and by using the learning goals of this framework, I can work on moving my lessons into the Enhance and Extend categories.

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I would enjoy hearing anyone's lesson ideas that meet these learning goals, especially if anyone has great technology ideas for science (earth science) and social studies (ancient history)!