Many Web 2.0 tools can be helpful in incorporating the 4Cs, in order to support diverse learning needs. Our students come from varying backgrounds, which means that to activate prior knowledge and provide multiple means of engagement and representation, we need to provide varying ways for students to analyze, interpret, evaluate and solve problems, as well as observe and share information (CAST, 2018).
Web 2.0 tools such as Powtoons, FlipGrid, and Seesaw can be used by students to show and share what they know. Instead of creating a presentation on paper or even PowerPoint, these tools allow for individual or group representation, in a way that allows students to use what they already know and love about technology. Each of these tools can be interactive between teachers, students, and parents, and are all tools that I look forward to incorporating within my art classroom.
Another tool that I feel meets students' needs, is highly engaging, and provides for the 4Cs is OneNote. Being somewhat familiar with OneDrive and digital journals in OneNote, I'm excited to use this tool with my 5th grade students, in conjunction with their STEM learning. Within OneNote, students can access shared content, submit assignments, and view files pertinent to the standards being addressed. Students can interact with each other and myself, and parents can view what the learning expectations are as well. Communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity are evident as part of the universal design process using these applications. I expect my students to be more engaged prior to, during, and in reflection of their learning through use of these Web 2.0 tools. My role will become more of a facilitator of learning, rather than a giver of information.
In this way, I agree with the general idea presented in the video, that the culture of the classroom is vital to the implementation of technology, with the expectation that students will be able to design and manage their own learning, as well as find and interpret the knowledge that they need to be able to do so (The Brainwaves Antology, 2014). With so many digital tools available, I am excited about the opportunity to learn more about which tools will best support my art classroom and my students as 21st century learners.
CAST. (2018). The UDL Guidelines. Retrieved from
http://udlguidelines.cast.org/?utm_medium=web%20HYPERLINK
Norris, S. (2014, April 14). Using the 4Cs to grow 21st century learners [Video
file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yerxm-BUwnI
[The Brainwaves Anthology]. (2014, May 5). Alan November-Who owns the learning?
Preparing students for success in the digital age [Video file]. Retrieved
from https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=NOAIxIBeT90.