Introduction
Hello and welcome! My name is Jennifer Smith. At this time, I am nearing the halfway point of working towards my master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in English. I currently reside and work in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. I am in my nineteenth year of teaching. I taught for thirteen years in Houston, Texas before moving back to Oklahoma in 2020. I have been a special education teacher for eighteen of my nineteen years. I have taught 5th through 8th grade language arts. As I head into the final decade of my teaching career, I plan to transition to teaching general education in high school. While I have a deep love of special education, I am ready for a new challenge.
ISTE Standards Review
Knowledge Constructor indicator 1.3.b asks students to evaluate the accuracy, validity, bias, origin, and relevance of digital content (ISTE, 2024). In an 11th grade ELA classroom, students could apply this skill while addressing Oklahoma Academic Standard 11.3.W.3 by completing a media credibility case study. They could compare how three different digital media platforms cover the same current event and then write an argumentative review of which coverage is most trustworthy and why. Students would select a current topic and gather three to five digital pieces about it. They would then gather information about author, publication, intended audience, evidence quality, and language choices that suggest bias. Next, students could verify central claims and track where the media platforms agree, where they disagree, and what each omits. Finally, students could write a review style argument that presents a clear claim and thesis that acknowledges counterarguments. Digital tools students might use include Google Docs for collaborative annotation and drafting, a shared spreadsheet or form for organizing credibility criteria, and a simple publishing format such as Google Sites, Canva, or Slides to present their findings in a reader friendly way (ISTE, 2024; OSDE, 2021).
Kolb’s Triple E Framework
Kolb explains that effective technology integration begins with strong instructional strategies rather than “fancy tools,” and the Triple E Framework was created to help teachers align instructional moves, learning goals, and purposeful tool selection so technology has a positive impact on learning outcomes (Kolb, 2011). That idea fits the media credibility case study because the learning target is argumentative writing and evidence evaluation, and the tech tools are simply the vehicle that makes students’ thinking visible and easier to manage. The lesson strengthens engagement when students are actively comparing claims and debating credibility criteria, especially when paired with guided practice, modeling, teacher monitoring, and purposeful partnering, which Kolb lists as strategies that support engagement (Kolb, 2011). It enhances learning by helping students organize complex information in a way that improves the quality of their arguments. Finally, it extends learning beyond the classroom because students practice a real-world skill they will use every day, evaluating news and online claims, and they can share their reviews through a class publication space or present findings to an audience, aligning with Kolb’s emphasis on real world issues and authentic discourse as extension strategies (Kolb, 2011).
Hi Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post and the way you connected the ISTE Knowledge Constructor standard to an authentic ELA task. The media credibility case study is a strong, real-world application that aligns well with Oklahoma’s writing standards while building essential critical thinking skills. I also appreciated how clearly you tied the lesson to Kolb’s Triple E Framework. Your focus on instructional purpose over tools really stood out. This feels like a meaningful and practical approach for helping students become more thoughtful consumers of digital media.
Hi Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog post. I can tell you have a passion for education, and I applaud you for teaching special education English for the majority of your career. It is clear you have an understanding of the Oklahoma standards. I appreciated your idea for the lesson to compare different digital media platforms covering the same event. This would be eye-opening for students as they begin to recognize bias and must use critical thinking skills. You related these skills nicely back to Kolb's Triple E Framework. Thank you again!
Hi Jennifer! I absolutely love your assignment idea! Not only will students be learning about a current event, but they will also be learning about credibility. Some students (and even some adults) have a tendency to believe everything they read and see on the internet, social media, etc. This assignment will teach students how to evaluate the source and look for that credibility. This is an important skill every student should be fluent in before graduating high school. Great job!
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