This document summarizes a lesson on habitats that integrated the technology Kidspiration. The learning objective was for students to demonstrate their understanding of four habitats - desert, wetland, forest, and farm. Students used Kidspiration to complete a habitat template by adding pictures of animals and plants to each habitat. While students were engaged and enjoyed the lesson, some encountered issues with the unfamiliar program. The use of technology supported the learning objective and allowed students to efficiently represent animals without having to draw them.

1. By RaeLene Hamblin

2. Learning Objectives and State Core Tie
 The learning objective for my  Standard 3
technology integrated lesson, Students will develop an
was that students would understanding of their
demonstrate their environment.
understanding of four  Objective 1
habitats. These habitats are Investigate relationships
desert, wetland, forest, and between plants and animals
farm. and how living things change
 This lesson was taught at the during their lives.
beginning of a unit on  Indicator b
habitats and was used to Describe the life cycle of local
assess the students’ current plants and animals using
knowledge on habitats. diagrams and pictures.

3. The Technology Experience
 This was the first time
students used Kidspiration
so I had to teach the
students how to use the
program after I gave
instruction about habitats .
I used one of the school’s
projectors and the
teacher‘s computer in the
computer lab to show
students how to use the
program.

4. The Technology Experience
 Students used the
technology, Kidspiration,
to complete a habitat
template. This template
had four habitats; desert,
wetland, forest, and farm.
Students were required to
place at least two pictures
of animals at each habitat.  When the class was finished
If students completed this with their templates,
they were asked to add students made sure they had
pictures of plants to each entered their names and
place as well. printed off their worksheets.

5. What Went Well?
 The students were
engaged and excited
about the lesson.
 The management of
students went well.
 The students really
enjoyed this lesson.

A picture of me using the technique “If
you can hear me put your finger on your
nose” to get the students’ attention.

6. What could be improved?
 Students were unfamiliar
with the program.
 Students encountered
issues using the program
that I had not
anticipated.
 Instructions given were
unclear.

7. The Principles of Effective
Technology Integration
 Student Use of  Technology Use is
Technology: Essential:
 Students were actively  The use of technology
involved in using this in this lesson was not
technology. the only way to assess a
student’s understanding
of the specified
habitats.

8. The Principles of Effective
Technology Integration
 Focus on Learning Task:  Added Value:
 Although time was  This use of technology
spent teaching student’s added great value by
how to use the giving students the tools
technology, the to use animals that they
technology focused on did not know how to
accomplishing the spell.
learning task.  Student’s did not spend
 The activity, tied time drawing the
directly to the learning animals.
objective.