This document summarizes a lesson introducing students to the book "Life in the Desert" by Melvin Berger. The teacher used a PowerPoint presentation over 4 sessions to visually explain concepts about desert life and make text-to-self connections. Students were able to access the presentation during lessons and review slides independently. The teacher felt technology enhanced the lesson by allowing visual explanation of ideas and engagement of multiple learning styles.

1. Technology Enhanced
Lesson
Andie Hansen

2. Point of the lesson:
Introducing my students to the new book, Life in the
Desert by Melvin Berger.
Standard 7 Objective 2.a Relate prior knowledge to
make connections to text, specifically text to self
connections.

3. How it was taught:
This guided reading unit lasted 4 sessions in all and I
tried to incorporate PowerPoint presentations into
each session. The first session introduced the book
and concepts about desert life and connections to
students.

4. The Technology
The technology I used to enhance my guided reading
lesson was a PowerPoint presentation. Each slide
introduced concepts and terms about the desert and
connections that students may be unfamiliar with. I
brought in my laptop and placed it in front of the
students so that they could all see and access the
presentation.

5. My role as teacher and
facilitator of learning:
During the lesson I was able to pace the lessons
progression by using the presentation. As we
progressed I would move onto the next slide and
then introduce the next concept or term.

6. The students’ role:
During the lesson students were able to access the
presentation and I let them go back to previous
slides if they wanted to review what we had talked
about during their independent reading. Students
were responsible for paying attention during the
lesson and treating the technology with respect. In
this way students learned how to use technology and
how to do so appropriately while learning about life in
the desert.

7. Effectiveness
I feel like the incorporation of technology into this
lesson was very effective. Rather than just verbally
explain to my students the new ideas and concepts, I
was able to visually explain these to them. Visual
and kinesthetic learners were benefited as well as
audio learners who still listened to my explanations
of concepts.

8. Principles of Effective
Technology Integration
1. Student use of 2. Technology use is
technology. essential.
Every student has access The technology used was
to the presentation. They the means by which
could choose to go back to concepts were introduced
slides to review what we and covered.
covered.

9. Principles of Effective
Technology Integration
3. Focus on learning task 4. Added value
Students did not have to Through the use of the
focus on learning how to technology, students were
use PowerPoint. They able to learn and
instead were able to understand novel concepts
access and use the and ideas. They could see
technology to enhance their what certain terms and
learning about desert and phrases meant in their
making textual reading. They were all so
connections. excited to see and use a
laptop.

10. Improvements: Things that went well:
My assessment of student Students respected
understanding could be technology and seemed
improved. Maybe really excited to use the
technology should be technology.
integrated into their
All students could watch
assessment?
and access the
Include more concepts and presentation since it was
terms. Students reacted such as small group of
well and remembered what students one laptop was
we discussed from the adequate.
presentation.

12. Life in the Desert
Introduction
Prewiew
Picture walk

13. Nocturnal
Nocturnal means of the night.
Nocturnal animals are alert during the night and
sleep during the day. Some nocturnal animals are
owls, bats, and even the Kit Fox.