While the last week has offered opportunities to evaluate and modify lessons in an effort to increase technology use in the classroom, I find it difficult to write about it on a weekly basis. This week is overloaded with activities that make it hard to think critically about the course presentations while keeping track of student progress in preparation for parent teacher conferences coming up after spring break. On a personal level, I am also dealing with a daughter graduating, keeping up with college writing assignments, and personal family issues. All which are a part of life in modern society. The resources this last week were aimed at improving adaptation methods for technology integration as well as assessment strategies.
The questions posed this week include the evaluation of the effectiveness of my actions in meeting my GAME plan goals. As stated above, I feel overwhelmed with stimuli. However, it was beneficial to observe the resources this week presented. It is extremely valuable to infuse technology into the learning and teaching environment today. With problem based instruction, the problem becomes “the anchor for the content” (Laureate, 2010). In an effort to increase technology use, I am inspired to attempt to include this method of instruction over the coming months.
In response to the second question, what have I learned to apply in instructional practice, I would respond to the afore mentioned attempt at inclusion of problem based learning. I will address the content strand on science curriculum with a lesson on animal habitats. I will guide students in a dialogue about different species of animals, groups will work together to research that animal, and a digital story will be created to share their learning with the remaining class.
What do I still have to learn? I am and always will be a “life long learner”. By continuing my education a Walden and beyond, I will seek new and inventive ways to include technology in my instruction. The biggest challenge is in the cost of such devices and services. With budget cuts that never seem to cease, the future seems bleak.
Finally, when contemplating adjusting my GAME plan, I consider adjustment to instruction. I never attempt to tackle a task as an expert. I always seek peer guidance, suggestions, and support. My adjustment of my GAME plan will continue to be a work in progress, making the necessary changes to monitor and evaluate my own decision making progress through the observation of student outcomes.
Resources:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Spotlight on Technology: Problem-Based Learning, Part 1 [Webcast]. Integrating technology across the content area. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Week 4 GAME plan progress
As we explore the strategies to integrate technology into our classroom we continually develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate the GAME plan developed during our first weeks of this class. The two indicators of the NETS-T I chose to reflect on include the; “design, develop, and evaluation of authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes” (National Education Standards for Teachers, 2008). The other is to; “engage in Professional Growth and Leadership” (NETS, 2008). While learning about technology and technology resources in an effort to advance my personal growth towards meeting these goals questions arise.
First, Am I finding the resources and information needed to advance my own GAME plan?
While I continue to use the technology available on a daily basis, I believe I am advancing my GAME plan progress. The sites and software introduced during the conference will be integrated into future lessons. I have asked that the facts4me site whose subscription was expiring, to be continued. I will seek opportunities to incorporate GoAnimate, a free website with digital storytelling applications. While the internet offers unlimited opportunities and a plethora of resources, peers offer the best advice for additional use and added resources.
I have not seen a need to modify the action plan I have laid out yet. Having only been contemplated over the last couple of weeks and with the advantage of attending a major technology conference just last week; I feel that I am on track to achieving my goals.
What have I learned so far? So far, I realize that the most important part of creating a GAME plan is the research behind it. I need to remain active in my own educational process and continue to develop, research, and support new innovations and ideas. An educator must be as open to growth as the students to be an effective teacher. Becoming complacent is probably the biggest threat to education today. As Dr. Ross stated; “Technology offers opportunities to draw students in” (Laureate, 2010), however, the understanding, engagement, and support of new technology is infectious to me as well. I want to have, use, and understand the new applications as well as desiring to incorporate them into lessons.
The only new questions I have pertain to the new and free resources available. Attending the conference was as much a chance to share free sites with peers as it was an introduction to new technology. The financial situation of school districts impressed upon me the need to seek, not just new sites, but free sites. Cautiously though. I still must protect the students from advertising that often accompanies many good sites.
Resources:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010) Assessing Student Learning with Technology [Webcast]. Supporting information literacy and online learning in the classroom. Baltimore, MD: Author.
National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx
First, Am I finding the resources and information needed to advance my own GAME plan?
While I continue to use the technology available on a daily basis, I believe I am advancing my GAME plan progress. The sites and software introduced during the conference will be integrated into future lessons. I have asked that the facts4me site whose subscription was expiring, to be continued. I will seek opportunities to incorporate GoAnimate, a free website with digital storytelling applications. While the internet offers unlimited opportunities and a plethora of resources, peers offer the best advice for additional use and added resources.
I have not seen a need to modify the action plan I have laid out yet. Having only been contemplated over the last couple of weeks and with the advantage of attending a major technology conference just last week; I feel that I am on track to achieving my goals.
What have I learned so far? So far, I realize that the most important part of creating a GAME plan is the research behind it. I need to remain active in my own educational process and continue to develop, research, and support new innovations and ideas. An educator must be as open to growth as the students to be an effective teacher. Becoming complacent is probably the biggest threat to education today. As Dr. Ross stated; “Technology offers opportunities to draw students in” (Laureate, 2010), however, the understanding, engagement, and support of new technology is infectious to me as well. I want to have, use, and understand the new applications as well as desiring to incorporate them into lessons.
The only new questions I have pertain to the new and free resources available. Attending the conference was as much a chance to share free sites with peers as it was an introduction to new technology. The financial situation of school districts impressed upon me the need to seek, not just new sites, but free sites. Cautiously though. I still must protect the students from advertising that often accompanies many good sites.
Resources:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010) Assessing Student Learning with Technology [Webcast]. Supporting information literacy and online learning in the classroom. Baltimore, MD: Author.
National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Week 3 Resources
This week we are asked to share the resources we will acquire in our quest to develop our GAME plan. While I hope to maximize content learning by incorporating technology regularly and to engage in professional growth experiences, I would synthesis my response as: What resources won’t I use. Every day as a technology user, I am increasing my understanding of technology. It then becomes paramount to share those experiences with my students in creative, educational, real world, ways. Meeting the needs of diverse learners then means using the technology that I best understand to customize the instruction presented to them. (Laureate, 2010). By continuing my education at Walden and working with the newest programs created, I will seek out creative ways to use them. I am not the first to try to use new software in creative ways. By researching other educators’ examples and experiences, I can see what worked, what didn’t, and what fits my current educational situation.
I also intend on continuing to attend workshops and conferences that increase my understanding of new technology as well as new ways to use what’s out there. For example, tomorrow I will be attending the MACUL conference as mentioned last week and one workshop I will attend is called “Googles tools for search, research, and collaboration”. Honing these skills with a free and often used search engine like Google will better prepare me for my own instructional strategies. We will be working with maps across the curriculum, collaborating using docs and sites, and learning time saving methods with advances search. Another topic of interest involves the use of Netbooks. I was made aware of the fact that our school will be attaining these for next years use in compliance with a state mandate to assess skills digitally. While assessing happens occasionally, there are several workshops offering suggestions of additional applications for Netbook use that can be initiated more regularly by a proficient classroom teacher.
Not only will I be increasing the opportunities to include technology in my instruction by formal education, I will continue to seek skilled professionals to advance understanding. This also offers opportunities for teachable moments as I model for my students. The intent is to follow a learner-centered strategy. This will enable me to best consider and then meet the needs of diverse learners. Through authentic instruction, I will be able to create a learner-centered classroom where the diverse interests, talents, knowledge, background, and skills are part of the daily lesson plan model (Cennamo, Ross, Ertmer, pg. 167, 2009).
Resources:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use: A Standards-Based Approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Meeting Students’ Needs with Technology, Part 2 [Webcast]. Integrating technology across the content area. Baltimore, MD: Author.
I also intend on continuing to attend workshops and conferences that increase my understanding of new technology as well as new ways to use what’s out there. For example, tomorrow I will be attending the MACUL conference as mentioned last week and one workshop I will attend is called “Googles tools for search, research, and collaboration”. Honing these skills with a free and often used search engine like Google will better prepare me for my own instructional strategies. We will be working with maps across the curriculum, collaborating using docs and sites, and learning time saving methods with advances search. Another topic of interest involves the use of Netbooks. I was made aware of the fact that our school will be attaining these for next years use in compliance with a state mandate to assess skills digitally. While assessing happens occasionally, there are several workshops offering suggestions of additional applications for Netbook use that can be initiated more regularly by a proficient classroom teacher.
Not only will I be increasing the opportunities to include technology in my instruction by formal education, I will continue to seek skilled professionals to advance understanding. This also offers opportunities for teachable moments as I model for my students. The intent is to follow a learner-centered strategy. This will enable me to best consider and then meet the needs of diverse learners. Through authentic instruction, I will be able to create a learner-centered classroom where the diverse interests, talents, knowledge, background, and skills are part of the daily lesson plan model (Cennamo, Ross, Ertmer, pg. 167, 2009).
Resources:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use: A Standards-Based Approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Meeting Students’ Needs with Technology, Part 2 [Webcast]. Integrating technology across the content area. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
EDUC 6713 - MY GAME PLAN
My GAME plan – Dr. Senemo introduced us to the GAME plan in the learning resources video last week. The plan is an example of being a self-directed learner, a skill that most teachers I know already adhere to. Teachers Plan, Monitor, and Evaluate their students regularly (Laureate, 2010) however, the GAME plan and the NETS-T reflect on the educator himself in this example. When reading the NETS-T indicators I was drawn to the design and development of digital-age learning experiences and assessments.
It is here where “Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes” (National Education Standards for Teachers, 2008). My intention is to “customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources” (NETS, 2008). During the past year I have acquired a CPS system to assess its value to elementary education in our school district. In our building only I and one second grade teacher were issued these new systems. The introduction of technology has enhanced my students learning greatly although it did mean spending several hours over the summer “rewriting” assessments into the system. With this system I am able to provide instant feedback and address students’ diverse learning styles and differentiate instruction as well as monitoring progress with the data acquired. To continue to strive to design and develop new, technology rich experiences will be my goal hereon. My goal will be to strengthen my understanding of the software and technology through further education and trial and error. I will be able to monitor my progress by monitoring the progress of my students. To evaluate my progress, I will use my knowledge and experience to further the efforts of attaining more systems for our building and in the training of my peers to come.
The other NETS-T indicator I wish to address is my efforts to “Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership” (NETS, 2008). It follows where “Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools” (NETS, 2008). I will make it my goal to “participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning” (NETS, 2008). My actions will be to attend conferences and share my learning with my peers in regards to technology use in the classroom to advance student achievement. For instance, next week I will be attending the MACUL conference in Detroit, Michigan. Not only will I attend workshops on technology use but I was asked by Edutek to “work” at their booth to share my classroom experiences with the CPS systems our school has attained. How will I monitor my progress? In the first four years of my teaching assignment I have attended this conference twice as well as others. I have created a classroom blog and encourage my students technology use daily. My evaluation of my progress will be measured through the success of my students.
Resources:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010) Promoting Self-Directed Learning with Technology [Webcast]. Supporting information literacy and online learning in the classroom. Baltimore, MD: Author.
National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx
It is here where “Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes” (National Education Standards for Teachers, 2008). My intention is to “customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources” (NETS, 2008). During the past year I have acquired a CPS system to assess its value to elementary education in our school district. In our building only I and one second grade teacher were issued these new systems. The introduction of technology has enhanced my students learning greatly although it did mean spending several hours over the summer “rewriting” assessments into the system. With this system I am able to provide instant feedback and address students’ diverse learning styles and differentiate instruction as well as monitoring progress with the data acquired. To continue to strive to design and develop new, technology rich experiences will be my goal hereon. My goal will be to strengthen my understanding of the software and technology through further education and trial and error. I will be able to monitor my progress by monitoring the progress of my students. To evaluate my progress, I will use my knowledge and experience to further the efforts of attaining more systems for our building and in the training of my peers to come.
The other NETS-T indicator I wish to address is my efforts to “Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership” (NETS, 2008). It follows where “Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools” (NETS, 2008). I will make it my goal to “participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning” (NETS, 2008). My actions will be to attend conferences and share my learning with my peers in regards to technology use in the classroom to advance student achievement. For instance, next week I will be attending the MACUL conference in Detroit, Michigan. Not only will I attend workshops on technology use but I was asked by Edutek to “work” at their booth to share my classroom experiences with the CPS systems our school has attained. How will I monitor my progress? In the first four years of my teaching assignment I have attended this conference twice as well as others. I have created a classroom blog and encourage my students technology use daily. My evaluation of my progress will be measured through the success of my students.
Resources:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010) Promoting Self-Directed Learning with Technology [Webcast]. Supporting information literacy and online learning in the classroom. Baltimore, MD: Author.
National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx
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