Final Reflection for EDUC6713

Step 1: Reflect on the GAME plan you developed and followed throughout the course.
In reflecting on the GAME plan that I established over the past several weeks, I am reminded that the plan is an example of being a self-directed learner. Teachers Plan, Monitor, and Evaluate their students regularly (Laureate, 2010) however, the goal of this GAME plan and the NETS-T is a reflection of me, the educator. My intention was to increase my skills as an educator 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). It is, has, and always will be my intention to “customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources” (NETS, 2008).

While reflecting I also realize that I work to maximize content learning by incorporating technology regularly and to engage in professional growth experiences. 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). Through continued attendance of workshops and conferences I will increase my understanding of new technology as well as new ways to use what’s out there. Not only will I be increasing the opportunities to include technology in my instruction by formal education, I continually seek skilled professionals to advance personal technology 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).

Step 2: Summarize any new learning that resulted from your following your GAME plan and explain what impact your new learning will have on your instructional practice.
I recently attended the MACUL conference in Detroit. I attended several seminars including; “Googles tools for search, research, and collaboration”. While Honing my skills with a free and often used search engine like Google I will be better prepared in my own instructional development. We worked with maps across the curriculum, collaborating using docs and sites, and learning time saving methods with advances search. Another topic of interest involved 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 were several workshops offering suggestions of additional applications for Netbook use that can be initiated more regularly by a proficient classroom teacher. 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. 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. I most enjoyed our experience with Digial Storytelling. I found out that our junior high school has an animation lab and during a recent in-service opportunity was able to “play” with the tools available. I have created an example of the outcome expected for an upcoming project where students will create an animation on GoAnimate about animal habitats. Because of this course I have decided to incorporate this learning technology and new tool.

Step 3: Describe any immediate adjustments you will make to your instructional practice regarding technology integration in your content area(s) as a result of your learning from this course.
The immediate adjustments are included in the response above. By incorporating the tools developed and studied during this course I will enhance the students learning opportunities. I find that I may have difficulty incorporating social networking, as this practice is frowned on by the district and most instances are blocked. I have developed a classroom blog that offers opportunities to collaborate and share projects and comments. That is because of previous classes but this course has reiterated the importance of this practice. I also will continue to use the computer lab and the four classroom computers to do research studies on topics of interest. A new program that has become available in our district is called Solo 6. This allows students with limited capability to have text read to them as well as other valuable features. I intend on learning more about it and using it regularly for my third grade students advancement.


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.

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

Week 7 - Thoughts on NETS-T and NETS-S

So many of today’s learning activities are enhanced by finding ways to incorporate authentic learning experiences. When comparing both the NET-S and the NETS-T, whether student driven or teacher driven, both are modeled upon a desire to incorporate technology into the everyday learning environment. Technology is the future and while teachers need to stay current, finding new ways to use technology, student must be just as steadfast in their use of technology. As students face a global economic environment allowing more distant competition in the work place, students in every community need to be active learners, proficient in today’s technology. Incorporating technology does not have to be difficult. It can be as simple as using the internet to do research or participating in a teleconference (often offered for free through the local ISD). When a teacher creates a lesson unit this can be one part of the overall plan incorporated into an individual lesson or several.

While the students demonstrate creativity, communicate and collaborate, and conduct research and use information, the teacher can just as easily incorporate technology as a means of improving proficiency with technology as with books, paper and pencil. The NETS_T suggests that “teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes” (ISTE, 2011). In the age of technology, it behooves a teacher to become a 21st century educator and promote learning using contemporary tools. As technology continues to advance, the educator who learns to use the tools and teaches through contemporary means will better prepare students for the challenges that the modern workplace present.

Resources:
ISTE, 2011, retrieved from: http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers.aspx

Week 6 Revising GAME Plan

What have I learned so far that I can apply to my instructional practice?
This question prompted me to review the NETS standards and to evaluate the technology use of my students in classroom activities. While my GAME plan was to design digital age learning experiences and to engage in professional growth, I still think it is important to review the other three standards that my GAME plan does not address. So far I have learned to value the importance of creating lessons that facilitate and inspire student learning. By adapting my instruction to include digital media as much as possible, I am allowing students the opportunity to become critical thinkers who engage in real world authentic learning. I have learned of new resources for myself to better design relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources. The learning resources have offered several suggestions as well as the links posted in the next step of each weeks learning resources.

Goals that I still work towards, include, but are not limited to customizing and personalizing learning activities to address student diversity using digital tools and resources. My goal is to find opportunities to create small group teams who can access the four computers I have in my classroom and use them in meaningful ways. By rotating these groups and offering guidance while monitoring the activities of the remaining students, I hope to increase the time spent using technology for further research study and artifact creation. While I do feel that I provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments that are aligned with content and technology standards, I could seek peer guidance in reviewing the resulting data to determine additional learning and teaching needs. Often, more experienced instructors have tried and true methods that have worked for unique situations that I have not yet encountered.

Based on the NETS the new learning goal I will set for myself is to model digital age work and learning. I wish to better exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. I will collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation. While I have created a class blog, I have become lax in the maintenance of it. I also intend on using our schools instant alert system as a means of contacting parents of up coming classroom events and information. I also intend on using Moodle to support classroom instruction in the future, as this is available to each of us in the school system, but minimally used. This will also extend what I have learned so far. By seeking new and innovative ways to use technology and utilizing tried and true methods, my students will continue to be challenged and supported.

As far as seeking new learning approaches, I will continue to maintain my values as a life long learner myself. Through self reflection, monitoring student progress, and maintaining contact and support of parents as well as peers, I see the future as an opportunity for my own personal growth as well as my students. The difficulty is in keeping up with the newest technology and applications. By seeking guidance from skilled support and offering my support to others, I will create a global center for learning in our community. Where teachers are not afraid to try new and innovative techniques but seek them out.