During the summer months, when I do not currently have a class, it is difficult to evaluate progress. However, I am working towards new ideas and ways to incorporate technology into my classroom for the fall, which is right around the corner.
So far, I have been looking for resources that I will use in my class to help students solve real world problems and meet the needs of diverse learners. This week I have really focused in on project based learning, I like the idea of using this to meet my goals. I think that using this type of lesson in my classes will help my students to solve real problem related to the social studies field, such as where should I go on vacation someday? Which countries a developed and not developed, and why is this? These types of problems are real problems that the government and others face each day, creating an environment that supports this type of critical thinking is important and incorporating technology will unlock that knowledge, as decribed by Dr. Etmer (Cannamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009).
Some of the issues that I am still working out, is how will I get the time to use these technology tools in the classroom, how will I gain access to the computers, how will I gain the knowledge necessary to faciliate these types of projects and technology? I also have some new questions like, how will I manage my classroom during PBL, how will I meet the needs of students that can't handle the noise and aren't driven to be self sufficient learners?
I will continue to seek out the experts, my fellows teachers, blogs, and our handy text for this class to complete my GAME plan.
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.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
GAME plan- Progress
As I have been working on my GAME plan and coming across more resources and information to help reach my goals, I have progressed quite a bit!
My first goal is the one that I have really been working on, that is finding tools that will help students to solve problems, specifically these tools are going to be focused more for my social studies class. I have been reading a lot of different teachers perspectives on digital tools and ideas. One idea that I really like and may try next year is using Ning, this is a digital classroom community where students are able to interact and share information about a certain subject matter. I think this could be easily incorporated into my social studies class and allow for some good collaboration with students from around the globe. I also like the idea of epals, as mentioned in the text. I think epals would be a great tool to for students to communicate and collaborate using the internet. I already have my students write to another class in California, but using epals will be much more engaging allow for them to really solve real problems and discuss situations with their new found friends from around the world.
For my other goal, I am looking into more ways to get to know my students, I am going to put a binder together with games and tests we can do, even using the internet and know more about each other. I am in the process of searching for a good online multiple intellilgence test. I think this would be a great way for students to take the test and really learn about themselves as learners. I am also looking into to more true colors test, from my quality school training and finding out about students that way as well. It is very important for me to learn more about my students and be able to find resources to meet their various needs.
Any suggestions on resources for online tests or more information on digital tools would be greatly appreciated :)
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.
My first goal is the one that I have really been working on, that is finding tools that will help students to solve problems, specifically these tools are going to be focused more for my social studies class. I have been reading a lot of different teachers perspectives on digital tools and ideas. One idea that I really like and may try next year is using Ning, this is a digital classroom community where students are able to interact and share information about a certain subject matter. I think this could be easily incorporated into my social studies class and allow for some good collaboration with students from around the globe. I also like the idea of epals, as mentioned in the text. I think epals would be a great tool to for students to communicate and collaborate using the internet. I already have my students write to another class in California, but using epals will be much more engaging allow for them to really solve real problems and discuss situations with their new found friends from around the world.
For my other goal, I am looking into more ways to get to know my students, I am going to put a binder together with games and tests we can do, even using the internet and know more about each other. I am in the process of searching for a good online multiple intellilgence test. I think this would be a great way for students to take the test and really learn about themselves as learners. I am also looking into to more true colors test, from my quality school training and finding out about students that way as well. It is very important for me to learn more about my students and be able to find resources to meet their various needs.
Any suggestions on resources for online tests or more information on digital tools would be greatly appreciated :)
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.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Carrying out My plan
Ever since I developed my GAME plan I have been looking for resources and searching information about my goals.
For my first goal, looking for technology tools to help students solve problems, I am currently reading Universal Design for Learning in Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use, this has been a wonderful resource for me to understand how to individualize instruction and use technology to help students solve problems. "Central to these strategies is the use of digital media to provide students with flexibility as they meet the demands of learning goals". (Cennamo, et al., 2009, p.123) Communication tolls and multimedia tools are definetly going to be incorporated into my classroom more next year to meet their needs.
My next goal was associated with learning my students and understand their needs, since I don't have a class right now I am planning on ways to get to know my students next year. One way is to learn about Howard Gardner's idea of multiple intelligence, on p.124 which explains the difference of students ways of learning and how those needs can be met with technology also found in chapter 5 of the course text. I feel that really learning about these tools and strategies will help me to reach both of my goals.
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.
For my first goal, looking for technology tools to help students solve problems, I am currently reading Universal Design for Learning in Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use, this has been a wonderful resource for me to understand how to individualize instruction and use technology to help students solve problems. "Central to these strategies is the use of digital media to provide students with flexibility as they meet the demands of learning goals". (Cennamo, et al., 2009, p.123) Communication tolls and multimedia tools are definetly going to be incorporated into my classroom more next year to meet their needs.
My next goal was associated with learning my students and understand their needs, since I don't have a class right now I am planning on ways to get to know my students next year. One way is to learn about Howard Gardner's idea of multiple intelligence, on p.124 which explains the difference of students ways of learning and how those needs can be met with technology also found in chapter 5 of the course text. I feel that really learning about these tools and strategies will help me to reach both of my goals.
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.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
GAME Plan
After reviewing the NETS-T, I am reflecting upon areas I am confident and need improvement.
My game plan is as follows:
Goals- Improve in the Area 1 of NETS-T, specifically; engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. I want to be able to really engage students in real world issues and help them solve these issues using tools.
Goal 2- Improve in Area 2 of NETS-T; c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources. Another one I really need to work on is meeting the needs of all of my students using digital tools.
Actions- For my first goal, research and learn more about tools that allow to students to solve problems, real world. Also learn and investigate where to find real current issues that relate to the content area of social studies.
Continued... Learn who my students are....understand and be able to see how students learn, this can be done using "true colors" activities. Next, learn and research activities that use digital tools to meet their different learning style. See what is available and search the internet and ask collegeaus about these tools, what works what doesn't. I will search for three new ideas and things each week.
Monitor- I will monitor my progress by using at least one new tool or idea in class each week and see if students are engaged more and enjoy these. Survey students? Possibly.
Evaluate- in the end, put all of these new ideas and concepts into practice, see if engagement is higher and if students are more fluent in using these tools. Are students being more creative and is this reaching the 21st century learning skills?
When finished, continuing finding areas that need improvment and continue to research and find new tools and ideas that will further enrich my classroom environment.
Any other feedback would be greatly appreciated :)
My game plan is as follows:
Goals- Improve in the Area 1 of NETS-T, specifically; engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. I want to be able to really engage students in real world issues and help them solve these issues using tools.
Goal 2- Improve in Area 2 of NETS-T; c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources. Another one I really need to work on is meeting the needs of all of my students using digital tools.
Actions- For my first goal, research and learn more about tools that allow to students to solve problems, real world. Also learn and investigate where to find real current issues that relate to the content area of social studies.
Continued... Learn who my students are....understand and be able to see how students learn, this can be done using "true colors" activities. Next, learn and research activities that use digital tools to meet their different learning style. See what is available and search the internet and ask collegeaus about these tools, what works what doesn't. I will search for three new ideas and things each week.
Monitor- I will monitor my progress by using at least one new tool or idea in class each week and see if students are engaged more and enjoy these. Survey students? Possibly.
Evaluate- in the end, put all of these new ideas and concepts into practice, see if engagement is higher and if students are more fluent in using these tools. Are students being more creative and is this reaching the 21st century learning skills?
When finished, continuing finding areas that need improvment and continue to research and find new tools and ideas that will further enrich my classroom environment.
Any other feedback would be greatly appreciated :)
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