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Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Using the GAME Plan Process with Students

When I reviewed my Game plan to include NETS –S in my daily lesson plans and to start a technology group that will educate other teachers at my school on how to incorporate technology in their lesson plans without too much chaos, I was happy to see that I am on my way to achieving these goals. I have posted the NETS-S in my lesson plan book and try to make sure I am doing something everyday to help my students gain proficiency in technology. I think by getting my Masters degree and by starting a dialogue at my school about technology and how to add elements of NETS-S to already intact plans without too much chaos I am also helping my school environment. I can definitely see how the teacher and studnet standards are connected.I think it will be easy to do add both to daily lessons and I look forward to the results.

1.Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity-
I will facilitate and inspire my students by trying new ideas involving technology. I will not be afraid of failing while doing so and I will take notes so the next time each lesson will improve.

2.Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments I will ask my peers for help and guidance when using new technology like Digital Storytelling. I am very excited about D.S. it seems to really enhance learning and I have several ideas for the spring.

3.Model Digital-Age Work and Learning- I will use technology in my classroom and in my daily life to communicate with my peers, students and parents by using a blog with information about what we are doing in class.

4.Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility I will promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social with my students and help develop cultural awareness with my students by doing projects that engage students from other countries.

5.Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
I will finish my Masters in Technology and I will continue to help other interested teachers add technology to their lessons while I try to persuade our principal to try to get everyone to increase the technology they use in their classrooms.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Revising Your GAME Plan

• What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instructional practice?
What goals are you still working toward?
I have learned that lesson plans are works in progress and are never complete. I think I need to spend more time making sure I am achieving my intended results.

•Based on the NETS-T, what new learning goals will you set for yourself?
My goal is to add new NETS-T to my plans and always be prepared to update or change what I have.
If you are not ready to set new learning goals, how will you extend what you have learned so far?
I am always ready to set new learning goals, and I hope that next year I have not only retained what I have learned but I am sharing my knowledge with other teachers in my county.
• What learning approaches will you try next time to improve your learning?
I will try to use everything I learn so that it helps me remember what I have learned

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Evaluating Your GAME Plan Progress

When I looked at the progress of my GAME PLAN, the first thing I thought is that I seem to be veering off topic a little.
My two goals were 1) to include the previous standards in my daily lesson plans and 2) to set up a technology group at my school that works to add new technology to all classrooms. I am definitely finding the first one easier, probably because I have to rely on only myself and I have a hard time asking other teachers, whom I know spend too much time at school as it is. In addition, it seems like everyone, including me, has the flu.
• How effective were your actions in helping you meet your goals?
I feel like I have been successful in my first goal and not doing that well in my second.
• What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instructional practice?
I have learned that I work best alone and teachers want to be helpful and are used to doing many things.
• What do you still have to learn? What new questions have arisen?
I spoke with my team leader and a few English and Reading teachers, I decided that at our next department meeting I am going to demonstrate some of the technology ideas I have learned while taking classes at Walden. Then I am going to get feedback from them and use that information to do a larger demonstration at our teachers and staff meeting in January, I received permission from my principal to do this whenever I am ready. I was a little weary of speaking to him about it, but he seemed very interested.
• How will you adjust your plan to fit your current needs?
I think I am going to change my second goal a little. I think I will find it easier to start small and have my technology group grow next year, when I can start at the beginning of the year

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Monitoring Your GAME Plan Progress

I think I have all the resources I am going to need to finish my game plan. What I need is support from my fellow teachers and my administration. I mentioned before how difficult I found it to get help at this time of year. The holidays and are looming test dates are coming quick. I received an idea from one of my groups mates (Abby) who suggested a blog to answer and ask questions. I loved this idea because it would allow people to comment and participate without taking up too much of their time. I like the idea of my students helping come up with their own goals. They are leaving high school soon, I think the responsibility of meeting, and setting goals should be a high priority.

The idea of incorporating more technology seems easy enough, but I need to make sure that my students are still meeting standards and able to pass or make substantial gains in the state reading test. I teach Remedial Reading and we have a much regimented lesson plan/ curriculum. I am not allowed much creativity or leeway. This has been an issue for me from the beginning. I need to find ways to creatively add more technology to my lessons

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Carrying Out Your GAME Plan

The first thing I needed was a complete list standards from the NETS website; I needed to print out a copy and add this link to my favorite so it is always easy for me to locate. My first goal is to incorporate these standards into my daily lesson plans. The second goal is to start a technology group or forum was my fellow teachers discuss ways to incorporate technology into our lesson plans. My two goals are 2a design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity. 2b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.
My first goal I is the easier one because I have to rely on myself to get it done. I told my principal that I was going to be adding technology standards to my lessons and he thought it was great as long as I continue to teach my content. I need to get one of my classes on board with me and see how they feel about adding technology to our lessons. I want it be part of their own personal goals.

My second idea to start a technology group will probably not happen until next year. Timing is everything. One idea I got from my Walden classmates was to add current and former students to the mix. I like this idea. As long as the students are serious and willing to help, they will be welcomed. The problem will be my co-workers and time of year. We have four weeks until Winter Break and finals and when we get back, we fall into the FCAT (Florida’s state test) black hole until March. I will try to see if I can get my department to add a technology goal at our next meeting.
I have started planning for January and trying to add technology to my current plans.
How can I get people on board at this time of year? Does everyone feel like they are annoying people when they try to change the status quo?

References

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

Thursday, November 11, 2010

GAME Plan

When I viewed the NETS website I found two standards that I feel I need to focus on to enrich my classroom and allow my lesson to enhance technology while focusing on content. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
2 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 identified in the NETS•S. Teachers: 2a design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity. 2b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress. (Cennamo, Ross, Ertmer, 2009) I believe that I will be able to achieve my GAME plan.

My goals will be to include the previous standards in my daily lesson plans. I have learned several ways to incorporate technology while obtaining my masters degree. I believe that I need to make my lessons plans more relevant for my students that are leaving school next year and entering the workforce. One goal I have to set up a technology group at my school that works to add new technology to all classrooms. I know my county has a technology board, but no one knows what they do.

Take Action-I would like there to be an open dialogue about what inexpensive enhancements can be added to current lesson plans to make them successful for the 21-century learner. I will add the NETS standards to my lesson plans and make sure that I am using them to enhance my lessons.

Monitor- I will monitor my use of technology and make sure that I am including the two standards I previously mentioned and adding new ones until I feel I am using all the standards frequently. When I was first teaching I wrote my daily standards on the board every day, not just in my lesson plans. I think that I need to go back to basics and start doing that again. Doing this reminded me daily what my goals were.

Evaluate and Extend-I will evaluate my plan by the reaction and work of my students. If they seem engaged and excited about assignments, then I will be an accomplishment. The reaction of my colleagues will also evaluate how I am doing. If I can get dialogue about adding technology to our yearly reviews, beyond using an overhead, I will feel that I have succeeded.

References

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

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Reflection

I think the most striking revelation that I had while taking this course was the awareness of the large amount of false information on the Internet. Application 4 was helpful in opening my eyes to this fact and made me more aware of how misleading Internet sites can be. I realized how much time I needed to spend with my students on establishing credible web sites and guided my students to reliable safe sites.
The knowledge and experience of this class and all the classes I have taken while at Walden influence will influence me in my classroom because they are relevant to what is happening in schools around the world. Technology is changing how things are done, taught and learned and it is exciting to be taking classes on the subject. I think as an educator I will be more aware of the issues my students face when dealing with technology because I also had a few issues. I am also excited about the ideas I obtained from this class, many of them borrowed from my classmates like ideas about how to use digital story telling.
When I think about a professional development goal that I would like to pursue I am reminded of The 21 century literacy skills and how they are needed for our students to be productive in this new century. I believe that for our students to remain competitive their teachers must make an effort to attain these skills. The ideas behind 21 Century Fluencies and traditional literacy skills are similar in the fact that they both want the student to achieve a similar goal, process information and utilize that information.“ All the 21st Century fluencies are learned within the context of the Digital Citizen, using the guiding principles of leadership, ethics, accountability, fiscal responsibility, environmental awareness, global citizenship, and personal responsibility.” (2010)
My favorite skill and one that I think would be beneficial to teachers is working in collaboration with other teachers and even parents. I know when I began teaching I had help from more experienced teachers, but not every teacher is as lucky. I feel that teachers should share more information and be encouraged to work in collaboration by their administration. Collaboration fluency is team working proficiency that has reached the unconscious ability to work cooperatively with virtual and real partners in an online environment to create original digital products.” (2010) My school motto has a line that says “…to build lifelong learners and I believe to teach lifelong learners you must be one yourself.


The 21st Century literacy Project The Fluencies,2010-http://committedsardine.com/fluencies.cfm

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