Dr. Patricia Alexander (Laurate Education, 2010 ) states that the characteristics, actions, and beliefs of teachers can be directly related to learning. I believe this to be true. I am still a learner and I believe that students should see me learning alongside with them. Recently, I created a GAME plan to help me continue being a leaner. Cennamo, Ross and Ertmer (2009) advise that a GAME plan is a way for a self- directed learner to respond to the continuous technological changes. Responding to these changes will make me a better teacher and prepare my students for twenty first century skills. The Partnership for Twenty First Century Skills report that students will be required to communicate, collaborate, and think critically in the future workforce. My job as an educator is to model and prepare my students for this. My GAME plan will help me meet these goals.
My first goal is to be a leader in the process of integrating technology into our curriculum with ipads. The actions I am taking to meet these this goal are as follows. Underneath the numbered goals will be my current action to meet the goal.
1. Earn my master's degree in the integration of technology in the classroom. I will use the knowledge I am gaining about technology in my class as well as share this with my colleagues.
A. I am in the process of earning my master's degree. I have been "stealing" numerous ideas from my peers about current technology uses. My graduate work has also taught me about the complexities of teaching students how to use the internet as a tool. This past week I used a lesson I created from my last class to teach students how that not all resources on the internet are accurate.
2. Attend seminars and/or webinars on teaching with the use of ipads. Then prepare a presentation for teachers at one of our monthly teacher meetings.
A. I have not been attended a seminar or webinar. I have found a seminar in November that would be very helpful in setting up the ipads, finding resourceful applications, and learning the basic functions of the ipads. I am hoping there is enough money for my school to send me.
B. I have not planned to teach at our monthly meeting in October. The ipads are still not ready for to be distributed. Do you possibly know of any free webinars?
3. View and contribute to blogs about the integration of technology in the classroom and the best apps to use for students in fourth grade. I will incorporate these apps and practices into our daily routines.
A.I have spoken with colleagues from my school about apps they have found to be used in their class. I have recently found a few applications that I have found will be useful in my class. Prensky (2008) states that technology should not be incorporated just to be incorporated. We are implementing the imovie app next week.
B. I have contributed to the blogs of my peers through my classes. I follow three other blogs sites about technology, but I have not found new blog sites to follow. Do you follow any blogs that deal with integrating technology that may be helpful?
The second goal is to utilize the social networking site of edmodo to collaborate with students, parents, and other teachers to improve my classroom practices. The actions I am taking to meet these goals are as follows. I will list the goal and then tell you my actions to meet those goals.
1. Set up a class site on edmodo. Teach students and parents how to use this site as a classroom tool.
A. I have an edmodo site set up with all of my students currently participating in the site. Students have taken polls, responded to literary questions, and added pictures. I have set up a monthly electronic calendar to keep parents and students informed I wanted to have a student page and an separate parent page. I believe this is a technical error on my part. I need to either contact the help desk through the site or speak with a colleague who also utilizes the site. My students are excited about the site.
2. Join learning communities that are available on the site.
A. I have not added learning communities to my page as I have intended to do. This will allow me to connect to with other teachers in fourth grade. This would require me to ask to be added to different communities. I have not taken the time to do this yet. It will be very valuable to me and my instruction.
3. Post assignments that must be completed through the site itself. This will allow parents and other members who have our classroom code to view and participate in our learning.
A. My students have not had graded assignments through this site yet. For this, I will need to be certain that the students who do not have internet access have the time needed in my class to complete the assignment. One way this will be easier is when we have greater access to technology like the ipads that will be added to our rooms. I am thinking I will begin this by setting groups up according to the students' reading groups. There we would be able to talk about the specifics of the books we are reading.
I recognize that I still have work to do to attain my GAME plan. I will continue working to achieve these goals for the benefit of myself and creating a classroom where students are active rather than passive. All students want to learn. I must find the best way to benefit my students in their learning process. Technology seems to be that tool.
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.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). 2011. DVD 1: Designing Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. Teaching and Learning. Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Patricia Alexander.
Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (n.d.). A report and mile guide for 21st century skills. Washington DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.p21.org/storage/images/stories/otherdocs/p21up_Report.pdf
Prensky, M. (2008).
Turning on the lights. Educational Leadership, 65(6), 40–45.
Retrieved from the Academic Search Complete database.
Teresa-
ReplyDeleteI really like how you laid how your GAME plan and your current actions in your blog post. This was very well written.
In response to Goal 1 Plan A: Have you incorporated ideas about using the internet from the last Walden University class we took. Eagleton and Dobler and Alan November had very practical books that could easily be implemented into a classroom. I especially liked their ideas about showing an internet site and having the students evaluate it to see if it is credible or not.
Goal 3 Plan B: I would love to know the other blogs you follow in regards to technology are you willing to share? If I come across any good ones, I will do the same. I would love to find some practical blogs, not 'in theory' blogs. I want to find a teacher that has actual tried and tested some technology tools within in their classrooms.
Finally, what do you think of edmodo? I have heard so many of our fellow colleagues mention it in high regards. Is it free to use? Is it simple to start up? Any suggestions for starting one up? (As to avoid any mistakes...)
You seem to have set good, attainable goals. It looks like these goals will truly benefit you within your classroom. Are you noticing any differences- good or bad- as you start to follow through on the action plan?
Renee Scott
References:
Eagleton, M. B., & Dobler, E. (2007). Reading the web: Strategies for Internet inquiry. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
November, A. (2008). Web literacy for educators. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Teresa,
ReplyDeleteI think that you have done a wonderful job with your GAME plan. As with any plan, implementation can be quite a task, especially when you are up against factors that are well beyond your control. As educators, we know how critical it is to reach all of students and I think that the integration of the iPads into your classroom will be another way to reach your students. Dr. John Ross shared that technology customizes learning and provides flexibility for our students (Laureate Education Inc, 2009).
I noticed that you asked for some help in regards to finding webinars regarding the use of iPads. I took a quick look at http://edtechteacher.org/index.php/news-a-media/webinars and this site seems to provide multiple webinars for teachers and also hosts a blog site regarding the use of iPads and technology in the classroom.
I wish you the best of luck in your journey of integrating iPads into your classroom, finding the professional development that will support you in that journey and reaching the goals that you have set for yourself.
Kristen Nance
References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Meeting Students’ Needs With Technology, Part 1 [Webcast]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Renee,
ReplyDeletehttp://elementarytechteachers.ning.com/
http://tcoffey.edublogs.org/
http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-100-technology-blogs-for-teachers/
These are the three blogs I view. As for edmodo, I have given my students access to use it as some social networking. I know there are teachers who do not allow this at all. I feel it has been community building in my classroom. I would be certain that you teach the students how to post to the wall as well as how they can post to each other. I did not tell my students how to add pictures, but they posted the directions on how to teach each other. I have not posted assignments other than reponses to questions so I am not certain how to give you guidance on that. I would be certain to join the learning communities as soon as you join so that you can benefit from the ideas and posts of others. Good Luck with Edmodo.
Kristen,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the site help. I will look at the site. I am excited about the future of the learning in my class. I believe that UDL will definitely take place in my class with the integration of the ipads (Cennamo, Ross and Ertmer, 2009). I am beginning to be a bit impatient though.
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.
Thanks for sharing the blogs- I will have to check them out.
ReplyDeleteRenee Scott