Monitoring my GAME plan progress

Monitoring my GAME plan progress

Goal 1: Have a technology-rich classroom. I want to be able to incorporate technology where it best fits the curriculum needs.

Goal 2: I want to reach all students (with the help of technology).

Goal 3: Create a student-centered atmosphere in my classroom, giving them 21^st century skills to learn and use.

What have I learned? 

Tim Best (Laureate Education, Inc., 2012) said you cannot force technology. I now know this is true. I need to let it happen naturally. I need to not make everything such a big deal. I need to start small and add more when I am comfortable and ready. Each day this week I have incorporated a small piece of technology. 

On Monday my students worked on their vocabulary words for the week. They worked in pairs- they each had two words. Using Microsoft Word they wrote the definition, an original sentence, and found a picture to represent their word. They shared their work to the class so everyone could see and hear how those words are used correctly. Each word was represented by 3 different groups, so the students heard and saw it multiple times in order to make many connections. On Tuesday my fifth graders worked through two different interactive sites in order to learn more about the Underground Railroad.  After they had visited the sites, they reflected on the information they learned and wrote an answer to an open-ended response question. Today, the fourth graders played a review game from Harcourt (2012) that corresponded with their first unit in their social studies text. Small steps, do not force.

Are you finding the information and resources you need?

 I am ready to start incorporating blogs with my students next week. I have set each student up with a blog and I have finished my Acceptable Use Policy. So yes, I am on the right track for this part of the goal. I do need to continue to gather more resources on ideas on how to best implement technology into my classroom. I need to continue searching out the best possible tools.

Do you need to modify your action plan? 

Yes, I need to be more specific in my steps. The only clear point I made was that I would start blogging. The rest of my goals were too generic. There is no focus, no specific action plan; I felt like I was getting nothing accomplished. So I am working on setting more specific goals.

To go along with finding information and resources; every Saturday I am dedicating one hour to my lesson plans looking to see where technology would fit. I then use the internet and my textbooks from class to find the specifics. The goal is to try and implement technology at least 5 times a week.

After blogging has been started and the students have the opportunity to use it for awhile, I will pick another tool to focus on implementing.

After this week’s resources from my Walden University class I also want to begin implementing some different types of assessment using technology. I want to focus on performance and project-based assessments. Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer (2009) describe these as tools that can allow my students to be 21^st century learners and used higher critical thinking skills. 

What new questions have arisen?

My question that has arisen: Where do you look for ideas on projects and technology implementation? Do you have a favorite website or source?

Renee Scott

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.

Harcourt School Publishers (2012).  “The Learning Site”. .  Retrieved from http://www.harcourtschool.com/ss1/index_na.html.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2012). Enriching content area Learning experiences with technology, part 1 [DVD]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Carrying Out Your GAME Plan

My GAME plan goals are to:

1.      Have a technology-rich classroom. I want to be able to incorporate technology where it best fits the curriculum needs.

2.      I want to reach all students (with the help of technology).

3.      Create a student-centered atmosphere in my classroom, giving them 21^st century skills to learn and use.

This week’s discussion on the Universal Design for learning (UDL) was a perfect tie in to my second goal. Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer (2009) describe UDL as removing the barriers that get in the way of students learning.  According to John Ross (Laureate Education, Inc, 2012a), teachers need to have flexibility in their classroom to meet the needs of all the students. I now have some tools and information, so I can begin to create the best learning experience for each student. I need to continue to build on this information. I need to take a lesson and start by making one adaptation. I need to try it out. Then I need to continue to add more. I need to reflect on each experience- noting what went well and what I or my students struggled with during the lessons. I have to remember to take baby steps. If I try to change everything all at once I will probably fail. I need to continue to explore more resources about UDL and differentiation. I need to have more flexibility and more choices. Other than the resources given for this week’s class, does anyone have any good sources that give ideas on how to implement UDL or differentiation strategies?

To work on goal number one, I created a blog for each one of my students. I am currently working on creating an Acceptable Use Policy and then will start implementing posting to the blogs next week. My school has an Acceptable Use Policy, but it is outdated and needs improving. I will start by using the blogs to post their work (like writing pieces), but eventually I will start using them for critical thinking and deeper discussions for subjects like social studies and reading. If I am working on goal number two, then goal number one will naturally come. Technology is a great way to incorporate UDL into my classroom. If the blogs go well, I want to work on incorporating Voice Thread or Digital Storytelling next.

All three of my goals go hand-in-hand. If I am giving more choices and incorporating more technology then I am also starting to achieve a student-centered classroom. I need to continue to model, but if I use technology as I teaching tool less lecturing can start taking place. I need to give my students the skills they need to learn how to explore, question, and create. I need to instill goals into my students and remind them of the goal they are attempting to reach.

What’s next? Confidence and baby steps. More research. Finding colleagues or peers that can support and encourage my endeavor. I need to balance my time more, which is my biggest struggle right now. I cannot ever seem to catch up. I am either grading papers or working on master’s work, so I cannot seem to find the quality time to create lessons that provide the variety of choices my students need. Any suggestions on how to make this work? I also need to remember what Tim Best (Laureate Education, Inc, 2012b) said, that I should not use technology just to use technology- it needs to fit into the content. I cannot force it to fit the curriculum.

My one fear is that every time I bring out technology with my current class, they get so excited that they become unruly. The goal is lost. How can I keep their focus and keep them from getting out-of-control?

Renee Scott

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. (Producer). (2012b). Enriching content area Learning experiences with technology, part 1 [DVD]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2012a). Meeting students needs with technology, part 1 [DVD]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Developing Your Personal GAME Plan

Developing Your Personal GAME Plan

Technology is constantly changing.  There are always new tools to learn and new ways to implement those tools into the classroom.  Technology can help teach 21st century learners.  According to Prensky (2008), technology needs to be incorporated and used in the classroom.  Students today learn digitally.  Technology should not be forced though.  Tim Best (Laureate Education, Inc., 2012) said that technology should not be the goal.  We need to use technology that fits the content we are teaching. I have lots of room for improvement when it comes to incorporating the NETS-T Standards in the classroom. We were asked to take a look at the NETS-T standards. These are the National Education Standards for Teachers related to Technology in Education.   I then chose two of the standards that I do not meet as proficiently as the others. 

“Standard 2: Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

            Specifically: 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

2c. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources

Standard 4:  Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

            Specifically: 4b. Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered

            strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources.”

            (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008)

            I need to work better at adapting for the diverse learner when using technology.  I do a great job at teaching to the average learner, but I need to reach all learners- not just the average ones.  I am not afraid of incorporating technology, but if something does not go right I give up to easily and quit; or sometimes I get myself so stressed about changing my teaching style that I never actually created a technology-enriched learning environment.  I need to be willing to make my classroom more student-centered verses teacher-centered.

Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer (2009) suggested using the GAME plan to help guide self-directed learning.

“1. Set Goals

 2. Take Action to meet those goals

 3. Monitor progress toward achieving goals and

 4. Evaluate whether the goals were achieved and Extend your learning to new situations” (pg.3)

I need to improve on incorporating technology effectively into my classroom.  Hopefully, using the GAME plan as a guideline, I will do just that.

            Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer (2009) suggests that in order to set my goals I need to ask myself, “What do I want to know or be able to do?” (pg.4). I want to actually have a technology-rich classroom environment. I do not want to force technology into my day; but I want to see where it best helps meet the content and use it.  I also want to reach all learners by adapting my lessons appropriately; not just some of my learners. I also want to turn my classroom into a student-focused classroom where not only are they learning the content, but how to investigate and explore the answers to the questions they might have.

            Next I have to take action in order to achieve those goals.  Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer (2009) said I would ask myself, “What information do I need to meet my goal? What resources are needed?” (pg.4).  My first action will be to finish my master’s degree.  The degree is integrating technology into the classroom- this should give me many different instructional activities to try involving technology.  The information I learn should give me many ideas on how to reach my goal.  Second, I need to visit classrooms that are technology-rich.  I need to see how it is done.  Finally, I need to research the best practices for helping a wide range of student abilities.  Once I have gathered my information, I need to start implementing those ideas into my classroom.

            During the monitoring stage, I want to have an accountability partner.  I could ask a fellow colleague or my principal to be my accountability partner.  This person can help me decide if I am staying on target to reaching my goals and help me modify the plan if I am not reaching my goals. I also will have a timeline laid out as to how I should building incorporating the technology that allows my classroom to become student-focused.  The timeline will keep me on track throughout this process. During this stage I will keep some type of reflective journal- whether it is in a blog or an actual notebook.  I need to truly reflect on how things went, not just describe what happened.

            Finally, I will evaluate and extend what I am incorporating.  Did I meet my goal? Have I reached all learners? Have I integrated technology into my classroom successfully? How will I do things differently in the future?  These are all the questions I will ask to know whether I was successful or not at improving incorporating these standards into my classroom.  I will compare my classroom to the way it was before I started the GAME plan to the way it is now once I have completed the GAME plan.  I will look at the performance of my students- more confidence and stronger abilities will tell me if I have reached my goals or not.  I could even have my students to a pre-survey and a post-survey to see if my plan has helped my classroom be a more leaner-friendly technology-rich environment.

Renee Scott

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.

International Society for Technology in Education.  (2008).  Standards for global learning in the digital age.  Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards.aspx

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2012). Enriching content area Learning experiences with technology, part 1 [DVD]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Prensky, M. (2008). Turning on the lights. Educational Leadership, 65(6), 40–45.