Final Reflection EDUC-6713I-1

The GAME plan strategy has been extremely helpful in creating and achieving goals that will benefit myself and especially my students.  I have seen a great improvement in the quality and content of the lessons I am using within my classroom.  Technology is easily integrated into my lessons and is helping to engage all students.  This class has exposed me to many additional possibilities that come with using technology in class.  I feel much more prepared and confident when it comes to social networking, digital storytelling, and problem-based learning as instructional support to help deliver content and achieve standards.

The first GAME plan I established involved improving activities and making learning more personalized.  As I created lessons, I focused on how I could make my lessons more meaningful and personal to my students.  I created lessons with the thought of how this lesson could be applied to my students and have personal meaning to them.  I was able to provide lessons that met the needs of the diverse learning styles of my students and provided authentic and engaging activities to give meaning to the academic content.

Improving contact with parents and the community was the focus of my second GAME plan.  I regularly used a classroom blog and enjoyed the contributions made by the parents.  The students found the blog to be a great way to share the activities and knowledge they were learning in the classroom.  I also worked with the students to create public Voice Threads allowing the parents to participate in digital storytelling with the class.  I created and regularly updated a classroom website providing resources and information for parents.  I was impressed with how many hits the website received during the first month.  The students were excited to share with their parents the neat resources that could be found on the class website.    Using a parent survey, I received input about the efforts made to improve communication between the home and classroom. 

I continue to try to use technology on a daily basis.  My school is extremely blessed with the amount of technology available.  I have found ways to incorporate student responders along with digital storytelling and social networking.  I have used interactive Mimios, Power Points, and other technology programs to improve learning and deliver meaningful instruction.  I have found opportunities to use digital storytelling in many areas of the curriculum.  Social networking has proved to be a beneficial and effective way to communicate and share classroom activities with parents.  I still feel a bit restricted by the young age of my students, but I have been able to make accommodations to make things work.  The support and assistance needed still limits the amount of activities and problem-based learning that can be done.   The students are becoming more and more independent, and I see the advantages that this type of learning provides.  As we begin our second problem-based learning activity, things are moving at a much quicker pace with fewer questions and problems. 

Recently, I was able to attend a training about using digital storytelling in the classroom.  It was very helpful and provided many suggestions on how this simple technology strategy can be used to increase learning.  I love this technique, and I see the positive results that this form of technology provides.  The students are thoroughly engaged and anxious to create and share their digital stories. 

I enjoy this type of class where new resources and forms of technology are presented and shared.  I found the wiki to be very helpful and not as challenging as I had thought.  I am going to plan a lesson where students can use a wiki to support learning and problem-based activities.  Even though my students are young, there are a lot of ways that technology can be used, and with a little creative, patience, and thought, even the youngest of students can enjoy learning with technology.

MONITORING MY GAME PLAN-WEEK 4

My GAME plan is off and running.  I feel that I have made a great start at finding and using the necessary resources to meet my goals.  I realize how lucky I am to work at a high technology school that has the necessary technology to achieve my goals.  I have five working computers in my classroom that students are able to use throughout the day to perform research, challenge themselves with software, and provide opportunities to meet the needs of my diverse learners.  I also have access to the technology lab for one hour each week and if needed, I can request additional time.  Headphones that are working correctly are probably the biggest issue I face with the hardware.  It seems that audio sound is often lacking and students tend to eat and chew through the headphone cords.  They are in constant need of repair or replacement.   I have shown the students how to trouble shoot and try different things to get the sound to work correctly.  Students are also learning how to perform Internet searches and utilize the proper Internet resources to gather information.

I have created a classroom website and have been working to keep the website updated.  Students are becoming more familiar with the website along with the parents.  I took the time to email many of the parents and inform them of updates and changes made to the website.  I have noticed that the number of hits to the website has increased and students are bringing in evidence of activities they are doing related to the website.

I do not need to make any modifications to my GAME plan at this time.  Things are running very smoothly and I am excited to see the growth and interaction between home and school as a result of technology.  I have learned that websites are not too difficult to manage and time can be allotted during technology lab for the students and me to work on the website.  The students easily learn the technology programs, and they are anxious to begin their independent activities and projects.  Questions have risen about how I will perform assessments for the activities that are done.  I need to use the assessment data that I already have to set new goals for student learning.  Assessments are important in the learning process and if used efficiently, can promote and support learning (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009). 

The GAME plan format makes my goals and progress very manageable and user friendly.  I see how my plan is unfolding and what areas may become concerns in the future.  As I make modifications and adjustments, new issues and successes arise meaning that I am on the right track and my efforts will result in success.

Reference:

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.

RESOURCES-Carrying Out My GAME Plan WEEK 3

My GAME plan has been established and now I need to decide which resources I will need to be successful in carrying out my GAME plan.   In the text by Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer (2009) the teacher is reminded how important it is to set goals for students and allow them to obtain the necessary skills and knowledge required by the curricula and standards.

One resource that will be needed is access to computers for my students.  Students need to be able to use the computers and access the Internet and other software.  The computers need to be in working condition.  Headphones and microphones need to be working to allow for audio and recordings.   As the teacher, I need access to the computer to run a class website, email parents, and manage a class blog.  I will need a camera to take pictures that can be used on the website or blog.  

Second, I will need to create a list of websites and obtain software that will allow my students to learn and use the computer to meet individual needs.  One website I am eager to utilize more is Discovery Education.  My school has had many trainings and I am excited to apply what I have learned into my curriculum.  There are so many possibilities with this website that can allow for differentiation for all students and learning styles. 

Last, I will need to teach the students and parents how to use the technology.  Students are familiar with technology and know the basics.  I will have to teach expectations, requirements, and instructions for all the individual activities.  A rubric will be created to help guide students and help them achieve success.  The parents will need to learn how to use and access the website and blog.  They will need to learn how to comment and interact using technology.  Once the benefits are explained, the parents and students will hopefully be eager and anxious to use and access the resources. 

Once I implement these resources into my classroom, continual monitoring and reflection will need to occur to make sure the tools are effective and meaningful.  Regular updates and reminders will need to be given to students and parents to keep them involved and interested.  Projects and activities will be monitored and assessed to make sure the students are on task and learning.  I am anxious to learn about other resources and websites.  Please share with me any suggestions or ideas on how I can diversify and keep both parents and students engaged.

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.

GAME Plan and NETS-T WEEK 2

An effective teacher must stay current and apply appropriate standards in all student-learning experiences.  Technology is quickly becoming a must use tool in all classrooms and guidelines and standards have been created to help teachers use technology effectively.  The ISTE website is full of information and performance indicators to help teachers successfully use technology in the classroom.  I have read the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers and find that I feel confident with many of the standards.   I regularly use digital tools and resources and engage students in exploring learning through technology.  There are also standards where I feel I could improve.  I will use these standards to help create a GAME plan that I can apply to my everyday teaching.

The first standard I would like to strengthen is Standard 2 Indicator C, which states: Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.   Students come to the classroom with different experiences, varied levels of access to technologies, and other diversities so using digital tools to customize learning activities is a tremendous asset. (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009)  I regularly use technology -learning activities, but these activities are general and used to teach the whole class group.  The classroom is filled with diverse learners and customized learning activities could be very useful and beneficial to my students.  

The other standard I would like to improve upon is Standard 3 Indicator C, which states:  Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats  (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008).   There are many ways that technology can be used to improve learning outside of the classroom and increase communication with parents and others.   

Goal:  I would like to set a goal to improve activities and make learning personalized to meet the needs of the diverse learners.  I would like to have authentic activities that coordinate with the curriculum to help enrich or reteach students as needed.  I plan to improve communication with parents by using technology tools such as email, class websites, and a blog to get parents, students, and peers more involved with what is happening at school.   

Action:  To obtain these goals, I will need to plan activities on a monthly basis that can be used to personalize learning for my students’ diverse learning styles.  I will have to create and maintain a website, blog, and email list to ensure that communication between school and home is occurring.  Activities can be created that are presented and accessed through the blog or website.

Monitor:  I will work with colleagues to obtain suggestions and ideas that I can incorporate in the curriculum.  I hope to apply what I have learned at recent professional development trainings using various technology resources.  Parents will be asked to contribute ideas and suggestions related to the classroom to increase outside involvement.  Areas of concern will be addressed as needed.  Formal and informal assessments will be used to check for learning.  Observations will occur on a regular basis.

Evaluate and Extend:  I will monitor progress through student assessment, interviews, and observations.  I will use data assessments from the individual and whole class to see if there is improvement.  Through blog posts and emails, I can evaluate the feelings of the parents towards the technology used to interact between home and school.  Students will be encouraged to share their experiences towards the use of technology as a form of communication. 

Using the GAME plan strategies will help improve my ability as a teacher implementing technology in my class.  As I am able to improve as a student, my students benefit as well.

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). National educational standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs?NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx

Final Reflection 6711I-2

This course has been a wonderful opportunity to review learning theories and redefine my personal theory of learning.  At the beginning of the course I stated that I used pieces of many different learning theories.  After reviewing and looking more in depth into various learning theories, this belief still holds true.  I am also aware of many more learning theories and how I use them in my classroom.  Classrooms are very fluid and constantly changing.  No one theory can be solely used and the students have success.  As a teacher I need to be able to pick and chose pieces of theories that I think will be most effective for my students in my current classroom.  I am much more aware of how technology plays an important role in learning and how supplemental technology can be.  I feel that technology is becoming a major tool in assisting with all the learning theories.  I feel more capable and competent at using technology to support my instructional and learning strategies. 

I desire to use technology more as a learning tool than an instructional tool.  I want to truly engage and involve all students and make my classroom more student centered.  I think that children even as young as second grade can play a greater role in their education and truly make learning meaningful.  I enjoyed the concept mapping web tools and am excited to use this in my classroom.  I see a lot of potential with this resource and feel that it would really benefit my students.  I also extremely enjoyed Voice Thread and desire to use this tool often.  I will have to work to figure out how to get microphone access for the students and how to teach and manage use of the program.  I think it could really work well in involving students and reach both visual and auditory learners in a very impactful way.  I had never used a concept mapping web tool and I had never even heard of Voice Thread.  I now feel very capable and ready to use these tools in my classroom.

I want to start using technology within each theme that I teach.  I have access to so many technology tools at my school site and I feel that I have just barely begun to scratch the surface with how these tools can be used.  I use them for the most basic of activities.  I feel much more aware of available resources and prepared to use them.  I would like to incorporate concept mapping into each theme that I teach and use these maps as teaching tools and review resources.  To meet this goal, I will make an outline of each theme and chose a story, virtual field trip, or activity where concept mapping would be most effective.  I will start using concept mapping from the beginning of the school year and model how to use this tool.  As the year progresses, I will continue to lead and model but allow the students more involvement and opportunity to use the concept mapping tool individually.  By the last trimester, I hope that the students can be competent enough to create concept maps on their own with little difficulty.

Another goal I have is to use a class blog as a resource for both students and parents.  I would like to incorporate homework activities into the blog and allow students to learn and interact from home.  I want the blog to be exciting and engaging for students and their families.  I feel that the blog can really help make homework more meaningful and add so much depth to the level of learning.  I have decided that every Tuesday afternoon will be set aside to update the blog and add an assignment, lesson, or experience that supports the lessons being taught in the classroom.  By the following Monday students will be expected to have visited the blog and participated in the post.  If the students do not have access to a computer at home, then the blog can be accessed during technology lab time, at recess, or during free choice time in the classroom.  I am excited to interact and be involved with the students and their families.

I have enjoyed learning and experiencing these technology resources.  I feel more confident in myself and my ability to use these tools.  I used to be the learner that would be in awe of technology being used and think how I wish I could create and use such neat resources.  I now feel that I have the skills and ability to create and use awesome technology resources.  

Social Learning

We are a very social society.  Personal relationships are so important, and as humans we love spending time with each other.  These days there are so many social networks and websites that allow us to be social without even leaving our homes or being in the presence of other people.  It is kind of ironic in a way how social we can become while still remaining alone in our own homes.  Facebook is a huge social networking site that allows people to interact, express thoughts, share ideas, and follow the lives of friends and family.  Blogging, webcasts, podcasts, youtube, and so many more social technology tools have been developed to help us learn and interact socially.  Whether we agree with it or not, humans learn from social interactions.  When we see someone else doing something interesting or of worth, we want to learn and do the same thing.

A classroom is an extremely social environment with students of similar age interacting and working together.  Cooperative learning is a common strategy to promote social interactions and allow students to learn from one another.  Dr. Orey points out how much more a person learns when they are able to teach about a concept and share knowledge with others (Laureate Inc., 2008).  Cooperative learning strategies group students together and gave them opportunities to learn and teach in a social setting.  Student led learning communities are great  for teaching and helping students get the most out of their education.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008).Social Learning Theories. [DVD]. Baltimore: Author.

Voicethread-Counselor Crisis

My assignment for this week was to use and experience the online collaboration tool called VoiceThread.  This tool allows for sharing of thoughts and comments related to any issue, idea, problem, picture, experience, etc.  The problem I chose to focus on was the cutting of elementary school counselors.  I am very saddened and disappointed that the school district has chosen to cut this support program.  I worry about the consequences and negative impact this choice will have on the students.  So many children benefit from the counseling program and now there will be little to no support for struggling children.  Feel free to listen and comment about this problem by visiting my voice thread:    http://voicethread.com/?#u1894638.b2161961.i11528143

Constructivism in Practice

The constructivist and constructionist theories are so important in developing a positive and impactful learning environment.  In a classroom where these theories are applied students get to apply the knowledge they have acquired and create, build, and demonstrate what they have learned.  Dr. Michael Orey (Laureate Education, Inc., 2008) explains why these theories of learning are so important to the educational experience of the student.  Students perform and actually use the knowledge they have learned.  Learning becomes more meaningful as it becomes something the students use and experience.  Students create and demonstrate their understanding of lessons being taught.

Technology provides a whole new world where creations and projects can be designed and presented.  There are numerous websites and programs available to students and teachers that can be used to help enhance learning.  Technology is nothing new to students in this generation and using technology to demonstrate knowledge is a wonderful tool to enhance learning.  Students in second grade can create Power Points, blogs, wikis, and more to truly experience and construct their ideas.  Rather than just reading about fossils and dinosaurs, students can create Power Points demonstrating how fossils are formed and what characteristics dinosaurs possess. Spreadsheets and data collection websites may not be too meaningful to second graders, but with teacher guidance, students can begin to learn how to use these resources along with other technology tools.  Technology allows students to show their individuality and their abilities.  There are very few limits on what can be done or designed.  I am sure that many of my young students could create presentations beyond my own abilities. 

The constructivist and constructionist theories allow students to demonstrate and form student's learning experiences.  Actually being able to apply gained knowledge is the whole purpose of schooling and education.  We live in a time where technology is allowing a whole new world of educational experiences and opportunities.  Limitations are few and given the right guidance, students will be able to construct some amazing things.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2008). Constructionist and Constructivist Learning Theories. Baltimore: Author.