This has been a very interesting class for me. It has forced me to take a look at the areas of technology where I need work and what I can do to make them better. Initially, when I set up my GAME plan, I didn't realize it was something we were going to take care of within the time span of this class, but I managed to work with it anyway. I was able to set up a wiki in my classes and get their opinions on it. I am so excited about using it because they are excited and intrigued and ready to try something different.
Because I went ahead and set up these wikis, earlier that I planned, I found that I can use new technology tools with my students. I feel more confident in myself that I have the ability to use the tools I learned about in this master's program. I brought my superintendent in my room to tell him about the wiki and got him excited. This makes me want to try even more. I am going to use the wiki and then introduce another tool to my students. I just have to decide which one. This class has given me the confidence to try out the technology tools because the GAME plan forced me to get in there and put one into action. I have been wanting to use one for such a long time, but never felt like I was good enough. I didn't want to let my students down. Now, I know I can.
Since the wikis are already set up, I will use it with my students and then decide which new tool to use and how I want to use it. It may depend on what topic we are studying at the time. I like the idea of blogs, but my superintendent is a little leery of them because of a problem a high school teacher had with hers. I would love to try voice threads, too, if I can get enough headsets. I really like the unit I put together for this class on rocks and the rock cycle. By the time we get to that topic, I think my students should be able to handle everything I planned. I can't wait to try it! I want to thank all of my colleagues for all of the help and advice during this class. I could never have made it through without all of you. I am looking forward to seeing what the last two classes have in store for us.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Week 7 - GAME plan for students
For this weeks blog posting, we are supposed to think about the GAME plan we set up for ourselves and think about how we might help our students set up one for themselves. During this process, we have become more proficient in technology and skills required of us, so how can we help our students set up a plan that will help them become more proficient in the skills that are required of them. If you look at NETS for teachers and the NETS for students, you will see that the standards are very similar. I have already been through the process, so it would be easy to do it with my students.
I could give each student a copy of the standards for them and have them read through it. They would, then, follow the same procedure that we did for this class. I would have each student pick two standards that they want to work toward, set up an action plan, a way to monitor their progress, and a way to evaluate. Of course, their plans would look a little different than ours because they are students but they would still have the main ideas and concepts. I can discuss with them and help them decide on which standards are the ones they need to work on and why. If we can teach students how to use the GAME plan, then according to Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer (2009), we can prepare students for lifelong learning (pg. 4). I think this would work. I would appreciate any advice from my colleagues.
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.
Tami
I could give each student a copy of the standards for them and have them read through it. They would, then, follow the same procedure that we did for this class. I would have each student pick two standards that they want to work toward, set up an action plan, a way to monitor their progress, and a way to evaluate. Of course, their plans would look a little different than ours because they are students but they would still have the main ideas and concepts. I can discuss with them and help them decide on which standards are the ones they need to work on and why. If we can teach students how to use the GAME plan, then according to Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer (2009), we can prepare students for lifelong learning (pg. 4). I think this would work. I would appreciate any advice from my colleagues.
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.
Tami
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Week - 6: GAME plan revision
As I continued to revise my GAME plan this week, I realized that I was pretty much on track with mine. I was continuing with this class and will finish up the program with the last two classes. Also, I am looking out for tools that I can use with my students that I feel will be fairly easy and quick for them to pick up on and use. They do not have very much experience using various technology tools, so I have to go slow when I introduce a new one. I have been using real world situations when we go over new topics, so that they can see how they tie into their lives. So far, the only tool I have been able to use with them is Power Point, and it seems to be going pretty well. They are struggling to create the slides without putting entire books on them, but we are working on that issue. The higher level students like being able to put in audio and video, and this has made some of my middle students want to learn how to do that. The students are very excited about working with the Power Point because I let them present it on the Smart board.
There are some questions that need to be addressed for this assignment.
1. What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instructional practice? What goals are you still working toward?
What I have learned so far is that students need time to practice with the tools, once they have been introduced to them. It is best to start with a small assignment and let them work on the skills necessary for that tool, than to give them a big one and expect them to get it right the first time. I like the reflection and revision that Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer (2009) discuss in their book that we read. It helped me so much, when I was teaching my students about the correct way to create Power Point slides. The goals I am still working on the the technology tools I want to teach my students. I would love to get them using a wiki or even a blog, but I need a little more experience with these myself.
2. Based on the NETS-T, what new learning goals will you set for yourself?
There is one I would like to set for myself right now. It falls under #3 - Model Digital-Age Work and Learning. Teachers will communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats. I think this will help me to be better at teaching them the technology tools they need and fulfill one of my previous goals.
3. If you are not ready to set new learning goals, how will you extend what you have learned so far?
I do think that I will set the goal described in #2, but I still want to focus on the goals I have set in the beginning. I am not totally finished with them. There are still tools I believe that my students need to have at least been introduced to, if not used many times.
4. What learning approaches will you try next time to improve your learning?
For next time, I will find real world applications that I can use to practice the skills on. I want to use this approach on my students, too. So far, they seem to really enjoy that and respond positively to it. I just need to find ways for me and them to be able to practice the technology that we both need.
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.
Tami Phipps
There are some questions that need to be addressed for this assignment.
1. What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instructional practice? What goals are you still working toward?
What I have learned so far is that students need time to practice with the tools, once they have been introduced to them. It is best to start with a small assignment and let them work on the skills necessary for that tool, than to give them a big one and expect them to get it right the first time. I like the reflection and revision that Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer (2009) discuss in their book that we read. It helped me so much, when I was teaching my students about the correct way to create Power Point slides. The goals I am still working on the the technology tools I want to teach my students. I would love to get them using a wiki or even a blog, but I need a little more experience with these myself.
2. Based on the NETS-T, what new learning goals will you set for yourself?
There is one I would like to set for myself right now. It falls under #3 - Model Digital-Age Work and Learning. Teachers will communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats. I think this will help me to be better at teaching them the technology tools they need and fulfill one of my previous goals.
3. If you are not ready to set new learning goals, how will you extend what you have learned so far?
I do think that I will set the goal described in #2, but I still want to focus on the goals I have set in the beginning. I am not totally finished with them. There are still tools I believe that my students need to have at least been introduced to, if not used many times.
4. What learning approaches will you try next time to improve your learning?
For next time, I will find real world applications that I can use to practice the skills on. I want to use this approach on my students, too. So far, they seem to really enjoy that and respond positively to it. I just need to find ways for me and them to be able to practice the technology that we both need.
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.
Tami Phipps
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Week 5 - Evaluation of GAME Plan
Well, I got this assignment started off on the wrong foot. I was so focused on the application for this week that I didn't realize we had this blog posting to write. So, here I am writing it on Saturday. I am very sorry about that everyone. As I evaluated my progress toward meeting my goals, I looked first at the actions I planned to take to see how effective they were in helping me meet those goals. I planned to continue on with these college classes, which I have, and find examples of technology that I have access to that I will have the time to teach my students. So far, the only examples that I feel I can really use with my students, at this time, is going to be teaching them how to use Power Point correctly and then add visuals and sound to it. There are other technologies that I want to use, but they will take time and I feel I should do one at a time.
I have learned, so far, that technology is only going to benefit my students if they know how to use it correctly. It is my job to make sure they know how to use it to its fullest potential. They can carry that knowledge with them forever and teach others. I still need to learn how to develop better questions to ask my students that will start them thinking. I find myself asking more questions about performance based lessons. How do I make things more about the real world? I feel that I can adjust my plan a little by learning more about PBL's and digital video. Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer (2009) discuss how digital video is good tool to use for showing students skills and knowledge. I would welcome and appreciate any help or advice from any of my colleagues.
I have learned, so far, that technology is only going to benefit my students if they know how to use it correctly. It is my job to make sure they know how to use it to its fullest potential. They can carry that knowledge with them forever and teach others. I still need to learn how to develop better questions to ask my students that will start them thinking. I find myself asking more questions about performance based lessons. How do I make things more about the real world? I feel that I can adjust my plan a little by learning more about PBL's and digital video. Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer (2009) discuss how digital video is good tool to use for showing students skills and knowledge. I would welcome and appreciate any help or advice from any of my colleagues.
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