Week 5 Blog

Evaluating My GAME Plan Progress

In my last post, I discussed that I emailed two instructional technology liaisons for my county in order to determine what technology tools and practices are permissible in the classroom. Unfortunately, I have not received an email back from them. I forwarded this email to another individual who educated us on our new grading program, Grade Quick) that we began using this past year. I am hopeful that he will be able to give me some feedback more promptly.

Since I will soon be receiving an Interactive Whiteboard, my GAME plan has really focused on learning more about this technology tool. The advice from my classmates was to learn everything I can about this tool so that I can utilize it to its’ full potential. A classmate suggested I visit this website for some lesson plans and templates. I have found this to be very helpful in getting me started (http://exchange.smarttech.com/#tab=0). I have also begun looking on our county’s sharepoint website for ideas. This website provides lessons and templates that teachers in our county have created already for certain units. It is easily accessible since it contains sub groups by grade level and subject area, similar to what I would like to create for my wiki resource page. I will be using this website as a reference for when I create my wiki page. I have already completed the basic components of setting up a Wiki called TechnologyTools4Us.

I was wondering if my colleagues/classmates that are specifically in grades 3, 4, and 5 would be willing to share some of their whiteboard activities that they have created and used thus far. Many times, these grades teach similar concepts, just in a modified or advanced version. With your permission, I would like to add them to my Wiki. If you would like to be a member once it is underway, I would love it! Then we can all accomplish the goal of a Personal Learning Network.

References:

Laureate Education, Inc., (Producer). (2009). Program Three. Enriching content area learning experiences with technology, part 1 [Motion Picture]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore: Author.

Monitoring my GAME Plan

GREAT NEWS!!! This came at the perfect time, especially since I have created a GAME plan for learning about technology and technology resources. I just found out from my administrator that I will be getting a whiteboard this year. She is hoping that it will be installed in August. I will be attending 6 hours of whiteboard instruction which will hopefully assist me in achieving part of my game plan. Since I have found this new information out, I have been spending some time researching websites that might be useful for implementing the whiteboard in my classroom. I have found the following websites that some of you might be interested in as well. This will obvious be a focus of my new GAME plan. I would appreciate any other resources or advice that any of you have to offer on using the whiteboards. Feel free to share your experiences and your students’ attitudes towards this application. What works well, what does not?

Whiteboards:

http://www.globalclassroom.org/ecell00/javamath.html - tons of interactive whiteboard resources and lessons
http://www.waukeshaschools.com/WIT/smartboard/specificapps.htm - whiteboard ideas, lesson plans, and websites
http://www.ehow.com/list_5939630_smart-board-activities-4th-grade.html - developed around 4th grade
http://www.learningtoday.com/corporate/interactive-whiteboard-lessons.asp - lessons K - 5
http://teacher.scholastic.com/whiteboards/languagearts.htm?lnkid=TNav:TR:Interactive%20Whiteboard&ESP=TR/ib//acq/interactive_WB_tnav_TR///nav/txtl////

My previous GAME plan was to learn and implement about 5 different learning tools within this next school year. After some feedback from my colleagues, I have decided to revise my GAME plan. By using the multiple intelligence test given to my students, I will determine what web tools will meet their needs as well as enrich my lessons. “Technology itself does not become the focal point of instruction. Technology is integrated when it is used in a seamless manner to support and extend curriculum objectives and to engage students in meaningful learning” (King-Sears & Evmenova, 2007, p. 7-8). Therefore, it is crucial that I choose technology that clearly aligns with the curriculum outcomes so that I am using the technology as a compliment.

In my last post, I wanted to determine what technology tools are permissible for school and student use. I have sent an email to the technology specialists and I am waiting to hear back from them. When I find the result, this will allow me to narrow my GAME plan focus even more.

Lastly, in addition to learning about whiteboards, I have also been inquiring about lessons that involve other applications. I have found the following websites to be intriguing. Once I learn about the various tools that are acceptable in my county, I plan on making my own wiki resource page for 3, 4, and 5 grades that will consolidate all of the lessons and activities that would be suitable for our classes and grade levels. This wiki will be shared with all of my 3, 4, and 5 grade colleagues from my school as well as all the other schools in my county so that they may add to it as well. This will help me establish my Personal Learning Network. I have decided to start small so that it is manageable and then build on to it with other grades once I see that it is becoming beneficial.

Technology Wesites:

http://www.bethknittle.net/WP_Blog/ - she has a wiki resource page that has various information about Web tools.
http://ilearntechnology.com/ - provides some great websites to use for various topics
http://blog.classroomteacher.ca/ - ideas for incorporating various web tools
The more knowledgeable I am about these tools and how I can use them effectively in my classroom, the greater my students will benefit from a deeper learning experience.

Reference:

King-Sears, M., & Evmenova, A. S. (2007, Sep/Oct). Premises, principles, and processes for integrating TECHnology into instruction. Teaching Exceptional Children, 40(1), 6–14.

Carrying out my GAME plan

While reviewing my GAME plan, I am aware that I will need to obtain some resources that will help me be successful. I would like to begin forming a Personal Learning Network within my school community. My plan is to create a site in which teachers may post their technology ideas. I think it would be beneficial to organize this site by grade level, subject, objective, and technology tool so that others can access it easily. By doing this, it will allow me to collaborate with other teachers and learn various uses of technology tools that could be implemented in my classroom. In addition to this, I plan on joining technology blogs and researching various technology tools in depth in order to obtain more ideas from others throughout the world.

Additional information that I would like to know is what technology tools are permissible within my school/county. I plan on contacting my technology liaison and the technology supervisor to obtain these answers. This will help me identify what technology applications I may want to pursue and research throughout the school year. I don’t want to waste my time planning lessons around using a Wiki if students are not allowed to engage in this activity.

Currently, I have identified a multiple intelligence test that I can give to my students to determine how they learn best and what their learning style is. This survey should be quick and should provide me with information that will allow me to incorporate the Universal Design of Learning. My “instruction can then be designed and implemented for students with diverse learning styles, preferences, abilities, and motivation” (Cennamo, Ross, Ertmer, 2009, p. 127). I also have identified a rubric maker that will help me and my students evaluate and reflect upon the effectiveness of the lesson as well as the technology tool.

http://literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html

http://www.rubrician.com/general.htm

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.

My GAME Plan

As I reviewed the National Educational Standards for Teachers, I realized that I am not proficient in many of these standards, which confirms that I have chosen the correct concentration for my Master’s degree. Personally, I feel comfortable to say that I try to model creative and innovation thinking through traditional forms of instruction; however, I have been learning various ways in which technology can achieve these skills more readily when used in the learning environment (Cennamo et al., 2009).

Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer (2009) discuss how teachers can create GAME plans in order to respond to the rapid and continuous technological changes so that they may better meet the needs of their students today and in the future. Two indicators that I would like to strengthen as a teacher are:

Goals

1b. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.

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

Actions

1. In order to engage and personalize learning activities using digital tools, I need to obtain the knowledge necessary to utilize the tool effectively before I can incorporate into my lessons. Dr. Peggy Ertmer strongly encouraged that teachers research and manipulate the digital tools first before using it with students so that they are comfortable with the tool and experience success while using it (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009a). Therefore, my first action would be to identify at least 1 new technology tool every 2 months. This will allow me to explore the applications so that I can become familiar with the tool and gain experience with it. Overall, this will allow me to become proficient in approximately 5 digital tools throughout the school year. I will also seek out a Personal Learning Network (PLN) as suggested by a teacher from our video resource to ensure that I have many avenues in which I can become skilled in these technology tools.

2. I would also like to understand my students learning styles better so that I can effectively meet their needs. In order to do this, I will have my students take a multiple intelligence test (similar to the following website) to identify what multiple intelligences they excel in (http://literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html). I I will also have conversations with students about how they feel they best learn (given choices, how would they rather engage in the learning activity). Based on the information gathered, I will create lesson plans that encompass a plethora of learning styles using the proper technology tools that coincide with the content objective. As a teacher stated on our video resource, technology is to enrich our system. As teachers, we should look at our objectives and decide what digital tool will enrich and accommodate the lesson (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009b).

Monitoring

In order to determine how well my students are meeting their learning goals, I will use a variety of informal and formal assessments. After I execute a lesson, I will actively reflect on what worked and what I need to improve upon so that I can modify my lesson for future years. I will also have my students reflect on their learning by rating their level of engagement and motivation throughout the lesson. Were they actively engaged in the lesson? Were the students able to explore and identify accurate information using the digital tool specified?

Evaluating

I plan to evaluate my GAME plan by asking myself several questions: Were the students successful in mastering the skill noted in the objective? Was the digital tool specified the appropriate tool for the lesson? I will give the students the opportunity to express their opinions about the lesson to each other as well as to me through a “feedback” form. Using this form, I will make the necessary changes to my lesson so that it may be more successful in the future. I will also have students perform a special task using the digital tool so that I can verify that my students know how to use it effectively. This will allow me to determine if this particular tool will need to be implemented using other curriculum objectives for more practice.
By becoming more knowledgeable in various digital tools, I can provide authentic learning experiences for my students. I will be able to deliver instructions through a multiple of modalities in order to varying learning styles. Technology will also provide students with various presentations methods that will enhance their learning experience and make it more meaningful to them.

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). (2009a). Program Three. Enriching content area learning experiences with technology, part 1 [Motion Picture]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore: Author.

Laureate Education, Inc., (Producer). (2009b). Program Four. Enriching content area learning experiences with technology, part 1 [Motion Picture]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore: Author.

Multiple Intelligence Test located at http://literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html

National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf