Here is a link to my PowerPoint presentation on course management systems in the classroom:
https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dm6c892_23fnrpm9gr
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Final G.A.M.E. Plan Post
All in all, I am pretty pleased with the GAME plan even though I did not have an opportunity to utilize it IN a classroom. At first, I made a couple 'general' goals. However, the modification I made to my GAME plan, resulting in a suitcase of material, was essential in making me feel positive about the whole ordeal. I am not going to lie, the fact that I do not have my own classroom makes a project such as this a little difficult. However, the fact that I decided to make a little suitcase of strategies, materials, and ideas made the whole assignment worthwhile and effective.
I now have a list of technological materials that I can utilize when I get the chance, in addition to a brief synopsis of how I can utilize these tools. I think that this will be greatly beneficial when the time comes and I am very excited about the whole ordeal. I am also intrigued because outlining my own GAME plan has inspired me to have my own students look at what is expected of them and identify how they are going to fulfill these goals themselves. I think this is a great tool for kids these days to have and I believe it is something that not a lot of kids possess. This strategy could be greatly beneficial for my future students and I am excited to motivate them to take part in this strategy.
I now have a list of technological materials that I can utilize when I get the chance, in addition to a brief synopsis of how I can utilize these tools. I think that this will be greatly beneficial when the time comes and I am very excited about the whole ordeal. I am also intrigued because outlining my own GAME plan has inspired me to have my own students look at what is expected of them and identify how they are going to fulfill these goals themselves. I think this is a great tool for kids these days to have and I believe it is something that not a lot of kids possess. This strategy could be greatly beneficial for my future students and I am excited to motivate them to take part in this strategy.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
GAME Planning in the Classroom
There are a couple different ways that GAME planning can be incorporated into my classroom, in my opinion. I think it can be done explicitly and also done by the teacher in way where students undertake GAME planning somewhat "subconsciously" (not sure if that's the right word?).
I think at the beginning of the year, it would be ideal to introduce students to NETS-S standards because they have most likely never heard of them. At the same time, I think it would be beneficial to go into a little detail about them and explain their relevance and their place in our classes curriculum (which they might wonder about because it is 'social studies' class). The next step I would take is pairing up assignments, projects, activities, and other classroom actions with the particular NETS-S that they go along with. Then, from time to time, I would require that students complete a brief GAME plan outline where they take the specific NETS-S and the particular assignment and go through the steps of GAME planning. It might require a little extra effort on my part, and the students, to incorporate this into a social studies curriculum, however it does have quite a few benefits.
First of all, it ensures that I am doing my part reaching NETS-S and preparing my students for the 21st Century. Secondly, it gives students the opportunity to work on identifying goals and looking at how they can actually go about succeeding in reaching their goals. I think this is a tool that students these days sometimes lack and it could be a very important tool for them to have in long run. I think a lot of people can make or identify goals, however, sometimes we lack the ability to create or identify a plan of action to actually reach the goal.
I think at the beginning of the year, it would be ideal to introduce students to NETS-S standards because they have most likely never heard of them. At the same time, I think it would be beneficial to go into a little detail about them and explain their relevance and their place in our classes curriculum (which they might wonder about because it is 'social studies' class). The next step I would take is pairing up assignments, projects, activities, and other classroom actions with the particular NETS-S that they go along with. Then, from time to time, I would require that students complete a brief GAME plan outline where they take the specific NETS-S and the particular assignment and go through the steps of GAME planning. It might require a little extra effort on my part, and the students, to incorporate this into a social studies curriculum, however it does have quite a few benefits.
First of all, it ensures that I am doing my part reaching NETS-S and preparing my students for the 21st Century. Secondly, it gives students the opportunity to work on identifying goals and looking at how they can actually go about succeeding in reaching their goals. I think this is a tool that students these days sometimes lack and it could be a very important tool for them to have in long run. I think a lot of people can make or identify goals, however, sometimes we lack the ability to create or identify a plan of action to actually reach the goal.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
GAME Plan Part III
Thanks to the advice I was given on last weeks post, I have decided to modify my original GAME Plan in a way that suits my situation of currently being a substitute teacher. Since I cannot simply put things into practice the way I could in my own classroom, I am changing my action plan to creating a 'suitcase' of technological tools, strategies, and skills that I will be able to use and add to throughout my entire life.
That being said, how am I going to do this? My plan right now is to create a document that lists a specific tool, skill, or strategy with a brief summary of what it is capable of doing or how it is of use to me in the classroom. In addition to this, I am going to create a running list of ways that I can incorporate it specifically into my curriculum. This could be in general or through the use of specific lesson plans that could be supplemented with the particular technology. By doing this, I can create a significantly sized list without becoming overwhelmed with a bunch of tools that I may or may not use on a regular basis. Another thing (which I literally just thought of while writing this) that I will do is create a checklist for each tool. This checklist will keep track of which tools I have learned about and which ones I have practiced using. This way, I can continue to build on the tools that I am actually capable of integrating in my classroom and which ones I still need to become more proficient with.
That last bit goes into the next progression of fulfilling this particular goal of my GAME Plan. Not only do I need to keep track of all of the tools I am introduced to or come across, but I need to become proficient enough with their use so that I can successfully integrate them in my classroom. I think that be creating a list such as the one I have proposed, I will be motivated to do this on my own and will be able to stay organized throughout the process.
Finally, I want to thank the people who suggested the basis of this idea on my last post, I may not have thought of this without your help! (What a way to learn the benefits of online collaboration first hand!!)
That being said, how am I going to do this? My plan right now is to create a document that lists a specific tool, skill, or strategy with a brief summary of what it is capable of doing or how it is of use to me in the classroom. In addition to this, I am going to create a running list of ways that I can incorporate it specifically into my curriculum. This could be in general or through the use of specific lesson plans that could be supplemented with the particular technology. By doing this, I can create a significantly sized list without becoming overwhelmed with a bunch of tools that I may or may not use on a regular basis. Another thing (which I literally just thought of while writing this) that I will do is create a checklist for each tool. This checklist will keep track of which tools I have learned about and which ones I have practiced using. This way, I can continue to build on the tools that I am actually capable of integrating in my classroom and which ones I still need to become more proficient with.
That last bit goes into the next progression of fulfilling this particular goal of my GAME Plan. Not only do I need to keep track of all of the tools I am introduced to or come across, but I need to become proficient enough with their use so that I can successfully integrate them in my classroom. I think that be creating a list such as the one I have proposed, I will be motivated to do this on my own and will be able to stay organized throughout the process.
Finally, I want to thank the people who suggested the basis of this idea on my last post, I may not have thought of this without your help! (What a way to learn the benefits of online collaboration first hand!!)
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Evaluating Progress Part II
Well, similar to last week, I am having a hard time evaluating my fulfillment of my GAME plan due to the fact that I don't have a classroom to work towards the goals I have created. (If anyone has any suggestions or tips, please feel free to offer them to me, I am all ears!)
With that being said, however, I am able to work towards learning about new technological tools that can be used in the classroom to prepare myself to integrate them into my own classroom when that time comes. Although my original goal focused around actual technological tools, I feel that websites can also fall under that category as well. One new website that I was introduced to in the learning resources for this week is something I find very interesting and I believe it could be utilized in the classroom very effectively. The website, http://web.wm.edu/hsi/?svr=www, or Historical Scene Investigation, provides interesting scenarios in history and proposes inquiries about them. In addition, once a scenario is selected, numerous primary sources are provided to be accessed from the website to investigate the issue and create an opinion of your own. This is a great way to give students practice using primary documents and critically thinking in order to make informed opinions out of these documents. As a social studies teacher, I think this particular website could be very helpful in a classroom and would definitely be something new to me as well.
With that being said, however, I am able to work towards learning about new technological tools that can be used in the classroom to prepare myself to integrate them into my own classroom when that time comes. Although my original goal focused around actual technological tools, I feel that websites can also fall under that category as well. One new website that I was introduced to in the learning resources for this week is something I find very interesting and I believe it could be utilized in the classroom very effectively. The website, http://web.wm.edu/hsi/?svr=www, or Historical Scene Investigation, provides interesting scenarios in history and proposes inquiries about them. In addition, once a scenario is selected, numerous primary sources are provided to be accessed from the website to investigate the issue and create an opinion of your own. This is a great way to give students practice using primary documents and critically thinking in order to make informed opinions out of these documents. As a social studies teacher, I think this particular website could be very helpful in a classroom and would definitely be something new to me as well.
Monday, November 22, 2010
My Progress
As a substitute teacher, it is mildly difficult to see a lot of the progress that I can make succeeding in the implementation of a GAME Plan. In essence, what I am able to do is envision myself in a classroom of my own and take steps that I believe will be necessary to prepare myself to be successful in fulfilling my goals in the future. That being said, the main area of progress I can work on now, without having my own classroom, is becoming able to utilize a variety of new technological tools that can be integrated in the classroom. Through this program and through substituting in other teachers classrooms, I have been able to use and view quite a few new technological tools in action and gain some practice using them. For example, I have actually been on a long-term substitute assignment as a computer teacher for grades k-2 and have been able to use a variety of websites and tools that I had not used previously.
In addition to using new tools, I am also working at a grade-level that I do not have a whole lot of experience with, as I am certified to teach 7-12 social studies. Therefore, not only are the technological tools themselves new, but the content is new as well so I am able to see how different tools can be used at different levels, which is a great way to develop a new perspective on the effectiveness of certain tools. One of these tools is the website Earobics. This is a website that can be used with students who are new to reading or students who should be at the level to be able to read and are struggling. Students are able to log on to the program and complete a daily set of 'games' that monitor their ability to complete a variety of tasks associated with reading.It keeps track of their progress and becomes either harder or easier the next time they come in depending on their success that given day. This tool is a great way to differentiate instructional practices and give students something to look forward to doing, while at the same time helping them develop the necessary skills in order to read.
My other goal of modeling appropriate use of information, however, is one that I have not been able to actually practice in the classroom because I am not utilizing sources of information that I am able to reference. I would have to say that this is something that can only progress when I have my own classroom and am actually creating lessons and materials to use that need to be referenced. That being said, however, I am able to practice citing references on assignments for this program so although I am not fulfilling this goal in the classroom, I am gaining additional experience with the practice which should help me down the road.
I am pretty happy with the plan I have setout for myself and am looking forward to reaching a point where I have achieved these goals. However, I feel that I can never stop trying to achieve my goal of integrating various forms of technology into my classroom because every year a new tool will come out that will have beneficial applications in the classroom. That, in particular, will be a goal throughout every year of my career and I believe that it is my responsibility to remain fluent with the new technologies that come into play.
In addition to using new tools, I am also working at a grade-level that I do not have a whole lot of experience with, as I am certified to teach 7-12 social studies. Therefore, not only are the technological tools themselves new, but the content is new as well so I am able to see how different tools can be used at different levels, which is a great way to develop a new perspective on the effectiveness of certain tools. One of these tools is the website Earobics. This is a website that can be used with students who are new to reading or students who should be at the level to be able to read and are struggling. Students are able to log on to the program and complete a daily set of 'games' that monitor their ability to complete a variety of tasks associated with reading.It keeps track of their progress and becomes either harder or easier the next time they come in depending on their success that given day. This tool is a great way to differentiate instructional practices and give students something to look forward to doing, while at the same time helping them develop the necessary skills in order to read.
My other goal of modeling appropriate use of information, however, is one that I have not been able to actually practice in the classroom because I am not utilizing sources of information that I am able to reference. I would have to say that this is something that can only progress when I have my own classroom and am actually creating lessons and materials to use that need to be referenced. That being said, however, I am able to practice citing references on assignments for this program so although I am not fulfilling this goal in the classroom, I am gaining additional experience with the practice which should help me down the road.
I am pretty happy with the plan I have setout for myself and am looking forward to reaching a point where I have achieved these goals. However, I feel that I can never stop trying to achieve my goal of integrating various forms of technology into my classroom because every year a new tool will come out that will have beneficial applications in the classroom. That, in particular, will be a goal throughout every year of my career and I believe that it is my responsibility to remain fluent with the new technologies that come into play.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
My GAME Plan
In general, I have always felt pretty comfortable using technology as I have grown up using technology my entire life. That being said, however, there is always room for improvement and I aspire to constantly get better at using technologies I am already familiar with and technologies that are new to me as well. When I use technology in the classroom, there are two specific NETS-T Standards that I want to focus on getting better at.
One of these is standard number 3: Model Digital-Age Work and Learning. Like many people, when I find something I like, I have a tendency to stick with that something and use it a majority of the time. I think that over time, I must begin to incorporate multiple technological tools into my teaching to show my students the variety of tools available to them and also in order to model how to use these tools. In addition to modeling the use of specific technologies, I also want to model how to be use information that is found on the internet.
This falls under NETS-S #4: Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility. In order to get my students to understand the importance of legal and ethical information use, I must model this in my own classroom and at ALL times. For a lot of teachers (myself included) it is easy to neglect these practices from time to time, especially if something is done in a hurry or time is not a provided luxury. However, it is essential to the development of our students behaviors to model this practice all of the time in our classroom so we 'practice what we preach' so to speak. How can we expect our students to understand and appreciate the importance of referencing sources if we provide information and various media files without the use of any citations what-so-ever. Not only is it unethical and irresponsible, it is creating an atmosphere where these types of things are not appreciated and are therefore likely to be neglected.
In both cases, strengthening my confidence in these two standards comes down to one thing, experience. I feel that if I gain enough practice in both of these standards, I will eventually increase my confidence in providing these two standards to my students. Therefore, I need to ensure that I am constantly staying up-to-date not only with new technologies but also with changes in citation etiquette, as it changes quite often. Essentially, what it comes down to me for me is establishing the effort to increase my proficiency in both of these standards by being a self-motivated learner. By increasing proficiency in these two standards, I will increase my confidence as well which will benefit my classroom greatly in these two areas.
Evaluating my progress on standard #4 is somewhat straight-forward, as I can simply evaluate all of the information that I use in my classroom and ensure that I am always citing these resources properly. I can go back at the end of a unit, or lesson, or even the year to determine whether or not I have accomplished my goal and have lived up to the appropriate standard.
Evaluating standard #3 may be a little more difficult because it is somewhat arbitrary to determine whether or not I have modeled enough different types of technology tools in my classroom. However, I think I will document each time I use a certain type of technology and then keep track of the number of times I use it in order to, at the end of the year, determine if I accomplished my goal of modeling digital-age work and learning in my classroom.
One of these is standard number 3: Model Digital-Age Work and Learning. Like many people, when I find something I like, I have a tendency to stick with that something and use it a majority of the time. I think that over time, I must begin to incorporate multiple technological tools into my teaching to show my students the variety of tools available to them and also in order to model how to use these tools. In addition to modeling the use of specific technologies, I also want to model how to be use information that is found on the internet.
This falls under NETS-S #4: Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility. In order to get my students to understand the importance of legal and ethical information use, I must model this in my own classroom and at ALL times. For a lot of teachers (myself included) it is easy to neglect these practices from time to time, especially if something is done in a hurry or time is not a provided luxury. However, it is essential to the development of our students behaviors to model this practice all of the time in our classroom so we 'practice what we preach' so to speak. How can we expect our students to understand and appreciate the importance of referencing sources if we provide information and various media files without the use of any citations what-so-ever. Not only is it unethical and irresponsible, it is creating an atmosphere where these types of things are not appreciated and are therefore likely to be neglected.
In both cases, strengthening my confidence in these two standards comes down to one thing, experience. I feel that if I gain enough practice in both of these standards, I will eventually increase my confidence in providing these two standards to my students. Therefore, I need to ensure that I am constantly staying up-to-date not only with new technologies but also with changes in citation etiquette, as it changes quite often. Essentially, what it comes down to me for me is establishing the effort to increase my proficiency in both of these standards by being a self-motivated learner. By increasing proficiency in these two standards, I will increase my confidence as well which will benefit my classroom greatly in these two areas.
Evaluating my progress on standard #4 is somewhat straight-forward, as I can simply evaluate all of the information that I use in my classroom and ensure that I am always citing these resources properly. I can go back at the end of a unit, or lesson, or even the year to determine whether or not I have accomplished my goal and have lived up to the appropriate standard.
Evaluating standard #3 may be a little more difficult because it is somewhat arbitrary to determine whether or not I have modeled enough different types of technology tools in my classroom. However, I think I will document each time I use a certain type of technology and then keep track of the number of times I use it in order to, at the end of the year, determine if I accomplished my goal of modeling digital-age work and learning in my classroom.
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