As I reflect back on this Walden course and the GAME plan I created, I feel that I have made huge steps in integrating technology into my classroom. Creating a GAME plan has given me something concrete to look at and to monitor the steps I am taking. I feel that I have followed the actions of my GAME plan and even been able to add to my plan.
I enjoyed creating a 3-lesson unit with the integration of technology in each lesson. I plan to use the unit I created this spring when I teach my second graders about animal habitats. I have learned, with the help of my Walden classmates, that it is possible to implement all of the new things I am learning, but it might not always happen as quickly as I would like. I’ve learned to just take a little bit at a time, work with it, tweak it to my own, and then implement it when the time is right.
Setting goals in my GAME plan has given me the courage and motivation to create my own technology lessons on the SmartBoard, rather than just finding pre-created lessons on the internet. I am excited about continuing to create my own lessons, especially knowing that I can design them specifically to meet the needs to my students. I also plan to integrate digital storytelling into my teaching. Throughout this course I have thought of many different units and lessons where digital storytelling would fit in perfectly.
I am looking forward to taking all that I have learned through this program at Walden and implementing it into my classroom!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Creating a student GAME Plan
Over the past several weeks, developing a GAME plan and working to carry the GAME plan out, has been very useful for me. I like having something concrete for me to look at, instead of just setting goals for myself in my head. Creating a GAME plan that focuses on technology use in my classroom has allowed me to set goals, work to complete those goals, monitor my progress along the way, and chance or tweak anything that I felt needed to change. I feel that after creating my own GAME plan and seeing first hand how it works, having my students create one would be the next step.
I work with my students every year to create goals for themselves. They create goals in subjects such as reading and writing. Now, I that I am implementing technology in my classroom more and more, I can have my students create goals for themselves in technology using a GAME plan. When I first created my GAME plan, I looked at the National Education Standards for teachers to choose areas that I felt I needed assistance. I looked at the National Education Standards for students and decided there are two areas that would be a good place for students to start for their GAME plan.
The first falls under Creativity and Innovation: Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. The two areas under this standard that would focus on are
a. apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
b. create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
My students already have some exposure to technology and I would like for them to create a GAME plan so that they can show this knowledge and to take what they have learned a step further and create their own original work.
The second area I would like for my students' GAME plan to focus on fall under Communication and Collaboration: Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
I have been working with blogs in my classroom and I would also like to incorporate wikis into my students work. I am a big fan of collaborative groups and I think this would be a strong area to focus on in the GAME plan.
My students are only in second grade and have just recently been exposed to technology in the classroom over the past year. I would like to start with creating a class GAME plan with my students so that they have an overall understanding of what a GAME plan is and how it works. We can set our goals together and work to take action on these goals as I facilitate technology lessons in my classroom.
I work with my students every year to create goals for themselves. They create goals in subjects such as reading and writing. Now, I that I am implementing technology in my classroom more and more, I can have my students create goals for themselves in technology using a GAME plan. When I first created my GAME plan, I looked at the National Education Standards for teachers to choose areas that I felt I needed assistance. I looked at the National Education Standards for students and decided there are two areas that would be a good place for students to start for their GAME plan.
The first falls under Creativity and Innovation: Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. The two areas under this standard that would focus on are
a. apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
b. create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
My students already have some exposure to technology and I would like for them to create a GAME plan so that they can show this knowledge and to take what they have learned a step further and create their own original work.
The second area I would like for my students' GAME plan to focus on fall under Communication and Collaboration: Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
I have been working with blogs in my classroom and I would also like to incorporate wikis into my students work. I am a big fan of collaborative groups and I think this would be a strong area to focus on in the GAME plan.
My students are only in second grade and have just recently been exposed to technology in the classroom over the past year. I would like to start with creating a class GAME plan with my students so that they have an overall understanding of what a GAME plan is and how it works. We can set our goals together and work to take action on these goals as I facilitate technology lessons in my classroom.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
GAME Plan... continuing to evaluate my goals
Through working with my technology coordinator at my school, I have learned many new tools and applications that can be used with my SmartBoard. I have been working to create my own lessons, and with each lesson I create I am able to create more in depth activities for my students. I am not having a lot of luck with finding professional growth opportunities, besides the online communities that I have been visiting. Because I teach at a private school, the administrators are very particular about where they will spend their money. Because I am the only interested in visiting a technology conference, this is something that has been put to the front of our “budget list”.
As I revisited the NET-S, I came across the standard, “Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity”. Through my own GAME plan goals, I, as a student, have been learning how to create lessons in a creative way. I feel that this standard can easily go along with the goals I am already working on, so I would like to add it to my goals as well. I would especially like to focus on point b under this standard; engage student in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. The more I am learning through these courses at Walden about online collaboration, I am seeing all of the possibilities of what I can implement in my classroom. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to encourage student learning while teaching them about real-world issues.
As I revisited the NET-S, I came across the standard, “Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity”. Through my own GAME plan goals, I, as a student, have been learning how to create lessons in a creative way. I feel that this standard can easily go along with the goals I am already working on, so I would like to add it to my goals as well. I would especially like to focus on point b under this standard; engage student in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. The more I am learning through these courses at Walden about online collaboration, I am seeing all of the possibilities of what I can implement in my classroom. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to encourage student learning while teaching them about real-world issues.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Evaluating my GAME plan
I have been working on the goals I set in my GAME plan over the past few weeks and have made some progress that I am proud of. This past week, I created a few lessons for the SmartBoard that I used in reading. We read a story called The Secret Life of Tress. I created an interactive lesson for my students to put the different parts of a tree together, as well as match the definitions. As I have said before, in the past I have depended mostly on using lessons that I have find online that were created by other teachers. It felt really great to create a lesson that I am proud of and that my students loved.
My action of talking to our technology director about the ins and outs of my SmartBoard really helped me in this process. She showed me tools that I didn't even know I had. It helped me to create much more than just a basic "slideshow" lesson like I had done in the past.
My other goal of seeking professional development is moving a little more slowly. I have found a technology conference that will be held in the spring. I am currently trying to find other teachers that may be interested. Our school only has 3 SmartBoards and not all classrooms have student computers. Many teachers aren't interested because they don't feel that it will benefit them. My principal seems to be on-board so I am hoping that we can come up with the funds to send atleast myself and one or two others.
As proud as I am of my SmartBoard lesson, I know there are so many more technology tools out there that I would like to learn about and implement into my classroom. Next, I would like to have my students create a digital presentation for the state projects we will be working on. Each student has researched a state and after winter break, they will be creating a brochure to tell about their state. I would love to have them create something on the computer using pictures and their voice to tell about the state. Does anyone have any suggestions?
As I continue working on my GAME plan, I am learning how many tools are out there to help me in my goal of creating lessons using technology. I'll continue learning how to use these tools through my own trial and error and hopefully one day will be the technology-savvy teacher I've always wanted to be.
My action of talking to our technology director about the ins and outs of my SmartBoard really helped me in this process. She showed me tools that I didn't even know I had. It helped me to create much more than just a basic "slideshow" lesson like I had done in the past.
My other goal of seeking professional development is moving a little more slowly. I have found a technology conference that will be held in the spring. I am currently trying to find other teachers that may be interested. Our school only has 3 SmartBoards and not all classrooms have student computers. Many teachers aren't interested because they don't feel that it will benefit them. My principal seems to be on-board so I am hoping that we can come up with the funds to send atleast myself and one or two others.
As proud as I am of my SmartBoard lesson, I know there are so many more technology tools out there that I would like to learn about and implement into my classroom. Next, I would like to have my students create a digital presentation for the state projects we will be working on. Each student has researched a state and after winter break, they will be creating a brochure to tell about their state. I would love to have them create something on the computer using pictures and their voice to tell about the state. Does anyone have any suggestions?
As I continue working on my GAME plan, I am learning how many tools are out there to help me in my goal of creating lessons using technology. I'll continue learning how to use these tools through my own trial and error and hopefully one day will be the technology-savvy teacher I've always wanted to be.
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