Week 5: Evaluating Your GAME Plan Progress and Problem-based Learning

As another week passes, I find myself anxious... both to start school AND about what technology tools I will be comfortable using this year. I have so much difficulty choosing what is best... for example, sites for classroom wikis. A free site would be best, but which one should I use?? If anyone has any suggestions as to which one would be best for the beginner, I am all ears : )

I will be dropping by school next week to speak with our IT 'guy' about what my class will be able to access this year. It is important that I have a gameplan in place prior to that so that I can explain the technology I want to be able to access and why.

Problem-based learning is still somewhat of a "problem" for me... I can't seem to find a problem that I can relate to my English classes. Ahhh, the beauty of the internet... I will be searching blogs, nings, wikis, etc. for some help here... always open to advice and suggestions.... Judy

Week 4: Steps towards GAME Plan Goals

• Are you finding the information and resources you need?
As I continue to read and explore the internet for information and resources, I am finding that there is an ABUNDANCE of information out there. Almost too much in fact! Chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry would have been easier to choose from : ) . What I have gained from this experience is that my students will also share this same ‘problem’, and will need to learn how to narrow down selections and resources to determine which best suits their needs.

• Do you need to modify your action plan?
Thinking about the upcoming school year, I am excited to try new things with my students. I am also a bit nervous, as I am generally pretty hard on myself and like to be well-versed in something before I attempt to teach others. Sooo, I will be practicing this summer with different technologies, and reviewing my curriculum and current units to see what I can do to create student-centered, project based lessons.

• What have you learned so far?
I have learned how much I DON’T know, but I have also learned that ALL of it (technology) is something I CAN learn. I have learned at 49 years old that I am not too old to learn anything. I have also learned that I need to look at my lessons differently, thinking about the end results first, and building a lesson around how to achieve these results.

• What new questions have arisen?
The questions I have need to be directed to the IT department at my high school. I need to have specific questions for them regarding they types of technology I want to use (blogs, wikis, podcasts, VoiceThread, etc.) and work with them on what will actually work with the blocks that are currently in place within our system.

One final question I struggle with is, as the comic above illustrates, how do I incorporate technology and make learning meaningful and exciting, and yet instill in my young adults the importance and enjoyment of just reading a BOOK...

Thursday 7/15 WEEK 3 Continuing my GAME Plan

As I continue to think about my GAME plan for the upcoming year, one resource that I think will be helpful in achieving real world engagement of my students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems is setting up a class wiki. By using this 21st century digital tool, I feel that I will be able to arouse the curiosity in my students and open the door to their creativity. A classroom wiki is also a place where we, as a class, can archive our work, see our growth, and hear the voices of all the students.

One resource that I have been working on is having a projector in my classroom so that we can project our work, whether planned or spontaneously. We currently have a traveling projector for the English department, which can make things challenging because more often than not it is not available.

As the summer continues, I plan to view other examples of wikis and how they have been used in other classrooms throughout the country, and setup my own for my 2010-2011 classes, and practice, practice, PRACTICE.

EDUC-6713I-2 Developing My Personal GAME Plan

For the Week 2 Application, I had to choose two standards from the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) by reflecting on the standards and indicators to determine which indicators I felt most comfortable with and those with which I was less confident/proficient as I would like to be. Each week, I will then work through the process of developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating my personal GAME plan. I must then take the following steps to develop my GAME plan:
• Set GOALS for strengthening your confidence and proficiency in at least two indicators in the NETS-T.
• Decide what ACTIONS you will take to achieve those goals.
• Determine how you will MONITOR your progress.
• Decide how you will EVALUATE and EXTEND your learning.

National Educational Technology Standards:
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:

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

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

I believe that I can achieve the goals I selected by designing lessons that not only incorporate the content that is required by the curriculum, but by also connecting the content to current or real-world situations. Adding some form of technology to accomplish this will further engage the students and aid in the goal of teaching the content in a student-centered format. As with any new lesson, I will need to reflect on how the lesson/unit went, and make changes as needed based on the response and the results. I will use a journal, along with my plan book, to record observations, suggestions, student comments, and overall successes and failures of each new unit.

Resources:
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.

National Education Technology Standards (2008)