Reflection

It is important to develop students’ creative and critical thinking skills (Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009).  While working with my GAME plan and the Content Area Unit plan, I realize the significance of this statement.  Students gain a deeper understanding of creative thinking while working with technology. I have gained a multitude of important information about technology through discussions with my instructor and colleagues.  By sharing ideas within the discussion board and blog site, I see areas where I need to improve my instructional strategies to implement more technology based activities.

            In my GAME plan, I stated that I wanted to begin implementing blogs in my classroom.  The idea never really seemed important to me before this course, because I knew the sites were blocked by our firewalls.  After reading the resources and collaborating with my colleagues, I see the reason to take the road less taken by others in my district.  I have begun the process to implement blogs in my classroom in the Fall.  I am excited to see the benefits of the technology within the education of my students.  They will be able to communicate with other students and share their ideas.  The students will become more self-directed learners, confident in their knowledge, motivated, and flexible in their thinking (Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009).

After constructing the Content Area Unit Plan, I am eager to use digital storytelling in my Language Arts class.   The wheels have been turning in my mind about ways to implement the technology into a variety of lessons.  The digital storytelling allows students to show their creativity.  I already have several ideas of ways to incorporate the technology into different units of study.

            Overall, I am pleased with the knowledge I have gained from this course.  I feel that I have become a more self-directed learner through constructing different projects for observation during the creation of my GAME and Content Area Unit Plans.  I am excited for a new school year to start in August to implement the many ideas I have gained from this course. 

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.

Monitoring My GAME Plan

As students prepare for the future, the internet plays a vital role in their education.  The trend of blogging stands out as an excellent example of the way in which the Web enables individual participation in the marketplace of ideas (Glencoe, 2005). As I continue researching information about implementing blogging in my classroom, I have found many great teacher blogging website to add to my repertoire of ideas. 

While researching how to begin using blogs in the classroom, I found a list of guidelines for getting started using blogs.  After obtaining the Acceptable usage policy (ACP), I will send permission slips home to ask parents to give permission for their child to begin blogging.  After the initial process ends, students will be taught safe and acceptable behavior for their blogs.  They will be set clear expectations when writing their blogs.  The students will understand the importance of having respect for their readers and know consequences if rules are not followed (Glencoe, 2005).  These guidelines were helpful to show me an avenue to begin the road to blogging in my classroom.

I am still researching websites and discussing blogs with colleagues to find the best options for beginning blogs in my classroom.  I am eager to continue monitoring my progress and begin the actual blogging process in my own classroom.

References

Glencoe. (2005).   Using Blogs to Integrate Technology in the Classroom. Teaching Today. Retrieved on May 25, 2011 from http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/educationupclose.phtml/47

Carrying Out My GAME Plan

My GAME plan will be implemented at the beginning of the next school year.  I have already begun researching different teacher blog sites to familiarize myself with the idea.  Digital media is an asset to teachers who need flexibility with learning abilities.  I think blogging can be altered based on the students’ learning abilities. Universal design for learning suggests teachers can remove barriers to learning by providing flexibility in terms of options for assignments (Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009). Their blogs can be developed recognizing their individual strengths.  Some students may write all their information in paragraphs while others want to include pictures and make charts.  Their assignments will leave room for them to choose the path that they want to take. 

As the textbook mentions, when setting goals I will use the students’ data from previous performances.  After final state testing, I will discuss the results with the third grade teachers as well as getting information about learning styles and abilities of each student.  Student performance data should influence the goals we set for students and the activities we plan to meet these goals (Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009). After talking to the other teachers, I will know more about how to structure the learning goals and how to take action.

I have contacted technical support about opening websites to allow blogging.  I am researching other teacher blogs and finding out information from their sites.  I plan to spend quality time during the summer setting learning goals for my students.  As I monitor their progress in the Fall, I can alter the activities to see what needs to change or stay place. 

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.

GAME plan

According to the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S), effective teachers model and imply several standards as they design, implement, and asses learning experiences through different measures such as engaging students to improve learning and enriching professional practices (ISTE, 2008).  As I read the five standards, I chose two standards to write my GAME plan.  My Goals include the first standard- Standard 1 Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity emphasizing section (b) engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.  The second standard is Standard 5 Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership emphasizing section (a) participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.    

To achieve these goals, I plan on implementing blogs in my classroom the next school year.  It will take planning with the technology department to open firewalls so we can log on blog sites.  My personal blog will be filled with information to assist students and parents with their active learning experiences on the blog sites.  Students will communicate with the teacher as well as their peers through blogs.  The blogging experience will assist students with their writing skills, social skills, and using technology.  The students will use the blogs to create their own authentic products.   The blog is their “world” and can be personalized to their own standards. The students will be required to use standard writing procedures and internet etiquette while writing in their blogs.   The students will be required to blog based on their own ability.  Technology affords the opportunity to provide engaging and interesting material to students who read at different grade levels (Cenamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009).

 During our summer break, I plan to participate in teacher blogging sites to help with implementing the blogging experience into my own classroom.  I would like to learn how other teachers began using blogs in their classroom and any feedback they would like to offer. 

When I monitor my progress, I will look at the response from my students and other students and colleagues participating in our blog sessions.  I will make sure the students are learning what is expected from them during writing assignments and writing their own creative ideas without plagiarizing.  I will revise the blogging assignments based on information gathered from the students.  The main goal would be if the students are learning how to use new technology and enjoying themselves.  I will evaluate the students based on their experiences and see how effective my own teaching style is with the blogging.

Technology gives students opportunity to gain an insight into their future.  Technology will have a huge impact on our students’ lives as they grow and enter the “real world.”  All students do not come from the same background (Laureate, 2009).  They need the opportunity to connect with classmates through technology at school.  Teachers should use as much technology as possible through daily instruction.  I have increased the use of technology in my classroom greatly since beginning the technology courses. 

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). (2009). Program number two: Enriching Content Area

      learning Experiences with Technology Part 1 [DVD]. Integrating technology across the  

      content areas. Baltimore, MD: Author.

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for

       teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from

       http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers.  I am excited to spend my second Mother's day with my wonderful son.