Reflections on Reaching and Engaging All Learners Through Technology

Reflections on Reaching and Engaging All Learners Through Technology

I have been asked to reflect upon what I learned in my Walden University course and how I will apply my use of technology be a catalyst for learning. Being a teacher of history, I always look at the effect of different technologies that effect people. I envision the change in the digital age in our society as forever changing the role of teachers in the classroom. While teachers are struggling with transition, there is no doubt that teacher can reach all students easier and more efficiently with the use of technology. Teachers can use technology to assess student needs and implement student learning buy adapting the Universal Design for Learning and Differentiated Instruction. I have already started to implement rigorous learning that better targets student learning and plan to integrate other strategies for integrating into my classroom instruction.

One immediate result of my understanding from this class was my subscription to a moodle account, which I recently received from my district. Students have been required to submit an ongoing current events assignment for the last four years to assess their reading for information and critical thinking skills. Using the moodle platform last week, I was able assign different levels of interest and reading levels for students to choose from. The technology of the Moodle page created instant engagement for many students. The use of a forum for students to engage with other students in the classroom reminded me of the learning I received from Walden University.

A Bill of Rights learning activity I produced with help from this course will be used by all three social studies teachers as a common experience in January. Students will have access to multi-level sources developed from our media center then research and identify an issue of their choice concerning the Bill of Rights. This becomes an authentic assessment for students to use technology for research and current interpretation. The student products can be digital story telling, web logs, web pages among other technologies that take into account student interests, readiness and learning profiles.

Jim Shay

8th SS

References

Smith, G., & Throne, S. (2007). Differentiating instruction with technology in K-5 classrooms. Belmont, CA: International Society for Technology in Education.

Retrieved from Education Research Complete database.

Reading Intervention Power point

Reflecting on the GAME plan

This May I was excited to hear about a large technology grant being awarded to the Social Studies department in my district. I really wanted to couple what I was learning at Walden with changing my instructional practices. Developing 21st century skills is essential to all of my students. In my summer graduate course, I created GAME plans (set Goals, take Action Monitor progress and Evaluate) to develop two skills that would guide me as a self-directed learner (Cennamano, Ross & Ertmer, 2009).

My first GAME plan was to use my moodle page to create an online environment in my classroom. I have set up a Moodle account and received professional development time from my district. I look forward to start using the account to post assignments and projects on. I now have the ability to transfer a continuous current events assignment to a blog which students will select and comment on issues important to them. This will allow them to become better communicators using authentic 21st century media and sharpen their writing skills (Laureate, 2009). I learned that the Moodle environment had limited access for parents, a targeted outcome. I will pursue a team sponsored webpage to post homework assignments which is a school-wide initiative to allow better access for parents.

The second goal was to introduce an interactive whiteboard to my everyday instruction. This will allow me to design more interactive learning activities which will engage students. Originally, I wanted to develop start up activities, but have found many content area simulations and interactive lessons for this device. With just simple searches and colleague advice, I have re-evaluated my goals and hope to incorporate more of the interactive board than I had originally planned. I hope to become less dependent on teacher driven lessons and let students use our new device, or else it will become a glorified overhead. I also received professional development for this device from my district, but have not had access to an actual board to practice. It was installed in my classroom yesterday and student start class next Thursday. I hope to spend a lot of time running through the programs and files that I have accumulated early next week.

I always look forward to the beginning of the school year with hope and promise for the coming year. This year I have new knowledge of how to integrate technology into my classroom and the tools to achieve my goals. This year will be a learning opportunity for me and my students as I will continually develop my GAME plan as I merge the theory and the practice of my goals. The GAME plan helped me independently which is a goal I have for y students. In reflection, I see the end of my summer course and the beginning of the teaching year as a smooth transition to integrate my new skills.

Jim

8th SS

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. (Executive Producer). (2009A). Enriching content area learning experiences with technology, part 1. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore: Author

The GAME Plan for my students

The GAME plan I that I have created and followed for the past six weeks embeds self directed learning which I can easily utilize with my students. The simple Acronym allows fro easy identification of the steps. I was easyily guided using the system. Being metacognitive learners is difficult for my eighth graders. They probably have a system of type of Game plan, but don’t know how to apply it for learning about educatioanl based activities.

Technology is so important to our lives adapting to an everchaging digital world is an everyday challenge for all students. Including the NAtional Education Standards for Students (NET-S) and the International Society for Technoloy in Education (ISTE). The ISTE wants integration of technology in every realm of school and student learning. For this to happen students must Set Goals, Take action, Monitor, Evaluate and Extend their learning at anytime they need see necessary. The ability for a student to quickly adapt to the technology requirements, students will be able to allow the content of the learing be the true focus.

In my development of my plan to I had two ISTE Goals

Goal #1 is from Standard 2a. “design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity” (ISTE , 2010)

Goal #2 is from Standard # 3 Model Digital-Age Work and Learning- Indicator A . “collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation” (ISTE , 2010).

In reffelction, I learned many new things and still have to monitor and extend my goals. Learning is a process not just and end result. I have grown professionally and personally from following these two goals with this process. My students could apply the GAME plan to any project and be able learn and grow. I know my gaol for both of these standards was to learn and be comfortable with them before the beginning of the school year. I am two weeks away from standing in front of a brand new set of 8th graders. This is always and exciting time for me but I feel better prepared and even more excited knowing what is in store for us this coming year.

Jim

8th SS

References

National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at

http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf

Evaluating the GAME Plan

Goal #1 is from Standard 2a. “design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity” (ISTE , 2010)

I went in this week to my classroom to see if my interactive whiteboard was installed yet. My biggest need right now to go forward in my goal was to actually use an interactive white board. After over eight hours of professional training this summer and many hours of searching reading and bookmarking, I need to physically use the Smartbaord. I spoke with the head custodian and he told me they are scheduled to be installed next Monday... stay tuned.

Goal #2 is from Standard # 3 Model Digital-Age Work and Learning- Indicator A . “collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation” (ISTE , 2010).

I was excited to learn about Caitlin Thompson’s use of a moodle account to establish a forum for her students (Laureate Inc., 2009). It left me with a feeling that students leave an electronic footprint on blogs that teachers can look at to see who participated and who didn’t. This is important since collaboration is a major factor for using my current events blog this upcoming school year. Students will not have to tell me that they forgot it at home or it is in their locker. I will not have to pack about 100 assignments with articles stapled (sometimes) which takes me two full nights to read, grade and record. I also learned about many educational networking tools this week and look forward to getting my feet when expanding to collaborative projects that engage students in authentic 21st century skills. as far as a team website I talked to my team leader and we will meet the week before school starts to plan a homework website.

Reference

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009b). Spotlight on Technology: Social Networking and Online Collaboration, Part 2. Baltimore: Author

Game Plan- Monitoring and Evaluating

Game Plan

This is the forth week of my Game plan and I am monitoring and evaluating how to integrate new technology into my teaching.

Goal #1 is from Standard 2a. “design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity” (ISTE , 2010).

I have had professional development on the whiteboard and explored the software that the program has supplied. In reflection of “in action”, I learned many aspects of the software but was only able to actually manipulate the interactive unit for about 10 minutes with a colleague (Cemmano, Ross & Ertmer, 2009). In reflecting “on action”, my action plan should be modified to set aside time to physically use the interactive whiteboard that will be installed in my classroom. I have bookmarked many websites with teacher examples using smartboard technologies, but have not had time to examine them. I will need to schedule time for this. I am also starting a new assignment on Problem Based Learning (PBL) in my EDUC 6713 corse. This will also give me another designed activity to foster learning and creativity.

Goal #2 is from Standard # 3 Model Digital-Age Work and Learning- Indicator A . “collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation” (ISTE , 2010).

The action plan was to use a district supplied moodle account to create an online platform for my students. I also went through training on Moodle last week and have iputed some lessons. Upon reflecting about the “on action” I need to integrate the program slower than I had originally envisioned it. I will use to to launch projects but the nature of moodle will not allow for comfortable parent and community access. I had originally percieved a web page access for parents and the school community. Upon evaluating the capablilities of the moodle account, I have decided that I need to redesign a part of the action plan to incorporate a web page. One of the factors is my team of teachers at school want to post assignments on one location for easy parent access. I don’t want to manage two locations of information but allowing parents open access to the Moodle account won’t be available. A Wiki to develop the above mentioned PBL assignment will give me great experience in carrying out

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.

National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at

http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/ NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf.

Monitoring and Evaluating the GAME Plan

Game Plan

This is the forth week of my Game plan and I am monitoring and evaluating how to integrate new technology into my teaching.

Goal #1 is from Standard 2a. “design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity” (ISTE , 2010).

I have had professional development on the whiteboard and explored the software that the program has supplied. In reflection of “in action”, I learned many aspects of the software but was only able to actually manipulate the interactive unit for about 10 minutes with a colleague (Cemmano, Ross & Ertmer, 2009). In reflecting “on action”, my action plan should be modified to set aside time to physically use the interactive whiteboard that will be installed in my classroom. I have bookmarked many websites with teacher examples using Smartboard technologies, but have not had time to examine them. I will need to schedule time for this. I am also starting a new assignment on Problem Based Learning (PBL) in my EDUC 6713 course. This will also give me another designed activity to foster learning and creativity.

Goal #2 is from Standard # 3 Model Digital-Age Work and Learning- Indicator A . “collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation” (ISTE , 2010).

The action plan was to use a district supplied Moodle account to create an online platform for my students. I have gone through training on Moodle last week and have imputed some lessons. Upon reflecting about the “on action” I need to integrate the program slower than I had originally envisioned it. I will use to to launch projects but the nature of Moodle will not allow for comfortable parent and community access. I had originally perceived a web page access for parents and the school community. Upon evaluating the capabilities of the Moodle account, I have decided that I need to redesign a part of the action plan to incorporate a web page. One of the factors is my team of teachers at school want to post assignments on one location for easy parent access. I don’t want to manage two locations of information but allowing parents open access to the Moodle account won’t be available. A Wiki to develop the above mentioned PBL assignment will give me great experience in carrying out

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.

National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at

http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/ NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf.