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.

Today was one of two consecutive professional development days on integrating a technology grant into the Social Studies curriculum in my district. I learned a lot and look forward to applying it. Here is how my GAME stands.

My goal on designing and implementing lessons for the interactive whiteboard has progressed. I was able to see a demonstration on the notebook feature of the software and will be able to install it on my home computer tomorrow. This will allow me to transfer the “Do Now” activities onto the templates for the software including forced-choice assessments. This will be a great step in preparing to use the clicker response system along with the interactive white board. I am anxious about actually using the board since I have only been instructed on it and have never touched one. I was promised I can have “alone time tomorrow afternoon. My classroom unit will be installed in two weeks. I will have to arrange time to use and set up my system well before the first day of school. The time to learn all of the nuances of this technology has me thinking to modify my expectations on the use of the whiteboard. I do not want to use it for a novelty and will need to take my time to add to my repertoire of lessons for this. I have found more simulations and animations that will fit in nicely,

I spent the other half of my professional development day navigating my moodle account. I look forward to using the forum discussions to re-format my ongoing current events assignment that I mentioned in my week 3 discussion. The biggest need to integrate this program is time. I have to upload files, post links and activities as well as spend time exploring all the features of this product. Their are so many tools and functions that I must learn by doing, not watching somebody run through a presentation. I also need to scale back my original vision of using moodle until I have mastery of the program. I will post two projects for the first half of the year and the current events assignment which will recur every two weeks. The moodle will not allow me the parent access to information that I originally thought it would.

Tomorrow's professional development day will be applying the knowledge of today’s presentations.

Jim

8th SS

The Game Plan "Is In Play"

I have targeted two National Educational Technology Standards (NETS•T) and Performance Indicators for integrating technology into my classroom. (See previous post)

The first goal that I have set was to use an interactive whiteboard and develop “do now” activities along with general competence to design relative learning experiences. I have never used a Smartboard and really want to spend time exploring the different parts of the software. The Smartboard is supposed to be installed sometime this month and I am checking weekly on it’s installation. In the meantime., I have used some of the tutorials associated with Smatboard technologies. I have developed a large list of bookmarks about using lessons about Social Studies and the interactive whiteboard. My strategy is to spend an hour a week to read through and analyze these sites. My do now’s are archived in my computer at school so I need to get access to them in order to evaluate their use using the inetractive whiteboard.

The second goal is to use a Moodle account to increase student, peer and parent communication. I am awaiting access to an account this summer so I can develop a better understanding of how to use Moodle. My district had some professional development time devoted this summer but the accounts were not yet established. I want to establish a time management schedule in order to balance the added use of this software as I expect a learn as I go process. Of the two goals, I need to spend time exploring and using the account as it is a platform for all Social Studies teachers this year. Please advise if you have any experience with this program.

Jim

8Th SS

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

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

My GAME Plan

My Studies at Walden University have lead me to evaluate my comfort levels for confidence of integrating technology into my instruction. While I have gained immensely from the courses at Walden in theory, I have much to learn in the practice and applications of these many strategies. What makes this posting most timely is my district has been awarded a grant to infuse technology into the Social Studies department as a model for the district. The National Educational Technology Standards (NETS•T) and Performance Indicators for Teachers signals five performance standards and subsequent indicators (ISTE , 2010). Having reflected on the standards, I have established a GAME plan for self directed learning in two aspects of the NETS•T that I need to strengthen. the GAME plan refers to four step Process; Set Goals, take Action, Monitor progress and Evaluate goals and Extend learning (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009).

I have the opportunity to have a mounted smartboard, access to clickers response system, a wireless net-books and a moodle account to integrate into social studies learning environment,

The first indicator is from Standard 2a. “design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity”

G - My goal is to use the Smartboard technology to integrate technology everyday for my students. I especially want to integrate a daily “do now activity” focusing using the Smartboard much like the teacher that does a lot of start up activities from the K-5 teacher on this weeks video (Laureate Inc. , 2009).

A - I have no experience using the smartboard, therefor, I have already gone to a workshop (in which I never touched one!) and plan to go to my classroom as soon as it is installed to go through all the tools it has. I will also do personal research on the internet to find creative and engaging lessons. Please feel free to send me any Smartboard technology information that could be useful. I will read it! I will need to work at home and transfer it to my computer at work.

M- I have until August 24th to launch the Smartboard in font of my students. I will continue to accumulate strategies for using the Smartboard but would like to have the month of September's and October's “Do Now” ready to implement.

E- To determine if I am successful will be evaluated when I observe the reactions of my students and their engagement to the lessons I launch using the smartboard. I will extend the lesson since I will have the Smartboard for two years.

The second indicator is from Standard # 3 Model Digital-Age Work and Learning- Indicator A a. “collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation”

G- My goal is to increase student, peer, parent and community members by creating and maintaing a moodle account for all of my classes

A- Moodle is another tool that I have encountered in theory but not in practice. I am awaiting my account to be set up by my district. I plan to use the tutorials from the account, as tutorials provide new information and provide the practice that I need to apply the software system (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009). If any reader of this blog have any experience with moodle please contact me with any experiences.

M- I will monitor this throughout the year. This will be a challenge for me as I expect it to take more time to set up an maintain the moodle account.

E- I will evaluate the implementation of the moodle account in weekly curriculum time with my Social Studies department. This time has been given to collaborate about the new experiences from implementing the technology systems of the grant.

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

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

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

Reflecting on 21st Century Literacy Skills

In reflecting for a course on literacy and online inquiry, I have learned that I and my students must unify conventional as well as 21st century literacy skills. Educators and students must be adaptable and quick to learn the newest and constantly changing face of the communication age. Inquiry learning has always been a valuable piece of our education process. With the advent of web 2.0 technologies available to the classroom, “learning how to learn” is more critical than ever (Eagleton & Dobler, 2007). This post will describe a revelation, gained knowledge and a new goal to establish in teaching with technology.

The most striking revelation that I gained about teaching new literacy skills is that it will require more, not less effort, from me and my students. Ironically, technology is usually something that makes things more efficient and easier for the user. What I found out from my course was that along with conventional literacy skills, students must learn a new set of grammar rules for websites and many other communication skills (November, 2008). Many of the traditional literacy skills must be mastered along with the newer ones. Teachers must recognize that many skills are transferable and that reading digital information needs different queues and recognizing different text structures quickly ,especially informational text structures (Eagleton and Dobler, 2007).

I have gained constructive knowledge from the course “Supporting Information Literacy and Online Inquiry in the Classroom”. Eagleton & Dobler’s “Quest “ model of online inquiry, supplies a comprehensive path for online inquiry while providing many usable strategies in getting students from the questioning stage of a project to the transformation of their new found knowledge. Two stages that I found will influence my future teachings is understanding resources and evaluating information. While still learning about the internet myself, I am convinced that all content area teachers must assist students in understanding how to retrieve from the volumes of information at their fingertips. Students need to determine if the information is “useful and truthful” (November, 2008). Previously, textbooks and teachers were the sources of most content information. I will have to help students become the evaluator of information that they are searching while they are learning the subject content.

One professional development goal established from this course is establishing more project based learning that is more collaborative. I just received notice that my Social Studies department has just received a technology grant for two years! This will allow me do have consistent access and support of technology. I am planning to create a blog for current events and with net-books have access to wikis and other collaborative communication skills for my students. Many exciting activities that I learned about in this course would be difficult because of access to technology in my school is limited. I look froward to implementing the new found skills and merging them into my United States History curriculum. Helping my students gain access will only enhance their literacy skills and better prepare them for their futures in the digital age.

In conclusion, learning how to learn will be a model for me and my students in merging new literacy skills with traditionally taught skills. Teaching at this point in education is exciting and precarious. Students must not take lightly that just because it is new technology, learning is somehow easier. Critical thinking skills are called upon more often because of the the students direct relationship with the learning materials. The traditional learning systems are changing rapidly to adjust to an already changed society. It is my responsibility as a teacher to better use technology to make learning more relevant for students.

References

Eagleton, M. B., & Dobler, E. (2007). Reading the web: Strategies for internet inquiry. New York: The Guilford Press

November, A. (2008). Web literacy for educators. Thousands Oaks: Corwin Press.