GAME Plan Reflection

The game plan that I developed in the beginning of this course has helped me with setting my own goals as a teacher and taking the necessary actions to achieve these goals.  I have learned to start my journey of self-directed learning as I seek more information about authentic problem-based learning and incorporating collaborative tools to encourage students to explain and reflect upon their learning.  Unfortunately, the first part of my GAME plan in using blogs is moving slowly, but I will be starting a new rotation next week, so I plan to start from the beginning of the rotation to start the blogging.  However, the second part of my GAME plan has been extremely beneficial and encouraging.  Joining online discussions, blogs, and wikis through ISTE has opened many new doors for me to explore projects with my students, as well many other tools to use in the classroom.  These resources offer me many opportunities to discuss ways to improve my current teaching strategies, and I really am fortunate to interact with other teachers who are passionate about teaching current skills. 

As a result of the new technology learned in this course, there are adjustments that I would make to my current practices.  Because I teach computer, I am fairly comfortable with the technology part, but I would like to encourage my students to understand the GAME plan and learn how to focus on goals that they can set for themselves.  Dr. Katherine Cennamo explains that self-directed learners plan, monitor and evaluate their actions, and she presents the GAME plan technique as a means to help students develop into self-directed learners by setting their own goals, taking action, monitoring their progress, and evaluating the effectiveness of their learning processes (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010).  Currently, I plant to work with the 8^th grade science teachers on a PBL to prepare a presentation about our school being a “green school.”  It will require students to set goals, take action, monitor progress, evaluate effectiveness of learning, communicate through blogs, and work collaboratively. In addition, I will be able to use online collaboration (blogs) and digital storytelling with this project.   I am excited to begin and cannot wait to see how the students accept this challenge.

Technology is always changing and there are numerous tools to learn to improve student engagement and learning.  It is up to me to learn these new tools and be willing to change my teaching practices to expose my students to exciting opportunities and guide them in their experiences.

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. . . One day at a time

At this point, I had hoped to be further along with my students as far as using the discussion/blogs in class.  However, I do plan to concentrate on this next week in class.  I feel that they need to be exposed to some type of discussion/blog everyday for part of the class so that they can get used to it.  I’m looking forward to trying it out.

As far as my second goal, I have investigated the ISTE website further and found some awesome resources right under my nose.  I joined a discussion group on project-based learning and found a place to collaborate and exchange ideas with other teachers.  They have an area on the site to learn about and teach digital-age skills.  My plan is to spend a few days each week to take advantage of the resources to further develop creative lessons for my students.  In addition to the ISTE website, I spoke with two other computer teachers in my county, and we have set a date to meet to collaborate ways to incorporate authentic tasks to improve student learning.

I look forward to challenging my students to think in a different way as I teach them how to respond to discussion posts.  In addition, I am excited about the new resources to explore on the ISTE website.

Carrying Out My Game Plan

For my first goal to promote student reflection using collaborative tools in order to facilitate learning and creativity, I will need to teach students how to use a discussion post/blog.  They will need to learn proper etiquette when writing.  This will require me to give students opportunities to “try out” the blog/discussion post and use these examples for instructional purposes on acceptable postings.   Then I can move on to regular discussion posts/blogs for student reflection.

My second goal is to participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.  I will need to join a global learning community to share/exchange ideas with other educators.  As a member of ISTE, I believe that they have these online learning communities.  It is necessary to carve out time each week to take part in this.  Also, I will need to schedule a time to meet with other teachers in my county to sit down and share our ideas.  We have been talking about doing this for awhile now, but it is necessary to actually schedule a date and time in order to make it happen.

All of this takes time, which I have very little extra at this point.  However, I realize the importance of providing engaging, creative, real-world learning activities for my students.  This is not something I can do alone.

GAME Plan

After reading over the NETS Standards for Teachers, I was able to gain a clearer vision of areas where I lack confidence.  As a technology teacher, I feel that I am able to model digital-age work and learning; however, I struggle with providing students with real-world learning activities where they think for themselves and develop 21^st century skills.

Two areas where I feel that I can improve are:

Standard 1:  Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

b.    promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes

Standard 5:  Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

a.       Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.

GOALS:  I would like to utilize blogs/discussion posts for my students to collaborate and reflect upon their learning. 

I would like to develop more authentic/engaging learning activities where students can “think out of the box” and reflect upon their own learning.  I want students to have opportunities where they can collaborate with others to share in the learning and develop critical thinking skills.

ACTIONS:  I will utilize the new blog and discussion areas on Edline where students can reflect and collaborate.

In order to create authentic learning activities, I will need to meet with other computer teachers in the county and online to share resources or develop authentic tasks.  I would also like to work closely with a core subject teacher from my building to develop a lesson.

MONITOR:  I will closely monitor class blogs/discussions to check for student understanding and content of conversations.

I will monitor the lessons that others share to see how well these activities promote student collaboration, creativity, and thinking.

EVALUATE:  I will evaluate the use of blogs/discussion by the conversations and reflections of the students.

I will examine how successful meetings with other teachers in the county prove to be.  In addition, I will reflect on the effort to collaborate with teachers globally.

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved on September 13, 2011 from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx.

Reflection: Integrating Technology into Instruction

When students have the opportunity to share, teach others, and solve problems together, then their learning is more meaningful.  Throughout this course we have learned about the different learning theories, studied instructional strategies that facilitate learning and even tested some technology strategies to implement within the classroom.  There are numerous resources to help change the way we teach and the way students learn. 

In the beginning of this course, I wrote my own personal learning theory.  At this time, I still believe that learning is a mixture of all four theories of learning:  Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and social constructivism.  I am even more convinced that students learn best when they have varied experiences that focus on their learning styles.  According to Dr. Wolfe, the more avenues you use to put information into the brain the better (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010).   Throughout this course, I was introduced to nine different instructional strategies along with technology tools to enhance student learning.   These tools offer many ways to make learning purposeful and meaningful; it promotes 21^st century skills for our students.  Real world experiences can only contribute to students’ success in the classroom and beyond.

There are a few immediate adjustments that I can make within the computer classroom at this time.  My students complete assignments/projects individually.  Throughout this course, I learned about the positive effects of collaboration and learning described in the various learning theories, especially in Constructivism and Connectivism.   Therefore, I will incorporate more technology tools that require students to collaborate and solve problems together.  One strategy that will enhance collaboration is the use of wikis.  Students will be able to share information in a place where other classmates can read and add to it.  Another technology tool I plan to use is voice thread.  Again, students collaborate online where they can share ideas and solve problems.  Both of these tools engage learners and provide opportunities for students to be responsible for their learning.  In fact, throughout this course, I learned many technology tools to incorporate into my curriculum to enhance learning.

My curriculum needs to be adjusted because it promotes individual work rather than group/collaboration.  Although I teach computers, students are getting access to technology; however, I want them to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills.  Students need to create projects that foster skills to prepare them for the future and engage them in their learning.  My second goal is to utilize cooperative learning within the classroom.  It will be a learning process for me as well as my students.  In order for Cooperative Learning to be successful, I must teach the students how to work together.  I believe this is an essential tool for students to learn how to collaborate and solve problems together.  The interaction among students in Cooperative Learning enhances their learning (Pitler, Hubbel, Kuhn, & Malenoski).  With an updated curriculum that concentrates on cooperative learning and group work, I feel that I can offer an engaging learning environment for my students.

I believe that it is important to offer various technology tools to reach all the learners in my classroom.  As technology continues to change, it is my responsibility as a teacher to stay abreast of the many opportunities I can share with my students.  It is my desire to keep my students engaged in learning, to help them work collaboratively and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.  After all, the students of today are our future.

References:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Program 1: Brain Research and Learning [DVD]. Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

VoiceThread

http://voicethread.com/?#u1444875.b1895548.i9988849

Connectivism and Social Learning in Practice

When students have the opportunity to work together to solve problems or create an artifact, they are learning through social interactions.  According to Dr. Orey, while students are constructing they are engaged in conversations which help them to learn (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010).  One strategy where students can use social learning in the classroom is with cooperative learning.  Students need to interact with each other and during cooperative learning this interaction enhances their learning (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007).  

This week we learned how technology supports cooperative learning.  Technology “facilitates group collaboration, providing structure for group tasks, and allowing members of groups to communicate even if they are not working face to face” (Pitler et al., 2007).  Students can use communication software such as blogs and wikis and not be concerned about time of day or where they are located.  Other technology strategies to promote cooperative learning are multimedia projects, webquests, web site creation, shared calendars, shared bookmarking, course management programs, and simulation games.  All of these strategies are designed to educate collaboratively and encourage students to work together.  Social constructivism is apparent in all of these strategies.

Students are social beings, and this is evident with their use of facebook, twitter, and texting.  They like being connected with others, and I believe that this is an important segment in learning.  In the classroom, we can offer students opportunities to be social learners through technology to expose them to the skills they need for the future.

References:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010) Program Number 8: Social Learning Theories [Webcast]. Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Orey, M. (Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Main_Page

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.