In evaluating my GAME plan, the actions I took were as effective as they can be during these summer months. Being out of school for the summer makes things a little more difficult because I don’t have easy access to our technology coordinator (not a teacher, just the person who troubleshoots everything). I also do not have students at the moment to try some of these techniques out. I am looking forward to the end of August when I can start implementing some of these lesson plans. But for the most part, I found what needed to be found when it comes to resources and feel ahead of the “game” when it comes to to start school!
I have learned the important of digital citizenship. This is not something that I had really thought about in the past but plan to apply it to my future. I need to be the model to my students when it comes to citing sources. I have also learned how technology can meet the needs of special needs students. I plan on utilizing as much technology as I can when it comes to my special needs students. However, our district isn’t equipped with the numerous technologies that would aid the special needs students. Lastly, I have learned some news ways of assessment through the means of technology, especially in problem-based learning. I plan on incorporating as much of this type of assessment as I can within my classroom throughout the coming school year.
I still have a lot to learn! There are so many technologies out there it is almost overwhelming! I also still need to work on putting together a collaborative project with one of my former colleagues that is now at a new school district. I would love to work with her through a wiki and have our students do some kind of project, but that is still on the back burners of my mind. Taking baby steps in technology can be beneficial. I have still been finding new things to utilize in my classroom, such as WISE (Web-based Inquiry Science Environment) and TELS (Technology Enhanced Learning in Science) put out by the National Science Foundation. These groups have a portal for problem-based learning activities. It is one of the great resources I have found during this course.
I will adjust my plan to fit my current needs by looking at the needs of my students first. Some of my students have not been exposed to technology and so some instruction on the technology itself may be required. This can take up valuable and precious time and so that needs to be considered. Not having a true technology teacher at our district has its pitfalls and that is one of them. I will just have to monitor as the school year gets started and progresses and add in what I can throughout the year.
Hi Lyndsay,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the resources at WISE and TELS. I poked around there for a while and I agree that they are good resources for PBL science. I'll spend some more time looking at them for future projects. You say that one of your goals is to be a model for your students when it comes to citing sources. Do you have a good guide for them to follow when doing this? Are you planning on teaching this at the beginning of a project? It would be great to collaborate on putting something like this together.
You also say that it is almost overwhelming to see so many technologies available for great projects. I agree and have decided to focus on three main areas this year in class. I have begun a podcasting project, maintain a webpage for communication with students and parents, and have a student generated wiki that covers content area material. I hope to focus on these three technology areas in the next year and build upon them after that. If these projects go well, then I may move over to the long list of technology integration ideas I have, but not after giving these a solid chance to enable engagement and student learning.
Good luck with your GOAL!
Tom
Hey L,
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about what you learned. I too teach students with disabilities and use many different types of assessments.
The funny thing is that I didn't realize how many different types of assessments I used until recently in this course. I had been using a closing called, "Exit Pass," where students answer a question, choose an option, or answer a survey and I find that it can be three types of assessments. However, I don't, have any means to incorporate technology with this type of assessment.
What news ways of assessment through the means of technology have you learned, specifically?
-John P.
Mainly I have learned that assessment can take many forms, not just tests, quizzes, exit tickets, etc. (paper and pencil stuff). I found that I can post the same survey question onto my InterWrite board and have students pick their answer as they leave the class. I can then chart their answers and either share it with my students or use it for my own benefit in seeing what percentage of my students really understand it. I have also discovered Turning Point, which are student response systems and how they can be utilized instead of a paper and pencil quiz. These programs give me more data on what a student understands and what they don't understand compared to the whole classroom. I can even categorize questions. That can tell me maybe it isn't the whole concept but only a piece of the concept that is confusing to them. There are also many tutorials and (gasp, dare I say it?!) practice state achievement tests online that students can take on the computer and it gives them the results right away. And of course, I have found a new appreciation for blog posting and plan on utilizing that in my classroom this coming school year, something I have not done up to this point.
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