Developing a Game Plan of My Own!
Sitting staring at the NETS standards for teachers, I find myself, switch hitting on which area I would like to improve my overall game. The main reason I am currently getting my Master's degree is for professional development--I knew that education was taking a whole new role with the use of technology and I needed to get on board. I am using the Game Plan from Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer's text book. The first net I picked was easy, Professional Growth and Leadership. The second was not as easy, I could have picked them all--but I choose, Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity. My Game Plan follows:
Set the Goal: Up to Bat
Two years ago, I started trying to incorporate more technology into my classroom. Then came signing up for the Master's Program with Walden University, this was a big step for me--as I knew I did not have a lot of extra time in my week. Last week I signed up for "Taking Technology to the Classroom", this is to earn credits towards an APSC technology in education notation, from the Office of Public Instruction in Montana. If I was able to get this, I would have certification in Technology. Also I will be starting phase one of my National Certification, this will involve my technology skills in the classroom. All of this will help in my being an extremely proficient facilitator in the classroom, and it will inspire my students.
Take Action: First Base
Setting up the goal is my first part of the action. Surrounding myself with people in the district who are also utilizing technology in the classroom. Subscribing to blogs, and blogging myself on the topic will also help. Being involved with epals in my classroom, I am currently working with two teachers and their classrooms from California and New York. My students have been skyping others who are in various parts of the world. Two college students will be coming into my classroom in December to help strengthen my students skills with video production. Work on lessons that will engage my students in real world issues. One way of doing this will be when my students work on C-Span's annual student documentary (5 minute-video over federal government).
Monitor: Second Base
Sometimes I need to slow down and take things one step at a time, and master one thing before I move on to the next item. Have my students give me feedback on my technology skills, and fill out a rubric. It would also be a benefit to have another teacher sit and observe me as I facilitate my students and see if they feel I am inspiring them. Then I need to do a personal reflection!
Evaluate: Third Base
If I can evaluate myself, and monitor my skills--I am almost home! Will my students go on to use the material I exposed them to in class. Am I improving my skills on a weekly basis, are my lessons becoming more engaging for my students and for myself. Johnson and Johnson (1998), and Slavin ((1994) have documented student achievement gains when students work in collaborative groups. Will I have the same documentation? What has worked best, what do I need to change in my lessons. Become very familiar with the NETS standards for myself as well as my students having a copy in their folders.
This is going to be a long road to home plate, but I am not ready to steal home just yet! I realize that I have so much work to do before I can even think of heading in that direction, but I do believe I am on the right path with my education and my students. This plan will help me to become the teachers I do so admire and will help me to inspire my students in a positve way.
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology Integration for Meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate). Belmont, CA
NETS-T National Education Standards for Teachers. (2008).
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Reflection
I have always been a strong advocate for inquiry based lesson plans in the classroom. When you encourage your students to ask deep questions, to critically evaluate information, and to transform ideas, you are embarking on a learning adventure for both yourself and your students (Ealeton, Dobler, 2007, Pg 281). This course has taught me that inquiry based lessons, should be happening all the time in my classroom, and not just a few times a year. This is probably the greatest revelation I have had this course. At the beginning of the school year I give out my cell phone number to my students to be used only for school related topics. This is a fantastic tool for them to use, and their parents love the fact that they can text me or call me anytime with a question from class. During the last two months’ some of my honors eighth students, will text me on Sunday to see what assignment I am working on for my master’s degree. I believe they have taken an interest because they realize it reflects in my teaching.
Teaching new literacy’s is becoming second nature to me, due to my training in this program. Technology has definitely changed the role of the teacher in the classroom. I have always used the text book as a resource and not as a tool that you take a test at the end of the chapter. In the article “Teaching two Literacies”, the author Joanne Rooney states that you need to be in a mindset that you can incorporate both literacies at once. Students have already crossed over to a new way of reading and writing. They, no doubt, will remain our best teachers as we struggle with new technological tools (Rooney, 2009). I think this is a really hard concept for some teachers to swallow. They still are in old school, and feel that the teacher needs to know everything. Therefore, they do not introduce new concepts because they do not want to let on that they have not mastered that task. I am very comfortable with introducing something new to
App 8: 3
my students and then they are teaching me something new before day’s end.
On January 15th, 2011, I will be teaching a group of twenty five teachers about the subject “Representative Democracy in America”, I have a lot of great lessons, but many of them I have switched over to some form of technology. These teachers have not used voice thread, wiki’s, blogs, etc. in the classroom. So it is a goal of mine to teach this day long training using all the new technology I have learned, and am using in my classroom. I feel this will make me a stronger teacher in my own room, because I will have to really practice all the steps needed to teach others the language and skills to take back to their own classroom. When I teach these items in my classroom at the moment, if I hit a rock, my students can usually answer my questions. I am also setting up this training as an inquiry based lesson plan, showing the teachers how powerful of a tool this can be in a classroom.
I have always been a strong advocate for inquiry based lesson plans in the classroom. When you encourage your students to ask deep questions, to critically evaluate information, and to transform ideas, you are embarking on a learning adventure for both yourself and your students (Ealeton, Dobler, 2007, Pg 281). This course has taught me that inquiry based lessons, should be happening all the time in my classroom, and not just a few times a year. This is probably the greatest revelation I have had this course. At the beginning of the school year I give out my cell phone number to my students to be used only for school related topics. This is a fantastic tool for them to use, and their parents love the fact that they can text me or call me anytime with a question from class. During the last two months’ some of my honors eighth students, will text me on Sunday to see what assignment I am working on for my master’s degree. I believe they have taken an interest because they realize it reflects in my teaching.
Teaching new literacy’s is becoming second nature to me, due to my training in this program. Technology has definitely changed the role of the teacher in the classroom. I have always used the text book as a resource and not as a tool that you take a test at the end of the chapter. In the article “Teaching two Literacies”, the author Joanne Rooney states that you need to be in a mindset that you can incorporate both literacies at once. Students have already crossed over to a new way of reading and writing. They, no doubt, will remain our best teachers as we struggle with new technological tools (Rooney, 2009). I think this is a really hard concept for some teachers to swallow. They still are in old school, and feel that the teacher needs to know everything. Therefore, they do not introduce new concepts because they do not want to let on that they have not mastered that task. I am very comfortable with introducing something new to
App 8: 3
my students and then they are teaching me something new before day’s end.
On January 15th, 2011, I will be teaching a group of twenty five teachers about the subject “Representative Democracy in America”, I have a lot of great lessons, but many of them I have switched over to some form of technology. These teachers have not used voice thread, wiki’s, blogs, etc. in the classroom. So it is a goal of mine to teach this day long training using all the new technology I have learned, and am using in my classroom. I feel this will make me a stronger teacher in my own room, because I will have to really practice all the steps needed to teach others the language and skills to take back to their own classroom. When I teach these items in my classroom at the moment, if I hit a rock, my students can usually answer my questions. I am also setting up this training as an inquiry based lesson plan, showing the teachers how powerful of a tool this can be in a classroom.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
"Reflecting On The Last Eight Weeks"
When I sit back and think about my teaching style and everything I learned in the last eight weeks, I would not change a thing! I am a little bit of everything, I said in one of my blogs I was like heinz 57. I believe in order to reach every child you need to be open to every style of teaching. What works for one person, does not necessarily work for another. The most important thing is to stay positive and flexible, and keep an open mind.
The fantastic thing about the last eight weeks, is the feeling that I am doing things right in my classroom. I have worked really hard to incorporate technology into all aspects of my teaching. Not only for teaching lessons different, but for changing my lessons completly to have students do the teaching. When I first began teaching, I did have teachers looking at me odd, thinking that my students were having way to much fun. Therefore, they must not be learning! Glad to see everyone is getting on board with cooperative classrooms.
The text book we used in this course, is a fantastic resource of great sites. I have already been busy working on new ideas and lessons for the upcoming school year. The big thing I want to do is master some of this technology I am using in my room. For example, voice thread is the only thing new to me, and I love it! I plan to work hard to master this, so I am ready to go with a great lesson using this site. I am also looking for more classrooms to skype in the geography field.
The fantastic thing about the last eight weeks, is the feeling that I am doing things right in my classroom. I have worked really hard to incorporate technology into all aspects of my teaching. Not only for teaching lessons different, but for changing my lessons completly to have students do the teaching. When I first began teaching, I did have teachers looking at me odd, thinking that my students were having way to much fun. Therefore, they must not be learning! Glad to see everyone is getting on board with cooperative classrooms.
The text book we used in this course, is a fantastic resource of great sites. I have already been busy working on new ideas and lessons for the upcoming school year. The big thing I want to do is master some of this technology I am using in my room. For example, voice thread is the only thing new to me, and I love it! I plan to work hard to master this, so I am ready to go with a great lesson using this site. I am also looking for more classrooms to skype in the geography field.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Connectivism and Social Learning in Practice
Cooperative learning can take on many roles in a classroom setting as well as the workforce, so as teachers it is our job to prepare students for the workforce. The 21st century is all about technology--in the classroom popular sites like epals, webquests, and portfolio's have been a part of the classroom. The classrooms are starting to introduce wiki's, blogs, skyping, podcasting, google calendar, and kaboodle just to name a few. Personally I have started to use all of these resources and I love the way the classroom is changing and so do my students.
In my classroom, I have tables instead of desks making it extremely easy to work in cooperative groups all the time. The latest assignment I did is as follows:
ATTENTION
URGENT NOTICE TO
STUDENTS OF FMMS
1. During the last official school board meeting, Mrs. Meredith was informed by Dr. Darnell that Fred Moodry Middle School will be re-located to an Island!
2. Due to low test scores on standardized tests, the school board recommended that FMMS be put on an Island for one year in hopes to bring test scores up.
BAD NEWS
3. School will be held 10hours a day, six days a week, NO cell phones, NO videogames, and NO T.V. (except the news).
4. If bullying occurs between students, they will be required to stay an extra year. If you break and of the school rules---you will attend school on Sunday’s as well!
GOOD NEWS
5. The school board is allowing Mrs. Meredith to decide between Islands listed below: This is where you come in! Mrs. Meredith did not pay attention during Geography class when she was in school; instead she was dreaming about her math class, and the cute boy she tutored in Math! So……she needs our help!!!!!!
6. She is asking students to put together presentations on the list of Islands below.
· Presentation needs to follow, the 5 Themes of Geography!
· Please use some form of technology for your presentations.
· The Islands are listed below.
1. Greenland
2. New Guinea
3. Borneo
4. New Zealand
5. Sumatra
6. Madagascar
7. Malta
8. Crete
9. Cyprus
10. Seychelles
11. Sri Lanka
· Using the context of the 5 Themes of Geography, defend your choice of Island by demonstrating through concrete examples how your Island will help improve test scores.
· Your project will be graded on the following rubric
· A model of your Island needs to be presented
This was a lot of fun, and just one of the many assignments we did in Geography class. Social learning theorists view student learning as a collaboration through interactions while constructing things, accompanied by content-based conversation (Laureate Education, Inc.) I feel it is extremely important for students to have many opportunities to be social in the classroom, solving problems, debating etc., I have an Aunt who owns a very large engineering company--she has told me many times that when her company hires, they are looking for people who can communicate with others and not just the people who have the best grades.
Laureate Education, Inc. (2009). social learning theories. Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. DVD (custom ed.).
In my classroom, I have tables instead of desks making it extremely easy to work in cooperative groups all the time. The latest assignment I did is as follows:
ATTENTION
URGENT NOTICE TO
STUDENTS OF FMMS
1. During the last official school board meeting, Mrs. Meredith was informed by Dr. Darnell that Fred Moodry Middle School will be re-located to an Island!
2. Due to low test scores on standardized tests, the school board recommended that FMMS be put on an Island for one year in hopes to bring test scores up.
BAD NEWS
3. School will be held 10hours a day, six days a week, NO cell phones, NO videogames, and NO T.V. (except the news).
4. If bullying occurs between students, they will be required to stay an extra year. If you break and of the school rules---you will attend school on Sunday’s as well!
GOOD NEWS
5. The school board is allowing Mrs. Meredith to decide between Islands listed below: This is where you come in! Mrs. Meredith did not pay attention during Geography class when she was in school; instead she was dreaming about her math class, and the cute boy she tutored in Math! So……she needs our help!!!!!!
6. She is asking students to put together presentations on the list of Islands below.
· Presentation needs to follow, the 5 Themes of Geography!
· Please use some form of technology for your presentations.
· The Islands are listed below.
1. Greenland
2. New Guinea
3. Borneo
4. New Zealand
5. Sumatra
6. Madagascar
7. Malta
8. Crete
9. Cyprus
10. Seychelles
11. Sri Lanka
· Using the context of the 5 Themes of Geography, defend your choice of Island by demonstrating through concrete examples how your Island will help improve test scores.
· Your project will be graded on the following rubric
· A model of your Island needs to be presented
This was a lot of fun, and just one of the many assignments we did in Geography class. Social learning theorists view student learning as a collaboration through interactions while constructing things, accompanied by content-based conversation (Laureate Education, Inc.) I feel it is extremely important for students to have many opportunities to be social in the classroom, solving problems, debating etc., I have an Aunt who owns a very large engineering company--she has told me many times that when her company hires, they are looking for people who can communicate with others and not just the people who have the best grades.
Laureate Education, Inc. (2009). social learning theories. Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. DVD (custom ed.).
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Room #21--Geography/History---Constructivist/ Constructionist
"7th & 8th GRADE CONSTRUCTION ZONE"
Enter for hands on learning----My classrooms have never been traditional. Students do not sit quietly at their desks and take notes as I talk the whole period-- Instead everyone is interacting! Fred Moodry Middle School is filled with technology and most of the teachers, teach with a constructivist/constructionist approach. Projects and construction are going on all over the place!
In our readings this week, a triangle was drawn with main idea at the top and supporting details at the bottom. I can relate to the constructivism approach to top down. "I LOVE HANDS ON LESSONS/TECHNOLOGY. If students feel they have a voice in their learning and the teacher values their opinion--everything else will fall into place.
In our classroom--(I say our classroom because it belongs to the students as well as myself), we explored many project based lessons this year. Students really enjoy virtual reality trips such as National Geographics Xpedition Hall and then follow ups with graphic organizers of some kind. Orey defines the constructionism approach by stating that people learn more when they build artifacts, projects, etc. (Laureate ed., 2008).
The We the People program/Project Citizen is a fantastic approach to project learning. My students wrote , "Ordinance 217" for our county this year--"Save lives don't txt & Drive". IT PASSED! On May 20, 2010 It became a county law. They were able to get the support of the whole community by posting a wikispace, podcasting skyping, web-quests, etc. My 8th graders were able to pull off this large project because they took ownership!
I am a big believer in the teacher being the facilitator of the room, guiding the students, and letting them solve problems on their own with my guidance.
thirteen-Ed online. (2004). Inquiry based learning. Concept to classroom.
Glazer, E. (2001). Problem based instruction. Orey, M. (ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology.
Enter for hands on learning----My classrooms have never been traditional. Students do not sit quietly at their desks and take notes as I talk the whole period-- Instead everyone is interacting! Fred Moodry Middle School is filled with technology and most of the teachers, teach with a constructivist/constructionist approach. Projects and construction are going on all over the place!
In our readings this week, a triangle was drawn with main idea at the top and supporting details at the bottom. I can relate to the constructivism approach to top down. "I LOVE HANDS ON LESSONS/TECHNOLOGY. If students feel they have a voice in their learning and the teacher values their opinion--everything else will fall into place.
In our classroom--(I say our classroom because it belongs to the students as well as myself), we explored many project based lessons this year. Students really enjoy virtual reality trips such as National Geographics Xpedition Hall and then follow ups with graphic organizers of some kind. Orey defines the constructionism approach by stating that people learn more when they build artifacts, projects, etc. (Laureate ed., 2008).
The We the People program/Project Citizen is a fantastic approach to project learning. My students wrote , "Ordinance 217" for our county this year--"Save lives don't txt & Drive". IT PASSED! On May 20, 2010 It became a county law. They were able to get the support of the whole community by posting a wikispace, podcasting skyping, web-quests, etc. My 8th graders were able to pull off this large project because they took ownership!
I am a big believer in the teacher being the facilitator of the room, guiding the students, and letting them solve problems on their own with my guidance.
thirteen-Ed online. (2004). Inquiry based learning. Concept to classroom.
Glazer, E. (2001). Problem based instruction. Orey, M. (ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
C.V.V.W.Y.P.--EQUALS LEARNING THEORIES AND INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES
The initials C.V.V.W.Y.P. stand for concept maps, virtual trips, videos, wikispaces, you-tube, podcasts! All of these items add up to a classroom full of exposure, allowing them to retain information in long term memory.
It is extremely important for students to be exposed in a number of ways. The more connections students make, the easier it is for them to grasp and get involved in the subject matter. If they experience, then observe, and then reflect---it ties everything together.
Working with Prezi.com will allow students to do all of these items at once. A great lesson is to make one of each then as a final project add these to a Prezi, it is amazing how students will get into this project. Russell and Sorge (1999) also point to how technology can give students "more control over their own learning."facilitating the analytical and critical thinking and the collabortation championed in the construcivist approach to education (pp. 1-2)
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Behavorist learning theory [Motion Picture]. bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore:
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD
It is extremely important for students to be exposed in a number of ways. The more connections students make, the easier it is for them to grasp and get involved in the subject matter. If they experience, then observe, and then reflect---it ties everything together.
Working with Prezi.com will allow students to do all of these items at once. A great lesson is to make one of each then as a final project add these to a Prezi, it is amazing how students will get into this project. Russell and Sorge (1999) also point to how technology can give students "more control over their own learning."facilitating the analytical and critical thinking and the collabortation championed in the construcivist approach to education (pp. 1-2)
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Behavorist learning theory [Motion Picture]. bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore:
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
