Course Reflections

Well, another course comes to a close and I am that much closed to finishing my masters. When I first began this course I was excited about all of the opportunities these technology skills would offer my third graders. Now, although I am still excited about the technology, I have found out that I will not be teaching third grade but rather kindergarten. All of the fantastic ideas and planning I have done in my head is out the window. 

I hope to use the GAME plan process to work on creating lessons in the future. I think that this process is a simple way to incorporate all of the needed items into a lesson plan. I wish I could have created lessons during this course in which I would be able to use, but I plan on using what I have learned to create new plans for my little ones. 

Since I am starting all of my plans from scratch, I plan on incorporating as much technology as my kids can handle. It is going to be a change of pace since I will have to ensure that my students understand how to use technology. Not to mention, the school I have transferred to uses all Apple products which I know nothing about! This year will be full of challenges but I believe that this course has helped me to prepare to bring these children into the newest era of education. 

GAME Plan Progress

As of this week, my progress feels slow because my students were not available to meet. Although, I have personally been working on new things I will use with my group of students and their parents in the upcoming school year. I have created documents detailing out to our parents the information regarding the technology which I normally use within our daily classroom work. For example, it includes directions to access our class website, our class blog, as well as using Gizmos (our science technology tool). I believe that this will help them feel more prepared to be involved with what the students are working on. 


I have also started researching more options for teacher and parental involvement within district wide technology opportunities. I hope that through this I will inspire other teachers to increase the amount of technology they use in their classrooms. I am beginning to find the resources I need although I am not yet where I would like to be with resources. I hope that in the next week I will find the national and district wide blogs and groups I will become a part of. 


I have not encountered any new questions as of yet although I would like to continue working on building the plan so that my goals and actions will be the most beneficial to the students. 

Carrying out my GAME plan

After reviewing my GAME plan I realized that in order to complete the plan in its entirety I will need a variety of resources. First, I will need to provide my students parents with access to the proper internet sources. In order to do so, I need ample computer access. By doing this I automatically improve my students capabilities of being successful. I will also need the assistance of the library specialist to help with resources, another teacher to assist in forum development and video conferencing.

I have taken several steps in years past to begin to integrate parental support into my technology curriculum. I have provided parents with seminars to allow them to understand the tools we use in the classroom. My next step is to understand the national technology standards in order to incorporate them into my work.

I hope to be able to find the information and acquire any skills needed before the beginning of the next school year.

GAME Plan for NETS-T Indicators

There are several indicators in the International Society of Technology in Education that I would want to improve on, although there are two in particular. The first one is under the third standard, Model Digital-Age Work and Learning, to collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008). The second indicator is under the fifth standard, Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership, which states participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008). In order to improve these indicators, I plan on implementing the following GAME plan.

Goals

• Increase the access for parents and community members to the internet and computers in general in order to help student success.
• Begin participating in district wide initiatives to improve teacher education and use of technology in the classroom.

Actions

• Work with parents directly to increase their use, access to, and understanding of the internet and tools on it that help students to improve their academic success.
• Participate in national and international technology groups and/or forums to improve understanding of how technology is used in other schools.

Monitor

• Monitor progress of parental and community involvement in technology based projects and initiatives.
• Work with district members to improve national and international relationships.

Extend

• Invite parents into the classroom on a day where the class will have the laptops in order to allow all parents to work with their students on the technology we use in the classroom.
• Work with other schools on video-conferencing and chatting to allow students to work with others.

Resources:

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.

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards

for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx

Using Technology Across the Content Areas

I'm looking forward to continuing to work on my blog for this course, EDUC-6731, and learning how to better use technology in all content areas.

Keep Reading :)

Reflection

About 8 weeks ago, I wrote the following as a part of my personal learning theory:

Students learn in very unique ways; each student I have encountered in my teaching career has been very different and has had an exceptional learning style. In my personal theory of learning, I believe that student learning is a complex process and requires the use of many components of the brain (visual, audio, etc) as well as incorporating different instructional practices. Learning theories are complex ideas which require a lot of experience and personal knowledge of working with students; because my experience as a teacher is limited to my short year of teaching, I believe that my theory is simply based on my research of other theories which have been developed by others. As I continue to grow as a teacher, my personal theory on learning will also continue to grow and become more complex.

Today, after much further exploration of learning theories and technology tools, I believe that I still agree with what I believed then, except to a deeper extent. By that, I mean that I know understand what those theories that I referred to mean. Furthermore, my learning theory continues to add an incredible amount of technology into it because I am developing a better understanding of new ways to incorporate it into my lessons. I am also realizing, through assessments and observation that the technology keeps students engaged and creates deeper understanding of information.

Throughout this course I have continued to add more and more technology into my everyday lesson plans. Upon my return to the classroom from medical leave, I plan on implementing the use of wikis and blogs into my lessons for students to use as a reflection tool. I also plan on using my interactive white board more often as well as having students use it as a presentation tool. My technology and instructional strategies and tools are growing and I look forward to using them in the classroom.

Looking ahead, I plan on integrating student blogs to use as a reflective journal where they must respond to each other as a means of student growth. I also hope to begin using the student set of laptops and/or the computer lab to enhance student technology skills as well as interaction during lessons.
All in all, I have loved this course and growing on my learning theory, instructional strategies and technology tools. I look forward to continueing to grow as a teacher and enhance my students' learning ability through the use of technology.

Social Learning

There are an infinite number of things that can be integrated using the social learning theories. When students are presented the opportunities to use technology as a part of the lesson, they thrive on the determination to attain that goal. My students are always working towards the opportunity of using the computers and when I provide them the incentive of using technology as a part of their assignment, they are extremely motivated to complete. When social learning and technology are combined, students are more engaged in the learning experience and, in turn, create a deeper memory of what is learned.

Enhancing the use of the social learning theory will also promote active cooperative learning for the students while still incorporating necessary skills in order to reach their goal. The social learning theory promotes active, engaged learning for students while building relationships.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Program eight: Social learning theories [Video webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1