Evaluating my GAME Plan Progress

This week I have learned a great deal about project-based learning units, and it is wonderful that the one I will be creating for class can be tested out in my own classroom. I have not done many project-based learning units in the past mainly because of the need for technology in every lesson and the fact that we do not have laptops in class really puts a damper on the chance to watch the amount and level of learning that takes place in such a unit. However, I could always try to test out the unit I create over the next couple of weeks during the end of the year when there is less of a demand for the computer lab. My goal of creating more opportunities for students to use and learn with technology would benefit from such a unit, even if it is a mini unit this school year. As stated in chapter eight, “when technology is incorporated in an effective way, it can indeed facilitate creative thinking skills in the language arts classrooms” (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, p.196). When students are engaged in a problem-based learning lesson, they are using their creative thinking skills to help them make decisions and find solutions to their posed problem(s).

Although I am learning a great deal this week about problem-based learning lessons, I still need to spend more time researching this topic before I feel comfortable presenting this unit to my students. Questions that arise are: How do I ensure all students are sharing the work load in their groups? How do I catch students up who have been absent or would their partners do that? How do I find the time to teach those students not comfortable with technology that may be used such as blogs and wiki? I hope by the end of the three lessons I create, I will be more secure with the idea of creating and using a problem-based learning unit in my classroom.

-Lauren Cogan
6-7 language arts

Reference: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 Progress

Through this course I am learning a lot more about the technology that is available for the classroom which is helping me to adapt lessons to incorporate more technology. One idea that I want to use in the near future is the online testing software called Hot Potatoes. It allows teachers to create questions for students who go online to answer them and then the information is recorded. (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, p.144). This would allow for quick assessments and record keeping. I also like the idea of moving our portfolios to becoming online portfolios. We recently found out our school is doing away with the portfolio boxes that contain each student’s writing samples from each grade level. We were told they do not have enough time to sort through them each year to move the students’ files to their new teacher’s box. If the portfolios were online then they could be accessed very easily each year. Students will just need to save their work in a word document in order to upload it to a portfolio management system (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, 152). Does anyone currently use an online portfolio system with their students? If so, do you allow them to pick what writing they want to add to their portfolio or are they already selected by you? In my district, the teachers select only four writing samples, each being the marking period’s timed writing which gets scored using the state writing rubric. I would prefer to have the students pick which pieces they want to put in their portfolio, but I currently cannot do that. My second goal, growing as an educator, is being fulfilled by taking this course and learning about the technology available for teachers to us in the classroom. I am gaining a lot of resources and information that I can put into my lessons.

-Lauren Cogan
6-7 language arts

Reference: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.

Carrying Out my GAME Plan

To carry out my first goal of adapting or creating lessons that contain “digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity” (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008), I will need computers. I wish my school district, like my husband’s school district, had laptops available for students to use. If my classroom was equipped with laptops, I would be able to incorporate a lot more technology into my lessons. Students could use the laptops to write essays instead of doing it on paper, and when they went back to peer-edit and revise, less work would be required because the essay would be saved in a Word document. We could create electronic portfolios instead of the boxed ones we currently have, and students could easily publish their work to a blog or wiki. Students could also easily access websites we were exploring in class, take on-line quizzes, and each student could participate in interactive review games. I am currently limited in how I adapt my lessons because of the technology that is available. I have, however, been using the SMART board more in class which enables students to have more chances to interact with it, but I am limited to one students at a time.

For my second goal, “contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community” (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008), I will need the assistance of my administrators as they are the ones who plan the workshops we attend in school each year. They usually ask for input and comments from the faculty, so I can inform them that more workshops focusing on technology and content specific ideas would greatly benefit the teachers. I am currently taking this class, so that is helping me to reach my goal of improving and growing as a teacher. Each week I am learning new information and forming ideas that I can use in my classroom if not now then in the near future. I am setting and reflecting on goals I have created for myself as a teacher which is also helping me become an effective educator. And lastly, I am always reading and researching new ideas on the computer for improving my lesson plans. By doing this, I am demonstrating my ability to grow as an educator as I am not doing the same lesson year after year.
With that being said, I feel I am off to a good start on reaching my goals set last week.

-Lauren Cogan
6-7 language arts

Reference:
National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T). (2008). http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf

My Personal GAME Plan

Setting goals helps me to continue to challenge myself and continue to grow in my profession. After reviewing the International Society for Technology in Education website and reading through the National Education Standards for Teachers, I have developed two goals that will help me to strengthen my confidence and proficiency in using technology in the classroom. It is my hope that I can meet these goals on some level despite my limited technology resources at school.

The first goal is from indicator 2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Experiences and Assessments: “design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity” (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008). To achieve this goal, I will begin to incorporate more technology into lessons that will benefit from the enhancement. For example, I can use a digital storytelling program to adapt my unit on the personal narrative. In the first marking period, students learn how to write a personal narrative which then goes into their writing portfolio. To incorporate technology into this unit, I can teach students how to use the digital storytelling program to “enable learners to reflect, represent, and communicate what they know” (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, p.67) in order to help the class “develop a deeper understanding of the perspectives of others” (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, p.69). Students will be given the opportunity to turn their writing into images and to record their narrative using a recording device. By creating lessons like this one, I will be teaching my students how to use technology and creative thinking skills to demonstrate what they know. To monitor the progress of my goal, I will observe my students during these technology rich lessons to determine if the addition of the technology to the lesson is benefitting the students as ideas may look good on paper, but one needs to see it in action to decide if it was beneficial or not. I will make adjustments to my lesson plans as needed for the next time I teach the lesson. To extend my learning, I will continue to research and read about different ways to use technology to enrich my lessons and promote student creativity and growth.

My second goal is from indicator 5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership: “contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community” (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008). To achieve this goal, I will continue to peruse my master’s degree in education with a concentration in adolescent literacy and technology. I will also continue to read and research information about technology being used in the classroom, so I can remain current in the latest tools being used to enhance student learning. Lastly, I will continue to take workshops offered by my school district that inform me about technology for the classroom. I have a professional developmental plan that I need to create each year at school and then I chart the different professional developmental programs that I attended. This chart will help me to monitor my goal as I record the classes I attend at Walden and the workshops I attend throughout the year. I will evaluate this goal by reflecting back each month and determining if I used the information I have learn that month to enhance my lessons. It is important that teachers change or adapt their lessons to meet the needs of the current students they have. Classes change each year regarding their needs and abilities. If I do not modify or adapt my lessons from year to year then I am not benefitting my students or being an effective teacher. I owe it to my students to replenishment my resources that I use to deliver my lessons, and I can do this effectively by meeting my goal.

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