As I continue to work on strengthening my confidence and proficiency in my chosen standards, I am developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating my personal GAME plan.
Are you finding the information and resources you need?
So far, I am finding the information I need. As far as resources go, the access to the computer lab may have changed. The English teacher is now the Dean of Students and there are long term subs in the room. Since it is an Academy classroom I should have full access, but there might be issues with the sub not knowing what to do while learning the curriculum. I do not have access to the experts yet since the first conference is March 3rd to 5th. However, I have reached out to the computer experts on my campus to find out what I can do. Unfortunately, most of what they have suggested is dependent upon me having access to a tablet, smart board, or LCD projector.
Do you need to modify your action plan?
So far, I do not need to modify my action plan. The way in which I have gone about figuring out which lessons to modify will change at my next World History PLC meeting. I am going to ask my peers who have taught these lessons which ones they think would be easiest to supplement with technology.
What have you learned so far?
So far, I have learned that it is easier to modify a plan after I have taught it without using technology. Then I can take my knowledge of the content and student reactions to the content to find the best ways to incorporate technology. For example, when it comes to World War II, the students are excited about learning different aspects of the war. I believe that some of the lessons would be best modified by creating scavenger hunts for students to participate in. Then they would use knowledge of key words in order to google the answer. I would have them copy and paste the URL next to their answer. I have also learned that unless I make the lessons fun, just getting to use computers does not change the excitement level my students have for the content.
What new questions have arisen?
Basically, the questions I have are all due to the inequality I see at my school site between the different subjects. The math and science departments have technology (smart boards, tablets, and LCD projectors), while the English and Social Science departments have 1 computer per room, 1 tv per room, and any LCD projectors are personally owned by teachers.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Blog 2 Week 3: Carrying Out My GAME Plan
This week I have continued to strengthen my confidence and proficiency in my chosen standards for integrating technology into my world history instruction as well as creating classes to teach my peers technology skills to implement in their classrooms.
What resources will you need to carry out your plan (video, reading, experts or colleagues, etc)?
In order to be successful in both areas of my GAME Plan, I need plenty of resources. To redesign lesson plans that incorporate technology, I need access to technology. Unfortunately, my school has below average access to technology. I only have one computer in my room that is hooked up to a tv. In order to use one of 3 computer labs available on my campus of 3,000 students, I have to reserve them well in advance. Luckily, for 2 of my classes, I can make arrangements with an English teacher to switch classrooms so I can use the computers in his classroom, but I still have to make arrangements well in advance. Since I am limited to computers as my technology resource, I just have to figure out how to incorporate computers. I can’t require that my students use computers outside of the school day since many of them do not have computers and of those who do, not all of them have internet access. I will be able to use my own lesson plans in order to teach my World History PLC group specifically how to integrate technology into their lesson plans. I will utilize the expertise of experts in the field who will be presenting at the two conferences I will be attending this year in order to add to the lessons I will be presenting to my peers.
What additional information do you need?
Realistically, the main thing I need is find a grant to get more technology in my classroom. Usually grants want you to explain how you would use the technology, so if I design lessons to use certain pieces of technology, I can use them to apply for a grant. For now, I would also need to include how to complete the lessons without that additional technology. For teaching the classes, the additional information I need is what type of technology classes my peers at the high school want to participate in.
What steps have you been able to take so far?
So far, I have been able to examine the lessons coming up in the next few chapters and figure out which ones would be most conducive to incorporating technology. I am slowly planning out how much time my students will need in the computer lab and planning on when they would need this access. Once I have figured out when they need to access the computer lab, I can make arrangements with the English teacher to switch classrooms for the week. As part of the Technology Team, I have suggested that we survey our peers to find out what they want to know. That is supposed to take place at our next staff meeting.
What resources will you need to carry out your plan (video, reading, experts or colleagues, etc)?
In order to be successful in both areas of my GAME Plan, I need plenty of resources. To redesign lesson plans that incorporate technology, I need access to technology. Unfortunately, my school has below average access to technology. I only have one computer in my room that is hooked up to a tv. In order to use one of 3 computer labs available on my campus of 3,000 students, I have to reserve them well in advance. Luckily, for 2 of my classes, I can make arrangements with an English teacher to switch classrooms so I can use the computers in his classroom, but I still have to make arrangements well in advance. Since I am limited to computers as my technology resource, I just have to figure out how to incorporate computers. I can’t require that my students use computers outside of the school day since many of them do not have computers and of those who do, not all of them have internet access. I will be able to use my own lesson plans in order to teach my World History PLC group specifically how to integrate technology into their lesson plans. I will utilize the expertise of experts in the field who will be presenting at the two conferences I will be attending this year in order to add to the lessons I will be presenting to my peers.
What additional information do you need?
Realistically, the main thing I need is find a grant to get more technology in my classroom. Usually grants want you to explain how you would use the technology, so if I design lessons to use certain pieces of technology, I can use them to apply for a grant. For now, I would also need to include how to complete the lessons without that additional technology. For teaching the classes, the additional information I need is what type of technology classes my peers at the high school want to participate in.
What steps have you been able to take so far?
So far, I have been able to examine the lessons coming up in the next few chapters and figure out which ones would be most conducive to incorporating technology. I am slowly planning out how much time my students will need in the computer lab and planning on when they would need this access. Once I have figured out when they need to access the computer lab, I can make arrangements with the English teacher to switch classrooms for the week. As part of the Technology Team, I have suggested that we survey our peers to find out what they want to know. That is supposed to take place at our next staff meeting.
Blog 1: Week 2
After visiting the website (http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers.aspx) for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and examining the National Education Standards for Teacher (NETS-T), I analyzed my comfort level for each of the five standards. Of the five NETS-T, I am most comfortable with 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity, 3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning, and 4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility. The two areas where I do not feel as confident or proficient in are 2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments and , and 5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership. Using the GAME (Goal, Action, Monitor, Evaluate) method (Cennamo, 2009), I have created a plan on how to improve my comfort level in these two standards.
My GAME Plan for Standard 2: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Goals: For World History, I only have a few chapters left to cover. What I plan to do is examine the current lesson plans for at least 1 section per chapter and adapt them by redesigning instructions, activities, assignments, and assessments so that they are authentic, self-driven, and utilize technology.
Action: Since I am new to the curriculum, I have to examine lesson plans anyway before teaching them. What I will do is determine which lessons would most be benefited by the inclusion of technology. Since I would be redesigning the lesson, I would start by redesigning the assessment and go from there.
Monitor: I will be able to monitor my progress by ensuring that I do make technology changes to at least 1 section lesson plan per chapter. This can be done by compiling a list and writing up changes to each lesson plan.
Evaluate and Extend: At the end of each altered lesson and unit, I will examine the assessment scores to see if the desired goals have been reached. As I teach the lesson to 4 different classes, I will make adjustments as I deem them necessary and may make modifications for the next year I teach these lessons. Eventually, I would like to be able to do this with all of my lesson plans.
My GAME Plan for Standard 5: Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
Goals: Since I am new to the school, I wanted to get a feel for my colleagues and the school before I got involved in the leadership at the school. However, I did become part of the technology team so I could learn about the technology available at the school. My goal is to develop the technology skills of others. I will also participate in exploring creative applications of technology.
Action: I will participate in technology related seminars at the two conferences I am scheduled to go to this year. Upon my return I will schedule a meeting to teach my fellow Health Academy teachers what I have learned. That small group situation will prepare me to teach the technology ideas at the beginning of next school year. Since my Academy peers and World History PLC group have demonstrated an interest in applying technology to their classrooms, I can try out technology classes on them.
Monitor: As part of the technology team, we are planning on offering several levels of technology instruction as well as a variety of types of technology education. When we get together for our PLC meetings I can check off which classes I have worked on and am willing to teach next year.
Evaluate and Extend: After I teach my fellow Academy teachers and World History PLC group what I have learned, I will ask them to evaluate what I taught them and look for feedback in order to make next year’s classes more effective.
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.
National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/
2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf
My GAME Plan for Standard 2: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Goals: For World History, I only have a few chapters left to cover. What I plan to do is examine the current lesson plans for at least 1 section per chapter and adapt them by redesigning instructions, activities, assignments, and assessments so that they are authentic, self-driven, and utilize technology.
Action: Since I am new to the curriculum, I have to examine lesson plans anyway before teaching them. What I will do is determine which lessons would most be benefited by the inclusion of technology. Since I would be redesigning the lesson, I would start by redesigning the assessment and go from there.
Monitor: I will be able to monitor my progress by ensuring that I do make technology changes to at least 1 section lesson plan per chapter. This can be done by compiling a list and writing up changes to each lesson plan.
Evaluate and Extend: At the end of each altered lesson and unit, I will examine the assessment scores to see if the desired goals have been reached. As I teach the lesson to 4 different classes, I will make adjustments as I deem them necessary and may make modifications for the next year I teach these lessons. Eventually, I would like to be able to do this with all of my lesson plans.
My GAME Plan for Standard 5: Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
Goals: Since I am new to the school, I wanted to get a feel for my colleagues and the school before I got involved in the leadership at the school. However, I did become part of the technology team so I could learn about the technology available at the school. My goal is to develop the technology skills of others. I will also participate in exploring creative applications of technology.
Action: I will participate in technology related seminars at the two conferences I am scheduled to go to this year. Upon my return I will schedule a meeting to teach my fellow Health Academy teachers what I have learned. That small group situation will prepare me to teach the technology ideas at the beginning of next school year. Since my Academy peers and World History PLC group have demonstrated an interest in applying technology to their classrooms, I can try out technology classes on them.
Monitor: As part of the technology team, we are planning on offering several levels of technology instruction as well as a variety of types of technology education. When we get together for our PLC meetings I can check off which classes I have worked on and am willing to teach next year.
Evaluate and Extend: After I teach my fellow Academy teachers and World History PLC group what I have learned, I will ask them to evaluate what I taught them and look for feedback in order to make next year’s classes more effective.
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.
National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/
2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf
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