Week 8: Reflection

Week 8: Reflection
I feel that I have taken many of the necessary steps to improve on my GAME plan.
First, I have set reachable GOALS that can easily be achieved by speaking with the technology director in our county, our school’s ITS guy, and professional learning coordinator. I also have been able to self-teach by navigating new programs and technology on my own.
The ACTION that I have taken to achieve my reachable goals involve contacting the county’s technology director to ask her questions on how to improve my blog, create my wikispace page to be used in my classroom, and many other questions to help guide me when attempting to use new technology. I have also put in numerous requests for our school’s ITS guy to upload new programs onto my school computer and also scout out an appropriate place for my new Promethean Board. He also has “cleaned up” my computer to ensure faster access when using both the desktop programs and the Internet.
In order to MONITOR my need to gain knowledge of new technology I like to play around with it so that I can become more familiar with how it works and how my students can benefit from such a program.
Last, but not least, I will EVALUATE and EXTEND my plan by the knowledge that I have gained and how easily I can navigate through new technology and programs. If I do not feel comfortable enough to navigate through the technology on my own I will need to strengthen my plan so that I can eventually reach that comfort level.
I have had a chance to learn of a new program called Classroom Performance System (CPS) . It is a system that allows teachers to import tests, created in our textbook’s testing program, for the purpose of review. It comes with individual student clickers so that each student can participate in a classroom game while the system also saves individual student results. It took me about a week to understand the entire program but it was worth it when the students responded in the positive way that they did and had the experience of learning with technology.
One immediate adjustment that I have made concerning improving my technological path to success is to add a Tech Resources page to my classroom wikispace. I added programs such as VoiceThread, Microsoft PhotoStory, and the classroom blog page. I hope to add to this list as I discover new programs so that there are multiple ways to reach the diverse learning styles in the classroom.

Week 7 Blogpost: Refelcting on my GAME plan

The two NETS-T standards that I initially chose to improve on were model digital-age work and design and develop digital-age learning assessments. More specifically, I wanted to improve on the following indicators: “customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities usingdigital tools and resources” and “model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning” (www.iste.org, 2008).
In order to instill technology skills in my students, based on these standards, I must accomplish a variety of tasks. I have already achieved my goal of speaking with our county's technology director as well as seeking out professional development having to do with integrating technology in the classroom. I actually plan to attend a Smart Board class in January in order to learn how to use my new Promethan Board.
In order to customize and personalize learning I plan to use a variety of technology in my classroom to achieve maximum learning for all learning styles. I already have plans to use my wikispace page, blogging, and VoiceThread for next semester's science classes. These types of technology are of course aside from the basic computer programs such as Microsoft Word and Power Point.
I plan to model technology by updating my wikispace page daily with assignments, announcements, and a daily account of the lesson plans. I also plan to participate in online discussions.
I believe that I have greatly benefited from this course by improving on my knowledge of the different types of technology and how I can integrate them into my classroom.

Week 6: Improving my GAME Plan

Week 6: Improving my GAME Plan
I have learned of many different types of technology, such as VoiceThread, that I can incorporate into pretty much any science lesson. Most of the programs I have learned can also be changed to adhere to the needs of the diverse learners in my classroom.
I am still currently working on gathering more information on the promethean boards. I did find out (thank you Rachel) that I cannot write on the board with a dry-erase marker but that it comes with its own special marker that I can use to write on it and then save that information to upload onto my wikispace for my students’ viewing pleasure.
Based on the NETS-T standards from week one, I would like to still focus on demonstrating the effective use of different technologies in the classroom. For example, I tried using the CPS (Classroom Performance System) for the first time by myself today on the LCD projector. This program involves students possessing their own clicker and requires them to answer a question bank that I have made up for them one question at a time. It then displays data for each student and as a class. This program really encouraged the students to compete with not only other students but themselves as well.
One new goal I have in mind is that I would like to find more programs like the CPS that will engage all students while also acting as an effective tool for learning. One learning approach that I will try next time is to navigate through a new program at the same time I am being told how to use it. I learn better if I can perform a task while being guided from a more experienced teacher.

Week 5: Improving my GAME plan

This week, I have been able to speak with our system’s technology director and our school’s IT guy about both setting up a classroom blog on my wikispace page as well as how to use the promethean board. I was also referred to a teacher at a local middle school who is currently using a promethean board and can teach me to use it at its full potential.
The few things that the IT guy told me about the promethean board is that I will no longer need my LCD projector to display notes, movies, and virtual labs. I can now use the board for all of these things. I still have a lot to learn about the board. I do want to know if I am able to write on the promethean board with dry-erase markers. Can someone tell me if this is possible? The reason I ask is because installation of the board requires that some of my white board be covered. On another note, I did get all of the information that I needed to set up a classroom blog on my wikispace page.
The one thing that I really need to do soon is set up a meeting with the teacher at the middle school so that she can show me how to use the board. I also need to search our area for seminars on the using the board. I am scheduled to receive the board after Christmas so I am in a time crunch with learning how to maximize its use in time for 2nd semester.
If anyone has any insights on how to use the board or just to let me know what all it can do please let me know. Thanks!

Week 4: Improving my GAME Plan

Wow! Thanks to everyone that recommended websites that I can use for my high school-aged science students. That pretty much covers the question about me obtaining information and resources needed to implement my GAME plan. However, I would like to have options for technology other than that of the Internet and the computer. I would like to have access to a Promethean Board or Smart Board so that I can extend my knowledge beyond the computer and its programs. There are so many different technologies out there that can help all types of learning styles. Don’t get me wrong, the computer is a wonderful resource, but it can only do so much and may not cater to all learning styles.

The one thing that I may need to modify in my GAME plan is to attend a seminar on using a Promethean Board. We have been named a Title 1 school this year and because of that we will receive extra funding. My principal recently approached me and offered to set up a board in my classroom. His goal is to set up more technology in classrooms that will benefit the needs of special education students. Since I teach in a team-taught classroom he offered me this wonderful opportunity that I just could not turn down. Now I must learn how to use it and understand how this will maximize student learning.

One thing I have learned as I improve upon my GAME plan is that there are many different types of technology out there and that, just like your lesson plans, technology needs to be differentiated as well. Just because a teacher may be using the LCD in her lessons does not mean that she should use it as her form of technology EVERY time. It is important to change it up and keep the students engaged with a variety of technological methods.

Has anyone ever used or is using a Promethean Board? Can you offer me any suggestions as I begin learning about them? Also, what all can it do?

Week 3 Post: Improving my GAME plan

In order to improve my GAME plan I will need to first speak with our county’s Technology Director for guidance as well as discuss tools that are readily available for implementation in my lessons. It seems that for most of my lessons the following resources will be appropriate: computer, LCD projector, computer lab availability, access to educational websites, lab supplies, and the course text. I will also collaborate with my team-teacher in order to modify lessons that will fit all learning styles.
My intention is to teach my students effectively by not only differentiating instruction for an entire unit but for a single lesson as well. For example, I would like to have multiple learning strategies within one lesson so that each student has an equal opportunity to learn effectively using their personal learning style.
So far, I have been able to speak with the county’s Technology Director when I took her seminar on creating a wikispace page. I plan to get my wikispace set up so that I can post information and assignments for my students to view at home. I also plan to include a link to my science classroom blog in order for them to comment on specific science topics. Some other steps that I have already taken to implement my GAME plan are signing up for computer lab use in advance, researching valid educational websites, and building up quite a large supply of lab materials for the many hands-on activities we do in science.
The one thing that I am having trouble with is finding educational websites that will challenge my 9th and 10th grade students in science. Does anyone out there know of or use one in their classroom? The main one that I use is http://www.discoverylearning.com/. The program found on this site is called Gizmos. All others seem elementary and do not challenge my high school-aged students.

NETS-T Indicators

The two standards from the NETS-T website that I would like to improve on are model digital-age work and design and develop digital-age learning assessments. More specifically, I would like to work on the following indicators: “customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using
digital tools and resources” and “model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning” (www.iste.org, 2008).
To strengthen my confidence, I would like to learn more about the effectiveness of different types of technology and student learning. I would also like to learn more about different technologies in general.
In order to improve on both of these standards I plan to attend seminars that train teachers to become more technology savvy. For example, our county now offers a wikispace training seminar where we would create our very own wikispace in order to use it in the classroom for various purposes. I would also like to personalize my activities so that I can address the many learning styles that each of my students bring to the classroom. I will do this by using the many technological resources available to me such as VoiceThread, virtual labs, and blog sites.
To monitor and evaluate my progress, I will take the information that I learn and perform mini lessons to my colleagues. I will encourage constructive criticism before I teach the lesson to my students. Once I receive this feedback I will make the necessary changes to my lesson to make it more effective.

Reflection Blog

The one thing that stands out to me from this course is being able to teach my students how to evaluate websites to determine their credibility. So often do students just jump onto the first site that they see and trust that they are receiving factual information. It is important for teachers to help their students understand what resources are best to use and why. “For students, this means becoming critical consumers of information by comparing and contrasting facts and ideas within a website and from multiple websites” (Eagleton, M. B., & Dobler, E., 2007)
The knowledge I have gained in this course will influence my teaching by monitoring my students more when we are doing ANY sort of research. Not only is it important to evaluate internet websites correctly but students should be able to do the same with magazine articles, newspaper articles, and books. They should be able to recognize factual versus false information.
One goal that I plan to build on as an educator would be to instill in my students the “why?” and “how?” approach to solving problems. This includes questions such as “Why is this resource not credible?” and “How do I know?” It is important as a science educator for my students to explain their answers not only for science content but for everything in life. A student becomes a better person if they can back their ideas through explanation. In order to achieve this goal, I will consistently ask guiding questions in order to lead my students to give me the correct answers. I will also encourage students to use credible resources in order to explain their ideas about a topic. Last but not least, I will model this strategy as I teach my students to dig deeper into not only school related topics but any topic that they are passionate about.
References
Eagleton, M. B., & Dobler, E. (2007). Reading the web: Strategies for internet inquiry. New York: The Guilford Press.

November, A. (2008). Web literacy for educators

Website Evaluation URL

http://www.screencast.com/users/jessiesteedley/folders/Jing/media/f9132a5c-5208-4413-a333-f15cd265a6ed

Reflection

I have enjoyed this course more than any other course because I have been introduced to so many different technological ideas that I are easy and effective ways of teaching students. For example, one of my favorites was the VoiceThread. I had never seen this program before but think it would be a great way to get students to express their thoughts about certain topics. It is also very interesting because students think so differently so each VoiceThread would be representing the personality of each individual student and how they interpreted the assignment. I will definitely be incorporating this program into my future science lessons.
Another type of technology that my students are probably all familiar with is blogging. I would like to use blogging to improve upon not only the subject area I teach but also their writing skills. I plan to post a question on my classroom blog once a week having to do with the topic for that week. Each student will have thirty minutes computer time in the library to respond to this question using scientific facts and even their own opinions. I will grade them and give feedback with the goal that each student will progress not only in science but in writing as well.
Two goals I would like to achieve to improve technological integration are writing grants to be approved for more technology such as computers and smart boards and learning how to use new tools such as these to effectively teach my students. To do this I will first need to research who to write to and then learn how to write a grant. I will need to decide if I would rather write a grant for a certain dollar amount to purchase these products or if I should write a grant for the products alone. I will need to find out who I need to go through to get approval to send a grant as well as find out what my department needs or could use the most in the classroom. I will also need to attend any seminars for teachers that help with learning how to use these to tools so that I can be prepared when using them in the classroom. This is a very big goal to have and will be a very tedious process but in the end it will all be worth it to be able to teach my students using a variety of technology in the classroom.

VoiceThread: Things That Parents Actually Do Say

http://voicethread.com/#b530582

Social Learning

“Cooperative learning focuses on having students interact with each other in groups” (Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K.,2007). Well, you can’t get more socially connected than group work in the classroom. There are many different ways of exploring technology when it comes to group work. There are webquests, multimedia projects, and key pals. All of these allow students to work with each in order to gain knowledge not only in technology but in subject areas as well. Keypals even allows students to collaborate with students in other schools. Group work also allows for each group member to have a certain role which forces trust among the group that each member will do their part. Once that trust has been established they can begin constructing their project by conversing with each other and accepting each other’s ideas.

Constructionism

There are two steps to problem solving when dealing with constructionism: finding the image to lock into the brain and constructing that image using technology.
As students practice constructionism by building their own images using the knowledge gained they have to experiment with a variety of images before fixating on the best one. Everything in life involves the scientific method which starts out with a problem and ends with a conclusion. The problem in this case is the student relating knowledge to an image and then using technology to represent that image. “When students problem solve, they look at various solutions given the obstacles and restraints posed by the problem” (Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K., 2007) which means that students compare their images by gathering data on each one before making a final decision. For example, a student may be struggling with an image to represent the nucleus of a cell. Any image having to do with something being in control of a situation would do but the student must choose the one that is best for him or she to remember and be able to recall when assessed on the topic.
After choosing the best image for the specified content the next problem would be to find an image to represent the student’s image by using technology. Technology can help students create the image from scratch using shapes or the Paint program or the student can rely on pre-constructed images from the internet. Students can even add audio in a Power Point program.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Cognitive Learning Theories

According to Dr. Orey, “people can remember images much more than they can remember text” (Laureate Education, 2008) which is why concept maps and other visuals are so effective in the classroom. Concept mapping can be used after a lesson or even before a lesson when paired with the teacher asking probing questions. “Higher-level questions and advance organizers produce deeper learning than “lower-level” questions and advance organizers” (Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K., 2007) which will access the long-term memory leading to successful learning.
Active note-taking is another way that teachers can access long-term memory in students. “note- taking is similar to summarizing in that it enhances students’ ability to organize information in a way that captures the main ideas” (Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K., 2007). Teaching students to record the most important ideas and focusing on those ideas rather than small details will help them when studying for their test so they are not trying to store too many ideas in their memory and become overwhelmed.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.

Behavioral Learning vs Intructional Learning

Dr. Orey states that behaviorist theory consists of reinforcement and punishment. These types of operant conditioning correlate with instructional strategies by “reinforcing effort to enhance students’ understanding of the relationships between effort and achievement by addressing their attitudes and beliefs about learning” (Pitler, Hubbell , Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007). Students need to realize the importance of effort and technology can make it easier for students to track their effort.
“Homework and practice gives students a chance to apply what they have learned” (Pitler, Hubbell , Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007). Students can use a variety of technological tools such as Microsoft word and spreadsheets to practice such things as research, writing, and calculating in order to gain a better understanding of the material. This is also a type of reinforcement because they must first understand the content before applying it.
Enhancing student effort is all about getting the students to enjoy what they are learning. Technology is a great way to positively reinforce what the students are learning and actually make learning fun so that the students will want to continue in their efforts to learn more in future lessons.

Reflective Essay

This course has helped me develop technology skills in many ways. The blog page that I created will allow me to assign my students reflective essays once a week to not only view their thoughts and opinions on certain topics but also to test and improve their writing skills. The wikispace that we created will allow me to post multiple assignments and announcements for students to be able to view both in the classroom and at home. The podcasts I will probably not use as much in my classroom but knowing how to navigate this will allow me to navigate and implement vodcasting in my classroom. This could allow me to video myself teaching a lesson and require the students to view the lesson before it is taught in the classroom giving the students a chance to see and hear the information and come up with any questions they may have beforehand.
This course has been sort of difficult for me because it is more self taught than not. I believe that being able to investigate and make my own mistakes has made me a better learner because I am not depending on someone to teach it to me but am learning on my own research and experiences.
I am now more learner-centered because I can put myself in my student’s shoes and allow them to experience things on their own as I have done while also guiding them at the same time. I also find it very helpful to have the students teach each other the content to ensure learning is definitely taking place. I have found myself teaching other teachers here at my school about wikispaces and other things related to technology and I end up learning even more about the programs in the process.
Two goals that I have for myself are to finish my entire wikispace and blog page by next school year in order to be able to use them in the classroom.

Podcast Interviews

http://jsteedley.podbean.com/
The first three postings are the ones that uploaded correctly.

Partnership for 21st Century Skills Website Reaction

At first the website seemed kind of boring listing mostly informational material that I did not really understand. However, I continued reading under the tab Life and Career Skills and saw a statement that caught my eye "Setting and meeting high standards and goals for delivering quality work on time"(www.21stcenturyskills.org). This is something that I struggle with as a teacher because many teachers in my school system are not conisistent with this. It is very important to teach students at an early age to be responsible as well as doing good, quality work.
Alot of things on the website surprised me because I agree with a lot of it. Many teachers and school systems around me tend to give multiple opporutnities for students to pass or retake a class. It seems that no one wants to hold these kids responsible for their actions. This website lists many goals that all teachers should have for each students in order to TRULY help them succeed not only in school but in business as well.
There is really nothing on the website that I disagree with. I think it is a great site that can help teachers set goals for not only themselves but for their students as well.
I believe that this website implies that the teachers need to step it up and start helping their students with goals instead of hindering by "babying" them with things like extra credit and extra time to complete an assignment after the due date. In my opinion, the main focus of this website is to help these students set and accomplish reachable goals through a variety of activities.
I specifically liked the Ecutopia video that showed an after school program that not noly focused on school related tasks but real world activities such as visiting the pet shelter. A program such as this allows students to experience all kinds of things helping them to figure out what they are interested in doing in the future.

What purpose would a blog serve in an eduational setting?

I am currently in the process of creating my own wikispace with the help of our system technology specialist. I have already posted a link to my blog page on my wikispace. I would like for my students to not only access notes, homework, and worksheets from my wikispace but also my blog page for the purpose of answering and discussing reflection questions once a week. For example, I have already posted a question about opinions concerning evolution. I would use this to not only assess student learning but as a writing tool as well. There are so many students that do not yet know how to correctly write a complete sentence let alone a paragraph. The SAT now has a writing portion and I give essays on all tests so these students really need to know how to express their ideas on paper in a grammatically correct fashion. For the students, the blog page would be a place where they can express themselves and learn how to write about different topics.
What are your thoughts about my ideas concerning blogging as a writing tool in class? Do you have any suggestions that would add to my ideas?