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