As I implement my GAME plan, I am reflecting on what went
well, what did not, what
improvements could be made, and what did my students and
I learn from this. In regards to the
first standard I chose: 2A: Design or adapt relevant learning experiences
that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and
creativity (ITSE, 2012) ,
I have used the internet to uncover interactive websites that could be utilized
in the classroom. Implementing them as a
whole class activity is easiest as I have only one computer in the classroom. Integrating technology like this has its
drawbacks. If it is not the student’s
turn at the interactive whiteboard, then they have a tendency to not pay
attention to what is going on. Even with
the inclusion of a guide that the students must record answers on, keeping
students on task is a tremendous challenge.
An additional consideration was the loading time of the links that
student’s chose. Being that we do not
have the fastest connection at the school, this too took time and lost student
interest in the activity. Exit cards at
the end of the lesson had students reflecting on the note taking and slowness
of the connection as being the big drawbacks of the activity. The next time I try something like this, I
would like to use one of our computer labs and have the students work at their
own pace. This might eliminate the time
spent redirecting student behaviors.
The second standard that I am
focusing on is 5C: Evaluate and reflect
on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective
use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student
learning (ITSE, 2012) . Devoting time to look at and work with these
technologies is challenging as majority of my time is spent grading, creating
lessons that will engage my students, documenting the interventions that I use
in my classroom, and the myriad of additional record keeping tasks that occupy
teachers time. At this time, I have had
precious little time to explore new technologies to use with my students. I have a Word document with a list of
technologies that I want to spend some time getting to know. I am playing with the idea of bringing in a
few students during RTI (Response To Intervention) time and giving them the
list to explore. They could take notes
on what they like and dislike about it, what is challenging about it, and
whether or not they feel it has any educational value. This endeavor will allow me to bring
technology to my students and provide them with the opportunity to become the
instructor (empowering the learning process).
From there, I would then choose
the technologies that I feel merit a closer look.
References
ITSE, I. S. (2012). NETS for Teachers.
Retrieved September 12, 2012, from
http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers
Sandra,
ReplyDeleteI too feel I don't have time to use new programs I have learned with the Walden courses. After reading your blog, I realize probably all teachers are overwhelmed at the start of a new school year. I think I over estimated the maturity of my students when I introduced the anti-plargiarism unit. I realize now their approach to the copy & paste & chomp & reorganize data demonstrated their confusion.
On a different note, one Web 2.0 tool I think you can introduce for Standard 5C is www.spiderscribe.com
This website allows anyone to open a free account. You make one as the teacher and demonstrate the text box, the map box, a picture upload box and the way to add color and different size text. Then students, in their own accounts make a concept map based on your lesson plan. They can save or delete as they work. They can make a concept map easily in about 15 minutes and then they can share it by emailing it to whomever they want. My 6th & 7th grade students really liked this lesson plan. I just wish it lasted longer than a day or two! By the way, you can make 30 maps before you have to delete the older ones. So the web tool is very usable; easy to understand too.
Sandra,
ReplyDeleteI guess it is no surprise that quite a few of us chose to improve on the standard that involves implementing digital tools and resources to enhance student learning since we are all technology and education people. As I have read blogs over the past few weeks it seems that many teachers are wanting to improve the learning experience by implementing technology into the classroom. The technology goes beyond the classroom which makes the learning outside the classroom more meaningful for students.
As you shared, with having limited resources it can be difficult to keep all students engaged and on task. If each student had a computer or some technology tool then it would be easier to have them engaged. The teacher would have the task of monitoring students to be sure that they are on task. I think have students in a computer lab is a great idea and it does give students the freedom of working at their own pace.
I agree that there is little time to devout to other things with all of the other "stuff" teachers have to do. I too have to deal with the majority of my time grading, lesson planning, paperwork, and other record keeping tasks.
Liana