Last week I created a personal GAME
Plan with two different goals for technology.
My goals are:
1.
To improve on standard 2.a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital
tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity (International
Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), 2008).
2.
To improve on standard 5.d. Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the
teaching profession and of their school and community (International
Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), 2008).
To reach my goals,
I will need different resources and information to assist me and guide my
learning and teaching. Different
resources I might need to incorporate technology into lessons include iPads and
iPad apps, internet, SMARTBoard, projector, and a document camera. I would also need a blog to share what I am
doing with others, which I already have set up!
To facilitate a professional development workshop, I need to contact our
district technology IF (instructional facilitator). The technology IF is usually in charge of our
technology professional development. I
will also need to create a digital diary to ask myself questions and keep notes
throughout the process of the GAME plan.
To share technology and how I am using it
in my classroom I will also need to set up dates that I can hold sessions. These will most likely be done in my school
with any colleague that would like to join.
I will have to be sure to check the school and district calendar when
scheduling these sessions as well.
So far, I have
been able to incorporate technology into a few different lessons this
week. I have used LexiaCore5, a reading
program on iPads, so students can independently practice skills while I work
with students one-on-one on skills. I
have also used different math apps on iPads such as Splash Math and Teach Me to
practice specific skills after finishing a lesson.
Tori,
ReplyDeleteListing the iPad as a resource in the classroom is a great idea. I too use it in my daily English lessons; it helps with the flashcard apps I use. I think it should be considered as the most basic tool in the classroom in terms of technology. It already contains internet, a camera, apps, education tools, and so many endless types of resources for students. It would be under the direction of the teacher to where it would be best-used. Some teachers might be tempted to direct the students to all use the same app, or learning resource, but while those are good things you might do with a computer, they restrict and funnel student thinking, rather than expand it. The teacher could have 30 students, all doing the same thing at the same time on their iPads, but this does not make sense either. The students have a powerful information tool in their hands. There is no way that a teacher can get students to become independent learners in sync. Sure there may be some useful apps that help the student gain the skills, knowledge or insight into the subject, and a teacher might want the class to do it together, but focusing solely on the apps, or student control, limits the true potential of the iPad (Johnson, 2014). It should be a tool to think with.
Reference
Johnson, B. (2014, April 13). How the iPad Can Transform Classroom Learning. Edutopia. Retrieved September 19, 2014, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ipads-transform-classroom-ben-johnson
David Velasco
Tori,
ReplyDeleteI think it is neat that you have a technology IF at your school. We have a person over technology that stays at the board office but rarely steps foot into classrooms. As times are changing, I feel a technology IF is needed to facilitate best practices in the classroom.
Can you tell me more about the two programs you are implementing: Splash Math and Teach Me. What age groups do these programs concentrate on? I am always looking for new and emerging iPad programs. It sounds like your Game Plan is well underway, and you are implementing some wonderful strategies already. I look forward to following you.
Whitney
Whitney,
DeleteSplash Math is a great app for working on math skills! The kindergarten app is not as useful as the first and second grade app. In the higher apps students are able to work on specific skills based on math standards, or they can work on math skills in general. Teach Me is also an excellent app. I know there is Pre-K through third grade. It covers basic reading and math skills. It is very flexible for teachers because you are able to turn off skills and keep track of progress. You can also create multiple accounts on Teach Me. I hope this helps!
Tori
Tori,
ReplyDeleteI just wrote you a response, but I do not see it posted. Perhaps you need to "approve" comments before they are actually posted? I will check back in a bit to see if that is the case...otherwise I will re-post this afternoon!
Thanks and sorry for the confusion,
Ariel
Tori,
ReplyDeleteIt looks like it may have gotten deleted because my above post went through. So interesting. I'll re-type my comments below. I apologize if you are receiving this twice!!!
My early comment was in reference to your use of technology for your GAME plan! I am a bit envious that you are able to incorporate so any excellent resources into the classroom on a daily basis. Your students are very fortunate to have this learning experience. What I thought was so interesting was your inclusion of a reflection piece into your GAME plan though! Many teachers often skip this step of the process since we are too busy grading assessments of that lesson or preparing for our next lesson. Somewhere in between all of that, the reflection piece goes missing but it is such a vital part of our lesson planning. Reflecting will allow you to assess the strengths and weaknesses and overall effectiveness of your lesson! One idea may also be to include your students in the reflection process and allow them to post to a wiki or blog which can serve as an assessment tool for their learning and also for your own reference. By using these social learning tools it is "easier for students to explore their creativity and express themselves to a range of audiences in ways that were, at one time, difficult" (Cennamo, Ross & Ertman, 2009, p.197). Good luck with your GAME plan! It will be interesting to read your reflection notes soon!
Best,
Ariel
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.
Tori, I love your idea of sharing your technology with other classroom teachers. You are so very right in checking the calendar to make sure the meeting dates do not conflict with any other dates. Just a couple of ideas to keep in mind when you actually do this...and these ideas come from experience....(although I was one of the teachers sitting in with another teacher who was presenting) ;) Make sure you keep track of time, and try to keep it short, sweet, and simple. I have been in "quick meetings" that took an entire 30-35 minutes in which the leader talked about nothing and I got absolutely nothing from it. :( I have also been in meetings that were right to the point, and I learned much more in the quick 5-10 minutes than in any of the other lengthy presentations. Talk about what worked in your class and what didn't work, and the specifics of why you think they did or didn't work. This will allow other teachers to think through what may or may not work in their class before they attempt to complete this new task. I just recently started a professional development class in my school and part of the learning includes an outside blog to add input to the ideas and theories discussed. This is another idea you could use when teaching the professional development classes. Sounds like you have a great plan, very thought out! :)
ReplyDeleteJennifer,
DeleteThank you for your great ideas! I agree that it will be important to keep everything short, sweet, and to the point. Everyone is always so busy and I want to offer something that is valuable and not time consuming. Thanks again!
Tori