WK 7 Reflection 6713

My Reflection

Throughout this course, Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas, I have focused on two main goals while implementing my GAME Plan.  The first goal was to utilize technology as a way for students to collaborate and reflect on newly learned content.  The second goal was to model appropriate use of citations and teach students how to cite media, text, graphics, and other sources within their own work.

I have made significant progress in carrying out each of these goals with students.  My students have joined my Edmodo classroom and have played around with the interface in preparation for our first blogging assignment.  They will complete their first blog post in the next week.  I have located and shared the resources for becoming a responsible digital citizen.  This is the first year my students are hearing this language and what it truly means to give credit to the original source of information by citing properly, paraphrasing content, and using appropriate and formal language skills while working on-line (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009d).  I have recognized the need for continued modeling of these skills to ensure my students are diligent with these requirements and so they understand the importance of this huge responsibility. 

By using the GAME Plan process for accomplishing goals, I am held accountable for their completion.  I appreciate that the GAME Plan allows for reflection and revision throughout.  In almost every case, changes need to be made for successful outcomes.  I know my students will benefit from using the GAME Plan process throughout the school year as well.  When we begin each unit of study, I will have students set a goal, make an action plan, monitor their progress, and then evaluate and extend as the unit is wrapping up (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009).  Using the GAME Plan format will help students to build goals setting skills into their repertoire of tools that can be used throughout life.  I will have students blog about their experience much like I have done for this class.  I will be able to monitor their progress and provide on-going feedback, which according to Davis is one of the many benefits of educational collaboration (Laureate Education, Inc. 2009b).

In order to be successful with my GAME Plan and to make long-term changes in my building, I will have to spend more time with my colleagues discussing a plan of attack for digital citizenship and developing a school-wide plan.  It will be necessary to continue this work at grade level meetings, staff meetings, and during on-going professional development.  I know that this work will benefit all students and teachers if developed to include the responsibilities of all grade level teachers and what it will look like for students in every age group.

Due to my newly gained knowledge and skill set gained from taking this course, I will make some immediate changes to my teaching practice.  I am working toward teaching all the lessons in my unit plan after the New Year.  This unit plan includes a problem-based learning lesson, a collaborative lesson, and a digital story telling lesson.  I have learned of the multitude of benefits of each of these technology-based activities such as: their ability to transcend across all subject areas, teach students 21^st century skills, and help students to become self-directed learners who utilize creativity and take risks to move forward in their educational endeavors (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009).  I have already started teaching the problem-based learning lesson I created.  A good problem-based activity includes collaboration with peers, and a problem that fits within the content area (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009a).  My students have been genuinely engaged in the lesson and have commented that the problem we are solving directly relates to what is happening in our school.  They feel as though their voices are being heard and they can influence change in their school environment.

In the past, I have been intimidated by using problem-based learning activities, educational collaboration and digital storytelling with my students.  My apprehension came from lack of knowledge and skills with these technology tools.  These activities seemed like a gigantic undertaking that would take extraordinary amounts of time, and require lots of preparation.  What I know now is that this can be true, but the rewards are infinitely great.  I feel comfortable starting small with these projects as Abrams suggested (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009c).  My hard work and dedication to using these activities will pay off down the road.  I am excited for the next steps of implementation.  My students are eager as well.  Through the use of digital tools and the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), I can scaffold lessons to meet the diverse needs of my students and present content in new ways.  I can also broaden the audience that my students interact with and prepare them with 21^st century skills (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009e).

As I continue my master’s program at Walden, I am acquiring new knowledge and skills that are directly applicable to my teaching practice.  I have developed lessons that incorporate meaningful, authentic uses of technology and learned how to present content in new ways.  I have had the opportunity to practice these skills through my collaborative work with colleagues.   I will continue my professional growth using the GAME Plan process.

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.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009a). Integrating technology across the content areas: Spotlight on technology: Problem-based learning, part 1. Baltimore, MD: Author.




Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009b). Integrating technology across the content areas: Spotlight on technology: Social networking and online collaboration, part 1. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009c). Integrating technology across the content areas: Spotlight on technology: Digital storytelling, part 1. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010d). Supporting information literacy and online inquiry in the classroom: Information literacy: Ethical usage. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009e). Integrating technology across the content areas: Meeting students' needs with technology, part 1. Baltimore, MD: Author.

WK 4 Application-6713

Monitoring My GAME Plan

As a reflective practitioner, it is imperative to continue evaluating and monitoring progress toward goals.  I am revisiting my GAME Plan to do just that.  I will be addressing whether or not I have located the information and resources I need to carry out the plan, if modifications are necessary, what I have learned up to this point, and if new questions have come up since developing my plan.

My first goal: To utilize technology as a way for students to collaborate and reflect on newly learned content.

Finding information and resources:

I have decided to use Edmodo as the forum for students to begin blogging.  However, my students now have Google accounts too. We will be using Google apps in my classroom for various collaborative activities as well.  My professional learning community at Walden was instrumental in helping this decision along.  I have begun to explore the tools within Edmodo and Google to see how they can be of use in my classroom.  My students’ parents are satisfied with the level of security that Edmodo provides. 

I have located a few examples of student blogs and teaching blogs that have students’ input to share with my own students.  This was not as easy as I had thought it would be.  I found several blogs written by high school students, but not many with substance written by elementary students.  I guess my students will be creating their own examples over time. 

I have joined an on-line PLC through edWeb.net to get ideas for blogging and using other technologies in my classroom for collaborative activities.  This is a great way for me to meet others who have similar aspirations and goals related to technology integration.  Very few of my colleagues are using technology beyond word-processing with their students. 

What I have learned and modifications:

I have resigned to “move slow to move fast with technology”.  My enthusiasm for getting things moving has been hampered by my personal experience and time constraints.  I want to make this a meaningful and productive activity in my teaching practice.  Realizing this has made me slow down a bit so I can be better prepared to launch this with my students. 

My students still have a lot to learn and so do I.  I think the best way for all of us to get better at this is through self-directed learning.  I think my students need some time to explore and play with the technologies and build their confidence.  I need to do the same.

New questions:

-Are their mentoring adults that would be willing to get involved in blogging with my students? 

-How would their involvement be helpful and educational for my students?

My second goal: To model appropriate use of citations and teach students how to cite media, text, graphics, and other sources within their own work.

Finding information and resources:

I have located a few mentor texts with proper citations and acceptable paraphrasing.  I would like to have more time with my grade level colleagues to collect the resources we need to meet this goal. I have looked into the resources a colleague at Walden suggested on the topic of digital citizenship and found some very helpful and useable information.  Here is the link:

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/digital-citizenship-resources-matt-davis

I am working on criteria for proper citations on my writing rubric.

What I have learned and modifications:

Digital citizenship should be taught from Kindergarten on up.  The students in my class have heard of plagiarism, but they do not understand what it means to do it.  I am hoping the technology committee in our building addresses this topic and develops a cohesive plan for teaching it to our students.  I have offered to be on this committee.  I am already a member of another committee, so maybe I can just consult with the group when the meeting times do not conflict.

New questions:

-Are there other ways to make digital citizenship important to my students?

-How can I involve the whole school community in meeting this goal?

I will continue to monitor and evaluate my progress toward these goals, so they are a top priority in my teaching practice.  I am looking forward to exploring Edmodo and Google a bit more.  I am getting eager to have students participate in their first blogging assignment.  Any and all feedback and suggestions are appreciated.

WK 3 Application- 6713

Carrying Out My GAME Plan

After reviewing my personal GAME plan, I realized that I still needed additional resources and information to carry it out.  Over the course of the next few weeks, I will continue to gather the needed resources and information to make my personal GAME plan more complete.

Goal 1: To utilize technology as a way for students to collaborate and reflect on newly learned content.

Resources I will need:

1. Examples of classroom or students blogs/posts that I can use as models and exemplars.

2. List of prompts and questions based on content in the curriculum for the students to respond to.

3. A rubric that contains specific criterion for assessing students’ blog posts.

4. Time to meet with grade-level colleagues to see if they are interested in utilizing blogs in their lessons.

5. Discussions with educators that are already using blogs in their classrooms to get ideas and suggestions for successful implementation.

6.Websites and articles about blogging with elementary-aged students.

Additional information I will need:

-Is Edmodo the best forum for my students to begin blogging?

-Are there other sites that have safety features that are acceptable in my district?

-How can I make blogging a more authentic experience?  Do I open the doors to new and varied audiences outside our own classroom?

-How much emphasis should I place on conventions in blog posts?  Do I focus on content and writing traits?

Steps I have taken thus far:

-I have sent home permission slips to parents to ensure that all students can participate in blogging. 

-Parents have started to email and call with questions about this activity, so I have begun to answer their questions and put their minds at ease about the safety of their children on the web. 

-I sent out an email to my grade level team about discussing blogging and setting aside time at our next PD to hash out details.

Goal 2: To model appropriate use of citations and teach students how to cite media, text, graphics, and other sources within their own work.

Resources I will need:

1. Mentor texts with proper citations and acceptable paraphrasing.

2. Templates for proper citation of each type of source students use.

3. Time to collaborate with my grade-level team to create lesson plans, templates, and locate mentor texts for teaching students about digital citizenship.

Additional information I will need:

-Are there district guidelines in place about digital citizenship already?

-Did the technology committee address digital citizenship in any of their planning last year?  If so, how?

Steps I have taken thus far:

-I have compiled a list of commonly used sources to create citation templates for.

-I have read through the district’s policy for Internet safety and ethical standards for the reuse of materials.

-I emailed my grade-level team about discussing digital citizenship at our next grade-level meeting.

I have begun to take steps in gathering the necessary resources and information for my GAME plan.  I have even more information to gather.  It is absolutely essential that my grade-level team finds time to meet and discuss blogging with our students and how we will make teaching digital citizenship a priority. 

*Any suggestions and ideas are welcome.  Thanks!

WK 2 Application-6713

My Personal GAME Plan

After surveying the International Society for Technology in Education’s (2008) website, I identified two objectives in the National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) that I will examine to gain and apply new knowledge and skills into my teaching practice.  By employing the four steps in the GAME plan: goals, actions, monitor, evaluate and extend, I will create a proposal for continuing my growth as a professional and to help prepare my students with a 21^st century skills set (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009).

NETS-T #1

            1c.  Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and

            clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and

            creative processes

Goal: To utilize technology as a way for students to collaborate and reflect on newly learned content.

I believe that incorporating blogging into my lessons will allow my students to collaborate with others, reflect on what they are learning, ask and answer critical thinking questions, and tap into their creativity (Richardson, 2010).  Through the use of blogs, I can incorporate the new literacies: questioning, searching, evaluating, synthesizing, and communicating into authentic learning experiences for my students (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010).

Actions:

-Contact my students’ parents to get permission for them to participate in blogging.

-Create an Edmodo account or class blogging site.  Then, have students join the forum.

-Share examples of other students’ blog posts with my own students and discuss them.

-Create the first blogging assignment and rubric for assessing it.

Monitor:

-After the first, four blogging assignments, students will have several grades and blog posts to reflect on.  The students will conduct a self-evaluation to reflect upon what they have gained from writing their own blog posts, what they have learned from others through this activity, and set a goal for improvement.

-At the beginning of the next assignment, have students review their goals.

-Continuously provide feedback as students post.  Change response questions to meet the differentiated needs of the students. 

-Conference with students about topics and questions that are most engaging to them.

Evaluate:

-Have students determine what skills they have learned and/or mastered during the blogging activities.

-Conference with students about next steps.

-Review all collected data (anecdotal notes, scores, writing samples) to guide upcoming instruction.

NETS-T #2

            4a. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital

            information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual

            property, and the appropriate documentation of sources

Goal: To model appropriate use of citations and teach students how to cite media, text, graphics, and other sources within their own work.

I utilize various sources when creating presentations, worksheets, and assignments.  However, I have not been diligent about citing these sources and practicing ethical use of intellectual property.  It is imperative that I model proper citation of references for my students so they will recognize the importance of giving the original source credit and respecting intellectual property.

Actions:

-When using any source of information to create a worksheet, presentation, or other materials for the class, I will site all sources properly to model giving credit to the original source.

-Create a lesson to teach students how to cite information from their sources.

-Create a template for citing sources for students to reference in their writing folders.

-Continually emphasize the importance of citations by discussing it at the beginning of each writing unit and project assigned.

Monitor:

-Students will peer review each others’ work to determine if proper citations have been included in their final papers or projects before submission.

-Provide reinforcement to students who are not properly citing their references by holding small group review sessions.

Evaluate:

-Review student work samples for proper citation and overall scores to decide if further instruction is needed in this area.

To sum up, examination and implementation of these standards into my current teaching practice will have many benefits for my students.  Blogging is a new venture for my students, as is citing their references.  I want them to have the experience of interacting with a wider audience via technology while demonstrating their content knowledge.  Citing references is a critical skill students need to possess.  I want them to realize the importance of respecting the hard work and thoughts of others.

*Any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.  I would also like to hear about your experiences with blogging and citing references in your own classrooms.

  

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.

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Supporting information literacy and online inquiry in the classroom: Skills for the future. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Richardson, W.  (2010).  Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.