Tuesday, August 23, 2011

My Reflection of My Game Plan


As I reflect on my game plan I am reminded that when you plan you’re teaching exercises, it really benefit both the teacher and the student’s involved. The creation of this game plan has prepared me better for instruction, new learning ideas, more challenges and the use of technology to assist in learning.
A new learning that resulted from the creation of this game plan is the experiences of having students create digital stories instead of hand written reports. This aspect for me is very exciting, students will become more involved in their own learning experience when they are involved, they will become self directed learners. Dr Peggy Erthner states that students can become self-directed learners by evaluating themselves (Laureate Education 2009). The project assisted students to evaluate themselves using technological tools.
Moving forward there will be some changes in my instruction practice. One of the changes that will be implemented is the use of education networks, where students may collaborate with other via social networking sites to gain information and ideas. Viki Davis suggested that educational networks will allow them to interact with peers around the world, to have authentic audiences for their work, and provided for them ongoing feedback (Laureate 2009). This is extremely essential process in learning.
Another immediate adjustment that will be made in my instructional practice is the creation or rubrics, so student will have clear understanding of the teachers’ expectations. This is a great feedback tool for students. Dr. Peggy Erthner, states that reflection is used as a daily check point, this allows them to be able to synthesize information that they have been learning (Laureate Education 2009). Using www.rubistart.com will certainly help to accomplish this goal.
The use of creating students blogs, and wikis so students may easily upload work such as assignments, embed videos are also some of the changes that will be interjected into my instructional practice. Having a more problem based learning environment will assist in the implementation of technology in the curriculum. Dr Peggy Erthener supports this, by stating the problem based learning provides the anchor for your curriculum. (Laureate Education 2009)
In concluding, this course has taught me to really ensure me that you can integrate technology as well as problem-based learning, social networking/online collaboration, and digital storytelling into your instruction, all it takes it planning.

References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Enriching Content Area Learning Experiences With Technology, Part 1” [Webcast]. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore, MD: Author
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Enriching Content Area Learning Experiences With Technology, Part 2” [Webcast]. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore, MD: Author

www.rubistar.com


Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Progress of my Game Plan

In order to accomplish this game plan to inspire creativity I have embarked on several iniatives.

The creation of a website is on the plan for this week. However we have encountered some challenges. One in particular is to research and collation of information to be placed on the website. So I have incorporated to help of a few other teachers to assist me with this project. This will inturn give them a bit of insight into the plans to reach students using technological tools.

Another the difficuties that we have encounted was an appropiate design for the website, even though there are so many free website information some of them are very limited, but after communicating with few experts in the field we decided to use http://www.yola.com/, which is a free website hosting site but it also helps you along the way with designing and their are many other tools you can add to make it look great.

We have also created the blog for communication and feedback so that when the website is done, we will place a link on the front page so that students can navigate there to express themselves.

Another step that has taken in the line of parent involvement is to ask to President of the PTA (Parents and Teachers Associations) about having a forum to ecourage parents to tbe digitally lieterate. We both agree that an ICT workshop just before school opens will be ideal.

Lastly my game plan involves a personal goal, to be more organized in the classroom, so this week I have started preparing for lessons for the start of the school year

These are the things that I have accomplish so far in my game plan.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Carrying out my Game Plan

This game plan involves all persons involved in learning process, the parent, the student, and the teacher. We will explore the actions of using technology to inspire students to be creative.


One of the avenue that will be explored is the bridging of the gap between parents and students involvement. Therefore it is imperative that an account be created at engrade and give both parents and students access to their assignments and grades, this will enable parents to see what assignments are due and the progress of their child. So far I have put this project into practice, for the new school year by emailing all parents about the new approach that will be taken to involve them in their children learning.

Another game plan is to communicate with parents the importance of becoming digitally literate to that they can inturn helps our students to accomplish thier goals. This will be done by having an ICT workshop. Some parent do not know how to navigate on the internet, this workshop is to help them through the process.

Using the NETS standard more effectively in my classroom I will create a technology enriched learning environment. As an instructor I must ensure that I prepare my instruction better by taking the time to prepare better instruction for my students. Therefore I have taken the time out to start my lesson plans using virtual tutorials and PowerPoint presentation to ensure that I am ready for the new school year.

I also plan to create a website that is interactive with both students and teachers to communicate via a message board, blogs, or emails, also in implementing the game plan into instructional methods students will be asked to use voicethreads, powerpoint and videos to present thier findings on subjects area.

With these objectives to carry out my game plan students will be creative gain inspiration in the classroom

Reference:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Enriching Content Area Learning Experiences With Technology, Part 1” [Webcast].

Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore, MD: AuthorCennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

My Game Plan

Introduction

Creating a game plan is an essential step in the process of integrating technology in the classroom. I am first year college teacher, who lecturer in the Business Department of our State College. The subject that I have chosen to develop my game plan is the enhancement of quality Customer Care.

My game plan to inspire and facilitate student learning and creativity is to introduce technology to them as a way of life. This method will be used to help reinforce the importance of its use to help them to be creative in their learning experience. As a teacher one of my goals are to give them computer based tutorials, according to the book; Technology Integration for Meaningful use in the Classroom, the authors indicates that these tutorials provide a complete lesson on a specific topic including 1) presenting new information 2) providing practice and 3) evaluating student learning. The authors continue to exclaim that computer tutorials have the advantage of being able to provide sophisticated, feedback at the level needed by individual students. ( Cannamo Ross Ertmer) The implementation of these tutorials in my quality customer service care class will help students to understand the subject area more, and also give them an experience with the use of technology in our lesson

Another goal that can be established is the use to Concept maps; this can be achieved with the use of software called webspiration. This helps student to organize knowledge and present knowledge that they have learnt. The authors of the book; Technology integration for meaningful use in the classroom, states that students are forced to think about how concepts in a domain fit together and to identify additional ideas or concepts that need to be included.
(Cannamo Ross Ertmer) This is an excellent plan of action because students are able put different steps in together, in order to be better customer service agents.

In order to take action, my classroom I will create a technology enriched learning environment. Each student will have access to their computer, along with wireless connection on the internet, outside the classroom environment. When they are in the classroom they will access to an interactive white boards, to help with their learning experience. As an instructor I must ensure that I prepare my instruction. According the authors in the book, Technology Integration for Meaningful use in the Classroom, they advice to make sure that resources are loaded properly. (Cannamo Ross Ertmer) Nothing is more distracting when as a teacher we are not prepared. This consumes a lot of time and the students leave more unlearnt that they came.

According to Dr. Ertmer, technology should be approach with confidence; you must believe that it can work and you must have content knowledge (Laureate Education 2009). This I believe is important for the implementation of technology in the classroom.


Reference:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Enriching Content Area Learning Experiences With Technology, Part 1” [Webcast]. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore, MD: Author

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Welcome Classmates

To this very intresting part of the course called "Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas". I love blogging and I hope your will enjoy it as much as I have. I have used this blog before for several classes, so you may look around and see what you can learn until we meet here again.

Diana Mc Donald