Application 4: Monitoring Your GAME Plan Progress
Since I have started implementing my GAME Plan I feel I have made some progress in sharing information and ideas using a variety of technology-based formats. Building upon the technology resources I can communicate with my students as well as others in and outside the work environment. I also have the ability to turn to my colleagues as one of my initial resources to direct me and model some programs I was interested in. Although this is a valuable resource in the past couple of weeks I have learned there are many valuable online resources available to me when viewing the discussion postings and blog postings of my classmates
Now the list of technology resources I would like to explore has grown. In modifying my action plan I would like to incorporate these new websites and software programs. Mathtype, webquests, digital story mapping and www.eduscape.com to name a few, I think will be beneficial in obtaining my goal and expand my knowledge of technology. These websites will also enable my classified students to use the flexibility of technology in demonstrating their knowledge of a particular content area (Ross, 2009).
Additionally, I have been able to successful demonstrate more knowledge of my schools website program as well as the use of other tools in order to expand my level of communication with technology. Through my colleagues I have been able to gather more knowledge and practice with several Web 2.0 tools. These include SMART Board software, wiki spaces, concept mapping, and garage band. Learning more about these tools will enable me to develop a more differentiated instruction where students will have the ability to demonstrate their knowledge using a variety of formats. The use of these tools will enable me to provide information to my students in a more engaging fashion.
Since technology is such a rapidly growing area I have questioned if these same tools I am learning now will be of use to my students in the future. For example, are these tools going to be effective and of use to my students or will they be replaced by other, more sophisticated tools? I also have concerns about implementing instruction and integrating technology when there is a lack of technological resources available. How can I teach my students new literacy skills when I have a scarce supply of technology? In what ways can I support my students in demonstrating 21st century skills if these tools are unavailable for them?
As a result, I believe I still have a lot of practice, hard work, and research to do to achieve my goal. I do believe with all of the advances in technology it is necessary for me to continue to modify, self-evaluate, reflect, and monitor my methods as a self-directed learner when new tools are introduced and be able to apply my background knowledge in order to learn those new skills.
Ross, J. (2009, September). Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. “Assessing Student Learning With Technology”. (Laureate, CD-ROM, 2009 release).
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what sticks out to me the most is your question regarding the technology now and how rapidly it is changing? Will we ever be able to keep up? I feel like we will master some things and as soon as we do, there will be something new. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad thing. Just as our students change, so does the technology. It's just something, I think that we will have to get used to and just make sure that we stay up to date with the technology. In doing this, we will provide our students with a better learning experience.
ReplyDeleteHi Lori,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the response. I do believe when we make the decision to integrate technology in the classroom it is expected that we become lifelong learners in technology to provide the proper tools for our students. This is essential in order to model 21st century fluency skills to our students. Additionally, as educators we will be able to provide instruction using several different formats to accommodate ALL student learning styles. What concerns me is that most schools have limited technology equipment and tools to offere students. This being the case, even if we are current as teachers with our skills how can we transfer this knowlegde and skills to our students without them?
Thanks,
Lynda
Lynda,
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned that you are able to share information with your colleagues and ask for their advice as to how to effectively reach your goals in your GAME plan. I think it is great that you are using them as a resource. Since they are teachers experiencing the same types of students and situations daily, it will be beneficial for you to collaborate with them. I am sure it is beneficial to see what they have already tried to demonstrate whether it was effective or ineffective to implement into the classroom. It sounds like you are on the right track! Keep up the good work.
Shannon
You mention a challenge that is a common one in most schools - lack of technology resources. It is heady and exciting to see how we can revolutionize our classrooms by keeping up with 21st century technology and tools. If only business folks, administrators, teaching colleges, and academic researchers could all come to a consensus that teachers need software and application training, technology resources and tools, and a real shift from test scores to active, problem-based learning...until then, it is our responsibility (and burden) to become advocates for acquiring resources creatively...through grants, technology proposals and corporate sponsorships. The roads will be paved by teachers like us.
ReplyDeleteI would like to think that once we become proficient with harnessing technology as a tool in our classrooms and continue blogging, networking and sharing resources with the net community, it will also keep us abreast of new technologies and learning techniques. Just as it is important to keep up with the latest brain research or media trends influencing kids today.
It is a lot to process and so easy to get lost theory. It feels like such a slow process to put them into application in the classroom. So the added challenge of not having everything you need becomes such a road block. I am always calling around schools at our campuses to find out when they are upgrading computer labs. The four computers in my classroom were ones I recycled from our computer lab because they were outdated. I am continuously looking for other ways to get what I need and often times it does not even go through the administration. Good luck in your pursuit of technology resources for your school!
Nanci
Shannon,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your response. As a Special Education teacher supporting my students in all the content areas I believe sharing information is so important in developing the proper supports for my students. In trying to obtain my goal I have seeked assistance from one of the technology teachers to assist me in becoming more proficient with my technology skills.
Thank you so much for your support.
Thanks,
Lynda
Hi Nanci,
ReplyDeleteI agree that it would be so beneficial if we were able to shift our focus to problem-based learning. It is so difficult to teach the proper 21st century fluency skills to students when you or only allotted 1 or 2 computers to a classroom. It would be great if we had a one-to-one computer system. Do you feel your school has a sufficient amount of computers for students?
Thanks,
Lynda