When exploring strategies for integrating technology into content area instruction, I worked through the process of developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating my personal GAME plan. In order to strengthen my understanding, I must carry out that game plan by becoming a self directed learner to promote professional growth. “As a self directed learner I am able to respond to the rapid and continuous technological changes that inevitably will occur during my professional career, keep my skills up to date, and better meet the needs of my students today and in the future” (Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009, p. 7).
Resources Needed to Carry Out Game Plan
My first goal was to promote digital tools in my classroom environment by integrating Smart board lessons and student response units into my daily lessons. The resources I will need in order to reach this goal include technology personnel and Smart board professional training given by the county. Since this is my third year with my Smart board, I am pretty proficient incorporating the basic functions, but my student response systems just sit in the box for most of the year. I need extensive training on how to add student’s names and ID numbers into the units, how to make assessments, save the information, and import the scores into my grade book. I would also like to attend the expert level Smart board training to learn higher level skills and use the software to its fullest potential.
My second goal included using my position as a Language Arts department head to
educate teachers about the newest research, strategies, and technology available. The resources needed in order to reach this goal include reading up to date literature, blogs, and researching tutorials that could be useful for teachers. Any suggestions of research that I could share with my colleagues would be greatly welcomed.
Intended Learning Strategy
“There’s an old proverb that says, tell me and I will forget, show me and I may remember. Involve me, and I will understand” (Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009, p. 31). The active learning strategy will help complete both of my goals because it’s the most natural form of learning, due to being hands on. In order for me to master my Smart board and student response units, I must be an active participant and interact with each in order to understand how they operate. I will also use the active approach when guiding teachers regarding research, strategies, and technology. Instead of direct instruction using a Power point presentation, I would take them into the computer lab to practice the technology, so they can also experience “self directed” learning, thus creating a collaborative learning environment.
What steps have been completed thus far?
In regards to the Smart board, I have gained some knowledge through searching the Web for tutorials. I was able to access the Smart Notebook Software for my home computer, so I am able to work on daily lessons at home. In regards to the professional learning for teachers, I attended a summer seminar over a weekend given by PAGE (Professional Association of Georgia Educators). During this conference, I attended many break off workshops regarding technology. One presenter was very helpful in sharing the resources she uses most often in her classroom. The URL she shared was: http://pageworkshop.pbworks.com/w/page/40878095/FrontPage I believe my first step in educating teachers regarding technology is sending this URL to them, so they have a list of resources available. From there, I can explain the function of each website and share ideas on how each website could benefit the different content areas.
Emily Williams
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful
classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Hello Emily,
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be doing a great job in implementing lessons on the interactive whiteboard. This past year was my first year with the whiteboard and I spent hours upon hours after school and during my school prep to create and implement lessons. I was actually chosen by the district technology department to teach others how to do so as well. As a result, I was given more guidance and support from the technology department to attempt new lesson formats and programs that are more engaging. I unfortunately do not have access to a student response system but I would love to use this piece of technology to better integrate technology in a non-threatening way. From reading this week, I had found out this type of system provides students with a multiple choice response option and their response is sent only to the teacher. Knowing how students are doing will then help me as the educator to further instruction. Your post has created an interest for me to discuss purchasing this student response system for my school building to share. Even though you have not utilized this system, your awareness of how it is a great tool to monitor student learning is commendable. Also, it is a great communication tool that offers “flexibility in the methods and settings in which students can communicate with teachers” (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2010, p. 123).
As far as your goal in promoting technology amongst your colleagues as the Language Arts head, your participation in summer workshops is a definite plus! We can never stop learning. Due to my summer job as a full time nanny, I am unable to attend workshops but most certainly catch up during the school year by attending almost all offered. Why not miss out on an opportunity to learn something new and exciting to better your classroom learning environment to better meet the needs of our students? I think you are doing a great job of promoting technology and raising an awareness to engage your school community in a cultural understanding through engaging in communication and collaboration tools (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2010, p. 176).
Hello Emily,
ReplyDeleteI want to start by saying that the pbworks resource you shared is excellent, I will definitely share this with my colleagues. In reading over your progress toward meeting your goals for your GAME plan I must say that you have made two excellent goals that are clear and concise. A friend of mine uses a SMARTboard as well and has her students use the controls, she really likes it and I encourage you to use them as well. I think that once you start it will get easier and easier...sometimes we just have to jump in and try it. I completely agree with you in saying that people learn best by being involved and as team lead you have a great opportunity to help all of the teachers in your team by getting them involved. I have always learned best by doing and technology is something best learned by interaction. Also, it is evident that your GAME plan is truly important to you because of the fact that you have already attended a training and have searched for information on your own as well. I have found some great information about the use of technology through on-line blogs and talking with my colleagues. Collaboration is a great tool to use in order to carry out your GAME plan and it is evident that you see the value in it as well. Lastly, you are on the right track to carrying out your GAME plan and it seems that you have the resources you need and you are asking yourself the right questions and reflecting on your experiences. "The GAME plan requires you to think about technology and how to integrate it into the curriculum" (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2010, p.3). As you progress through your GAME plan and become more versed in technology your lessons and teaching practices will only improve.
Great plan,
Alisha
Checking up your Public Policy blog, but discover you didnt post yet.
ReplyDeleteThis post is from 2011? Can you not see my recent posts? I know they are there because others have posted on them.
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