Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Carrying Out My GAME Plan



In the 21st century classroom it is essential that teachers remain current and relevant by integrating technology into their instructional practices.  Although this can be a challenge, especially in districts that are under served and lack the resources to provide staff and student with updated technology tool, it is a challenge that must be addressed and not allowed to be pushed to the side with excuses.  As I mentioned last week in my game plan outline, I have identified the following ITSE goals as being areas I need to increase my proficiency in:  by week seven, “ I will increase my proficiency of student reflection by promoting and providing students opportunities to reflect using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes”,  and by week seven, “ I will increase my proficiency of customizing and personalizing learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources” (International Society for Technology Education, 2008). 

In order to increase my confidence and proficiency I know I need to expand upon my current practices and seek out support within my building.  There are a number of resources with in my district that I can utilize to assist in my implementation of my GAME plan. I have been meeting regularly with my buildings media specialist, who has been teaching me how to create and develop the online forums and blogs I detailed in my action plan. We currently use Google Doc and School Fusion both of which I am still attempting to master.

I have also reached out to our district IT supervisor to help upload and develop digital resources for student to reference and access.  Many of these require prior authorization and are not things I could have done on my own.  Beyond using my colleagues as a resource, I have altered the way in which I plan my instruction.  In addition to the differentiation that is currently a part of my lesson, I am searching online forums for ideas and examples I can integrate into my instruction.  In particular I am looking at ways in which my students can gain greater independence in their learning and express their ideas in new and unique ways.  I plan to continue searching for resources well beyond the end of class, but I think I will need to get some guidance of what additional information is out there and available.


References



International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE): NETS for Teachers 2008 http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008.aspx

4 comments:

  1. Hi Jaime,

    You have developed some great ways to implement your GAME plan. I am not familiar with School Fusion, but it seems to be a great technology to integrate in the education system. I recently begun using Google docs in my classroom and found that my students and I have quite easily adapted to its use in and out of the classroom. I have encouraged my students to use Google docs for writing their Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) school based assessment report as it makes it quite easy for me to check and offer suggestions for improving their reports. Earlier in the academic year it was bought to my knowledge that one of our special needs student was allowed to use a laptop for taking notes and completing classwork for all his classes. No one thought about how the student would access his work while at home since he would not have access to the school’s network. In light of this, I stepped in and had discussion with the principal, special needs coordinator, the student parent and some of his teachers and told them about Google docs and the benefit the student would be able to get from using it. I am happy to stay to this day the student is using the application. As you continue to explore and use it, it will get easier. Jaime, do not worry about mastering the use of all the technology – just begin to use them as our students quickly adapt to their use and often assist with their use and implementation.

    ~Leonie

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    1. Digital instructional setting is an environment that I feel most students would feel comfortable working in within the classroom. Benefits will be felt when each students learning is personalized. Your strategy to try and keep students engaged by Flipping Your Classroom seems to be the best approach. It involved technology in the classroom setting which impacts differentiated instruction.

      Verna

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  2. Hello Leonie,

    Thank you for the advice and words of encouragement. As educators, we often think that we need to have mastered technology before implementing the different types of tools to support instruction and learning.

    School Fusion allows educators to upload lectures, lesson plans, and resources for students to access and utilize. In addition, schools fusion allows educators to set up discussion forums, and assignment drop boxes. School fusion is also a place where students can communicate with their instructor and save assignments and presentations.

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    1. Hi Jaime,
      I am going to look into School Fusion. Do you think that it is as user friendly and diverse as a weebly? I have never used either but would like to start my own web page and not sure which direction to go in. They both sound like they do similar things and have similar features. Thoughts?

      Thanks,
      Melissa A.

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