As I look at what I have done in my week 6 and 7 assignments I cannot believe how much new technology I have learned about. Beyond learning about the technology it amazes me that I have learned enough about it to feel comfortable integrating it into my classroom. The assignments show just about everything that I have learned in this class. The "plan" incorporates new technologies like web camera, internet resources Skype, learning management systems like RCampus.com, and the ability to learn a class off site. The thought process behind this is to allow the students to gain the knowledge of the class without being in the classroom. I need to accomplish this because the budget constraints of my district will not allow the accelerated eighth graders the opportunity to come to the high school to take my Honors Geometry class. So, with what I have learned in this class I have offered up a way for those students to continue to take the class without having to travel to the high school.
This class has allowed me to put together a presentation for the board that will allow for an off campus learning environment. The ability to explain to the board how all of this technology works together and allows for students learning will be a huge benefit. Then, I can expand this program to not only the honors students, but also to students who do not learn well in a classroom and have failed multiple classes. This class also forced me to look into ways to fund these programs through grants. By showing the board of education that students can still reach their standards and the 21st century skills through this program and they do not have to pay for it but will instead save money I am sure that they will gladly approve of the program.
Last, this class has opened my eyes to all of the technology that is out there to use in the classroom. I have always been a "tech geek", but it is amazing how much technology is out there that I never really considered using in the classroom. With everything that I have already learned in the class it has inspired me to continue to look for conferences and learning opportunities dealing with technology. It has also brought me to the forefront of technology in the classroom in my district. This will allow me to teach other teachers how to use the technology in my district and hopefully open the eyes of many educators to how useful technology can be in education. Hopefully I can lead by example and show student success through technology and keep moving the district forward in educational technology. I am very appreciative of all this class has given me, and I cannot wait to continue the journey throughout the years to come.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Learning Management Systems
Here is a voice thread of what I think learning management systems can do for a classroom.
http://voicethread.com/share/1255445/
http://voicethread.com/share/1255445/
Thursday, June 24, 2010
UDL, DI, and Social Networking Reflection
There has been so much information for me to take in during this class. It is funny how a concept that I have heard of and even tried to implement in the classroom can be so new in many ways. I have attended conference after conference on UDL's and DI's with nothing to take back to the classroom but questions. I constantly tried new things that I thought would work and failed. I think this is just part of teaching, but this course has left me with something that I can actually bring back to the classroom and use.
As for UDL's and DI's I see how it is not as hard as I previously made it to implement into the classroom. It seems like so much work, but with the help of technology it really is not that bad to put into use in the classroom. I use to think that these concepts were a way of dumbing down curriculum so that everyone could understand it, and then hold each student to a different level of comprehension. This course has taught me that my previous thought were ridiculous. All these concepts are trying to do is present material in different ways so that all students can be most successful. Does that mean doing some things at different levels? Sure, sometimes that is the proper way, but most of the time it is about providing visuals, hands-on, and literal explanations of concepts. All students are still responsible for reacting the standards and goals, but each may take a different path to get there.
The social networking that was done helped provide with so many resources for me to implement next year that I can't possibly name them all. It was wonderful to see the views and resources that other teachers from around the country have and use on a daily basis. There is no way to replace the experiences of others in the classroom. No book or speaker can possibly give the knowledge that other teachers can provide. I hope to continue using the network even after this class to communicate with other teachers. I would also like to implement a type of network for my students to become a part of so that they can always use each other to help them succeed in the classroom.
Last, I have a couple of things I want to change as soon as next year starts. I really want to provide different learning stations whenever possible. I have done them sparingly in the past, but I would like this to be come something I do for every section because each student learns differently and deserves the opportunity to learn in their own way. I also want to see if it is possible to keep about 8-10 laptops in my classroom at all times. We have a math laptop cart with about 30 laptops in it, but it does not seem to get used all the time. So, I want to see if I can get some computers in my room at all times to help integrate technology into my lessons on a daily basis. I really think this will allow certain students to really thrive in the classroom when they would not previously have.
Overall, I have learned many things from this class, and I cannot wait to implement them into my classroom next year. With so much stress being put on the math department to meet state standards it would be wonderful to touch more students and get more students to reach the standards. If I can get to even 5 more students a year by doing this it will be a huge success for the school and the students. Thank you to everyone for making this class so worth while.
Paul
As for UDL's and DI's I see how it is not as hard as I previously made it to implement into the classroom. It seems like so much work, but with the help of technology it really is not that bad to put into use in the classroom. I use to think that these concepts were a way of dumbing down curriculum so that everyone could understand it, and then hold each student to a different level of comprehension. This course has taught me that my previous thought were ridiculous. All these concepts are trying to do is present material in different ways so that all students can be most successful. Does that mean doing some things at different levels? Sure, sometimes that is the proper way, but most of the time it is about providing visuals, hands-on, and literal explanations of concepts. All students are still responsible for reacting the standards and goals, but each may take a different path to get there.
The social networking that was done helped provide with so many resources for me to implement next year that I can't possibly name them all. It was wonderful to see the views and resources that other teachers from around the country have and use on a daily basis. There is no way to replace the experiences of others in the classroom. No book or speaker can possibly give the knowledge that other teachers can provide. I hope to continue using the network even after this class to communicate with other teachers. I would also like to implement a type of network for my students to become a part of so that they can always use each other to help them succeed in the classroom.
Last, I have a couple of things I want to change as soon as next year starts. I really want to provide different learning stations whenever possible. I have done them sparingly in the past, but I would like this to be come something I do for every section because each student learns differently and deserves the opportunity to learn in their own way. I also want to see if it is possible to keep about 8-10 laptops in my classroom at all times. We have a math laptop cart with about 30 laptops in it, but it does not seem to get used all the time. So, I want to see if I can get some computers in my room at all times to help integrate technology into my lessons on a daily basis. I really think this will allow certain students to really thrive in the classroom when they would not previously have.
Overall, I have learned many things from this class, and I cannot wait to implement them into my classroom next year. With so much stress being put on the math department to meet state standards it would be wonderful to touch more students and get more students to reach the standards. If I can get to even 5 more students a year by doing this it will be a huge success for the school and the students. Thank you to everyone for making this class so worth while.
Paul
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Reflection on Technology
Through this course I have learned more about technology and how it can be incorporated in my lessons. I have always looked for new ways to use technology in the classroom, but I have very rarely learned how to appropriately incorporate it. I would just go through the lesson with the students and show them how to use the technology or what to do with the technology. This course has taught me how to be a little more hands off and let the students take control of the technology around them to learn.
The GAME plan that was presented in this course is something that I will be using for the rest of my teaching career. It is a wonderful tool to keep myself on track to complete the goals that I set forth, and it is also a great way for students to keep themselves on track. There is always a place for goals in the classroom, but the focus on attaining those goals often fall to the side. The teacher accomplishes them and the students learn them, but rarely is it presented to the students how they reached them. By letting students create GAME plans it allows them to see how to attain their goal in the classroom, and can help them in any aspect of their lives.
The last thing I took from this class is the confidence to show my district that technology is not such a scary thing. In every school I have ever been a part of there is a fear that if we let students use any technology they want they are not really learning the material and they will do "bad" things with it. For instance if we allow students to use the internet to look up solutions to a problem then they are just copying and not learning, and the students won't really do what is asked of them because they will be looking at other sites instead of doing the curriculum. This idea is completely false, and in my experience through the implementation of my GAME plan students who research and look up the answer to a question learn it much better than those who are just told what it is. I tell teachers all the time that if it is just copying that they are doing from the interent, aren't the students just copying from the board too? At least by using the technology they are finding the answer themselves which can lead to higher understanding.
Technology is a wonderful tool that can be used within a classroom setting. Many teachers and districts hesitate to allow the use of all technology out there, but the more we can show them how wonderful it can be the more they will allow to happen in the classroom. The use of a GAME plan and the appropriate technology in any classroom can only bring a learning advantage to all the students and teachers involved.
The GAME plan that was presented in this course is something that I will be using for the rest of my teaching career. It is a wonderful tool to keep myself on track to complete the goals that I set forth, and it is also a great way for students to keep themselves on track. There is always a place for goals in the classroom, but the focus on attaining those goals often fall to the side. The teacher accomplishes them and the students learn them, but rarely is it presented to the students how they reached them. By letting students create GAME plans it allows them to see how to attain their goal in the classroom, and can help them in any aspect of their lives.
The last thing I took from this class is the confidence to show my district that technology is not such a scary thing. In every school I have ever been a part of there is a fear that if we let students use any technology they want they are not really learning the material and they will do "bad" things with it. For instance if we allow students to use the internet to look up solutions to a problem then they are just copying and not learning, and the students won't really do what is asked of them because they will be looking at other sites instead of doing the curriculum. This idea is completely false, and in my experience through the implementation of my GAME plan students who research and look up the answer to a question learn it much better than those who are just told what it is. I tell teachers all the time that if it is just copying that they are doing from the interent, aren't the students just copying from the board too? At least by using the technology they are finding the answer themselves which can lead to higher understanding.
Technology is a wonderful tool that can be used within a classroom setting. Many teachers and districts hesitate to allow the use of all technology out there, but the more we can show them how wonderful it can be the more they will allow to happen in the classroom. The use of a GAME plan and the appropriate technology in any classroom can only bring a learning advantage to all the students and teachers involved.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
GAME Plan with Students
I have benefited from the use of a GAME plan so much that even before this assignment I was thinking about how to incorporate this idea into my classroom. The plan has allowed me to focus my thoughts, stay on task, and continually monitor my progress toward my goals. I often talk to students about setting goals, but I think the use of a GAME plan would really keep students accountable for their goals.
Since the teacher and student technology standards are so close in nature any time I am trying to accomplish a technology standard I feel like I am allowing my students to accomplish a technology goal. So, I could see myself using a GAME plan in two different ways. First, I could use it as it pertains to technology standards. I could have the students take a pre-test on technology, and then let them set goals as to what they want to improve upon throughout the year. This can even be extended to have the student come up with projects and ways they can accomplish these goals in a math setting. I can then use their ideas to strengthen their technology standards and help them reach their goals. The second way would be to use the GAME plan according to the curriculum standards. Each chapter I could outline what they will be learning, and they can create a GAME plan that would help them accomplish the goals they set for the chapter. This would give me an idea of where they want to focus and how they will accomplish it. It would also show them that they are part of their own learning and that they are responsible for their share in the classroom.
I really think that setting goals is a wonderful thing to do in a classroom, but I am not sure that many teachers (including myself) have students actually write out the goals they have for themselves. A GAME plan allows everyone involved to be held accountable for their actions and give the students a sense of responsibility in their own learning. This will be a great tool they can then use for the rest of their lives.
Since the teacher and student technology standards are so close in nature any time I am trying to accomplish a technology standard I feel like I am allowing my students to accomplish a technology goal. So, I could see myself using a GAME plan in two different ways. First, I could use it as it pertains to technology standards. I could have the students take a pre-test on technology, and then let them set goals as to what they want to improve upon throughout the year. This can even be extended to have the student come up with projects and ways they can accomplish these goals in a math setting. I can then use their ideas to strengthen their technology standards and help them reach their goals. The second way would be to use the GAME plan according to the curriculum standards. Each chapter I could outline what they will be learning, and they can create a GAME plan that would help them accomplish the goals they set for the chapter. This would give me an idea of where they want to focus and how they will accomplish it. It would also show them that they are part of their own learning and that they are responsible for their share in the classroom.
I really think that setting goals is a wonderful thing to do in a classroom, but I am not sure that many teachers (including myself) have students actually write out the goals they have for themselves. A GAME plan allows everyone involved to be held accountable for their actions and give the students a sense of responsibility in their own learning. This will be a great tool they can then use for the rest of their lives.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
GAME Plan Revisions
So far I have learned so much about using technology in my assessments and how much it engages my students and allows them to learn the material better. Also, by adjusting my assessments to account for the technology based learning I am seeing an increase in the 21st century skills in my students. The students are becoming a little more self-sufficient knowing that they are able to use all different kinds of resources to complete a task. With my second goal I am realizing that taking on administration is not easy no matter how educationally beneficial what you are trying to do is for your students. Since my district's administrators are there 12 months of the year, this is definitely a task that would have been better taken on over the summer when there is not as much going on. With coaching and teaching I feel like I have not been dedicating as much time to the fight for blogs and wiki's as I should.
In the last week I am still progressing on changing my assessments, and the students are responding well to it. They are making progress on the content and NETS standards. The students are also becoming more self learners and asking responsibility for their own learning. I have not gone back to administration with anything about the wikis and blogs because I just have not had the time to research enough websites to find one that will work for them. To accomplish this task I am thinking about having my students research the topic and let them present something to administration as to how it can help them learn.
So, I am not revising my GAME plan just yet, but I am revising how I am going to accomplish my goal by bringing my students into the situation. I will continue to extend what I am doing throughout the remaining chapters, and then start getting my stuff revised for next year. I will also be planning ahead for when I get the blogs and wikis approves so that I can start to use them right away. Again, I am looking forward to continuing on this journey with my students.
In the last week I am still progressing on changing my assessments, and the students are responding well to it. They are making progress on the content and NETS standards. The students are also becoming more self learners and asking responsibility for their own learning. I have not gone back to administration with anything about the wikis and blogs because I just have not had the time to research enough websites to find one that will work for them. To accomplish this task I am thinking about having my students research the topic and let them present something to administration as to how it can help them learn.
So, I am not revising my GAME plan just yet, but I am revising how I am going to accomplish my goal by bringing my students into the situation. I will continue to extend what I am doing throughout the remaining chapters, and then start getting my stuff revised for next year. I will also be planning ahead for when I get the blogs and wikis approves so that I can start to use them right away. Again, I am looking forward to continuing on this journey with my students.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Evaluating My GAME Plan
I think that my GAME Plan has been going very well so far. I have been monitoring my progress through each chapter, and I am now on my second chapter in each class since starting the plan. The integration of technology in my assessments has seem to boost my students' interest and they are performing slightly better on the assessments overall. By allowing them to show me how to accomplish the content through the technology they are more interested in the content and doing better on both the standards based assessments as well as the technology based assessments. For instance, I just got done grading the take home quizzes I gave to my Honors Geometry students during spring break, and the grades were higher than ever before. I had multiple students say that after making the required question using the technology they went back and fixed other problems in the quiz because they realized they had done something wrong. So, for my students to be able to synthesize the information needed to create a problem they actually performed better on their other problems. With these results I have gone into my next chapter and started to add in more technology pieces to the project I already have in place.
My Algebra students have also shown better completion in their quadratics unit from simply being able to use a calculator to help them graph. They have also taken the initiative to find a couple of websites to help them walk through solving quadratics by different methods. Some of the websites they have found are wonderful and I have posted them to my school website for all the students to use. This give them the opportunity to learn in different ways and see step by step instructions away from the classroom.
As for my second goal I think I am making some headway in the tech department and administration on allowing blog and wiki sites past the filter for my students to use. Someone suggested that I look for .org or .edu sites that allow for this, and when I asked if this would be easier to get through the filter both the tech department and the administration said yes. So, right now I am in the process of finding good blog and wiki sites that are .org or .edu. When I find them I will be putting together a presentation for the administration on how to use them and how I can monitor what is happening on them. I think this may work, so if anyone has found any of these sites in a .org or .edu format please let me know. If I cannot find them I may have to drop this fight and pick it back up over the summer so that I can get it implemented for next year.
Overall, I am excited about my progress and I can't wait to see how it ends up by the finish of the school year.
My Algebra students have also shown better completion in their quadratics unit from simply being able to use a calculator to help them graph. They have also taken the initiative to find a couple of websites to help them walk through solving quadratics by different methods. Some of the websites they have found are wonderful and I have posted them to my school website for all the students to use. This give them the opportunity to learn in different ways and see step by step instructions away from the classroom.
As for my second goal I think I am making some headway in the tech department and administration on allowing blog and wiki sites past the filter for my students to use. Someone suggested that I look for .org or .edu sites that allow for this, and when I asked if this would be easier to get through the filter both the tech department and the administration said yes. So, right now I am in the process of finding good blog and wiki sites that are .org or .edu. When I find them I will be putting together a presentation for the administration on how to use them and how I can monitor what is happening on them. I think this may work, so if anyone has found any of these sites in a .org or .edu format please let me know. If I cannot find them I may have to drop this fight and pick it back up over the summer so that I can get it implemented for next year.
Overall, I am excited about my progress and I can't wait to see how it ends up by the finish of the school year.
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