EDUC 6713 Week 8-Final Blog Post Reflection

"We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own."

-Ben Sweetland

The above quote by Ben Sweetland describes what has transpired throughout this course. I have learned new ways on how technology can “increase student engagement, maximize the impact of a learning activity, and provide opportunities for students to apply the content they are learning in authentic ways,” (Walden University, 2009). Reflecting on the implementation of the GAME Plan, I have learned that as a teacher it is very important for us as well as teach our students how to set goals, take action to meet those goals, monitor progress toward achieving goals, and evaluating whether the goals were achieved and extend our learning to new situations, (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2010).

My GAME Plan goal throughout this course was to implement new digital tools into the classroom to further engage my students in their learning. In addition, increase my knowledge of technological advances in order to better serve my students. Reflecting on my plan, I have learned that, “one of the biggest factors in providing access to learning resources in a way that is sensitive to the individual and cultural needs of our students. We have to ensure that all students, whatever their backgrounds or abilities, have equitable opportunities to use all of the technology resources available in an interactive classroom with an atmosphere that respects students and provides ample opportunities for students to build on and extend their knowledge and skills,” (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2010).

In following my GAME plan, collaborating with my school’s technology specialist, I have learned so much. Technology is ever changing and the fast pace world we live in today, we have to continuously find new ways to engage our students. Attending conferences, workshops, and collaborating with colleagues are indeed great ways to learn new ideas. One key aspect in all that I have learned is that implementing new tools do take time. Being a related arts teacher, having the constant class interruption, schedule changes, assemblies, etc., it takes students longer to grasp new concepts because they are not used daily.

This plan has had a great impact on how my instructional practices are now being taught. Immediate adjustments I would make would be to implement the use of the GAME lesson plan template daily when creating my lessons. I found that the plans we created throughout this course using the template, set the pace for a smooth transition from one point to the next. I know I will continue to collaborate with colleagues as well as business teachers in my district. Hargis and Wilcox stated in this course that when one collaborates, you “learn more, retain it more and are more satisfied with the experience,” (2008). In addition, you enhance your learning. Enhancing my learning as well as my students is indeed the overall goal for me as a teacher.

Technology integration is vitally important in teaching our students the skills needed to be life long learners. It also supports the development of creative and critical thinking skills, (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009b). In being a life long learner, students become creative thinkers and are self-directed to learn their content plus more. Creative thinkers are those who are “confident, motivated, persistent, open-minded, as well as flexible,” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009b). Overall, this course has been indeed a true learning experience that I will take throughout my entire teaching career. I believe that I have truly become a self-directed life-long learner who is committed to ensuring my students’ success.

Thank You!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Resources:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Hargis, J., & Wilcox, S.M. (2008, October). Ubiquitous, free, and efficient online collaboration tools for teaching and learning. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 9(4), 9-17.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Integrating Technology Across
the Content Areas. Baltimore: Author.

Walden University. Course Home Page. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Retrieved November 16m 2009 from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com.

EDUC 6713-Week 7-Using the GAME Plan Process with Students

As teachers, our overall goal is to, “ensure that our students know and understand the content that we teach. However the world in which we live demands individuals to be self-directed, creative, critical thinkers, able to extend learning, solve problems, and adapt to new situations efficiently and effectively,” (Walden University, 2009). We have learned throughout this course that the GAME plan enables us to customize our approach to learning tasks, develop relevant skills that are important and prepares us as well as our students for life long learning, (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2010).

In implementing the GAME plan process with my students, I can teach them how to set goals, take action to meet those goals, monitor their progress toward achieving goals, and evaluating whether their goals were achieved through a series of lessons, (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2010). The National Educational Technology Standards requires students to learn the following:

· Creativity and Innovation
· Communication and Collaboration
· Research and Information Fluency
· Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
· Digital Citizenship
· Technology Operations and Concepts
-www.iste.org

In order to develop proficiency in my students, as a teacher I will implement lessons incorporating digital tools such as Internet Explorer, PowerPoint, Excel Spreadsheets, MS Publisher, etc. in order to bring about self-directed learning. We have learned that self-directed learning an “increase in knowledge, skills, accomplishment, or personal development that an individual selects and brings about by his/her own efforts using any method,” (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2010). Through incorporating real life, assignments in class that is of interest to my students will allow them to be motivated and eager to be creative, communicate, collaborate, and be successful in applying the lessons that are being taught to them. Developing a life long learner is a process, in which I am committed to continue to achieve with my students.

Resources:

Walden University. (2009). Integrating Technology Across the Content Area Course homepage. Retrieved November 9, 2009.

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning

EDUC 6713 Week 6:Revising My GAME Plan

Throughout this course, we have defined self-directed learning as “any increase in knowledge, skills, accomplishment or personal development that an individual selects and brings about, (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2010). Evaluating my progress in this GAME plan, I feel as though I am meeting my goals of implementing new digital tools into my classroom. For me, this goal is ongoing and will continue to be a goal for it is something that I will strive to do throughout out my teaching career. I stated at the beginning that this plan is a work in progress. I think that in education many goals are a work in progress because many of our goals are continuous.

Restructuring my lesson plans into GAME plan format, has allowed me to better prepare my lessons as well as give me the chance to implement those new digital tools. I feel as though I will always seek further knowledge to better serve my students. Now, I do not feel as though I am ready to set new learning goals, because I am still accomplishing my current goals of increasing knowledge and implementing digital tools into my classroom. One way to extend my learning will be to increase my collaboration between business teachers throughout my district as well as the state. Hargis and Wilcox stated that when one collaborates, you “learn more, retain it more and are more satisfied with the experience,” (2008). In addition, you enhance your learning.

Overall, I believe I have truly become a self-directed life-long learner who is committed to ensuring my students’ success. The GAME plan is certainly a great tool that should be utilized always.

Have a great week!

Resources

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning

Hargis, J., & Wilcox, S.M. (2008, October). Ubiquitous, free, and efficient online collaboration tools for teaching and learning. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 9(4), 9-17.

EDUC 6713-Week 5 Blog Post-Evaluating My GAME Plan Progress

Again, this week, our lesson opened with an inspiring quote from Epictetus. It stated, “It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows,” (Walden University, 2009). This quote is indeed true when reflecting on my GAME Plan progress. As a technology teacher, I thought I knew a lot however, this process has shown me that there is still yet more for me to learn. I am a firm believer that an educator never stops learning. I feel as though my actions in my GAME plan have been very effective. My school’s technology specialist and I have worked closely on implementing new technology tools into my classroom.

One thing that I have learned and am currently applying in my instructional practice is effective time management. This week, Dr. Ertmer stated how important it is to implement new concepts slowly by completing small tasks/projects. When small tasks are completed first, students are prepared better for major projects, (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009b). I feel as though there is still yet more to learn because technology changes daily. Gaining more knowledge and experience in integrating technology tools into problem-based learning is one adjustment that I will make. Based on the learning resources this week, problem-based learning offers a variety of benefits that will engage my students as well as give them the ability to go from novice learners to advance learners through experience, (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009a) which will in return benefit them greatly in the future.

-Farena J. Bradley

Resources:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009a). Program eight. Spotlight on Technology: Problem-Based Learning, Part 1. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore: Author.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009b). Program nine. Spotlight on Technology: Problem-Based Learning, Part 2. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore: Author.

Walden University. (2009). Integrating Technology Across the Content Area Course homepage. Retrieved November 9, 2009.