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.

EDUC 6713-Week 4:Monitoring My GAME Plan Progress

The lesson opened this week with a quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It said, “Correction does much, but encouragement does more.” This quote is indeed a true statement. Throughout the construction of my GAME plan, I have received much encouragement, for that I am very appreciative. Helpful ideas, websites, and other resources are indeed aiding me in accomplishing my plan. I am finding the resources I need to carryout my plan with the help of my school’s technology specialist. We have been working together teaching each other, which exemplifies a TEAM (Together, Everyone, Achieves, More). I have ordered resources on wikis, pod casting in the classroom, and much more to give me ideas and projects to incorporate these new digital tools.

Now, I do not feel as though I need to modify my action plan. It is certainly working out for me. I have also taking things a step further and have already registered for classes at my school district’s Teacher Instruction Fair in January. I have learned that learning new ideas and ways to teach my students is definitely a task. However, it is a rewarding task because I know I am obtaining knowledge that will help them in all of their future endeavors. Keeping a journal and collaborating with my colleagues has also been very beneficial. Just as I quoted before, “Overall, when we set goals, tack action, monitor our learning, and evaluate our progress, WE take control of our own learning process. Being a self-directed life-long learner, we will be able to respond to the rapid and continuous technological changes,” (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2010).

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Farena

Resources:

Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use: A Standards-Based Approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing

EDUC 6713-Week 3 Blog Post: Carrying Out Your GAME Plan

Reflecting on my GAME plan, I am reminded through our learning resources that, we as teachers, “are 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).

The Goal of my GAME plan is 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. In order to carry out my plan, there is a variety of resources than can be used. Beginning at school, my IT specialists as well as other teachers are resources that will aid me in carrying out my goals. In addition, the South Carolina Business Education Association, the National Business Education Association, the South Carolina Middle School Association, ISTE, NETS are all valuable resources to help me carry out my plan. Attending conferences, conducting research on their websites will give me the ability to learn the new digital tools I would like to implement into my classroom. At conferences, I will be able to collaborate with other business teachers to gain further knowledge.

Taking the step of being a member of the South Carolina Middle School Association as well as the South Carolina Business Education Association is a step in the right direction of carrying out my GAME Plan. Again…a work in progress!! :)

Resources
http://www.iste.org/
http://www.scbea.org/
http://www.nbea.org/
http://www.scmsa.org/

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

EDUC 6713-Integrating Technology Across the Content Area

The National Educational Technology Standards requires that “teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments,” (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2010). “Teachers promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness. They engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources,” “Teachers promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes and model collaborative knowledge, construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others,” (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2010).

Reflecting on the NETS Standards, My GAME Plan will be developed based on the standards Modeling Digital-Age Work and Learning and Engaging in Professional Growth and Leadership. Modeling and facilitating effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning,) In addition, participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning, (www.iste.org) .

G-(Set Goals): 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.

A- (Take Action): Working with my school’s technology integration specialist to gain further knowledge on the different types of digital tools that are being used and have yet to be introduced to my computer lab. Also, increase my knowledge in the technological advances by attending in-services, field trips, registering and attending business and technology conferences to gain knowledge and materials.

M- (Monitor): I will monitor my progress by using a journal/portfolio. In that, I can reflect on a daily basis as to what lesson was right, what was wrong, and what I can do to improve.

E-(Evaluate/Extend): I will evaluate my learning through principal observations and the technology specialist observations. Reading their feedback as well as seeing how the students implement the new tools, will determine whether or not it was successful. There is always room for improvement in all that we do. The GAME Plan is definitely a work in progress.

“Overall, when we set goals, tack action, monitor our learning, and evaluate your progress, you take control of your own learning process. Being a self-directed life-long learner, you will be able to respond to the rapid and continuous technological changes,”(Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2010).


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

National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T). (2008). Retrieved November 9, 2009 from http://www.iste.org.

EDUC 6712 Supporting Information Literacy and Online Inquiry in the Classroom

Week 8: Final Blog Posting-EDUC 6712 Supporting Information Literacy and Online Inquiry in the Classroom

-“The Internet is the most powerful convenient and potentially manipulative medium ever invented. It can give you any version of the truth you are looking for. Not only does information expand and change every day, the rules for finding information also change,” (November 2008).

This course opened by saying, “just because our students are able to cruise through the Internet with speed and what looks like skill doesn’t mean they know what they are doing,” (Walden University, 2009). Throughout this course, we have learned how to implement 21st Century skills to prepare our students for the fast changing technologically advanced world we are living in today. We have learned what it means to be literate. In addition, I have learned various multimedia and Internet technologies effectively, in order to teach our students.

The most striking revelation I had about teaching new literacy skills was the different ways of teaching these skills to my students. This course really opened my eyes and introduced me to the QUEST model. Eagleton and Dobler stated, “If we want children to be deeply engaged in conversations about issues of great significance, in books, we must not only teach them how to read, but show them how to reason,” (2007). The strategies presented in this course showed me how to be even more creative and think of ways to present information to my students. One key factor is teaching our students how to think creatively. Kuhlthau said that, “when we capture their imagination, they begin to think creatively and creativity solves problems for life, (2007).

This course has influenced me to continue to give my students the right tools, provide them with a critical mind, and make the right connections, (Jukes, 2007). Implementing what I have learned already in my class, my students are learning the value of conducting research, how to read information, analyze it, and solve it. My job as a teacher is to ensure my students have the skills to survive in the world in which we live and be successful.

In order to build upon what I have learned from this course, my goal is to continue to teach the 21st century literacy skills through the QUEST model and using the inquiry based unit plan format. This course’s foundation states that, “through inquiry, facts are learned, not by rote, but by the process of in-depth exploration with the following benefits. The material that is learned will be remembered for a long time, not forgotten at the end of the test, and the learner will not only have a solid grasp of a domain of inquiry, but develop a passion for a subject that can last a lifetime,” (Walden University, 2009). Overall, I have truly enjoyed this course and will continue implement the 21st century literacy skills. In teaching my students, I will continue to produce life long learners.

Thank you!

Resources

Eagleton, M. B., & Dobler, E. (2007). Reading the web: Strategies for internet inquiry. New York: The Guilford Press.

Jukes, I. (2007). 21st century fluency skills: Attributes of a 21st century learner. Located at http://www.committedsardine.com/handouts/twca.pdf.

Kuhlthau, C. C., Maniotes, L. K., & Caspari, A. K. (2007). Guided inquiry: Learning in the 21st century. Westport: Libraries Unlimited.

November, A. (2008). Web literacy for educators. Thousands Oaks: Corwin Press.

Walden University Supporting Information Literacy and Online Inquiry in the Classroom Course Home Page. Week Four. Retrieved September 28, 2009 from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com.

Week 8-Effective Bridging of Technology and Instruction-Reflection

“By learning you will teach, by teaching you will learn.”
-Latin Proverb

“The human mechanism of incorporating new knowledge behaviors and skills into an individual personal repertoire broadly defines learning,” (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 208). Reflecting on my personal theory of learning, I am still a firm believer that students learn by doing. When they are actively involved and engaged in hands on activities, true learning takes place. This course has enhanced my effectiveness as a teacher by implementing instructional strategies and technology tools to increase my student’s learning.

Reflecting on immediate adjustments, regarding technology integration, two instructional tools I would use with my students will be note taking, cues, and questions. This course has taught me that when you provide cues and questions, your students have a clearer sense of what they are going to learn, (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007). Teaching my students how to take notes would definitely aid in their comprehension of the information presented. Dr. Orey mentioned the Dual Coding Hypothesis in our media learning that students’ information that they learn is stored as images, (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009). Implementing tools such as teacher based notes, combination notes, Inspiration, and PowerPoint are just a few tools that will give them the ability to see what I am expecting them to learn when lessons are being taught. This course also taught me “when students work with computer technology, instead of being controlled by it, they enhance the capabilities of the computer and the computer enhances their thinking and learning,” (Orey, 2001).

Overall, this course has given me many tools and strategies to make my classroom more effective and enhance my student’s learning. My ultimate goal is to continue to inspire my students. William Arthur Ward stated that “teaching is more than imparting knowledge; it is inspiring change. Learning is more that absorbing facts, it is acquiring understanding.” It is that understanding that creates the life long learner in my students. From this course, two goals I would implement throughout the remaining of my teaching career will be to render positive feedback and recognition to my students more. Pittler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski stated that feedback is the most powerful single innovation that enhances achievement, (2007). In addition, recognizing students positively influence their attitudes and beliefs. This course has indeed opened my eyes to ways of integrating technology in the classroom. It has given me the ability to implement a more learner-centered classroom, which will in return give both my students and me a chance to learn.

Thank you!

Resources

Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J. (2008). Theoretical Foundations (Laureate Education,
Inc., custom ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Orey, M. (Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology.
Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with
classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.