GAME Plan Reflection 

Throughout this course we have learn about many fascinating technology tools that can benefit students and teachers alike.  Providing authentic assessments for students is one of the best ways for students to learn.  Technology helps create self-directed learning which is why it should be used when possible (Laureate, 2011).

While, understanding technology is important and is a part of everyday society.  Before teachers  can begin the process of using technology in the classroom, students need to see that we have the knowledge, confidence, and belief in ourselves to use these tools.  Most importantly, students need to see that we believe in them; achieving and performing with these same technology tools.  Also, we must be able to provide a supportive culture or system (Laureate, 2010).

Therefore, I know that modeling is important for students' success as well as the teacher's.  Also, providing sufficient time and taking steps for the them to become comfortable is key to their development.

There were additional things I learned throughout My GAME Plan.  I think identifying two areas of weakness was important for me to strengthen my technology skills.  The two standards I chose was # 2. Design and Digital Age Learning and Assessments and #5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership.

Now, with proper guidance and practice, I can become proficient in developing assessments like digital storytelling.  I love digital storytelling because students can express their learning in various intelligences.

The one change I would make to my instructional practice regarding technology is to make sure it is implemented on a small scale.  Especially, when introducing new technology tools it takes students a little longer to become proficient users.  If it is a tool I can introduce over the course of the year then my students can truly reap the benefit of this technology.

References:

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for        teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Enriching Content Area Learning Experiences With Technology, Part 1. [Video web cast]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group­_id= _2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher?type=Course%26id=_2099532_ 1&url=

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Promoting self-directed learning with technology.    [Video web cast]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Retrieved from             https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&u             rl=/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher?type=Course% 26id=_2099532_1&url=

 

Monitoring Your GAME Plan Progress

Currently, I am finding the information and resources needed to be successful.  I have started to looking at incorporating more multiple intelligences into my lessons and activities to ensure I am reaching all of my students.  On top of that, just locating technology that would benefit students' learning.  I am using Brain Pop and Study Island which are educational websites for students that incorporates learning with fun activities and games.  Also, I use MAP reading and math, a wonderful website which challenges students in specific growth areas through knowledge applications.   This will definitely help me in the growth of Standard #2 Design and Digital Age Learning and Assessments-Indicator (A) Design or adapt relevant learning experienes that incorporates digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity is a critical feature.

In regards, to Standard #5 Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership, I am making significant gains.  My indicator is participating global and local communities to explore and improve students' learning. I have started to receive e-newletters covering a wide-range of subjects and materials that can useful in my instructions and learning strategies. Also, I will be introducing voice threads to my fellow colleagues in our next professional development meeting.

Currently, I do not need to modify my action plans in order to strenthen those desired areas.  Also, I have learned that it takes a lot time and effort to improve in areas that you have systematically year after year annoyed due to your restraints and lack of knowledge or resource.

One new question that has arisen is a time frame.  How long should we approach these standards and indicators to become proficient or is success dictated upon the maturation of our students in various concepts and educational applications?

References

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers

Carrying Out Your GAME Plan

 

As I begin to think about or re-access my GAME plan, there are factors I must consider when moving forward.  All students have different approaches or ways to learning.  Incorporating or implementing lessons and activities with multiple intelligences will ensure that you are touching on one of the eight learning styles designed by Howard Gardner.  Also, because we have diverse learners, it is important that we support these students as well.  Students with learning disabilities or IEPs must have the support of teachers and the use of technology to be successful.  Using technology especially computer software will increase students' learning and their ability to be successful and allows flexibility.  Computers and software have become the catalyst to ensuring we are reaching all students' learning styles (Laureate, 2010).

Standard #2 Design and Digital Age Learning and Assessments is the first focus area I decided to enhance and develop.  The indicator (A) Design or adapt relevant learning experience that incorporate digitals tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity is a critical feature.  I definitely plan to look at research, talk with colleagues, and read literature that can provide me further resources to bridge this area.

Standard #5 Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership is my other area.  The indicator was participating global and local communities to explore and improve students' learning.  Again, I need to seek out my colleagues for advice, join a teaching organization, and even teach a new concept or technology to my fellow peers like podcast, voice threads, and concept mapping.

I have joined a teaching organization (Edutopia.org) and I am in the process of presenting a voice thread tutorial at the next staff meeting to further engage my fellow teachers.  At the same time, I will be asking them what other strategies or tools they have used to develop and create learning amongst their students. 

 

References

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers           (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Meeting students’ needs with technology, Part 1, Baltimore, MD: Author

 

 

My "GAME" Plan for Technology Proficiency

It is important that as teachers we become the best practioner that we can when it comes to education and technology.  In speaking about technology, The International Society for Tecnology in Education has five standards that addressed areas of application that teachers must learn proficiency.  There are several areas or indicators I feel good about. Facilitating and inspiring students' learning and creativity by promoting, modeling, and supporting students development is one of my strong suits but success has varied depending on the level of the student's capability.

Two standards I truthfully need help in is # 2.  Design and Digital Age Learning and Assessments and #5.  Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership.  The indicator for that #2 standard is
(A)  Design or adapt relevant learning experience that incorporate digitals tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity. Although, I have the ability myself to utilize many software programs and tools; getting my students and my classroom set up for these activities have been difficult and creating proper assessment for these activities and tools have been very difficult.  Also, my school has limited access to technology and tools due to financial restriction.

The next indicator which is under standard #5 that I also need to strengthen is (A) Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative application of technology to improve student learning.  Again, for me, making time and having time to connect with fellow teachers and educators a teacher organization that could provide further knowlege and resources that I can use in the classroom and share with my fellow teachers.

My "GAME" plan is to seek resources like the school's IT director, new technology software and tool, and fellow teachers to build my knowledge and application of using these technology tools.  Sitting down with the IT director would definitely help me in creating proper assessments for my students.  Also, by networking with fellow teachers in my school, district, and state and maybe even joing teaching organizations can allow me to grow more professionally and develop the leadership in me to further assist my colleagues as well as my students.

 

 References

 

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers

Reflection on Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology

In week one of this course, I was asked which theories mostly reflected my thoughts on teaching and learning.  At the time, I stated William Glasser's "Choice" theory along with Harry Wong's  Classroom Management approach.  I chose these who theories mainly because they mirrored my beliefs that students' learning is affected by their behaviors; good and bad.

 Ultimately, after weeks of introduction into other theories, I think "Social Constructionism" works best for me and my students. Truthfully, I feel that all theories can add to students' growth and development if properly implemented.

This course has deepen my knowledge of learning theories and have linked specific technology tools to enforce higher forms of development and understanding. Also, the use of instructional strategies and design makes it critical to students' learning.  Therefore, teachers should keep a few things in mind: they should build content instruction around big ideas and essential questions, learning should involve authentic assessments activities that transfers to application, and students need to know where are they going, why is the content worth learning, and what is expected (Marzano, 2010)?

The immediate change I would make to my instructions and lesson plans is to always include some form of technology within the activities.  In the past, I would incorporate technology maybe once a week but with the wide variety of tools now accessible it would not make sense to let these opportunities slip away.

Since forms of social learning theory are now at the forefront of my teaching and instructions, I definitely would like to incorporate more social technology tools.  Voice threads, blogs, and wikis will give students the means of relating to one another and the opportunity to bounce questions, thoughts, and ideas off each other.  These type of tools promote social and cooperative learning.  Dr. Orey states that social constructionism helps create some of the best forms of learning such as; highly engaged students, students actively involved in conversation, and students creating authentic artifacts (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011a).  Technology used as a learning tool can create all these components of learning if used properly by the teacher and student (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011b).

I truly feel my advancement of instructional strategies and skills from this course will benefit more in my lesson planning and instruction.  The nine research-based instructional strategies introduced by Dr. Debra Pickering, from our course resources, will give me the foundation to become a better teacher.

The two long-term goals I would like to implement in my instructional practice, regarding technology integration, would be to teach my students numerous technology tools.  This would enable them to pick and choose what tool they would like to use during activities and projects.  Also, I would like to implement afterschool technology training to parents so they can be fully involved in their child's learning.  These instructional practices will not only benefit my students and parents but also help strengthen my teaching.  My time table for this implementation would probably take half of the year but it would be well worth it. 

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011a). Program eight: Social learning theories [Video webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011b). Program thirteen: Technology: Instructional tool vs. learning tool [Video webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1

Marzano, R., (2010). On excellence in teaching., Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press

Voice Thread URL

http://walden.voicethread.com/share/3269270/

All about Social Learning


What is social learning?  And, how do we relate to it from an educational viewpoint?  Well, to truly understand social learning, let us start at the beginning.  For centuries, humans have learned from one another and to be more exact we, as individuals, learn through our families, friends, and communities.  Simply put that means we construct our views and understanding through our interactions within our environment. From a classroom or education perspective, Dr. Orey states that "Social Constructionism" is collaborate learning in which students are actively engaged, constructing artifacts, and conversing with others (Laureate, 2011).


Dr. Orey also speaks about the "Zone of Proximal Development" by Lev Vygotsky in which a person is capable of learning new material at a varied rate and time with some form of support (Laureate, 2011).  This support can be the teacher, another student, or application tools.  To sustain the social learning theory, social technology tools like voice threads and even Facebook can be instrumental in creating growth and connecting students with others beyond the classroom.

The connections students can make with social learning theory among other theories was discussed by George Siemens from our resources this week.  He viewed "Connectionism" as theory in which knowledge is networked and the act of learning is forming those networks and navigating them (Laureate, 2011).  Siemens also list three vital roles that connectionism displays and those are: it explains how learning occurs, allows for us to design future models of learning, and helps us to make understanding or awareness of the present (Laureate, 2011).

With all of the learning theories in existence, I still feel today that we primarily construct our views and understanding through interactions with others and our environment.  That is not to say that we do not incorporate other forms of learning which allows for further connection and development.

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Program eight: Social learning theories [Video webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Program nine: Connectivism as a learning theory [Video webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1