Application 5: GAME plan update

Goal 1:. To promote student reflection using collaborative tools.

After trying out blogging with my students I have realized that I want to use a tool that has more capabilities for collaboration. Kidblog.org is a useful tool and seems to be a great way to introduce students to the concept of collaboration, but it is somewhat limiting. I can see that other tools such as a wiki offer more flexibility for sharing and collaborating.

Goal 2. To Evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make use of emerging tools and resources that support student learning.

I can see how useful a wiki is in creating opportunities for students to collaborate in a Project Based Learning environment. I will continue to explore how to incorporate a wiki into my teaching.

I have learned that incorporating technology takes time when working with elementary aged students. There are skills that need to be taught and changes need to be made as their understanding progresses. I will make adjustments to my GAME plan by incorporating tools that will better meet the needs of my students and their learning goals.

Application 4: Game Plan Progress

As I continue to work towards my goals that I listed in my GAME plan, I have not only found some new resources, but new ways to use them. After learning more about assessments, I have realized some new ways to utilize the online tools that I have discovered. In my goal to learn more about blogging and how to use it in the classroom, I have discovered that it would be a useful tool for assessing all kinds of learning outcomes. I can also see that some of the online concept mapping tools such as Spicynodes.com or Webspiration.com is a great way for students to create a map of their thinking and a helpful way for me to assess their thought process. As I use these tools with my students I will continue to monitor and adjust along the way. I will continue to seek out new tools and discuss with colleagues how to best use what I find.

Application 3:GAME Plan in the Works…..

As a part of my GAME plan I have discussed my desire to create a blog with my students and fellow teachers and have explored a few different options. I decided to go with a blogging site that I have used before that is “kid-friendly” and has lots of options for me to monitor its use. However, after gathering ideas from colleagues I have decided to go about using it in a different way than I had before. Last week I had my students try writing a response to a question that I posted. My goal at the moment is to get students familiar with blogging and the appropriate way to use it before I have them create one of their own. After I receive all of the responses from my students I will be able to reassess and decide on what step I will need to take next. I think it is important to be open to trying out such projects and then make necessary adjustments along the way. Of course, if anyone has any advice or experiences that might be insightful as to how they have used blogging, or sites that host blogs in the classroom it would be much appreciated!
I have also made great use of my favorite blog, Free Technology for Teachers, to search for useful sites that I can use with my students!

My GAME Plan

After examining and reflecting on the National Education Standards for Teachers I feel that I have been working towards implementing each of these goals into my classroom on a daily basis. However, there is always room for improvement. Each day I try to incorporate some sort of digital image or information to help solidify lesson objectives because I find that students who can see examples of topics or watch animations are much more able to relate to the information I am presenting. Using technology I incorporate experiences that enable students to be active participants in their own learning. I use our classroom website and various other tools to collaborate with parents and students and share what we have been learning in the classroom. When completing projects that involve gathering information from the Internet, I teach my students the importance of ethical use and am consistently keeping up with new ways to help support the learning of my students.
Even though I feel that I have touched on each of the five NETS-T standards in my teaching, there are things that I still need to improve upon. The following is an outline of my GAME plan, which describes how I plan to improve:

Goals: 1. To promote student reflection using collaborative tools.
2. To Evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make use of emerging tools and resources that support student learning.

Action: 1. I will research different bloging sites that I can use with my students that will allow them to reflect on and share information about what we are learning. I will explore blogs that have been created by teachers to find out how others are using them.
2. I will continue to pursue information about technology tools that will be useful in supporting my students’ learning. I will collaborate with other colleagues to learn about what other teachers are doing in the classroom.

Monitor: 1. I will take note of different blog sites and the different features that they have. I will also make a list of possible problems and things to keep in mind when using a blog with my students.
2. I will make a list technology tools that I learn about and reflect on their effectiveness. I will collaborate with colleagues to discuss different ways to incorporate the tools that I learn about.

Evaluate: 1. I will reflect on what students have posted respond appropriately. I will make notes about what worked and what I would do differently.
2. I will share what I have learned with my colleagues and brainstorm how they can be used in the classroom.

Resources:

ISTE(International Society for Technology in Education), 2008, retrieved from: iste@iste.org, www.iste.org. on March 5, 2011.