Reflecting back on this course really lets me see how far I have come in using technology resources the past few months. In the Course, Integrating Technology across the Content Areas, I used technology in many exciting ways that are beneficial for my students and myself. I am excited to begin incorporating the numerous ideas and activities next school year.
One technique discussed in class was the GAME plan, a lesson plan based upon goals, actions, monitoring, and evaluating. The GAME plan I developed in this eight-week course was a great addition to my social studies courses. It offered a simple way to implement an idea with my students, monitor that activity, and then make adjustments as necessary. My GAME plan to create social networking sites based on current events in Japan was very successful. My students not only became more familiar with the use of blogs but also were exposed to current news that had a global impact. The students became active and seemed to enjoy the forming opinions and analyzing all the latest news stories on the event. It ended up being a great way to incorporate technology resources into my classes.
The technology that I am most interested in adding to my lessons is digital storytelling. I think it will be a great tool to incorporate to both my World Geography and World History courses. I think the student engagement with these types of activities will be extremely high and produce some really great work.
Overall, this class has introduced me to new teaching strategies and techniques that will help develop my own skills and those of my students. All of the lessons have been relevant and have included ideas that I can use in any of my classes.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Using the GAME Plan Process with Students
The NETS for Students coincide directly to those of the teachers. Students are to focus in on creativity, communication/collaboration, critical thinking, citizenship, research, and technology operations. These are areas that are not only beneficial for our students, but for the teachers, as well.
As I look over the past few weeks and the GAME plan I established, I realize that the students were following a plan although they were most likely not aware that they were doing so. I gave them a goal, they choose what actions to take, they monitored their progress, and thne evaluated their work. Some realized that their first actions were not great, they monitored their grade, evaluated that they didn't like it, and changed their actions. Some saw that they were on the right track and found their plan successful.
Just as this class did for me, I believe that bringing this process to their attention will help them see how easy it can be to work towards their goal. Once the students realize that they are already taking these actions, they will find it is not hard to continue to implement them throughout their work.
As I look over the past few weeks and the GAME plan I established, I realize that the students were following a plan although they were most likely not aware that they were doing so. I gave them a goal, they choose what actions to take, they monitored their progress, and thne evaluated their work. Some realized that their first actions were not great, they monitored their grade, evaluated that they didn't like it, and changed their actions. Some saw that they were on the right track and found their plan successful.
Just as this class did for me, I believe that bringing this process to their attention will help them see how easy it can be to work towards their goal. Once the students realize that they are already taking these actions, they will find it is not hard to continue to implement them throughout their work.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Revising Your GAME Plan
What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instructional practice?
What goals are you still working toward?
The ideas that I take away from our own courses usually help with my students technology set ups or how group interaction should proceed. I often find, though, once my students are set on track, they tend to take off and produce great products with minimal guidance from myself. I would like to have a bit more of a structured lesson for my students to work within. Not only for their own understanding, but also for my own grading of their work. They can take ideas into so many different directions, it can be difficult to focus on main ideas.
Based on the NETS-T, what new learning goals will you set for yourself?
My two Goals/Actions:
1. Come up with "real-world issues" that students or professionals may encounter and have students brainstorm ideas to solve these issues.
2. Create engaging learning environments that involve networking and collaboration
I think that my students have done a pretty good job of taking on these ideas. I don't see a wholesale change of these concepts, maybe just look to focus on specifics a bit more as the lessons and practices are carried out.
If you are not ready to set new learning goals, how will you extend what you have learned so far?
Moving forward, my students need to begin to finalize how they are going to present their findings. I will have to be involved in helping them make sure they have specific issues they want to present and keep the focus on those areas. Research, ideas, and concepts have become very "big" for many of my students. Our class, as a whole, needs to become more focused on main ideas.
What learning approaches will you try next time to improve your learning?
In the future I would like to provide a more concentrated lesson that might be a bit more structured. I still want my students to expand, explore, and create their own ideas, but I want to make sure they are covering exactly what is necessary to succeed within our class. Again... focus.
What goals are you still working toward?
The ideas that I take away from our own courses usually help with my students technology set ups or how group interaction should proceed. I often find, though, once my students are set on track, they tend to take off and produce great products with minimal guidance from myself. I would like to have a bit more of a structured lesson for my students to work within. Not only for their own understanding, but also for my own grading of their work. They can take ideas into so many different directions, it can be difficult to focus on main ideas.
Based on the NETS-T, what new learning goals will you set for yourself?
My two Goals/Actions:
1. Come up with "real-world issues" that students or professionals may encounter and have students brainstorm ideas to solve these issues.
2. Create engaging learning environments that involve networking and collaboration
I think that my students have done a pretty good job of taking on these ideas. I don't see a wholesale change of these concepts, maybe just look to focus on specifics a bit more as the lessons and practices are carried out.
If you are not ready to set new learning goals, how will you extend what you have learned so far?
Moving forward, my students need to begin to finalize how they are going to present their findings. I will have to be involved in helping them make sure they have specific issues they want to present and keep the focus on those areas. Research, ideas, and concepts have become very "big" for many of my students. Our class, as a whole, needs to become more focused on main ideas.
What learning approaches will you try next time to improve your learning?
In the future I would like to provide a more concentrated lesson that might be a bit more structured. I still want my students to expand, explore, and create their own ideas, but I want to make sure they are covering exactly what is necessary to succeed within our class. Again... focus.
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