Game Plan
Developing a game plan is essential to my success in teaching students in this twenty-first century generation of technology. I need improvement in many areas of technology to keep up with the changing pace that I encounter using technology in education.
The first indicator that I chose in the NETS-T is Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity and the second is Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership. The action that I will take with the first indicator is to include technology usage with each of my lesson plans. My lesson plans will include digital tools that can help support learning in my content area. Some examples would include, collaborative databases, concept mapping tools and simulations and visualization tools just name a few.
In the second, NETS-T that I chose I plan to attend on-going professional development workshops that include the use of technology and strategies on how to use them within my content area. I plan to collaborate with my colleagues to organize workshops on the use of digital tools at our school that can enrich all of the content areas.
I plan to monitor and evaluate my progress through assessments on strategies used in technology at the beginning of the school year and a follow-up with an assessment at the end of the school year.
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Julie,
ReplyDeleteI think that you will find as you attend those conferences and workshops that you will come back to your classroom so excited about technology and ways to use it you will not know where to start!! I get that way all the time. What great goals that you have chosen for yourself. There are many lesson plan templates out there that can support your lesson plans with technology as a big component. Make sure you check them out. I am at home and do not have access to all of my bookmarks on my desktop machine at work (I know...I should be using an online bookmarking system.). If I can remember a location I will make sure to add it on to another post.
How much technology do you have access to in your classroom and your school? Do you feel that your school is up-to-date on the latest tools for teachers to use?
I think that you should also add those assessments and reflections on yourself throughout the school year. I know that it is hard to do, but you might be surprised how nice it is when you feel that you are not doing well to go back and read about what was successful for you and your students. Just a thought.
Marilyn Goodrich
K-12 Ed. Con.
Julie,
ReplyDeleteYou spoke of concept mapping. We are lucky that our district subscribes to Inspiration. I have only used it a couple of times, but I found it quite user friendly. I am a visual learner and images of any kind help me to focus, remember, and understand. I actually used Eagleton and Dobler's (2007), Project Planning Flowchart (p. 111) but added a third set of rectangles so that there were three focus areas. This is similar to the organizer I use to teach essay organization. I love the three focus areas as they correspond to three body paragraphs. Students can then use focus words in their thesis to give the reader a clear indication of what is coming. It also, of course, keep the writer on track.
Let me know if you have developed successful concept maps for any of your lesson plans.
Steph Dyer
HS English
I also chose to expand on professional growth and leadership. I think this objective might actually be the hardest after we finish with our program at Walden. I've attended several workshops through my district and have always felt let down. I feel as though I'm paying for nothing while receiving credit. It's a bit disheartening. I wonder if there are workshops I could take online, from other districts... Any ideas? Have you ever taken any classes or workshops through your district that you thought were viable and useful?
ReplyDeleteVal Gerdes
MS-English
Val,
ReplyDeleteOur state has some great workshops that you can take. We have one Intermediate Unit that does a wonderful job with online classes.
Check out this site:
http://www.pattan.net/default.aspx
and also
http://www.dciu.org/922102814025680/blank/browse.asp?a=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=53123&922Nav=|&NodeID=419
Right now they have summer stuff going, but keep visiting to see what they offer.
If you are feeling that way you know that other teachers are feeling it also. Have you checked out the colleges and universities? They may let you audit a technology course or two and then you can access the same info, you just won't get a grade. It is worth looking into.
Maybe you need to create that collaboration with a few teachers and develop your own class/workshop. You could do it. After doing one then you could expand and create another one. You would be surprised how many teachers would attend and love it. There is a void there that you need to fill.
Marilyn Goodrich
K-12 Ed. Con.