Today’s students, according to Prensky (2008), enter our classrooms with the lights turned on or having already had access to a vast array of knowledge. Much of this knowledge is accessible via technology – Internet, iTouches, cellphones, and the list can go on. As teachers we must find ways to keep our students engaged not by forcing them to power down or limit their technological access but to learn how to teach in a world that takes our students beyond the walls of our classroom and into a world of endless possibilities (ISTE, 2010).
In order to do so, I am developing a professional GAME plan. Using the ISTE (2010), I have selected two standards in which I will seek to develop confidence in.
1. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
2. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
Goals and Action
Specifically, I am seeking to design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments using a SmartBoard, I plan to collaborate with a peer who is a SmartBoard expert in my school district. I, having recently acquired the SmartBoard, have limited knowledge but am willing to try. Currently, we share a prep time where she could provide tutorials in using technology.
In addition to creating the digital-age learning experience and assessments, I need to be more cognizant of modeling digital citizenship and responsibility for my students. I feel as if I know, since being enrolled at Walden University, how to site sources properly. However, I tend to skip citing information when I am planning for my classes. My students need to understand the importance of citing and providing recognition to the rightful owner. My action step will be to apply proper citation technique consistently to my lessons and to provide educational time teach students the proper citation patterns.
Monitor
In order to monitor my two goals and action steps, I will reflect weekly on my goals’ progresses. I will reflect while the goals are being met and after the action steps are completed (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2008). I will use journaling or blogging to reflect openly about the progress that I am having with a digital-age learning experiences and practicing digital citizenship and responsibility.
Evaluate
To evaluate my original goals, I will regularly reference my monitoring tools to provide insight into their progress. Within the same blog or journal as the monitoring stage, I will use periodic evaluation methods to check and challenge my goal’s results. Perhaps every month or two, I would ask myself the question, “How effective were you actions in meeting your goal” (Cennamo, et al, 2008).
After fulfilling the Game Plan , I hope that I will be in position to help students remain "powered up" and engaged using technological advancements.
References
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: a standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/
2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf
Prensky, M. (2008, March). Turning on the lights. Educational Leadership, 65(6), 40-45.
Brad Feick
HS English
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5 comments:
Brad,
My school district supplied many of the teachers with SMART boards about three years ago. I must say I now use mine every day. At first, I was using it simply as an interactive chalkboard, but now that I am use to it, I use interactive games for reviews, explore web sites with the class, and display e-books that I use for mini lessons during reading class. It is a great tool to have in the classroom to keep the students engaged! You will learn a lot from your co-worker and as you become more comfortable with the SMART board, you will be amazed at all the abilities it has to offer in your lessons.
-Lauren Cogan
6-7 language arts
Brad, what a thorough GAME plan which seems quite exciting! Your choice to use journaling and blogging to extend your professional development is the right choices. In this current technological era, there are vast amount of bloggers who are getting as much rating and support from people from all walks of life. Subsequently, as educators, when we share our educational pursuits with others as well as our challenges, we are more likely to make better connections with others who can offer a deeper perspective on our situation.
As educators we cannot be complacent in our delivery of content area. In fact, we need to think like business men and women and extend our goals for students’ learning in practical, attainable ways. We need to plan, monitor, evaluate and have others critically assess our vision for a creating a more student friendly classroom. With your approach to use new, familiar technologies to spark students’ interest while learning is being unfold, is a smart method to “turn on students’ light”. Since healthy living seems to always be a general concern among many individuals, I believe also that students’ nutrition is also prime matter for academic excellence.
I sincerely hope that the volume of support that you will solicit from your colleague to train you to be adept at using Smart Boards will materialize sooner than later. Suffice to say, “The key concept to keep in mind is that technology tools can be adapted to support learning in a number of ways” (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, p. 271). Furthermore, the advantage of having technology in the classroom is great but if the students are not equipped with the skills to become more proficient to making more wiser decisions when using technology then it would be such a waste of resources. Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer (2009) assert that, using technology in the classroom means having an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of instructions and how technology can be most effectively used to develop creative and critical thinking skills.
Reference
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
K. Kerr
Brad,
You will love your SmartBoard! It is amazing what you can do with them and how interactive they are. I find a new use weekly. Also, check with your technology facilitator, we had a workshop in a neighboring town that was sponsored by SmartBoard that was fantastic. My students really like using the clickers, and it has become a valuable tool in reviewing. They are so engaged! Several of my fellow teachers are very creative and at the beginning of the year, they demonstrated several techniques they use with the SmartBoards, I learned so much just by watching what they did. You might want to watch others in your school that have had them for a while, it is a terrific tool to have.
Good Luck
Edie
Oh Brad, you are going to LOVE your SMART board! I have used one for the past five to six years and still enjoy finding new and engaging ways for students and me to learn with it. I do have one suggestion: If you work in a district that doesn't provide SMART boards for ALL classrooms, you may want to design some of your lessons using alternative software (PowerPoint, for example) rather than using SMART Notebook. This way, you can still use many of your prepared lessons and materials by projecting them onto paper or a white board if you ever (Heaven forbid!) find yourself teaching where there are no SMART boards. Of course, you can always do what I did a few years ago: No interactive white boards? Well, thank you very much, but I think I'll find some place else to interview.
Good luck with your GAME plan, and be ready to get spoiled with your new SMART board!
Trina
ELA, Gr. 6-8
Hi.
First of all, that's fabulous that you have a SMART board and that you have a planning time in common with your colleague. I was wondering if your district provides any training or if there is a website that has tools available for teacher use?
Digs
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