Reflection Assignment

On completion of this program I have been awaken to many different types of technology and how I can incorporate these technologies into my classrooms to enhance student learning. With my week 6/7 assignment, I was able to develop a solid plan of action not only to increase my students learning through technology but to open the eyes of my co-workers as how technology can be a benefit in the classroom. I was also able to work on a grant that will help bring new technology into our school. I have since completed this grant process and am awaiting staff input before turning it in. I am hoping my starting this process I am able to influence many technology changes in our school. I have also used what I have learned in this program to change the out look of technology with in our district. Changes have been made to allow different websites and programs to be run as students and teachers. This has opened up a new level of access and has giving me the opportunity to introduce blogs, wikis, webcasts, and voice threads to my students. Before the end of the school year I was able to complete a voice thread with my students on social skills, we were able to share this with a technology class in the high school which was very exciting to my students because they were learning something that high school students were learning.

Also during this program I joined the technology team in my school and we just received a grant for a 40 computer wireless lab. This will be used in our library and for students and teacher professional development. My look on technology has changed greatly. I was a teacher that allowed students to go on the computer to play a few games here and there but never used the technology to enhance my lessons, but now I can imagine not having a technology piece to every lesson I teach. My students are 21st century learners and it is time that I encourage this and give them every opportunity to be the best.

Moodle Assignment

http://voicethread.com/share/1184062/

Moodle Assignement

Moodle Assignment

Differentiation Station Assignment

This social networking site has been very helpful.
The resources that we have shared with each other and the chat discussion make working through an online class easier. I plan setting up a site for the three elementary EBD teachers in my district to use to discuss different lesson ideas and unit plans.

The use of technology to differentiate instruction makes planning simple. Having different leveled resources to meet the needs of all students is helpful when planning rotating flexible groups and stations. Using technology to give my student new learning opportunities they would other wise miss out on is very important to me. I plan on using different levels of technology in our everyday learning to show my student the world around them and enrich their background knowledge about the topics we are learning. The use of virtual field trips and problems based learning will help my student grow and give them more experiences to add to their lives.

Week 8

I have learned a lot about technology from the use of my GAME plan. I have learned how to add different technology to my lessons and make the learning concrete for my students. I have also learned about the way I learn technology best and it helped me understand that I need to think of different ways to teach the same technology skill so all my students can understand the process.

I have been adjusting my teaching style to add technology to as many lessons as I can. This is really helping my students and I try to add new technology when I begin a new topic.

Using the GAME plan process with students

Goals
Actions
Monitor
Evaluate and Extend Learning

When I looked at the NETS*S and thinking about how I can use the GAME process to help my students become proficient with the standards, I thought that maybe taking one of the six sections at a time. Instead of students reading over all six standards and then choosing which one they would like to do a plan with, I thought it would be better focused for my students to all work on the same standard this way they can compare and work together on their plans. With teaching special education I have learn that a more direct expectations and focused learning gets better results.

So I would start with working with my students on making goals in the creativity and innovation section. I think this would be a good starting place because of the digital storytelling lesson. Learning how to make digital stories will help them think about what they want to learn and how these goals fit into the standards. Some of my students will need direct teacher assistance with making goals and planning out their actions.

If we start on the first standard we would have enough time during the school year to explore each standard and set focus goals.

Revising Your GAME Plan

I have learned how to add technology to my lessons more then just finding a short video on the web to show my kids or having them play a math game the goes with our learning. My students have been introduced to finding research, power points lessons, how to video tape their own presentation and how to upload them as well as how a blog works and what they can be used for. I have been trying out different kinds of technology tools and websites and discussing these ideas with co-workers.

I believe I am still working on trying to integrate technology into my daily lessons as well as getting others in my building to collaborate and discuss about how we can add more technology to our school.

I do not feel that I am ready to make a new goal at this time. I do not feel I have mastered the ones that I am working on. There are so many different programs that I can be using with my students that I have not explored yet. I also feel that I am having to think to long and hard about how I am going to integrate technology in my lessons it should just be automatic.

Something that I need to do to help me refocus my goals is to make a list of the programs that I have not explored yet and make sure I am looking at a new one each week to understand what it is about and find a way to use it with my students in an upcoming lesson.

Evaluating your Game plan progress

This has been a very busy non learning week in my classroom.

How effective were your actions in helping you meet your goals?
I have been working hard to incorporate different technology into my current lesson plans. I had plan on starting a blog journal with my students this week but because of intense behavior problems that did not happen. I have been talking with a co-worker about how I could use blogs in my my classroom. But the classes we had plan on taking are not really happening at this time. So I have only been collaborating with one other teacher about ideas for different lessons and what I am doing in this class.

What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instructional practice?
I have learned that it is pretty easy to add technology to all lessons. Thinking outside the box of what has already been done makes my lessons interesting and my students retain the information better. I am excited to add the new lessons that we will be writing in the next few weeks to my current plans.

What do you still have to learn? What new questions have arisen?
I think the learning will be on going. There are always programs and activities that will be coming up that I will need to practice with so I can use them successfully with my students. One of the biggest questions that plays on my mind is how to continue with the elaborate technology plans when the behavior in my classroom stops us from finishing any activity and at some points stops all teaching for hours on in.

How will you adjust your plan to fit your current needs?
I feel that I need to focus more on adding technology to my curriculum and continue talking with the one co-worker. I don't believe focusing on the classes that I had plan to take is a realistic goal at this time. There are just so many things going on and the amount of focus I need to put into this class and the behavior of my students is to great.

Monitoring your GAME plan progress

* Are you finding the information and resources you need?
I have been really lucky to have been introduced to the Atomic learning website. This has been helpful when working with new technology. I am able to do a quick tutorial and see a video on how to use different programs. The group of teachers I am currently working with have came to a standstill. We have not been able to get together to work on our online course and they seem to have very little desire to do so. I plan on signing up to take a test out class for Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
* Do you need to modify your action plan?
I think my plan is okay. It is just going to take more time and effort to get it accomplished.
* What have you learned so far?
I have learned some new tricks in power point and have been able to start a new project with my students involving a lot of technology. Mostly research and information videos. They will be completing this project with a power point report assessing their knowledge of their chosen state.
* What new questions have arisen?
I have been wondering how long the computers in my classroom will last. They seem to be having more and more problems each day and with my boys not being allowed to use the wireless lab. I am wondering how we will be able to add the amount of technology to our everyday routine as I would like.

Carrying Out Your GAME Plan

What resources will you need to carry out your plan?
To carry out my GAME plan I will need colleagues (the group of teachers that will be working with learning new technology) , online tutorials, and video examples of technology.

What additional information do you need?
I need the information from my district with the required lessons to complete the tier 2 technology integration classes.

What steps have you been able to take so far?

I have been able to take my lesson plans and add technology to one lesson this week to enhance student understanding in the content area of social studies. As well has set up times to collaborate with colleagues and complete the different online classes to address story mapping, power point, excel, and google earth.

Application 2

Game Plan for NETS-T performance indicators

Goals

When looking at the 5 NETS-T I feel I need to focus on number 2.A Design and Develop Digital-Age Experiences (design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student leaning and creativity) and Assessments as well as number 5.A Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership (participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning).

Actions

1. (2.A) One thing I can to focus on this standard is to look at my weekly plans and find 3 areas where I can add technology to enhance the lesson. By starting with 3 activities I will be able to increase the number of times I increase the use of technology as the school year goes on.

2. (5.A) I am currently enrolled in another online class collaborating with 5 coworkers, this class is teaching us how to use different technology applications to enhance student learning. We are currently learning how to use a story mapping program.

Monitor

I will be monitoring my learning by the number of new technologies I learn and the completion of class. I will also be monitoring my learning by documenting how many times I am able to integrate technology into my lessons to enhance student learning.

Evaluate and Extend Learning

I will be evaluating my learning by how much my technology skills transfers over to my students and their learning. I will extend my learning by continuing to collaborate with my coworkers to continue learning new skills to teach my students.