For this week's application: Spotlight on Emerging Technology - Online Learning in K-12 Schools, I created a Glogster that highlighted important aspects of online learning. These areas included an online learning community, Moodle, and online learning in general regarding student and teacher integration.
The Glog can be found at the following address:
http://garmanl.glogster.com/online-learning/
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Reaching and Engaging All Learners Through Technology - Week 8 Reflection
Reaching and Engaging All Learners Through Technology has helped me research different technologies that will help differentiate instruction in the classroom.
All About the UDL
I now have a better understanding of universal design for learning and the research behind it, including the what, how, and why of learning. If we understand these three aspects, we can better reach each student we have in class. The principles designated to UDL, representation, action and expression, and engagement, promotes options, looking at what interests each student, and planning so that each student can reach goals. The CAST website offers great resources that will allow for easy technology integration with focus on UDL and DI. Some programs that I have become familiar with and think would work well in an elementary classroom would be the UDL Book Builder, Wiggle Works, and the UDL Lesson Builder for teachers. It is my goal to begin integrating and using these programs into weekly lessons so that students have more opportunity to take hold of their learning.
Don’t Forget About DI
Carol Ann Tomlinson said, “The idea of differentiating instruction is an approach to teaching that advocates active planning for and attention to student differences in classrooms, in the context of high quality curriculums.” DI takes time, planning, and preparation on both the teacher and the student’s part. Students have to be willing to take several surveys to determine learning styles and preferred multiple intelligences. Teachers have to be willing to take the time to administer and go over the results. However, the end result will be worth the time put in. Knowing which way each student learns best will make for a much smoother year ahead because you now know how to plan and which options to give students when having them complete assignments. Technology integration will help students because it usually hits more than one learning style and students are engaged when able to try something new. Whether it is blogging, creating a Prezi presentation, or working with iPods, students will be able to make choices throughout the process as to how they would like their product to be completed.
Adjustments
• Begin research DI and UDL more frequently to stay up-to-date on the latest news and resources.
• Begin using new programs with students such as Prezi, Wiggle Works, and Book Builder.
• Have weekly discussions on the different learning styles and what they mean to each student.
• Rearrange the room so that there are centers where students can find manipulatives and resources that target a specific learning style.
All About the UDL
I now have a better understanding of universal design for learning and the research behind it, including the what, how, and why of learning. If we understand these three aspects, we can better reach each student we have in class. The principles designated to UDL, representation, action and expression, and engagement, promotes options, looking at what interests each student, and planning so that each student can reach goals. The CAST website offers great resources that will allow for easy technology integration with focus on UDL and DI. Some programs that I have become familiar with and think would work well in an elementary classroom would be the UDL Book Builder, Wiggle Works, and the UDL Lesson Builder for teachers. It is my goal to begin integrating and using these programs into weekly lessons so that students have more opportunity to take hold of their learning.
Don’t Forget About DI
Carol Ann Tomlinson said, “The idea of differentiating instruction is an approach to teaching that advocates active planning for and attention to student differences in classrooms, in the context of high quality curriculums.” DI takes time, planning, and preparation on both the teacher and the student’s part. Students have to be willing to take several surveys to determine learning styles and preferred multiple intelligences. Teachers have to be willing to take the time to administer and go over the results. However, the end result will be worth the time put in. Knowing which way each student learns best will make for a much smoother year ahead because you now know how to plan and which options to give students when having them complete assignments. Technology integration will help students because it usually hits more than one learning style and students are engaged when able to try something new. Whether it is blogging, creating a Prezi presentation, or working with iPods, students will be able to make choices throughout the process as to how they would like their product to be completed.
Adjustments
• Begin research DI and UDL more frequently to stay up-to-date on the latest news and resources.
• Begin using new programs with students such as Prezi, Wiggle Works, and Book Builder.
• Have weekly discussions on the different learning styles and what they mean to each student.
• Rearrange the room so that there are centers where students can find manipulatives and resources that target a specific learning style.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Final Blog Post: Week 8
Reflection:
After going through each part of the GAME plan process, I have had a lot of successes with my students in regards to technology integration. We have slowly started to change the way we do our daily journal writing. Three days a week, students respond to a journal prompt via their personal blogs. The other two days students continue the traditional journal entries with a hand-written response. The students were very eager to take part in this and were excited to express themselves by making their blog page their own. It has been difficult as each of the students is on a different page with previous exposure to computers and the Internet. With the help of my high school aides, I have been able to pair students who needed more help with a high school helper to help navigate or post to a prompt. I have found that this change doesn’t just happen overnight. We started off slow with this integration where students were able to navigate the site as a whole group and explored different options.
Impact on Instructional Practice:
One of the biggest things that I learned is that it’s okay to depend on your students for help. I have to say that they catch on and might know more of the ins and outs than I do, even at a young age. My students have been so cooperative with each other in this process and their excitement for learning has really been prevalent. I have also learned that integrating technology is crucial in order for students to start preparing for their futures. Even a little integration will help prepare them for what’s out there.
Adjustments:
As a result of my learning from this course, I plan on integrating technology daily into my lessons. I would like to integrate a new program or technology each month to my students. This sounds like a big task to complete, especially with 2nd graders, but it is my hope that I can do what is needed in order to expose them to experiences they might not get elsewhere. I will also give my students the reins and have them research a program that we will use. This will allow them to take hold of their learning and become experts on the technologies that we will utilize.
After going through each part of the GAME plan process, I have had a lot of successes with my students in regards to technology integration. We have slowly started to change the way we do our daily journal writing. Three days a week, students respond to a journal prompt via their personal blogs. The other two days students continue the traditional journal entries with a hand-written response. The students were very eager to take part in this and were excited to express themselves by making their blog page their own. It has been difficult as each of the students is on a different page with previous exposure to computers and the Internet. With the help of my high school aides, I have been able to pair students who needed more help with a high school helper to help navigate or post to a prompt. I have found that this change doesn’t just happen overnight. We started off slow with this integration where students were able to navigate the site as a whole group and explored different options.
Impact on Instructional Practice:
One of the biggest things that I learned is that it’s okay to depend on your students for help. I have to say that they catch on and might know more of the ins and outs than I do, even at a young age. My students have been so cooperative with each other in this process and their excitement for learning has really been prevalent. I have also learned that integrating technology is crucial in order for students to start preparing for their futures. Even a little integration will help prepare them for what’s out there.
Adjustments:
As a result of my learning from this course, I plan on integrating technology daily into my lessons. I would like to integrate a new program or technology each month to my students. This sounds like a big task to complete, especially with 2nd graders, but it is my hope that I can do what is needed in order to expose them to experiences they might not get elsewhere. I will also give my students the reins and have them research a program that we will use. This will allow them to take hold of their learning and become experts on the technologies that we will utilize.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Using the GAME Plan Process with Students: Week 7
As part of my original GAME plan, I chose the following NETS-T indicators to focus on:
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society.
All of the NETS-T standards and indicators lend themselves to an easy adaptation into the elementary classroom. With the integration of nearly any technological device, students can accomplish the indicators desired. I found it easy to integrate the above indicators into my blog project. Students were able to express their creativity through designing and making their blog posts their own. The 3rd standard I have listed probably takes the most effort to achieve.
In order for teachers to model digital-age work and learning, we have to be up-to-date with the latest technology developments as well as how to use them in the classroom. It can be frustrating at times to try to accomplish this. However, I have found that leaning on your students for help and understanding isn’t all that bad. Why not make it a learning experience for both sides? In my experience, students are more engaged and interested if the teacher is also engaged and interested. This can be done by allowing students to explain how a technology works or the ins and outs of different programs.
The NETS-T standards and indicators should be part of our required curriculum in order to achieve the ultimate goal: Involve students with the latest technologies to assure successful futures.
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society.
All of the NETS-T standards and indicators lend themselves to an easy adaptation into the elementary classroom. With the integration of nearly any technological device, students can accomplish the indicators desired. I found it easy to integrate the above indicators into my blog project. Students were able to express their creativity through designing and making their blog posts their own. The 3rd standard I have listed probably takes the most effort to achieve.
In order for teachers to model digital-age work and learning, we have to be up-to-date with the latest technology developments as well as how to use them in the classroom. It can be frustrating at times to try to accomplish this. However, I have found that leaning on your students for help and understanding isn’t all that bad. Why not make it a learning experience for both sides? In my experience, students are more engaged and interested if the teacher is also engaged and interested. This can be done by allowing students to explain how a technology works or the ins and outs of different programs.
The NETS-T standards and indicators should be part of our required curriculum in order to achieve the ultimate goal: Involve students with the latest technologies to assure successful futures.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Revising the GAME Plan: Week 6
What I have learned….
So far, I have learned that in order to integrate technology effectively you have to be patient. This quality is true to every teacher. I don’t believe you can teach if you do not have a great deal of patience. I have found that having students complete blog entries requires a little deeper level of patience than I have yet to experience. There are constant questions and confusion when trying to do online journaling. However, I do have to thank some of my more experienced students in taking time to help those who are struggling. When beginning this blogging experience, I started with the basics. I did a class demonstration of a blog I had created and went over all of the aspects it offered. Students had a chance to interact with this program via a Smartboard and went over the navigating tips for those who lacked the knowledge needed.
Goals….
As far as my goals are concerned, I am still working for a successful week in student blogging. I would like for students to be able to navigate and successfully respond to the journal prompts throughout the week. I would also like students to begin to respond to their classmate’s postings. However, I feel that this step should wait until students are more comfortable with this type of communication.
I would still like to set the goal of more parent communication through the blogging experience. I would like to get letters sent home that states what the students have been doing regarding their blogs and how the parents can interact with this experience. I would like parents to have the opportunity to respond to their child’s blog by being able to post comments at home. Students could then respond to their parents comments throughout the week. This would allow for a nice school-home connection.
Learning Approaches….
Next time I integrate a new form of technology, I would like to take more time learning about what the technology is. For example if I was introducing blogging again, I would like to show more examples of different types of blogs completed by students of the age of the class so that they have a better idea of what is expected. I would also like to take more time to show what all blogs offer – in regards to uploading images, videos, etc. As of now, students have a very vague concept of the blogging experience and I would like to expand that to show them what else it offers.
So far, I have learned that in order to integrate technology effectively you have to be patient. This quality is true to every teacher. I don’t believe you can teach if you do not have a great deal of patience. I have found that having students complete blog entries requires a little deeper level of patience than I have yet to experience. There are constant questions and confusion when trying to do online journaling. However, I do have to thank some of my more experienced students in taking time to help those who are struggling. When beginning this blogging experience, I started with the basics. I did a class demonstration of a blog I had created and went over all of the aspects it offered. Students had a chance to interact with this program via a Smartboard and went over the navigating tips for those who lacked the knowledge needed.
Goals….
As far as my goals are concerned, I am still working for a successful week in student blogging. I would like for students to be able to navigate and successfully respond to the journal prompts throughout the week. I would also like students to begin to respond to their classmate’s postings. However, I feel that this step should wait until students are more comfortable with this type of communication.
I would still like to set the goal of more parent communication through the blogging experience. I would like to get letters sent home that states what the students have been doing regarding their blogs and how the parents can interact with this experience. I would like parents to have the opportunity to respond to their child’s blog by being able to post comments at home. Students could then respond to their parents comments throughout the week. This would allow for a nice school-home connection.
Learning Approaches….
Next time I integrate a new form of technology, I would like to take more time learning about what the technology is. For example if I was introducing blogging again, I would like to show more examples of different types of blogs completed by students of the age of the class so that they have a better idea of what is expected. I would also like to take more time to show what all blogs offer – in regards to uploading images, videos, etc. As of now, students have a very vague concept of the blogging experience and I would like to expand that to show them what else it offers.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Evaluating My GAME Plan Progress: Week 5
After having my students journal via blogging for a week, I have found myself full of excitement. Not only am I getting the results that I envisioned, but the students are more motivated and willing to express themselves more openly via their blogs. When students completed their daily journals with paper and pencil, they held off on their writing. They did what was needed to get by. Now, they are given twenty minutes (instead of ten) to get a response posted in their blog. More time is given for them to navigate and upload images as necessary. Students are more motivated and excited about this experience so they are putting more into it. Students are writing (typing) more than they ever had through their old journals.
My goal of having students utilize digital tools and reflect is being accomplished. Students are becoming familiar with technology that they have yet to be exposed to which is creating a more successful learning experience. My students now have skills that will help them as they progress towards their future careers.
With each blog that students complete, they are following a given prompt that they must reflect on. This prompt is either a reflection of a personal experience, a learning activity being done in the classroom, or their thoughts/opinions on a particular idea.
My upcoming goal is for students to create aggregator accounts where they can follow two of their classmates blogs. They will be required to share a response with at least one member three times a week. This will be a way to share ideas and thoughts with each other through a blogging experience. The only downside to this is students are having to get comfortable with the idea that their journals are now public to the rest of the class, where before only the teacher was required to view the entries. For the most part, students are okay with this idea and are excited about reading and commenting on their peers’ blogs.
My goal of having students utilize digital tools and reflect is being accomplished. Students are becoming familiar with technology that they have yet to be exposed to which is creating a more successful learning experience. My students now have skills that will help them as they progress towards their future careers.
With each blog that students complete, they are following a given prompt that they must reflect on. This prompt is either a reflection of a personal experience, a learning activity being done in the classroom, or their thoughts/opinions on a particular idea.
My upcoming goal is for students to create aggregator accounts where they can follow two of their classmates blogs. They will be required to share a response with at least one member three times a week. This will be a way to share ideas and thoughts with each other through a blogging experience. The only downside to this is students are having to get comfortable with the idea that their journals are now public to the rest of the class, where before only the teacher was required to view the entries. For the most part, students are okay with this idea and are excited about reading and commenting on their peers’ blogs.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Monitoring My GAME Plan Progress: Week 4
Over the past two weeks, my students and I have been working on the following two goals:
1. Promote student reflection using collaborative, digital tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.
2. Strengthen collaboration with students and parents through the use of digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation.
These goals were part of my original GAME plan to get students more involved with technology and to communicate more effectively with parents. To do this, I am having student’s complete daily journals that are done through their own personal blog. These blogs are made public so that parents are able to view and comment on them.
For the most part, blogging has been a new concept for my students. We have started with the basics as a whole group and have viewed, commented, and created a blog as a class. This past week, I had students create their own accounts and they have played around with the styles and options on their blog site. After the Thanksgiving holiday, students will make their first online journal post. I will be sending home a hard copy of a newsletter and an electronic copy letting parents know of the change in our daily journaling exercises. Parents will become aware of their child’s URL address and will be encouraged to read and comment on their posts.
Students are quick to adjust to change. I have found that they are very eager to learn about new technologies and find it much more exciting than doing journals by hand. I hope that this excitement carries over to other areas of the curriculum as I plan to continue to integrate more and more types of technologies. There have been many questions and I thank the students for their patience and persistence in discovering the blogging process.
It is my hope that after a week’s worth of blogging, I will have students complete a survey that gives me a glimpse at their thoughts on completing their journals electronically or by hand. After students get used to this process, I hope that they will begin to feel more comfortable with the technology and begin to tune into their creative side, adding more images, changing font styles, and commenting on each of their classmate’s posts.
1. Promote student reflection using collaborative, digital tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.
2. Strengthen collaboration with students and parents through the use of digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation.
These goals were part of my original GAME plan to get students more involved with technology and to communicate more effectively with parents. To do this, I am having student’s complete daily journals that are done through their own personal blog. These blogs are made public so that parents are able to view and comment on them.
For the most part, blogging has been a new concept for my students. We have started with the basics as a whole group and have viewed, commented, and created a blog as a class. This past week, I had students create their own accounts and they have played around with the styles and options on their blog site. After the Thanksgiving holiday, students will make their first online journal post. I will be sending home a hard copy of a newsletter and an electronic copy letting parents know of the change in our daily journaling exercises. Parents will become aware of their child’s URL address and will be encouraged to read and comment on their posts.
Students are quick to adjust to change. I have found that they are very eager to learn about new technologies and find it much more exciting than doing journals by hand. I hope that this excitement carries over to other areas of the curriculum as I plan to continue to integrate more and more types of technologies. There have been many questions and I thank the students for their patience and persistence in discovering the blogging process.
It is my hope that after a week’s worth of blogging, I will have students complete a survey that gives me a glimpse at their thoughts on completing their journals electronically or by hand. After students get used to this process, I hope that they will begin to feel more comfortable with the technology and begin to tune into their creative side, adding more images, changing font styles, and commenting on each of their classmate’s posts.
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