EDUC 6715- Final Reflection

Over the past eight weeks I have been able to look at and learn about many different emerging technologies I would love to implement in my classroom. The unit and lesson plans I just created allowed my students to use digital gaming in the class to learn, practice, assess, and differentiate learning. This is a fabulous opportunity for students to use a tool they have access to in the classroom or at home. Also many of the students play video games using systems such as X-Box, Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii; these games are similar to those they are playing at home just with an educational focus.

With my school year starting on Wednesday I am implementing several new technologies with my students this year. First, I will be using a computer based reading program called Read 180 with 25 of my students. This program allows for whole-group instruction, small-group instruction, and individualized computer instruction. I will be continuing the use of my blog with my students and plan to create a wiki for my advanced class. I had the luck of Christmas coming in July with the installation of a projector, screen and Bluetooth SmartPad, so all of these technologies will be used on a daily basis to implement the new core content standards adopted by Kentucky. I would love to purchase access to the website Education City for the use of digital gaming with some of my lessons and plan to discuss this with several administrators at our first meeting on Monday.

With my knowledge from this course I hope to collaborate with other teachers to adopt and implement new technologies this school year. I feel I have the experience and exposure with implementing my blog and working with emerging technologies in this class. I hope to discuss with the staff members at my school the impact these technologies will have on our students’ motivation to learn and their 21st Century skills. I am excited to start the school year and begin implementing the many tools I have been introduced to.

Edu 6715- Emerging Technologies

http://voicethread.com/#u645441.b1186722.i6744189


Here is the link to my voicethread about Emerging Technologies and Course Management Systems. There was a glitch when recording some of the audio... it doesn't help when a two year old tries to eat the microphone!
Enjoy and please share any comments!
Thanks,
Meghan

EUD 6714-Reflection Week 8

Throughout this course I have learned about many valuable resources for differentiating instruction and implementing technology. I have been working through this course as well as another, EDU 6713, with both courses in session simultaneously I have been able to receive fabulous feedback from peers about ideas for implementing lessons in the classroom.

The differentiation station assignment using the NING was awesome. As mentioned before I was participating in this class and another which used a wiki to communicate with group members. I found the NING to be easier to access, communicate with peers, and post ideas. I really enjoyed the feature of adding blog posts and being able to have “chats” with classmates during a live session. This would be ideal for implementing my blog assignments in my classroom. I plan to change my blog through Google reader to a NING for my classroom. This may be a challenge since they are no long free to teachers but I hope to have my school pick up the cost if possible. I will start this at the beginning of the school year so my students have time to become accumulated with using the NING to communicate their ideas. I will also have students post different projects they complete to the site so their classmates can view their work.

The ideas of Universal Design for Learning will also be implemented in my classroom next year. Using the NING I will be able to have students work on problem based learning projects while implementing the three principles of UDL. I will work toward learning more about my students’ interests and learning styles so I can use these topics in my discussions and readings. Researching my students’ interests and taking the time to get to know them will also allow me to differentiate instruction for my students. Dr. Tomlinson suggests layering curriculum or assignments for students and I have taken the steps to do this for my first unit of the school year. These steps toward changing my instruction will take time but I plan to follow Tomlinson’s recommendation to take it one step at a time.

6713-Week 8 Refelction

Throughout this course I have learned many valuable teaching strategies, ideas for lessons, and how to make time for accomplishing educational goals. The GAME plan has taught me to take one step at a time and I will be able to improve my lessons and educational experience for my students.

I have also become more open to discussing these ideas with my colleagues and listening to their experiences with using different technologies in the classroom. I have been able to work closely with my counterpart on the other seventh grade team to develop lessons using different technologies. We have been able to share ideas for differentiating and cross teaming with each other to teach different elements of our curriculum. One of my GAME plan goals was to use and implement new technologies and this planning puts me one step closer to completing this goal.

I have also found many resources for helping my students set goals in my classroom. We will begin working on goal setting at the beginning of the school year and continue throughout so students can see the progress they make throughout the course of the year. These small steps that will be implemented at the start of the school year will allow me to meet my GAME plan goals and allow me to assist my students in creating their own GAME plans. I will have the students not only work on content goals but I will also have them work on technology goals. I will show them the NETS goals for students so they are able to see where students their age are supposed to be will the knowledge and usage of technology. I am so excited for next school year to be start! It will definitely be a year where my students and I are working on tackling our goals together.

Using the GAME Plan with Students-week7

The GAME plan process would be an excellent way to teach my students how to set goals that are attainable and work to achieve them. I have been highly motivated with my GAME plan and can not wait until next school year to implement some of the new tools I have found. In language arts I will be using a new program called Read 180 and all students will know their reading levels at the beginning of the year by a lexile score. I would love to have them use the GAME plan format to develop a plan for improving their reading level. I would also like for them to utilize the programs resources which are all technology based in order to help implement the plan they develop. I think this will be a great way for me to pass on the ideas of the GAME plan to my students at the beginning of next school year. This past year I was able to have students make goals about their work completion and grades. I feel this will be an easier way to chart, using Microsoft Excel, their progress and drive students to improve their reading skills.

Revising my GAME PLAN

Now that the school year has come to an end I feel like I have more time to research new technologies available for use in my classroom. I do not see making any changes to my current goals on my GAME plan but I definitely foresee adding goals! I did bring home my unit binders to work on implementation of technology and citing the sources I use to demonstrate ethical use to my students. I not only want to revisit and revamp each unit I teach during the year but I also want to plan an interdisciplinary unit with my math teacher. In this unit we would like the students to market a product and produce a budget for marketing. We have planned several meetings where we can begin planning this unit and figure out how to incorporate the science and social studies teachers as well.

At this point in the course I feel I have learned more about the NETS standards and although I feel my students are behind that I can help guide them to proficiency. Summer definitely has ignited a new spark and more time to work on my GAME Plan, even though I won't be able to implement this work until the fall.

Evaluating my GAME Plan: week 5

As I work through my GAME Plan I have learned several things about myself as a teacher:
Goal 1: Working on learning about and checking my digital etiquette has been quite interesting. I have learned that I don’t always double check my emails before hitting the send button. Sometimes I am in such a hurry to respond or send a message that I have sent messages that don’t always have the best/most professional tone to them. Also when compiling information to use in my lessons such as PowerPoints I do not always cite the sources where I found pictures or other information. I have not been properly giving credit to fellow colleagues when I “borrow” their worksheets, test/quizzes, or PowerPoints either.

Goal 2: I have started to use and learn about different technology in my classroom. My students have been using my Grade Cam for assessments the past few weeks and I am planning on incorporating the answer scan on their worksheets for the last few days of school as well. This is something I will incorporate at the beginning of the school year next year so that my students are able to take advantage of the Grade Cam all year. I have also signed up for a Smart Board class during our professional growth academy. Since one is being installed in my room I want to be able to use it to its fullest capabilities. I will also be taking several Read 180 classes to see how I can use this program with students who are not in the Read 180 class.

I am still feeling comfortable with my goals; although I wish I had more time to spend working on meeting them. I am also excited to see how my progress with these two areas helps the learning environment for my students next school year.