tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24139073393757969322024-03-13T10:34:23.662-07:00What's The Point?donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-63528787517091384282010-04-25T10:33:00.000-07:002010-04-25T10:36:54.784-07:00LEADING WITH TECHNOLOGY<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">I as draw near the conclusion of my master’s program at Walden University, I feel personally empowered with the skills and knowledge necessary to identify emerging technologies that can have a positive, long-term impact in teaching and learning. I am confident in my ability to become a change leader at my school by influencing and leading the adoption of new and emerging technology that will transform our classrooms into 21</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">st</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> century learning environments. To stay abreast of emerging technologies available, I will use the 2009 Horizon Report (Johnson, Levine, Smith, & Smythe, 2009), which provides a detailed summary of emerging technologies to watch. The report details emerging technologies and timeframes for their entrance into mainstream use for teaching, learning, or creative applications.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">My first plan of action as a change leader at my site is to form a technology leadership team that will be responsible for creating and implementing a 21</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">st</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> century vision for our school. The first emerging technology I would like to present for adoption consideration in the Quest Atlantis MUVE. This engaging online multi-user environment will support our school in successfully integrating these new technologies to their best potential and to engage our students in meaningful learning activities (role-plays, simulations, virtual apprenticeships, etc.) not previously possible in the classroom. Our goal is to foster dispositions that will inspire productive participation in the 21st century.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">This generation of digital natives have been raised with unparalleled access to advanced technologies, including computers, the Internet, instant messaging, iPods, and video games. Research is starting to show that this generation may show higher levels of analytical thinking, team building, multitasking, global citizenship, and problem solving. It seems logical that learners in schools today differ from those in previous generations, simply based on the different activities in which they choose to fill their lives. The structure of many K-12 classrooms limits opportunities for students to engage meaningfully with information, thus positioning students as mere recorders of content rather than critical consumers and producers. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Video games are comprised of worlds where students have to solve problems. According to Deubel (2006), “An expert gamer has anything but a lazy mind. In fact, superior gaming has been linked to expert behaviors such as self-monitoring, pattern recognition, principled decision-making, qualitative thinking, and superior long- and short term memory” (p. 32). The multi-user virtual environments provide authentic learning experiences, which can increase student engagement and their depth of learning. Student work must have meaning. Students must be personally interested in the topic, make a connection between the academic task and the real world, and share their work with an audience outside the classroom (Lemke & Coughlin, 2009 p. 54).</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Sharlett Gillard and Denice Bailey (2007) point out common obstacles in adopting new technologies, “Teachers need support specific to the technology they are planning to implement, and they need it when they are preparing to use the technology with their students” (p.88). The authors go on to say, “The level of support that educators receive as they are adopting and implementing new skills and knowledge significantly impacts the success rate” (p. 89). Quest Atlantis offers an extensive training and support system. Teachers are required to participate in a professional development class. There are also school coordinators and regional coordinators available for training and technical support. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Over the next year, the second emerging technology I plan to investigate further is the new iPad. In </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Apple iPad Review: Laptop Killer? Pretty Close</span></span></i><span style="font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">, Walt Mossberg (2010) provides a detailed report on the capabilities and limitations of the newly released iPad. “It’s qualitatively different, a whole new type of computer that, through a simple interface, can run more-sophisticated, PC-like software than a phone does, and whose large screen allows much more functionality when compared with a phone’s.” </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">“A recent survey by the PEW Internet & American Life Project predicts that by the year 2020, most people across the world will be using a mobile device as their primary means for connecting to the Internet” (Johnson et al., 2009, p. 16). I can only imagine the learning my students could accomplish with instant Internet access, thousands of interactive applications, simulations, music, art, calculators, and languages to name just a few. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Reference:</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Deubel, P. (2006). Game on. </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">T.H.E. Journal</span></span></span></i><span style="font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, </span></span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">33</span></span></span></i><span style="font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(6), 30–41. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Gillard, S., & Bailey, D. (2007). Technology in the classroom: Overcoming obstacles, reaping rewards. The International Journal of Learning, 14(1), 87–93 </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Johnson, L., Levine, A., Smith, R., & Smythe, T. (2009). The 2009 Horizon Report: K-12 Edition. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lemke, C., & Coughlin, E. (2009). The change agents. Educational Leadership, 67(1), 54–59. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mossberg, W. (2010). Apple iPad Review: Laptop Killer? Pretty Close. Retrieved from </span></span></span><a href="http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20100331/apple-ipad-review/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20100331/apple-ipad-review/</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-30148999197212663642010-02-28T14:08:00.000-08:002010-02-28T14:16:31.069-08:00Reflection on Using Technology to Differentiated Instruction<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The complex student populations sitting in our classrooms today create even a need for more differentiated instruction. Growing second language learners, expanded identification of students with learning needs, experiential gap between students from affluent and low-income social economic backgrounds, and bright or advanced students are all in the same classroom. DI provides a specific model that carefully examines all classroom elements. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Not all students are alike. Based on this knowledge, differentiated instruction applies an approach to teaching and learning that gives students multiple options for taking in information and making sense of ideas. To differentiate instruction is to recognize students' varying background knowledge, readiness, language, preferences in learning and interests; and to react responsively. The goal is to maximize each student's growth and individual success by meeting each student where he or she is and assisting in the learning process. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Good differentiation, like all good teaching, it is very complex. With anything complex, we learn it a layer at a time. “Becoming an expert at differentiation is a career-long goal. One step at a time, you can get there” (Laureate, 2009). That being said, I will give myself a little slack if the differentiation in my classroom is not yet where I would like it to be. There are a few key concepts to keep in mind as I continue my goal to increase DI strategies in my classroom. Proactive DI is to first check to see where students are relative to goals before you plan a lesson, and then plan multiple pathways in response to students. DI is not synonymous with different. The key principal of DI is giving students different options with the same important learning goals. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One of the first steps toward planning and implementing instruction for diverse learners is to really know your students. My colleagues have assembled a valuable collection of online resources available to aid teachers in determining their students’ interests, learning styles, intelligence preferences, and learning profiles in our Differentiation Station social network. Selecting appropriate instruments to use with my students will enable me to develop learning goals and objectives to meet each student where they are and provide activities and supports to ensure the success of all learners. A learning profile is an instrument created to organize several categories that influence student learning (Tomlinson, 2009). In the beginning of the year, students will complete the Differentiated Instruction Learner Profile, which combines several components useful for supporting student learning: readiness, interests, learning preferences, and intelligence preferences. Additionally, students will answer the Getting To Know You Interest Interview for gender, family and culture background information. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Enriched, active participation stimulates and enhances the learning process and different students are engaged by different approaches. Again, I will turn to the resources my colleagues have shared in our Differentiation Station social network to quickly locate new and exciting methods of engagement and better reach all students. Digital media increases understanding by giving students opportunity to work, experiment, investigate and even play with new concepts. With digital media students grasp material, return to it, share it with others, recall information and explain their ideas. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Giving students multiple ways to show their mastery of a subject increases the chances of active learning and retention of new knowledge. It also provides a more accurate assessment of their performance as well as the need for any adjustments to instructional strategies. I use digital technology to vary the level of challenge, build in supportive scaffolds and provide choices for optimal engagement. I will also continue to seek out avenues to take learning beyond the walls of our classroom and into the real world. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3" style="text-indent:0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The integration of a variety of technologies into the classroom can provide learners with unique opportunities to help meet their diverse needs. Technology can be an empowering tool. For it to be empowering, however, teachers must be deliberate and thoughtful in how it is integrated and utilized in the classroom” (Bray, Brown, & Green, 2004, p.76).</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;mso-layout-grid-align:auto;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Resources: </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;mso-layout-grid-align:auto;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Bray, M., Brown, A., & Green, T. (2004). </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Technology and the diverse learner: A guide to</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family:";"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> classroom practice</span></span></i></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.</span></span></span></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://daretodifferentiate.wikispaces.com/file/view/di_learnerprof.pdf</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Reaching and engaging all learners through technology</span></span></i></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What is Differentiated Instruction?</span></span></i></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Baltimore: Author.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Tomlinson, C. (2009). Learning profiles and achievement. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">School Administrator.</span></span></i></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">66</span></span></i></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(2), 28–33. Retrieved from Education Research Complete database.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-75355223204167762322009-12-27T18:15:00.000-08:002009-12-27T18:24:53.514-08:00Reflection on Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Developing a </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">GAME</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> plan is like making a detailed “To Do List.” There is just something about writing down what you want to accomplish that keeps you focused and committed. I personally cannot throw away a “To Do List” until I have checked off all the boxes, or have reevaluated and made modifications to the original list and complied a new list. I also can’t ignore a “To Do List” because I have made a commitment to accomplishing the goals on the list by writing them on the list in the first place.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">By engaging in the process of developing a </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">GAME</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> plan, I have made a commitment to reach my goals and set a course of action to attain those goals. I have monitored my progress and made adjustments to my plan as my learning has increased my knowledge, which in turn has helped me refine and focus my instructional goals. My </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">GAME</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> plan for integrating technology into the content areas will continue to be a “work in progress” process, much like my own learning, knowledge and growth as an educator. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The greatest impact on my professional development from my last course Supporting Information Literacy, was realizing the need to incorporate cooperative learning and technology within content area instruction. As my current course Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas comes to a close, I have decided to focus my </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">GAME</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> plan on strategies for integrating social online collaboration into content area instruction. Vicki Davis (Laureate Education, Inc. 2009) gave a very clear picture of what online collaboration should look like. The part that really made an impression for me was when she explained that the model for education now is independent work, so every student can be graded. Yet with online tools such as wikis, blogs, tags and RSS Readers, teachers can actually see each student’s work for assessment purposes. I learned some useful tips for keeping track of student projects as well as insuring safe Internet practices. Ms. Davis mentioned (Laureate Education, Inc. 2009) two useful strategies I plan to incorporate into my procedures for online collaboration. I will have students submit blogs for pre-approval at Class Blogmeister. I will also teach my students to “tag” their assignments to be picked up by my Google Reader, so I can easily review anything my students post online. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My goal is to create a 21st century model for education in my classroom by providing opportunities for my students to connect and collaborate with fellow students, experts in the professional workplace, and other teachers around the world in an authentic learning environment with real world experiences.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Reference:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Laureate Education, Inc. (2009a) Spotlight on Technology: Social Networking and Online Collaboration. Part 2. Laureate Press.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"> </span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-32923943734115456892009-12-17T21:13:00.000-08:002009-12-17T21:18:19.567-08:00Getting Students in the GAME<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;">The </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">GAME</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;"> plan process is a systematic strategy for actively setting goals and following a sequence of steps for achieving those goals. As detailed by Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer (2009), the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">GAME</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;"> plan allows you to take control of your own learning by setting goals, taking action, monitoring your learning, and evaluating your progress. I used the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">GAME</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;"> plan process to establish goals for learning about technology and technology resources. I selected two indicators from the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;">National Education Technology Standards for Teachers (</span></span><a href="http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;">NETS-T</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;">) as a focus for my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">GAME</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;"> plan.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;">According to the National Education Technology Standards for Teachers (</span></span><a href="http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;">NETS-T</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;">), effective teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the National Educational Technology Standards for Students </span></span><a href="http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForStudents/2007Standards/NETS_for_Students_2007_Standards.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;">(NETS-S)</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;">. By concentrating my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">GAME</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;"> plan on NETS-T standard 2a - teachers design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity, I will provide the resources, learning environment, and support necessary for students to achieve NETS-S standard 1a - students apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes, and standard 1b- students create original works as a means of personal or group expression.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;">By incorporating digital tools in a variety of learning activities such as Internet research, blogging, creating Power Points, wikis, concept maps, and timelines my students have been able to successfully address several NETS-S standards. With guidance and scaffold instruction, students could employ the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">GAME</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;"> plan process to set goals for increasing their proficiency in many NETS-S standards. For example, I am currently designing a project-based biography project involving Internet research and group collaboration creating a wiki. My students could utilize the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">GAME</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;"> plan process to set a goal and develop an action plan for their biography project. To monitor their progress, they could assign tasks to each member and create a project timeline with scheduled completion dates. Students would complete a self-evaluation to assess their learning outcomes at the end of the project. Their </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">GAME</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;"> plan could actually become an interactive piece of the wiki where all members can track and record their progress.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;">Setting goals and using a systematic process for achieving those goals is a crucial skill for all life-long learners. Goal setting will play an integral part in the future success of every student sitting in our classrooms. It is not something that comes naturally for most students. It must be taught, modeled, and reinforced.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#336666;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;">References:</span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach (Laureate Education custom edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ISTE | National Educational Technology Standards. International Society for Technology in Education | Home. Retrieved December 13, 2009, fromhttp://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=NETS</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ArialMT; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:ArialMT"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-57577176943594740022009-12-10T20:27:00.000-08:002009-12-10T20:32:30.443-08:00Revising My GAME Plan<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">I was beginning to feel a little overwhelmed with my </span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">GAME</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"> plan this week. I was still very focused on my goal of </span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">employing an array of digital tools - blogs, wikis, videos, and social media to tap into my students' passion for collaborating, creating and sharing. However, I felt like I didn’t know where to begin in designing higher levels of engagement in authentic real world experiences within the content areas. Although I have developed a language arts collaborative wiki project and placed an order for biography books for resources, I still felt like I should also be creating collaborative projects using Web 2.0 tools in science, social studies and math content areas.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">Thanks to the resources in our course this week, I have been able to take a breath, calm down and make some revisions to my original action plan. I plan on following the sound advise on how to get started with online networking and collaboration offered by Vicki Davis </span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">(Laureate Education, Inc. 2009). My first plan of action is to visit Web 2.0 resources sites such as Eduwiki to locate ideas and examples for student projects so that I am not reinventing the wheel for every project in several content areas. I also plan to start small by creating one project, and then expanding from there. As Vicki Davis said, “You don’t get there overnight” (Laureate Education, Inc. 2009). </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">The second part of my revised action plan is to search for an online grassroots project to join. According to Vicki Davis, “Teachers must develop a personal learning network of teachers and other experts. For teachers to innovate with Web 2.0 tools, it is vital to connect to their network” (Laureate Education, Inc. 2009). It has become evident that in order for me to successfully integrate Web 2.0 technology </span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">into the content areas and provide my students the opportunity to personalize their learning, engage in the discovery process and creatively express their understanding, I must connect and collaborate with educators beyond my school and district. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">Now that my students understand the concept of blogging, I am trying to locate an online blogging tool where my students can interact with each other, teachers and experts around the world. Most blog sites are blocked in my district, however I heard this week that they are looking into allowing Moodle. In continuing my search for an online learning platform appropriate for younger students, I plan to check out Think.com/ThinkQuest and Wiggio.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">Reference:</span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">Laureate Education, Inc. (2009a) Spotlight on Technology: Social Networking and Online Collaboration. Part 2. Laureate Press.</span></span></span></span><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-67149704022881901412009-12-02T17:14:00.000-08:002009-12-02T17:16:27.627-08:00Evaluating My GAME Plan<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This week produced some successes towards meeting my goal of seamlessly integrating technology into my daily instruction. Unfortunately I also experienced a few setbacks (as is often the case when working with technology). The actions I have taken over the past two weeks to increase my classroom technology to include five networked computers were a success. Students were searching the Scholastic News Online site for blogs they wanted to post on. Many of the blogs on this site are an extension of the Scholastic News Magazine articles we use for our reading content. Students selected blogs on current relevant topics such as movies, music, books, news, and conflict resolution. Once they decided on a blog they wanted to participate in, they used Word to write their response. Students used writing strategies, sentence structure and grammar from our language arts content to compose their blog comments. On Tuesday, half of my students used classroom computers to work with partners on their blogs while the other half of the class worked with partners on identifying main ideas in their Scholastic News Magazine. The next day, the two groups switched activities.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The lesson was going well, students were excited and engaged as they applied their reading and writing skills in authentic learning experiences. The only glitch in the plan was when students tried to post their blog and received an access denied message. This technical issue will involve some investigating and problem solving that may require me to modify my action plan. One explanation could be that when students posted blogs last week, we were in the computer lab using newer computers with a higher operating system, which may allow the blogging. Another possibility is that the district filter system has recently blocked posting blogs. I modified the lesson by having students save their blog to their network data folder, and will post it to the blog next week in the computer lab. If the computers in the classroom cannot post comments on blogs, I will have to reevaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of continuing this authentic, real-world experience in the content area of reading. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This would also be an excellent opportunity to focus on the second part of my action plan by collaborating with technology experts in the district to develop solutions to issues such as accessibility to websites for educational purposes. As part of my next steps in my action plan, I will contact our district’s Information Services requesting access to VoiceThread, Blogs and other social networking sites.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-25517636911941833582009-11-25T19:52:00.000-08:002009-11-25T19:57:21.652-08:00Staying On My GAME<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In working toward my </span></span><span style="color:red;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">G</span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">oal of designing and developing digital-age learning experiences,</span></span><span style="color:#6669C3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I continued exploring opportunities to enhance learning and promote critical thinking by seamlessly integrating technology into my daily instruction. This week I continued to focus on developing authentic problem solving experiences set in a real-world context in the content area of reading.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The first </span></span></span><span style=" ;color:red;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A</span></span></b></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ction I took this week toward reaching my goal was locating resources for age appropriate student participation in blogging. Through exploring the Scholastic News Online website, I discovered several opportunities for students to blog on school related issues presented in our weekly news magazine subscription. This is the perfect opportunity to integrate communication tools into reading content. Within this site, students can also post blogs on top news stories. Additionally, Scholastic Online offered two important resources for implementing blogging in the classroom. The first resource I used with my third grade students was Blogging Rules. This reference sheet outlined rules for Internet Safety and rules to follow for Quality of Work when posting online. The second resource I used with my students was served as an extension of the Quality of Work rules. In the computer lab, my students located a blog at Scholastic Online, and then used a rubric to score the blog on quality of work. For my students, it was authentic application of using a rubric to score another student’s blog. This exercise also helps further the understanding that this experience might be reciprocal in that another student might be on the Internet scoring my students’ blogs as well. Again reinforcing the importance of responsibility when you post on the Internet, because the world is your audience. After scoring a blog, my students selected a story that caught their interest, and submitted their first blog! As they exited the computer lab, I overheard a few students saying how fun that was.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">While </span></span></span><span style=" ;color:red;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">M</span></span></b></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">onitoring the progress of my game plan, I have identified additional support and resources that are either necessary and/or will enhance the effectiveness of my goals. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Although I located an additional computer for my classroom last week, it is evident that the computer needs more TLC than I am able to offer. Another computer in my classroom frequently displays an error screen. I will be submitting a request for service for both computers to my district Tech Support.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I am also gathering resources and materials for a project based learning unit I am developing for this year. I am changing and existing biography research project to incorporate cooperative learning groups and a wiki for the final product. Students will work in partners during the research phase, and then groups of four to develop their wiki. I am currently trying to purchase another set of age appropriate biography books for partners to use as one source of information.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As stated previously, I don’t plan to wait until I have the latest technology resources before I put my </span></span></span><span style=" ;color:red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">GAME</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> plan into action. When </span></span></span><span style=" ;color:red;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">E</span></span></b></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">valuating my </span></span></span><span style=" ;color:red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">GAME</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> plan although I know there will be set backs ahead, I feel excited and motivated about my progress this week. And yes, teachers always have a wish list. As part of my long-range goals, the following resources would increase the type of enriched learning experiences I can offer my students: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">interactive white board</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">microphones</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">video cameras</span></li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Reference:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><a href="http://news.scholastic.com/scholastic_news_online/2009/09/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://news.scholastic.com/scholastic_news_online/2009/09/index.html</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><a href="http://news.scholastic.com/stickysituation/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://news.scholastic.com/stickysituation/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-60609744376526247702009-11-18T17:13:00.000-08:002009-11-21T15:00:14.933-08:00In The GAME<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Having established a clear, concise, and obtainable GAME plan for integrating technology into the content areas enabled me to make considerable progress toward my goal of developing digital-age learning experiences in the content areas. I was especially motivated by one of the Stories From Practice in our resources last week. Janice, a second grade teacher, shares, “if I sit around and wait to purchase the latest and greatest technology system, I’m not going to get anything accomplished. I need to use everything I have to its fullest extent” (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2010 p.87). That was exactly what I needed to do, use what I have more effectively. To provide as much time with digital tools as possible, I located another computer for my classroom, now I have four networked computers with Internet access. Additionally, I secured another day where I can take my students to the computer lab.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Next, I located resources for Internet activities related directly to our reading content for each week. For independent self-selected reading, my students read fiction novels all day long with Scholastic Reading Counts. Therefore I concentrate reading instruction on nonfiction genre with Scholastic News Magazine for Kids. Unfortunately like many teachers, I’m so busy trying to get through the content standards, I never explored the teacher’s edition that accompanies each issue for resources and lessons on integrating technology. What I discovered was an incredible source for ideas, lessons, and resources for real-life, critical thinking learning experiences right at my fingertips. For example, in our latest issue, Volcanoes Erupt, students explore how volcanoes form, why they erupt, and why the Ring of Fire is such a hot spot. In the resources section, there is a website to access classroom activities on plate tectonics. There is also a website where students can gain more information on volcanoes. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">In this particular issue, there was also an article about the migration of whooping cranes and large decline in numbers last year. The teacher’s edition referenced a website for tracking the fall migration of the eastern whooping crane flock as an extension activity.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">I now have the flexibility to offer individual, partner and small group computer time in the classroom in addition to two to three class periods a week in the computer lab. I have also found an amazing source for integrating technology into our weekly reading content. I am so excited to get started.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Reference:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Scholastic News Edition 4, Oct. 19, 2009, Vol. 72 No. 5</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><a href="http://www.scholastic.com/sn4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">www.scholastic.com/sn4</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-51286147399195919812009-11-12T21:19:00.000-08:002009-12-10T19:03:47.648-08:00Getting My GAME On<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Completing my Master in Science - Intergrating Technology in the Classroom at Walden University has provided me with motivation and encouragement to get my </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">GAME</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> on to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">explore the possibilities of empowering students through integrating content area learning experiences with critical thinking and new media tools.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">G</span>oal</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">To get my GAME on, I first evaluated my confidence and proficiency with the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T). I have selected two indicators as the focus for my GAME plan. The first indicator I have selected is to design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments. The second indicator I will concentrate on is to engage in professional growth and leadership.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">A</span>ction </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">My plan is to employ an array of digital tools - blogs, wikis, videos, and social media to tap into my students' passion for collaborating, creating and sharing. By designing higher levels of engagement in authentic real world experiences within the content areas, my students will become more self-directed and self-motivated learners. I will start by changing he three major research projects my students complete into Internet- based collaborative inquiry projects. I will also continue to replace traditional textbook based lessons inscience and social studies with Internet-based activities.</span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;"><p></p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The second part of my action plan was evident after listening to Marcie Hall (</span></span></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Laureate Education, Inc., 2009), </span></span></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">speak on developing your personal learning network (PLC). In order to continue to build upon my personal best practices, I will, “participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning” </span></span></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">(NETS-T, 2009). </span></span></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Although I will continue to assume a leadership roll in technology at my site, I will also seek out experts throughout the district as well as online resources to gain the knowledge and experiences necessary in reaching my goals.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">M</span>onitor</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">To monitor my progress, I will utilize digital lesson plans. With digital lesson plans I can easily evaluate lessons, make notes, revise, edit, and conveniently store for future use. Digital lessons will also facilitate collaboration and communication on enriching content area learning through technology with professionals in my PLC.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">E</span>valuation</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">To evaluate and reflect on my progress, I will develop student self-assessments on their learning. Specifically, I will be evaluating their engagement, interest level, creative and critical thinking, and content knowledge learning. I will discuss the effectiveness of learning experiences and collaborate on next steps with colleagues in my PLC. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Final Thoughts</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Our students are living in a digital world. Although they may possess the know-how on the actual digital tools, their knowledge on using media tools constructively to create, collaborate, problem solve and communicate is limited. I want my students to be creators to share their own learning instead of simply receivers of content. </span></span></span><span style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Reference:</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Program three. Enriching content area learning experiences with technology, part 1 [Motion picture]. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Integrating technology across the content areas.</span></span></i></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> Baltimore: Author.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf on November 10, 2009.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-12639124937078194752009-11-01T18:11:00.000-08:002009-11-29T09:38:34.059-08:00Reflection on Supporting Literacy and Online Inquiry in the Classroom<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Fluency no longer strictly refers to paper, pencil and books. Being literate in today’s information-abundant society means integrating literacy and digital culture. David Warlick (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009) explains how new literacies change regularly as technology opens new possibilities for communication and information. This has a direct impact in the classroom as we seek to prepare students for the new literacies that will ultimately define their future. Continually changing information technologies provides unparalleled opportunities for teachers to design and create rich learning experiences for their students. The goal of education is no longer that of simply feeding students content, but to teach students how to learn if we plan to provide them with the futures they deserve.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">The students sitting in our classrooms today will be the ones who will shape the future of society and determine the dynamics of the Information Age. They will also be the ones developing advances in technology to meet the needs of the world they live in. If our mission as educators is to have our students become productive participants in society, we must embrace the Information Age. A student’s ability to navigate in a technological society will be a determining factor for their success in life. Kuhlthau, Maniotes, & Caspari (2007) ask, “How do we educate our students to meet the demand for high levels of literacy in the technological workplace?” (p.1). The authors go on to say that the key for “meeting these challenges is developing student competence in learning in information-laden environments and for finding meaning from a variety of sources of information.”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">My initial reaction to the thought of teaching the higher-level new literacy skills to third grade students was that it would be an ambitious undertaking. Teaching students that are still working on increasing their reading fluency and comprehension skills to identifying appropriate sources of written material, verifying the accuracy of information, and then applying that information to appropriate learning tasks would be an extremely challenging task.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">The most interesting revelation I had regarding teaching new literacies skills to my students is that they really can acquire new literacies skills such as identifying, analyzing, summarizing and synthesizing information from the Internet with appropriate modeling, scaffold instruction, guided practice, and thoughtful feedback. By the time I had finished designing my online inquiry-based unit plan for this course, I thought to myself, my students really can do this. It’s just going to take baby steps. I have learned that the greatest motivator for students is the opportunity for them to personalize their learning, engage in the discovery process and creatively express their understanding. Students get excited, and this excitement translates into success.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Due to this course, I am excited about combining cooperative learning and new literacies this year by making content relevant to students’ lives and create opportunities for students to interact with each other in project based learning. In order to create collaborative opportunities for student-centered knowledge development and provide purposeful learning experiences, I will be developing online inquiry based learning projects. According to Eagleton & Dobler (2007), “Working in groups of three or four can help children improve their communication skills, design more creative solutions to problems, and gain a sense of what it is like to manage real problems in the workplace (p.12).</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">This course has confirmed my commitment toward teaching the new literacies to my students. To meet this aspiration, a professional development goal I would like to pursue is to increase participation in educational partnerships within the local community. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">During this course, I was immediately drawn to the collaborative project </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">at the University of Maryland's Human-Computer Interaction Lab. Kidsteam is a partnership between the university and local schools that pairs students with researchers, who then work together to design new technologies for children (edutopia.org).</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">According to Partnership for 21</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">st</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"> Century Skills, “teachers can create a 21</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">st</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"> century context for learning by: making content relevant to students’ lives, bringing the world into the classroom, taking students out into the world, and creating opportunities for students to interact with each other, with teachers and with other knowledgeable adults in authentic learning experiences (p. 12). There are two excellent opportunities for educational partnerships right in our own backyard. The first is California State University Long Beach, which is conveniently located across the street. I would like to pursue a partnership between my students and possibly both the industrial design department and the computer science department. The second partnership would be with the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, which would align perfectly with third grade science curriculum. Students would have the opportunity to work collaboratively with experts in the field on real life, hands on, problem solving experiences. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Reference:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Eagleton, M. B., & Dobler, E. (2007). </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Reading the Web: Strategies for Internet inquiry</span></span></i></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">. New York: The Guilford Press.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-kidsteam-dana-video"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-kidsteam-dana-video</span></span></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Kuhlthau, C. C., Maniotes, L. K., & Caspari, A. K. (2007). Guided inquiry: Learning in the 21st century. Westport: Libraries Unlimited.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Program One. Skills For The Future [Motion picture]. Supporting Information Literacy and Online Inquiry in the Classroom. Baltimore: Author.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (n.d.). A report and mile guide for 21st century skills.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Washington DC: Author. Retrieved from </span></span><a href="http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/images/stories/otherdocs/p21up_Report.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/images/stories/otherdocs/p21up_Report.pdf</span></span></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-87897077572778112092009-06-28T11:34:00.000-07:002009-11-29T09:37:14.291-08:00Personal Theory of Learning and Technology Integration<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoHeader"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Effective teachers must have knowledge of the learning process as well as an understanding of the individual and environmental factors that affect the learner (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 2008). They then apply that knowledge by choosing to implement certain parts of learning theories that best match a student’s needs and a particular lesson’s specific objectives</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Studying learning theories in the Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology course over the past two months has substantiated many of my personal beliefs on how students learn. At the center of my personal theory on how students learn is Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. According to Gardner’s theory, every individual possesses some degree of each of the nine types of intelligences, but one or more of the intelligences dominates (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 2008). As an educator, it is my personal challenge to identify each individual student’s dominant intelligences, and subsequently plan instruction that will ensure opportunity for optimum student learning.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">In my teaching philosophy, I have always viewed myself as a facilitator of learning by allowing students opportunities to question, examine, explore and analyze to make meaning in their world. Students are engaged in the active process of making meaning by building new ideas or concepts through connections to past knowledge and finding new levels of understanding. With studying a variety of learning theories, it has become evident that my personal theory on learning is grounded in the social learning and constructionist learning theories. Cooperative learning is an important teaching strategy that supports social learning theory. "When students work in cooperative groups, they make sense of, or construct meaning for, new knowledge by interacting with others" (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn & Malenoski, 2007). A key component to the constructionist learning theory is a learner-centered environment, which maximizes student decision-making and initiative. Dr. Orey (2001) explains the implications of constructionist practices in the classroom as the following, “Learners become more accountable for their learning through designing, sharing, piloting, evaluating, modifying their work, and reflecting on the process”</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Integrating technological applications provides students the opportunity to explore and discover while making connections and creating their own artifacts. VoiceThread has unlimited potential as a technology tool for facilitating both constructionist and social learning in the classroom. VoiceThread captures the interest and engages students while they work cooperatively in constructing their own knowledge. I would immediately use VoiceThread to facilitate students communicating and sharing ideas in a discussion board. VoiceThread promotes a synchronous discussion where students can interact with images while explaining their posts.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-indent:0in"><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Web Quests is another Web resource I would like to utilize to support social learning theory. Web Quests are inquiry-oriented activities that allow students to work together to learn about a particular subject. Students work together while using critical thinking skills to analyze the information presented. According to Dr. Orey (2001), “Involvement with application in the real world allows the learning process to take place in a more meaningful context” (p.3).</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Two long-term goals related to instructional practice and technology would be:</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">1. I will create Webquests to integrate into my science curriculum that align with state content standards.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">2. I will use simulation games and virtual field trips for social studies and science curriculum that align with state content standards.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">In order to achieve these goals, I will continue to research resources available on the Internet for integration into the classroom. I intend to write a grant proposal to obtain an interactive white board for students to use in the classroom. I will also inquire with my district’s IS department for permission to access specific web sites for classroom use.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";font-size:8.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Reference:</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";font-size:8.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J. (2008). Theoretical Foundations (Laureate Education,</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";font-size:8.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Inc., custom ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:8pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Orey, D. M. (2001). Emerging Perspectives on Learning, Teaching and Technology.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:8pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Retrieved May 5, 2009, from Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles: </span></span></span><a href="http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt</span></span></span></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";font-size:8.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";font-size:8.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:";font-size:8.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:";font-size:8.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> </span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-67279612078773300322009-06-07T12:59:00.000-07:002009-11-29T09:44:51.709-08:00Social Learning and Technology<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:";"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Social learning theory revolves around the concept of students interacting with each other for a common purpose in learning. Employing instructional strategies based on the social learning theory is definitely nothing new to teachers. Most all teachers have seen the learning potential when students are given the opportunity to collaboratively construct meaning. However, what is new are the advances in Web technology and the unique and important role it plays in cooperative learning. “Now students can collaborate through the Web with other students in their school, subject experts, and multiuser game players. They can even collaborate across the globe!”</span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn & Malenoski, 2007).</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Technology resources such as multimedia, Web resources, simulation, and communication software facilitate group collaboration by providing structure for the tasks and allowing members to communicate anytime, anywhere.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Revolution (</span></span></span><a href="http://educationalarcade.org/revolution"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://educationalarcade.org/revolution</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">) is a multiplayer 3D game where players interact with other players and townspeople as they proceed through events that foreshadow the American Revolution. Simulation games give students the opportunity to experience actual historical events as if they lived during that time period. “Gaming simulation is an interactive learning environment that makes it possible to cope with complex authentic situations that are close to reality” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn & Malenoski, 2007). </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Del.icio.us (</span></span></span><a href="http://del.icio.us/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://del.icio.us</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">) is a shared bookmarking web site that allows both teachers and students to set up their own social bookmarking site to share Web sites, music, books, and more for cooperative learning projects. Students can create online learning communities by sharing Web links, resources and calendars.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ePals (</span></span></span><a href="http://www.epals.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">www.epals.com</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">) is a web site that facilitates communication and project-based learning between students in different cities, states, and countries. Students can increase their knowledge about different cultures, languages and issues by learning firsthand from other students around the world. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Ask an Expert” Web sites allow students the unique opportunity to ask and receive expert advice from professionals currently working in a particular field. The Web offers students direct access to experts in almost any subject areas imaginable from scientists to authors to Olympic athletes and technology experts.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Technology provides a natural environment for social learning by facilitating opportunities for communicating, collaborating, decision-making, problem solving and constructing meaning. Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn & Malenoski, (2007) offer the following, “To be prepared for the fast-paced, virtual workplace that they will inherit, today’s students need to be able to learn and produce cooperatively.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Reference:</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"> </span></span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-40127894933125207312009-06-06T09:46:00.000-07:002010-02-06T17:50:17.050-08:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">VoiceTread - Unlimited Possibilities</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:48px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);"></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">VoiceThread has unlimited potential as a technology tool for facilitating social learning in the classroom. The capability for recording comments with Voice Thread would capture the interest and engage my students while they work cooperatively in creating artifacts. </span></span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I invite you to check out my latest VoiceThread, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><a href="http://voicethread.com/?#q.b895954.i4774871"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Reaching and Engaging All Learners</span></a>. </span>Feel frre to</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> add comments, it's really quite fun. In this VoiceThread, I take an indepth look at infusuing Universal Design for Learning, Differentiated Instruction, and digital Technology into a thrid grade science unit. </span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(124, 140, 197); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></p></span>donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-36654128979431764662009-05-28T22:02:00.000-07:002009-05-28T22:12:34.032-07:00<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Constructing Knowledge with Technology</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Constructionist learning theory is the belief that people contstruct their own knowledge by building artifacts. In a constructionist classroom, the teacher is a facilitator and motivator of learning by providing students with options to choose topics of interest to them, to work collaboratively, to construct authentic artifacts and to provide opportunity for rich feedback. Educators have long understood the value of hands-on learning experiences. Technological applications can provide students the opportunity to explore and discover while making connections and creating their own artifacts.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When teaching my third grade students about various graphs, I usually have them learn by constructing their own graph. So I thought, why not add some excitement to the project by using real life technology? First, I give each student a box of Valentine hearts candy. Students are asked to hypothesize how many hearts there are of each color. Once a hypothesis is made, students open their boxes to reveal if their hypothesis was correct. Students then create a spreadsheet document using Excel and enter their data. Students can then quickly convert their data to a variety of graphs, and see the results instantly. They can determine how accurate their hypothesis was. When given engaging, real world experiences, students increase their problem-solving ability, improve their research skills, and work collaboratively as they apply skills and knowledge (Orey, 2001). As sixth-grade teacher, Lynda Donovan (Laureate, 2009) said, “The future is technology. Our job is to prepare them for jobs that haven’t even been developed yet.”</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Web resources, interactive gaming and simulations can be “incredibly engaging learning environments, resulting in increased motivation and retention of learning” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007, p.213). Students have more of a vested interest when they build projects that suit their own interest and abilities. A perfect example of the excitement generated while creating projects with technology, is the class wiki my third grade students are designing. In the initial stages of creating the wiki, students are working in cooperate teams to design and create a page for our wiki. Students are learning how to add text, graphics and edit. They are also experimenting with the wiki at home. They come into class asking if they can add their own page to the wiki.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Check our wiki out at </span></span></span><a href="http://b28stars.wikispaces.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">http://b28stars.wikispaces.com/</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Resources:</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Laureate Education, Inc. (2009). Constructionist & Constructivist Learning theories. Baltimore, MD: Laureate Ed., Inc.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Orey, M.(Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from </span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><a href="http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/</span></a></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:-1.25in"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:-1.25in"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-35706182907289897202009-05-21T21:53:00.000-07:002009-05-24T13:11:20.441-07:00<!--StartFragment--> <h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Using Cognitive Tools to Enhance Learning</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Cognitive learning theories explain how all incoming information is organized and processed in short-term memory by connections with knowledge in long-term memory. Elaboration and rehearsal facilitates the learner’s ability to move new information from short-term memory to long-term memory in the brain. Elaboration is the "primary mechanism for storing information in long-term memory and it builds numerous connections to stored information" (Laureate Education, 2009). Cognitive tools that emphasize relating new knowledge to the learner’s existing knowledge can foster meaningful learning. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">For material to be learned, it must be conceptually clear and presented with language and images relatable to the learner’s background knowledge. An example of cognitive tools enhancing learning is using technology to turn note taking into a true learning experiences. The problem with note taking is that few students are skillful at taking good notes. My eighth grade daughter is a perfect example. She was completely overwhelmed in her U.S. History class when she was told to simply take notes on the important ideas. She was so busy writing notes on everything, that she wasn’t really learning anything. She had a schedule change in the second semester, which resulted in a different teacher for history. Now she is provided with advance graphic organizers for note taking. She prefers using advance graphic organizers to taking notes in her spiral or Cornell Notes, because the graphic organizer provides cues and essential questions. She explains how these cues and essential questions make it clear exactly what she needs to know. Word processing applications, organizing and brain storming software, multimedia, Web resources, and communication software can be very effective tools in helping students classify, organize, and understand new content by scaffolding the summarizing and note-taking process. Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski (2007), state, “the instructional strategy cues, questions, and advance organizers focuses on enhancing students’ ability to retrieve, use, and organize information about a topic,” (p.73). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent:.5in"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“Cognitive tools impact student learning by causing them to think about information instead of reproducing and/or recalling information. Information is shifted through and evaluated for its’ validity, reliability, and applicability to research and problem solving activities” (</span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Orey, D. M., 2001).</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255); ">Resources:</span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Program five. Cognitive Learning Tools. [Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Orey, D. M. (2001). Emerging Perspectives on Learning, Teaching and Technology. Retrieved May 5, 2009, from Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles: http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Pitler, H., Hubbell, E. R., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works. Denver: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL).</span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-9062876227197122982009-05-17T19:50:00.000-07:002010-02-06T17:37:50.182-08:00<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Behaviorist Learning Theory and Technology</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">The behaviorist learning theory holds that learner behavior is based on prior conditioning and associations with stimuli. Dr. Orey (2001) offers the following, “Students work for things that bring them positive feelings, and approval from people they admire” (p.3). The single most important attribute or behavior for student success is effort. “The instructional strategy of reinforcing effort enhances students’ understanding of the relationship between effort and achievement” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, p.155). The authors recommend specific instructional strategies for explicitly teaching the importance of effort. Technology makes it easy for students to grasp the impact their effort has on their achievement. First students use an effort rubric to assess themselves honestly on their study habits. Using Microsoft Excel, students record their effort rubric scores and their grades in a spreadsheet. At the end of the unit of study, students select a chart to create a visual image of the correlation between their effort and achievement. After analyzing their chart, students can develop goals to improve in certain areas of the effort rubric. According to the behaviorist learning theory, instructional strategies that reinforce positive behaviors will lead toward positive behavior habits.</span></span></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">Teachers assign homework to increase students’ expose and practice with concepts to further deepen their understanding of the content and to gain proficiency with their skills. Technology provides a wealth of resources for enriching student learning outside of the classroom. </span></span></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">When students are given the opportunity to design and create a project-based homework assignment using a word processing program it reinforces a desired response. When students use a word processing program like Microsoft Word, they can utilize the research tools within the program to enhance their work. Using the thesaurus, dictionary, Encarta Encyclopedia, and eLibrary can facilitate immediate, positive feedback on their projects. Students can also use the Flesch-Kincaid grade-level rating along with the AutoSummarize to evaluate the sound writing skills and sophistication of their work. </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">Web resources give students the opportunity to increase their conceptual understanding and practice skills toward mastery. Online games are</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"> motivating, </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">fun and generate immediate feedback to reinforce positive behaviors. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">Technology has far reaching implications for student success both in and out of the classroom. Technology supports the behaviorists learning theory as it provides positive reinforcement for maximum learning experiences.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">Resources:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">Orey, M.(Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from </span></span></span><a href="http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/"><span style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/</span></span></span></span></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-87842599586467264592009-05-11T16:32:00.001-07:002009-05-11T16:39:35.614-07:00Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education: A New Mind Set<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Reflections on Insights Gained From the First Of Six Technology Courses in the </span></span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Master of Science Education - Integrating Technology in the Classroom at Walden University.</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><br />Through this course, I was invited to take part in the technological revolution by examining 21st century media tools and their implications for inspiring and challenging today’s students. I gained first hand knowledge of the powerful learning opportunities afforded by technology by exploring the use of podcasts, blogs, and wikis in the classroom. I have to admit that before this course, I had no prior experience with Web 2.0 tools. Although there were times when I was frustrated, for the most part, I found the process of creating with digital media very challenging and exciting. I expanded my own technological knowledge and abilities by creating a blog, podcast and collaborative wiki. These experiences and insights have given me the confidence to effectively integrate this new technology into my own classroom. Although I still have a great deal to learn about the Internet based world, I am ready to shift the focus in my classroom to student centered learning. During our learning journey, if we come across something I don’t know, I am confident that my students and I have the problem solving skills to discover the answer together.During this course I learned that children growing up in a media rich environment have a different way of learning. Teaching methodologies must focus on creating an environment that facilitates students’ capacity to learn things in different ways. Effective teachers provide rich learning experiences that require students to develop expert thinking and complex communication skills. They develop activities that incorporate 21century skills such as collaborative creative thinking and problem solving, technology and media tools into the curriculum. Students are provided opportunities to communicate, create, collaborate, and interface with the technology environment they are going to need for the rest of their lives.I have always incorporated a knowledge-centered approach to teaching in my classroom. I see myself as a facilitator of guided discovery. Students are guided in analyzing information, comprehending new ideas, communicating, making decisions, and thinking critically. Students are given a variety of resources and instruction on how to use those resources to make their own discoveries. Working in flexible cooperative learning groups and with partners is the norm in my class. I now realize that in order to create a learner-centered classroom it is not necessary to teach new subjects, but instead teach the subjects currently in the curriculum in a relevant and exciting way. By integrating digital media into the curriculum, I can provide opportunities for students to create their own authentic learning experiences. Students will develop learning skills and content knowledge by interacting and collaborating with others to design and publish their learning in wikis, blogs and podcasts.I have made a commitment to bring 21st century learning and technology skills to my classroom by continuing in the Master of</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"> </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">Science Education - Integrating Technology in the Classroom. I also plan to continue my involvement with several educational websites such as The Partnership for 21st Century Skills. During this course, I have also subscribed to a variety of educational blogs that have served as an invaluable source of information and support. What I am most excited about and looking forward to is the collaboration with our technology teacher to start infusing Web 2.0 tools into the curriculum to intellectually engage and foster the love of learning within every student.My first goal is to transform my classroom into a 21st century learning environment by making content relevant to students’ lives and create opportunities for students to interact with each other using Web 2.0 tools. Students would develop informational wikis in social studies and science content areas. Students would become the teachers, as they talk about what they have researched and what they’ve learned, using new vocabulary in authentic contexts. Students would have the ability to work on their wiki outside of class as well. I would also like to develop a class blog as a forum for my students to contribute their thoughts and ideas in a discussion format. My second goal for transforming my classroom is to purchase a lap top cart. I would accomplish this through a combination of fundraising and grant writing efforts to obtain the funding.Although I have always been a teacher leader in acquiring computer hardware and software and technical support at my school, I now realize that this is only one factor to integrating technology into instruction. This course has provided me the skills, knowledge and motivation to become a teacher leader for integrating learning skills, 21st century tools, and core subjects to create a vibrant education for students (Partnership for 21st Century Skills).ReferencePartnership for 21st Century Skills. A report and mile guide for 21st century skills</span></span></span>donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-6153799734324687102009-01-28T22:51:00.000-08:002009-01-29T22:18:44.360-08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/">The Partnership for 21st Century Skills</a></span><br /></div><div>The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is a coalition of business, education leaders, community and government leaders focused on infusing 21st century skills into our system of education. The Partnership's vision is for every student to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">successfully</span> face rigorous higher education coursework, career challenges and a globally <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">competitive</span> workforce. </div><div><br /></div><div>Within the Partnerhip's website, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Route 21</span> captured most of my attention as an educator. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Route 21</span> is the place to go for anything relating to 21st century skills. There were several areas within this site that I was impressed with. The first area I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">perused</span> was the <span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">Resources for 21st Century Skills</span></span></span>. Educators can browse this area of the site to locate resources related to 21st century skills. The database is the Partnership's first step in collecting 21st century-related materials in one place. I especially had an interest in this massive database because I recently collaborated with colleagues in an educational technology course to create a wiki. In our wiki, we also <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">reviewed</span> and rated a collection of technology in education resources. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">Resources for 21st Century Skills</span></span> has three unique features:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Personal and Community Features</span> - allows users to rate resources, add comments, and read what others have to say.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Tag Resources</span> - users can add descriptions or categories to 'tag' resources. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Personal</span> Collection</span> - users can create their own personal list by saving resources.</div><div> </div><div>Inside the Resources fr 21st Century Skills, I found the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><a href="http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/index.php">Apple Learning Interchange</a></span>. This site is a wealth of information and opportunities to collaborate with educators. Some special features of the site are:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Enjoy Great Content</span> - educator created lessons and activities rich with movies, images and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">podcasts</span>.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Meet Others</span> - is a unique social network for educators to locate colleagues from around the globe across a variety of content areas.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Collaborate Online</span> - use new Web 2.0 tools to engage with others. Create and manage your own custom groups to share content and conversations. </div><div><br /></div><div>Under the 21st Century Skills section, there is a category called <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Snapshots</span>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Snapshots</span> provide a detailed look at how 21st century skills are being taught and learned in innovative classrooms. The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Snapshots</span> feature video clips by <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Edutopia</span></a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another area of the the Partnership's web site I find useful on this journey of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">becoming</span> an educator of 21st century skills, is the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Press Kit</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"> </span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">located</span> under Events and News.. Here you will find useful resources aimed at aiding your efforts to gain support for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">integrating</span> 21st century skills in education. "How to Get Involved" and "Voter Attitudes Towards 21st Century Skills" can be presented to stakeholders and decision makers in the educational community.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, I was impressed with the concentrated effort of the Partnership. They are to be commended for their seemingly endless effort. I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">surprised</span> by the extensive list of businesses that are board members. Unfortunately, I was equally surprised and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">disappointed</span> by the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">list</span> of participating states. </div><div><br /></div><div>Reference</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/">http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/</a></span></span></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div>donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-18074343014181088112009-01-15T17:41:00.000-08:002009-01-15T18:33:53.731-08:00Blogging About History<span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I would use blogging in my classroom as a project based inquiry. I would have my third graders respond to events in history that helped shape the world we live in today. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One example is to have my students blog about Martin Luther King, not that he was a peaceful leader and not that he gave a speech. I would have them blog about what it was like to live during this time in our history.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is my favorite book to use when teaching students about Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement. This book has an engaging question-answer format that really builds background knowledge. Students begin to understand what it was like to </span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">participate</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, stage a sit-in at a segregated lunch counter, join the March on Washington, and so much more. I would use this resource as a </span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">springboard</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for blogging discussions. My students always have such genuine, authentic responses during the share aloud of this book, blogging will provide them an </span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">audience</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for collaborating and sharing ideas. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div>donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-84205617358308178052009-01-08T18:33:00.000-08:002009-01-08T18:45:36.252-08:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My daughters, Skylar and Winter, just finished performing in their first Nutcracker ballet.</span></div>Backstage at 'The Nutcracker'</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Orange County's longest-running Christmas show motivates and gives young performers a taste of a classical ballet production.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/year-years-beach-2262604-huntington-says">http://www.ocregister.com/articles/year-years-beach-2262604-huntington-says</a></span></span></div>donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413907339375796932.post-54883357294078008262009-01-08T17:28:00.000-08:002009-01-08T17:40:04.539-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnGvpxiRjhY/SWaqdG-M75I/AAAAAAAAAAc/AmmmUsaDQKA/s1600-h/DSC_1490.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnGvpxiRjhY/SWaqdG-M75I/AAAAAAAAAAc/AmmmUsaDQKA/s200/DSC_1490.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289102229457661842" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnGvpxiRjhY/SWaqcrC_MyI/AAAAAAAAAAM/qTsW7Ra5IwU/s1600-h/DSC_1361.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnGvpxiRjhY/SWaqcrC_MyI/AAAAAAAAAAM/qTsW7Ra5IwU/s200/DSC_1361.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289102221961540386" /></a><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnGvpxiRjhY/SWaqczvqSVI/AAAAAAAAAAU/WR_2DcRr7JI/s200/DSC_1458.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289102224296397138" />donnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15372459981507866553noreply@blogger.com0