Here is the link to my presentation for Week 4
http://esepanski.edu.glogster.com/spotlight-on-emerging-technology-online-learning-in-k-12-schools/
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Reflection for EDUC 6714
As an educator what I have taken from this course will allow me to use technology to differentiate instruction for the diverse learners in my classroom. Getting to know your students today is a lot different than when I was in school twenty years ago. I do not recall my teachers ever creating lesson plans that were geared for different types of learners. Today, in order for all of my students to succeed, I must implement the principles of Universal Design for Learning and Differentiated Instruction. By understanding UDL and DI, what the students learn can be influenced. Dr. Tomlinson said it very simply, “it matters to know the kids that we teach” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009). At first I felt lost, I did not know how to determine my student’s interests, learning styles, intelligence preferences, or learning styles, but as we progressed through this class it became quite clear that all of the resources I needed were literally at my fingertips. The Differentiation Station that was created for this course was and is and will be a very valuable resource to use throughout my teaching career. Even though the majority of the teachers do not teach an elective class, the resources are geared towards the individual learner, not the class that is being taught. Along with the Differentiation Station, more avenues that are available for me to utilize are the resources that I have actually created myself. During the course of this class I have created a survey to help me determine what kind of learners my students are, and I have also created a lesson plan that implements Differentiated Instruction with technology.
As a technology teacher I utilize quite a few different technologies in my Hi-Tech Career classroom that engage my students in the learning process. My biggest hurdle is to integrate more technology into my Woodworking classes. Since the dawn of time, Woodworking has traditionally been a hands on craft, but as new technologies emerge, the tools that were used yesterday are not necessarily going to be the tools that we use tomorrow. Facing this, my goal has become to make adjustments to my instructional practice regarding the use of technology integration. With the first semester of this school year coming to an end in seven weeks, I have made it part of my lesson plan for next semester to implement the lesson plan that I created during week six of this course. This lesson plan focuses on the diverse learning styles of my students, Universal Design for Learning, and incorporating technology to differentiate a product. In the DVD program High Quality Curriculum, Dr. Carol Ann Tomlinson states that, “Technology addresses all multiple intelligences” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009), and by allowing my students to choose how to create the finished project not only empowers the student, but also gives them the opportunity to excel in their best area. When integrating technology to meet the diverse needs of my learners, I will be able to, “motivate, engage, and meet the needs of every student” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009)
References
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). High quality curriculum. [Educational video]. Baltimore: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Introduction to Differentiated Instruction. [Educational video]. Baltimore: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Reaching and engaging all learners through technology. [Educational video]. Baltimore: Author.
As a technology teacher I utilize quite a few different technologies in my Hi-Tech Career classroom that engage my students in the learning process. My biggest hurdle is to integrate more technology into my Woodworking classes. Since the dawn of time, Woodworking has traditionally been a hands on craft, but as new technologies emerge, the tools that were used yesterday are not necessarily going to be the tools that we use tomorrow. Facing this, my goal has become to make adjustments to my instructional practice regarding the use of technology integration. With the first semester of this school year coming to an end in seven weeks, I have made it part of my lesson plan for next semester to implement the lesson plan that I created during week six of this course. This lesson plan focuses on the diverse learning styles of my students, Universal Design for Learning, and incorporating technology to differentiate a product. In the DVD program High Quality Curriculum, Dr. Carol Ann Tomlinson states that, “Technology addresses all multiple intelligences” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009), and by allowing my students to choose how to create the finished project not only empowers the student, but also gives them the opportunity to excel in their best area. When integrating technology to meet the diverse needs of my learners, I will be able to, “motivate, engage, and meet the needs of every student” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009)
References
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). High quality curriculum. [Educational video]. Baltimore: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Introduction to Differentiated Instruction. [Educational video]. Baltimore: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Reaching and engaging all learners through technology. [Educational video]. Baltimore: Author.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Reflection
As I look back on the past 8 weeks I have come to see how easy it is to implement technology into any lesson plan. As an Industrial Technology teacher I am able to teach both a hands on traditional woodworking class and a very technological computer module based class. What I was failing to see is how easy it is to integrate technology into my hands on traditional classes. This class has made using technology readily obtainable for all of my classes.
The GAME plan that I developed for my 7th grade Industrial Technology class incorporate both hands on with technology. Even though I have taught this lesson plan to my 7th graders, I have not been able to incorporate the new GAME plan due to the summer break. I do feel that when I introduce this new GAME plan the students will be able to put more of themselves into the project than they have before. The entire GAME plan focus is to augment the learning experience with student engagement by using technology, so by adding technology to the bridge building experience the students are able to put more of themselves into their project than they have been before.
As the student I have come away with a better understanding of the importance of including more technology in my lesson plans. I have also learned that it is not always better to keep the old school hands on classes separate from the new school technology, in fact these two areas go very well hand in hand. Actually they compliment each other and can provide the student in the class a different way to show what they have learned. As the teacher it is now my job to take what I have learned and to incorporate the GAME plan into the curriculum.
At this point any immediate adjustments to my instructional practice primarily focuses on integrating technology into all of my classes, paying very close attention to my 7th grade class where I will be introducing my GAME plan. I will also be focusing more on technology for personal reasons. Technology is a rapidly changing field and it is my responsibility to stay up to date on the changes that can affect my classroom. As a member of ITEEA (International Technology and Engineering Educators Association) I receive monthly articles that keep me abreast of what is going on in my field today.
The GAME plan that I developed for my 7th grade Industrial Technology class incorporate both hands on with technology. Even though I have taught this lesson plan to my 7th graders, I have not been able to incorporate the new GAME plan due to the summer break. I do feel that when I introduce this new GAME plan the students will be able to put more of themselves into the project than they have before. The entire GAME plan focus is to augment the learning experience with student engagement by using technology, so by adding technology to the bridge building experience the students are able to put more of themselves into their project than they have been before.
As the student I have come away with a better understanding of the importance of including more technology in my lesson plans. I have also learned that it is not always better to keep the old school hands on classes separate from the new school technology, in fact these two areas go very well hand in hand. Actually they compliment each other and can provide the student in the class a different way to show what they have learned. As the teacher it is now my job to take what I have learned and to incorporate the GAME plan into the curriculum.
At this point any immediate adjustments to my instructional practice primarily focuses on integrating technology into all of my classes, paying very close attention to my 7th grade class where I will be introducing my GAME plan. I will also be focusing more on technology for personal reasons. Technology is a rapidly changing field and it is my responsibility to stay up to date on the changes that can affect my classroom. As a member of ITEEA (International Technology and Engineering Educators Association) I receive monthly articles that keep me abreast of what is going on in my field today.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Using the GAME Plan Process with Students
Using the GAME Plan process with students
I have definitely developed a GAME Plan, but I have not had the opportunity to implement, monitor or evaluate it due to the fact that school does not start until August 16th. This GAME Plan will be implemented into my 7th grade Industrial Technology class during the second grading period, with each grading period lasting 6 weeks. With that being said…
How can my GAME plan process help my students meet the National Education Standards for Students (NETS-S)? As I went back to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) website, I took two screen shots, one of the student standards and the other of the teacher standards and put them side-by-side. The first question asks how they are inter-related, and the best way I can explain this is as the classroom teacher, I first have to become familiar with my standards and implement them as I see fit into my classroom. From there, the student standards fall under the teacher standards, for example:
(Both the NETS-T and NEST-S information was retrieved from http://www.iste.org/)
The NETS-T states: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity. Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.
The NETS-S states: Creativity and Innovation. Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.
In order to have one, you must have the other. Students will not be able to demonstrate creative thinking skills if the instructor has not provided them their knowledge of the subject matter that would help facilitate these experiences. Each of the standards for teachers has a direct relation with the standards for students. The only way our students are going to be able to demonstrate these standards, is if we, the teachers, use these standards in our everyday teaching.
My GAME plan process incorporates all of the National Education Standards for Students and for my students to become proficient in these areas, they need to see them being modeled by me, their teacher.
I have definitely developed a GAME Plan, but I have not had the opportunity to implement, monitor or evaluate it due to the fact that school does not start until August 16th. This GAME Plan will be implemented into my 7th grade Industrial Technology class during the second grading period, with each grading period lasting 6 weeks. With that being said…
How can my GAME plan process help my students meet the National Education Standards for Students (NETS-S)? As I went back to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) website, I took two screen shots, one of the student standards and the other of the teacher standards and put them side-by-side. The first question asks how they are inter-related, and the best way I can explain this is as the classroom teacher, I first have to become familiar with my standards and implement them as I see fit into my classroom. From there, the student standards fall under the teacher standards, for example:
(Both the NETS-T and NEST-S information was retrieved from http://www.iste.org/)
The NETS-T states: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity. Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.
The NETS-S states: Creativity and Innovation. Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.
In order to have one, you must have the other. Students will not be able to demonstrate creative thinking skills if the instructor has not provided them their knowledge of the subject matter that would help facilitate these experiences. Each of the standards for teachers has a direct relation with the standards for students. The only way our students are going to be able to demonstrate these standards, is if we, the teachers, use these standards in our everyday teaching.
My GAME plan process incorporates all of the National Education Standards for Students and for my students to become proficient in these areas, they need to see them being modeled by me, their teacher.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Revising your GAME plan
As I continue with my Walden courses, the amount of technology that I am able to bring to my students is quite over whelming. With that said, it is also very rewarding to know that my students will be on the edge of the forefront of technology. As I learn to use increasingly different types of technology, the more my students will be able to use in order to demonstrate what they have learned. I really liked what Vicki Davis said about blogging in our course DVD this week, “blogging is important because they can communicate with each other even thought they are not sitting next to each other or even in the same school, city or country” (Laureate, 2009). At this point, I am not really working towards any goals because school is in session, but I want to complete this GAME plan so that I can use it with my seventh grade students.
Based on the NETS-T I really do not have any new learning goals. Some standards that I implement into my classroom are already apart of my Hi-Tech classroom; I am just going to be adding them to my seventh grade class, which will be using more technology as opposed to last year.
Learning approaches that I would like to try this year will definitely to set up some type of social networking for my classroom. I want my students to learn how to reach out to other students who are not necessarily in the same building or even the same state. The world is at their fingertips, we just need to show them how to get there.
References
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Program Ten. Spotlight on Technology: Social Networking and Online Collaboration, Part 1 [Motion Picture]. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore: Author.
Based on the NETS-T I really do not have any new learning goals. Some standards that I implement into my classroom are already apart of my Hi-Tech classroom; I am just going to be adding them to my seventh grade class, which will be using more technology as opposed to last year.
Learning approaches that I would like to try this year will definitely to set up some type of social networking for my classroom. I want my students to learn how to reach out to other students who are not necessarily in the same building or even the same state. The world is at their fingertips, we just need to show them how to get there.
References
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Program Ten. Spotlight on Technology: Social Networking and Online Collaboration, Part 1 [Motion Picture]. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore: Author.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Evaluating Your GAME Plan Progress
To reiterate, I think the best time to take this class is during the school year, and not the summer. It is very difficult to evaluate my GAME Plan progress when I have not been able to implement it as of yet. So I will do my best in answering the provided questions about my progress toward meeting my goals that I established for learning about technology and technology resources.
My first plan of attack is to still create my own website to be used by students, their parents and the community, but until I get to school, I can not achieve this goal.
What have I learned so far that I can apply to my instructional practice? This weeks learning resources have clearly defined what Project-Based Learning is, what it requires and especially why we want to teach using PBL. I would love to incorporate the idea of PBL into my other classes besides my 8th grade Hi-Tech Career class. I think my students will come out of those classes with more ownership of what they have learned because they are becoming self-directed learners (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009).
What do I still have to learn? What new questions have arisen? I think if I look really close at what I still have to learn, it would have to deal with creating problems that are interdisciplinary and cross curricular. I have had a lot of teachers in my building ask to do collaborative work but I have always been a little worried about how my content would fit in. I do know that the Family and Consumer Science teacher along with the Art teacher got together and did a Unit on Christmas cookies, in Art class they made clay cookie stamps that were fired in the kiln, and in the Family & Consumer Science class they researched cookie recipes and also had to figure out which recipe would be the best. As a wood shop teacher I am concerned that I would just be stuck building something. So is it possible to collaborate with a Core class and what would we do?
How will I adjust my plan to fit my current needs? The only way I can answer this question is to just wait and see. Every lesson that I teach gets better and better because I am always finding ways to improve it. So the only thing I can do is to wait until I start teaching, and then adjust accordingly.
I realize that my answers to the questions are short and sweet, but again to be honest I really cannot do anything until school starts. I should at that point be able to evaluate myself a little better.
References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Program Eight. Problem-Based Learning, Part 1 [Motion Picture]. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore: Author.
My first plan of attack is to still create my own website to be used by students, their parents and the community, but until I get to school, I can not achieve this goal.
What have I learned so far that I can apply to my instructional practice? This weeks learning resources have clearly defined what Project-Based Learning is, what it requires and especially why we want to teach using PBL. I would love to incorporate the idea of PBL into my other classes besides my 8th grade Hi-Tech Career class. I think my students will come out of those classes with more ownership of what they have learned because they are becoming self-directed learners (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009).
What do I still have to learn? What new questions have arisen? I think if I look really close at what I still have to learn, it would have to deal with creating problems that are interdisciplinary and cross curricular. I have had a lot of teachers in my building ask to do collaborative work but I have always been a little worried about how my content would fit in. I do know that the Family and Consumer Science teacher along with the Art teacher got together and did a Unit on Christmas cookies, in Art class they made clay cookie stamps that were fired in the kiln, and in the Family & Consumer Science class they researched cookie recipes and also had to figure out which recipe would be the best. As a wood shop teacher I am concerned that I would just be stuck building something. So is it possible to collaborate with a Core class and what would we do?
How will I adjust my plan to fit my current needs? The only way I can answer this question is to just wait and see. Every lesson that I teach gets better and better because I am always finding ways to improve it. So the only thing I can do is to wait until I start teaching, and then adjust accordingly.
I realize that my answers to the questions are short and sweet, but again to be honest I really cannot do anything until school starts. I should at that point be able to evaluate myself a little better.
References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Program Eight. Problem-Based Learning, Part 1 [Motion Picture]. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore: Author.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Monitoring your GAME Plan progress
I am not going to lie here, but steps that I have taken toward meeting my goals has been a little difficult due to the fact that it is the middle of the summer and I am not teaching.
So on that note when answering the first question, am I finding the information and resources that I need, the answer is yes. The fact that I am not in school does not mean that I am totally stuck. I do know that I have a great IT department, and their number one concern is making my teaching experience better using more technology. Unawares to myself, I have been able to locate different resources form a source that is new to me, my classmates. They have been a never-ending flow of new knowledge that I can apply to my GAME plan. From them I have found new websites to introduce to my students as well as new sites for me to use when teaching. So, implementing these new 21st century skills will begin in the fall, or August 13th, which if you ask me is still summer, when school starts. So at this time I do not know if I need to adjust or modify my GAME plan yet.
As I stated before, I have learned so much from this program.. The technology tools that I am going to be able to implement into my classroom because of Walden University are somewhat overwhelming, not overwhelming in a negative sense, but overwhelming in a sense that my students will have a number of different ways to show me what they have learned. As stated in our course DVD this week, “when students are given a choice of an assessment type, they are given empowerment” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009). Being able to offer so many different types of assessments will be an effective way of meeting the needs of diverse learners. Being able to support the diverse needs of my students will be imperative to their learning.
To date, I have not come up with any questions pertaining to my GAME plan. I think once school starts, that will change, and as it changes I will ask the questions and answer them to the best of my ability. I am very excited about having my own web page, the biggest reason is that I want other people to see what my students are accomplishing in my classroom. I am also very excited to have a new platform when dealing with parent communication, this will allow for one more avenue of communication to be open to all of my parents.
References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Program Seven. Assessing Student Learning with Technology[Motion Picture]. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore: Author.
So on that note when answering the first question, am I finding the information and resources that I need, the answer is yes. The fact that I am not in school does not mean that I am totally stuck. I do know that I have a great IT department, and their number one concern is making my teaching experience better using more technology. Unawares to myself, I have been able to locate different resources form a source that is new to me, my classmates. They have been a never-ending flow of new knowledge that I can apply to my GAME plan. From them I have found new websites to introduce to my students as well as new sites for me to use when teaching. So, implementing these new 21st century skills will begin in the fall, or August 13th, which if you ask me is still summer, when school starts. So at this time I do not know if I need to adjust or modify my GAME plan yet.
As I stated before, I have learned so much from this program.. The technology tools that I am going to be able to implement into my classroom because of Walden University are somewhat overwhelming, not overwhelming in a negative sense, but overwhelming in a sense that my students will have a number of different ways to show me what they have learned. As stated in our course DVD this week, “when students are given a choice of an assessment type, they are given empowerment” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009). Being able to offer so many different types of assessments will be an effective way of meeting the needs of diverse learners. Being able to support the diverse needs of my students will be imperative to their learning.
To date, I have not come up with any questions pertaining to my GAME plan. I think once school starts, that will change, and as it changes I will ask the questions and answer them to the best of my ability. I am very excited about having my own web page, the biggest reason is that I want other people to see what my students are accomplishing in my classroom. I am also very excited to have a new platform when dealing with parent communication, this will allow for one more avenue of communication to be open to all of my parents.
References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Program Seven. Assessing Student Learning with Technology[Motion Picture]. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore: Author.
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