Integrating technology effectively in the classroom requires knowledge, confidence, a belief in the important impact technology can have on student learning, and a supportive collegial community (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009). These requirements are central to the ISTE NETS-T standards and Performance Indicators for Teachers (ISTE, 2009). One of the most difficult elements of these is confidence. As I have journeyed through the process of implementing technology into my classroom, I have become confident in several of the NETS-T standards. There are some, however, that I would like to become more proficient at and more confident in. To achieve that mark, I can utilize the steps indicated by Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer (2009) in a GAME plan. GAME plans, according to Cennamo, et. al. (2009), allow for teachers and students to engage in organized self-directed learning. GAME Plans, which stand for Goals, Action, Monitoring, and Evaluation (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2009), will enable me to customize how I approach my own learning, so that I can develop the skills necessarily to more effectively implement technology into my classroom.
One performance indicator that I would like to improve my confidence and proficiency in is NETS-T standard 1, performance indicator b. This particular indicator, which reads, "Students engage in exploring real world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources" (ISTE, 2009). To meet this performance indicator, I have set the goal to include one authentic and community centralized problem solving project in my classroom per year, the results of which will be posted to a class blog. To achieve this goal, I will brainstorm with the students about problems they encounter in the neighborhood every day. We will then spend time interviewing community members for thoughts on the topic. Ultimately, students will develop ideas and possible solutions to these problems within the community. The students will use the internet to access information about the problem, and students will create multi-media presentations. To monitor my progress toward this goal, I will assess my ability and frequency of creating connections within the local community of my school, and the initiation of problem based learning in real world situation. Student learning will be evaluated and extended through peer and public review of information posted to the blog site by the students.
Another performance indicator that I would like to feel more comfortable with is, "Communicate relevant information and ideas to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and resources" (ISTE, 2009). My goal is to create a page within my class blog that provides information to parents about curriculum, homework, and upcoming events and celebrations. The blog format would allow me to interact with parents easily through the site itself. To do this, I will need to work with district technology personnel to set up the blog. Once it is set up for student use, I will assign students the task of presenting the parent page to their parents. Then, I will have students encourage parents to follow or subscribe to the blog. They can even participate in the blog as a contributor. Monitoring the parent use and feedback of the blog page will help me to understand why types of information my parents are interested in hearing on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. This will help me evaluate the content of the page, and my approach to parents through the digital medium, and whether or not this approach works for a majority of my parents, since many do not have home internet access.
Focusing on gaining confidence and proficiency in these performance indicators is a beginning step to more fully implement technology and 21st century skills into my classroom. Those skills can only help to enhance the learning of my students, and empower them to learn more as self-directed learners.
Resources:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Enriching Content Area Learning Experiences With Technology, Part 1 [Motion picture]. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore: Author.
National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf.
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28387282@N08/3866773151
Posts
Julie,
ReplyDeleteWhat a FANTASTIC plan! I LOVE the idea of the community-based projects! As I was reading, I thought, "They should record the interviews with the community members and post that, too!" A kind of "how we got here" sort of thing for the project!
Just a warning - I may be "borrowing" this idea in the future! Great post!!! :)
Deana
I think it is an awesome idea to focus on a community oriented project. Often times students never see the connection between school and community. I went through all of my schooling without realizing how much of a part the school played in the community. I only see it now because Im on the other end. A community based project would not only motivate students to work better, it would also pull them into assisting and helping their local community.
ReplyDeleteJulie,
ReplyDeleteI love the community project idea also!
As I said to Bryan:
I hope you have success with your classroom blog. This is the second year I have had a blog for my classroom. My students love it! When my students arrive in class the 1st thing they do is log onto the computer and check the blog to see what they are to do. when students are absent they are able to view the blog at home. If they do not have the capablity to look at the blog from home it is their responsiblity to look at yesterdays blog to see what they need to do.
I had hope parent would view the blog to see what their child was learning in class but I have not seen any evidence of this. But maybe as more families have internet access this will occur.
Last year I assigned a weekly blogger. My advanced students did very well at taking notes explaining what was happening in the classroom plus keeping up with what was done in the classroom. They loved doing it. The struggling students were embarrassed by their poor spelling and lack of ability to be descriptive. So this year I do not have a blogger. But I am thinking of possible solutions.
I hope you have better success with parent involvement. Please keep me posted.
My classroom blog is joyburro1.blogspot.com igf you would like to check it out.
Deana,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your positive support on my community project in connection with my lesson. If I can get my hands a a Flip video camera, I will definitely add the video piece to my unit!
Julie
So often students feel like their school is not an integral part of the community, and that once a student leaves the school, the connection is lost. Hopefully the connection with the community will help to provide familiar connections for my students!
ReplyDeleteJoy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your positive comments! I am looking forward to adding this piece to my classroom. I see student problem solving skills waning very quickly - perhaps because there is little to no connection or personal interest in the problems being tackled. I hope that helping students use their skills to solve real world problems in the school community will greatly add to the students' abilities to problem solve in other areas.
Julie