Reflection

Reflect on the GAME plan you developed and followed throughout the course. Summarize any new learning that resulted from following your GAME plan, and explain what impact your new learning will have on your instructional practice. Describe how you might revise your plan based on your progress. Also, share your thoughts and ideas about how you might modify and use the GAME plan process with your students.

            When I first started reading the GAME plan, I got a little nervous because I teach very young children and I was not sure how each GAME plan would work with them.  The first GAME plan looked at Problem Based Learning and incorporating it with technology.  Through the support of my classmates in the group discussion, I was able to come up with an idea of using everyday questions my preschoolers ask to create a lesson.  For this particular lesson, I had students exploring why snow melted faster or slower depending on different items.  I continued the lesson further by using pictures on the SmartBoard to show the fastest to the slowest.  I also used the SmartBoard to show scientists conducting experiments with snow.  While I have not done this lesson in my classroom, I plan on doing it later in the year when we come to the Winter unit. The second GAME plan was online collaboration and this was simply not possible to do with preschoolers.  Through the advice of my instructor, I created an activity for ninth graders using a Facebook type format and creating a profile of a famous person from history.  These profiles would be placed on a blog for all to view and comment.  I wish I had the opportunity to do this with a class, because I really enjoyed creating this lesson.  The third GAME plan was digital storytelling.  This was my favorite unit!  My students love to use the program, Voicethread, to create their dictations on the computer.  For this particular lesson, I used the book The Snowman by: Raymond Briggs to have students put words to the story.  My students did a great job with this activity.

Describe any immediate adjustments you will make to your instructional practice regarding technology integration in your content area(s) as a result of your learning from this course. How might you integrate technology as well as problem-based learning, social networking/online collaboration, and digital storytelling into your instruction?

            One thing I will continue to use more often in the classroom is digital storytelling.  Through reading other classmates discussion posts, I learned a 2^nd grade teacher would be using digital storytelling with a science experiment.  The wheels have started turning and I believe I will be creating digital storytelling lessons that are made for different areas other than language arts.  While online collaboration was not possible with my preschoolers, I am considering doing a penpal type activity with my mom’s second grade class.  We would write the letter on SmartBoard and e-mail it to her class.  Her students would e-mail us a letter back.  This would allow for students to start learning about talking to others through the internet.  For problem based learning, I really liked using every day questions from my preschoolers.  I believe I will continue developing lessons based off those many “why” questions I get from my preschoolers on a regular basis.  

Game PLAN part 3

Goals:

1.      I will communicate ideas and information with parents and colleagues using digital media.

2.      I will participate in learning communities that will allow me to learn more about using technology with my preschoolers. 

·  Are you finding the information and resources you need?

           I am doing fine with my first goal.  I have found a couple of newsletters that I like.    I am having trouble with my second goal.  I can't seem to find a good learning community that deals specifically with preschool age.   

·  Do you need to modify your action plan?

.           For my second goal, I may need to modify my learning community to using technology with early childhood (grades PK-3). 

·  What have you learned so far?

            I have learned that many teachers have websites/blogs out there for parents and colleagues. 

·  What new questions have arisen?

For my first goal I am questioning if  I should do a blog or a website.  I thought I would be doing a blog, but now I am not sure.  What are the advantages/disadvantages  between a blog or website?  

GAME Plan continued

Goals:

1.      I will communicate ideas and information with parents and colleagues using digital media.

• What resources will you need to carry out your plan (video, reading, experts or colleagues, etc)?
• I will need a computer, a digital camera, a video camera to create ideas and information on my blog for parents and colleagues.   I will participate in learning communities that will allow me to learn more about using technology with my preschoolers. 
  

  • What resources will you need to carry out your plan (video, reading, experts or colleagues, etc)?
  • I will need to find learning communities that will allow me to learn more about technology and preschoolers. 
    
• What additional information do you need?


• Nothing at this time.
• What steps have you been able to take so far?


• I have begun looking for learning communities. 

GAME Plan

There are two standards from the International Society for Technology in Education that I want to improve on using in my professional life.  These two standards are (ISTE, 2008): 
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:

3. communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats.

5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers:

a.       participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning

In order to use these standards more in my professional life, I will be creating a GAME plan.  A GAME plan sets goals, takes actions to meet those goals, monitors progress toward achieving these goals, and evaluates whether the goals were achieved (Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer, p. 3, 2009). 
GAME Plan
Goals:

1.      I will communicate ideas and information with parents and colleagues using digital media.

2.      I will participate in learning communities that will allow me to learn more about using technology with my preschoolers. 

Actions:

1.      To reach my first goal, I will set up a blog that parents and colleagues can view.  On this blog, there will be ideas on working with preschoolers. 

2.      To reach my second goal, I will search the website to find two learning communities that gives ideas on using technology with my preschoolers. 

Monitor progress

1.      To monitor the progress of my first goal, I will make sure the blog is updated every other week.  I will inform my colleagues about my blog by posting a sign in the lunchroom as well as sending out an e-mail.  I will inform parents in my classroom by putting it in my newsletter and the memo board outside the classroom.

2.      To monitor the progress of my second goal, I will implement two ideas I learned from the learning communities into my classroom every month. 

Evaluate

1.      To evaluate the success of my first goal, I will ask two parents and two colleagues to give me feedback on the blog.

2.      To evaluate the success of my second goal, I will keep a running record of how the lesson went that implemented the two ideas I learned from the learning community. 

References

Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful classroom

     use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

ISTE (2008).  International Society for Technology in Education.  Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards.aspx

Reflection on Course 6711

Reflect on the “Personal Theory of Learning” you developed in Week 1. Summarize any modifications to your personal theory of learning you have made as a result of your learning in this course. How has this course deepened your knowledge and understanding of learning theory and the use of educational technologies?

In Week 1 of this course, I talked about my personal theory of learning.  In one part of my paper, I stated “My personal theory of learning is that every student learns differently.  There is not one single method that will teach every one of my students.  It is my job to get to know my students and find out how each student learns.”  This can be a challenging task, because I have very young students that have never been to school.  Through taking this course, I have found how much technology relates to many different learning styles.  It is a learning tool that can be appropriate for all students.  In the video clip, Brain Research and Learning, Dr. Wolfe talked about the brain learning and remembering things when we teach the material more than one way. This directly correlates to the idea of the multiple intelligence theory. No two students learn alike and we must understand this in order to better address all the learning needs in our classrooms ((Laureate Education, Inc., 2010).  Technology relates to many of the multiple intelligence and this is one of the reasons technology is beneficial to the classroom. If one of my students is visual learner and another is linguistic, I can teach both of these students with the same program on the computer.

Describe any immediate adjustments you will make to your instructional practice regarding technology integration as a result of your learning in this course. Identify two technology tools you would like to use with your students and how the tools will support or enhance your students’ learning. How has your repertoire of instructional skills expanded as a result of this course?

During my summer vacation, I have been collaborating with two other teachers in my building to create lessons that integrate technology.  I have shared information with the teachers that I learned in this class and it has opened all of our eyes to some new technology tools.  One technology tool that we want to use next year is VoiceThread (http://voicethread.com).  VoiceThread is an amazing and free resource that can help students work on dictations.  For our students who are on Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for speech, this gives us another way to have students work on their pronunciation.  Another technology tool that we want to use next year is virtual field trips.  I did one virtual field trip this year with my students and I was amazed how much they enjoyed it.  They were able to answer many WH questions solely based off of watching the virtual tour. 

List two long-term goal changes you would like to make to your instructional practice regarding technology integration and outline a strategy for achieving them

1. This year, our school won a grant for I-pads in our school.  Next year, I would like to write a grant to get a SmartBoard in my classroom.  There are many advantages to a SmartBoard such as differentiation and meeting many different learning needs.  I believe I can use the SmartBoard as a way to integrate technology into my lessons and classroom. 
2. This coming school year, I would like to get another computer time for my students (this would allow us to go to the computer room for three times a week).  If I get another computer time, I want to use the computer time to do my calendar time as an interactive time on the SmartBoard.    

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Program one. Understanding the brain [Webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

VoiceThread

www.voicethread.com/share/2085540/

Cooperative Learning and Social Learning Theory

One idea through the social learning theory is cooperative learning.  Cooperative learning is the idea of students working together to gain new knowledge and perspectives (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010).  In the book, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works, it suggests different ways to use technology with cooperative learning.  These ideas include creating videos, webquests, keypals, and web resources (Pilter, Hubbell, Kuhn, Malenoski, 2007) .  These are great ideas for older students (grades 4 and up); however, with young students they are just learning how to use a mouse for a computer.  There is no way they could create videos in small groups, etc. 

Here are some ideas I have using basic technology with the idea of cooperative learning (that I have done in my classroom). 

• This past spring, we completed a unit on ocean animals.  As a comprehensive type activity, we created an ocean on our SmartBoard.  Students thought of animals that you would find in the ocean and I would google image these animals and put them in the ocean.  Students worked cooperatively with each other to create the ocean. 
• I have students learning to read sight words.  These students worked together to complete a cookie sight words game on the computer (with my assistance).  When one student didn't know the sight word, another student would help them out. 
• My students love to podcast.  This past spring, we put together a podcast (groups of 3) of a story each group wrote and developed together.

While these are basic ideas, this is the start for future cooperative learning with harder technology. 

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Program eight. Social learning theories [Webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Pitler H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Technology and Guiding Student Learning

Every Monday and Friday for 30 minutes, my preschoolers get to go to the computer lab.  It is their absolute favorite thing to do in school and every single one of them looks forward to it.  During calendar time, when we do the day of the week, I will have at least 2 or 3 students remind me it is computer day!  Technology is definitely a tool I can use to reach all of my students. 

This week, I reviewed the idea of the constructionist theory.  This is the idea that students create something and are actively engaged in the learning process.  Technology is a wonderful tool for students to be engaged in as well as actively participating in their learning.  Many examples of constructionist theory involve students picking a favorite book and creating a project off this.  Other examples involve students picking a topic of interest, researching, and creating something to present the information learned (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010).  

For my young students, I have to guide the choice process and help students to create the project.  A few weeks ago, I gave each of my students 4 options to create their own environments (farm, ocean, forest, or jungle) with animals.  This option was found from a website online (www.sheppardsoftware.com).  Each student got to determine how many animals lived in the environment, what animals lived in the environment, and where each animal lived.  After they were done, they talked to my assistant, speech therapist, or myself to discuss their environment.  It was a really neat activity and my students thoroughly enjoyed creating an environment on their own. 

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Program seven. Constructionist and constructivist learning theories [Webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Instructional Strategies and Cognitive Learning Theory

This week, I read about the following strategies from Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works:  Cues, Questions, Advance Organizers, Summarizing, and Note Taking.   Below is how I apply these strategies into my classroom and how they relate to the Cognitive Learning Theories.  The main idea of Cognitive Learning Theories is using multiple senses to improve learning (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010). 

Every day in my classroom, I have a question of the day.  Each day of the week focuses on a different WH prompt (who, what, where, when, why) and is a question that relates to the theme of the week.  For example, on Monday, I might ask "What kind of insect would you like to be?"  On Tuesday, I might ask "If you were an insect, where would you like to live?"  To help students with answers, I always review the vocabulary words of the week.  These vocabulary words tie in to any question and can help assist students.  The vocabulary words are made on sentence strips and have text and image.  This incorporates the idea of Palvlo's Dual Codes of Information where students learn better with images and text (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010). 

This week I created a concept map with my students.  At first, I was really concerned about doing this, because they are only preschoolers and I was not sure how well they would understand.  After completing the activity, I found my students were extremely knowledgeable and with assistance could figure out where the arrows would go on the concept map.  For a first time experience, it went very well.  Next time I do this activity, I would really like to incorporate pictures with the words.  This relates back to Palvlo's Dual Codes of Information where students learn better with images and text (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010). 

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Program five. Cognitive learning theory [Webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Behaviorist Learning Theory

This week, I reviewed the idea of Behaviorist Learning Theory.  It was interesting to see how I use many of these ideas in a more modern way in my classroom.  For example, I truly believe in the idea of holding students to high expectations.  I believe it is important to create these expectations early in the year and reinforce it daily.  In the book, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, it discusses the idea of reinforcing effort by creating graphs to show students how effort can bring achievement (Pitler, 2007).  Both of these modern ideas stream from the idea of behaviorism, more specifically operant conditioning.  It is the idea that rewards outweigh punishment (Laureate, 2010).  I find that if students understand why their effort pays off, they push themselves.  It is my job to help students see the benefit to effort.  One thing I do to show my students is a visual of how many letters they knew in October and how many they know now.  I simply lay out the cards in a stack so they can see the difference. 

In the book, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, it discusses the idea of homework and practice to reinforce concepts (Pitler, 2007).  In my classroom, I use practice with activities, books, and websites to reinforce the ideas I am teaching.  The idea of homework and practice can be found in behaviorist learning theory, because it is the idea of drill.  It is a constant repetition to basically program something into a person’s brain.  For example, reviewing letters so many times will make students begin to recognize letters. 

While many concepts are a modern twist to behaviorist learning theory, the underlining foundation can still be found in many activities and classrooms. 

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Program four. Behaviorist learning theory [Webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Pitler H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Reflection on Technology

In what ways has this course helped you to develop your own technology skills as a professional teacher?

            Throughout the course, I have learned new technology ideas to bring into my classroom.  When I created my podcast, I found that one of my students who talks in one word utterances, loved to hear his voice.  Ever since creating the podcast, I will record things he says and I now get 3-4 word utterances.  What a change!  I also liked creating a blog, because I think this is a great, free, and easy way to share ideas with other teachers.  

In what ways have you deepened your knowledge of the teaching and learning process?

            I truly believe to be a teacher you must know your students.  In my classroom, my students love going to the computer lab.  This is the time that I find my students most engaged and wanting to learn.  As a teacher, it is my job to find ways to create a learning environment that invites students to learn.     

In what ways have you changed your perspective from being teacher-centered to learner-centered?

            My carpet time has become much more student-centered than teacher-centered.  We start off carpet time with a question and this normally leads into some type of discussion.  I have found that this is some of the best learning time.  I learn about my students and my students learn about me.  We have gotten into discussions that will be beneficial to students for the rest of their lives. 

In what ways can you continue to expand your knowledge of learning, teaching, and leading with technology with the aim of increasing student achievement?

            Technology is always changing and growing.  As a teacher, it is my job to learn about technology and try to get new technology into my classroom.  I will use the available technology I have in my school to create lessons that integrate technology. 

2 Long Term Goals With Technology

1.      Next year, I will move two of my computer times to the beginning of the day to do calendar and language activities on the SmartBaord.  Using programs such as SmartExchange to see what other teachers are doing will help to provide my students with the best learning opportunities.  With using the SmartBoard, I will help students begin to develop 21^st Century skills.  I also plan on writing a grant to try to get a SmartBoard in my classroom. 

2.      With the grant approval for I-pads in my classroom, I will use this for small group and individual instruction.  I hope to be able to use the I-pad when working with students on sight words, letters, colors, shapes, numbers, etc.  There are so many programs available on the I-pad that I can create differentiated lessons that will benefit each individual student. 

Podcast

This week I created my first podcast!  I interviewed four of my preschoolers about technology in the classroom and at home.  Enjoy!
http://www.podcastmachine.com/podcasts/9059/episodes/43238

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

One thing I hear all the time in education is 21st Century Skills.  It is one of those buzz words that every school district knows about and is constantly trying to put into the curriculum.  I believe 21st Century Skills are important because they are helping to pave the way for students and their futures.   

This week, I viewed a website called Partnership for 21st Century Skills.  The website is http://www.p21.org/. 

Some neat things about this website:

• It has a simple layout that you can clearly navigate
• It gives a general overview of 21st Century Skills
• A great announcement page on activities involving 21st Century Skills

Some negatives about this website:

• There is a lot of reading that must be done and it does not break the reading down

Through researching this website, I came across a web page called Route 21.  The web page address is http://www.p21.org/route21/index.php.  This web page is AWESOME! 

What I love about the website:

•  It breaks down 21st Century Skills into the different areas. 
•  It gives resources to help teachers to incorporate 21st Century Skills into the classroom 
• It gives assessment ideas for 21st Century Skills
• It is extremely easy to navigate
• It is a quick reading

How to Use a Blog in the Classroom

I teach very young children (ages 3-5) and many of them are just learning how to use a mouse.  I love the idea of blogging in the classroom, but obviously, this is impractical for my students.  I was thinking about using a blog with the parents in my classroom.  I could use it as a way to let parents know what we did that day, answer questions they might have, etc.  I do see the potential for great communication with my parents; however, I see the potential downfall of an angry parent posting on the blog.  Has anyone ever done this with their parents?  If you have, what kinds of things did you post on the blog?  How did you monitor the comments?   

Cerebral Palsy and Adaptive Technology

I have a new student who has cerebral palsy.  He is unable to use a computer mouse to do programs on the computer.  Our school has an adaptive switch for him to use; however, no internet program such as stafall.com, works with the adaptive switch.  The only program I have found that works involves him hitting the switch and a ball kicks into the goal.  Obviously, this is not educational and is serving no purpose for him expect mere enjoyment.  Does anyone know of any good adaptive equipment for a child with cerebral palsy that works with internet sites?  Does anyone know of any good programs that work with an adaptive switch?