Final Reflection

It's funny, as I wrote the title I know I'm supposed to be reflecting back on this class, but it truly is my final reflection for this entire program. What a ride! I can't even begin to tell you how much I have learned and grown. Twenty months ago I could send e-mail. What a difference those months have made.

I think this class was the perfect one to wrap it all up. I feel that it took everything we've learned and helped us see exactly where to go and how to get there. Learning about digital gaming in the classroom was an eye opener in the sense that I was not aware of all the many sites available. My bookmark site is now huge! The Horizon Report was a sneak peek of things to come and I can't wait. Having to take it all a step further and to see where to go to get some grant money was so beneficial. It's always the first complaint I have...our district has no money and certainly does not put technology as a priority. Being able to look past that to other sources feels like a weight has been lifted. It won't be easy seeking out other sources; however, if we are to be the true trailblazers that we need to be, we will have to find the money and show proof of the benefits of technology and hopefully the rest will follow.

This has been an amazing experience that truly went by so fast. I now have the tools to keep searching for the newest emerging technology. I also now realize that the search should never end. Just when the newest and greatest emerges, something else will be just around the corner. Knowing that to be true will keep me on my toes so I do not fall behind. I certainly don not feel this is the end, it's just the beginning!

Online Learning Presentation

Here's the link for my Online Learning presentation....
http://voicethread.com/share/1255575/

Reflection

The resources from this class, either from the course material or the Differentiation Network regarding Universal Design and Differentiated Learning are some of the most helpful tools I have gained throughout this entire program. It's real life, it's where we are headed, or where we have already landed as teachers. It is no secret that our classes are not cookie cutters or robotic. Each class is different, full of students who are all very unique. No longer can we just teach in one manner and hope they will all catch on. The time has come to make a shift in the way we teach, assess and present. The concrete tools gathered in this course regarding technology help to make those shifts.

One of the biggest things I learned was how to deal with what I've got. I will admit that until this class I spent a large amount of time whining about the lack of technology in my classroom. Yes, it's still a definite issue, but now I know ways around it. I've seen how to set my classroom up in order to best use what is available. The technology tools take "good teaching" or best practices to another level and reach all students at their level. I don't feel like it's one more thing to do, as I often feel. Instead, I feel it's what is necessary.

I learned not only from the resources posted, but also being forced to DO. Creating the movie for Universal Design enabled me to dig into a media tool that was unfamiliar and create something that I can then show my students. It had an immediate effect on my classroom. I integrated Windows MovieMaker into my curriculum and the impact it had was huge. I had one of those AHA teaching moments when something just clicks. I had the perfect storm of technology, student excitement and risk taking that created an experience for my students and myself one that will not be forgotten. It is also one I will definitely build upon in later years.

Now that it's summer, I will make adjustments in units where I know it will impact the students greatly. I'm happy to have this time off to really look at my class curriculum and how I can integrate technology here and there in a way that all students are engaged in learning at their own level and style. I feel that I am better able to recognize the differences in my students, but instead of being overwhelmed with the severe gaps between then, I am now excited about the knowledge I've gained to help bridge those gaps. I definitely feel refreshed and invigorated! It was a great way to end the school year.
Tonya

UDL Presentation

This week our assignment was to create a presentation describing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and its impact upon all students and future students. I learned a lot and discovered many new tools to use in my classroom. In addition, since I decided to make it a video and just jumped in feet first, I learned many new aspects of Windows MovieMaker strictly through trial and error, which was an added bonus!

Class Reflection

The biggest thing I learned from this course is the importance of planning technology lessons all out from start to finish before beginning. It makes it much easier to anticipate problems and think them through before being faced with them with 33 students staring at you. The GAME Plan lays it all out piece by piece. This will impact my instructional practice greatly.

I also feel like this course gave me a much better picture of what a digital story is. I think this will help with the most immediate adjustments. I feel a better sense of what it is and how to teach it. Once I feel comfortable with a topic, it makes it much easier to teach. I've already begun to dive into the curriculum using digital stories and they are going very smoothly.

I took an already existing lesson and added wikis, digital video commercials and group collaboration to make it better and more 21st Century friendly. Since I am currently in the middle of the lesson I can definitely say these immediate adjustments have grabbed the attention of my students in a way that I haven't seen before. Having the Plan helped immensely. I plan on putting the GAME Plan to use this summer when I review other curricular areas.

Using My GAME Plan and NETS-T Standards

I must say, I am happy we had to create a GAME plan as it has really helped me to think things through rather than simply jumping in with both feet. Don't get me wrong, I've jumped in with both feet now, but I tested the water this time to figure out the best place to jump and, frankly, how not to bellyflop! At times when I've tried to use technology for lessons I've bitten off more than I could chew. The GAME Plan forces teachers to think things all the way through first.

The lesson I created using the GAME Plan is the perfect example. I did the lesson last year as I was just learning some of these new technology skills and wanted to try them out. I had my class creating a wiki at the same time I was still learning myself how to create one. It was halfway successful. The students loved it but I was left feeling a bit underwhelmed. Creating the GAME Plan this year has helped me to spell it all out, step by step, beforehand and not make it up as I go. Already I'm feeling more at ease with it all.

Having a GAME Plan also helps in meeting the NETS-T standards. Simply being aware of them and knowing what they are as we are planning lessons helps us to plan for them. So many of the Teacher Standards and the Student Standards overlap. In order for the students to use creativity in technology, I will need to come up with creative lesson plans. At the end of the day, I still believe it comes down to flexibility and comfort. We need to meet these standards while providing the students with the comfort with technology that will enable them to meet the new standards as technology changes, as we all know it will. Also, being a third grade teacher, the way I meet these standards will be very different from the manner in which they meet them in high school. I need to make sure they are introduced and the students feel comfortable diving in. I feel that will prepare them for the years when they are truly put into practice at a much deeper level.

Revising the GAME Plan Week 6

Today I have to say, my eyes have been opened! I sit here in a hotel room in San Diego. I am visiting colleges with my daughter who is a Junior in high school. Today we visited two universities. What I always knew (and feared just a little) has now become a stark reality in my brain. Every college student I passed was carting a laptop. Every hallway I walked down, students were plugging away at laptops, individually and in groups. Everywhere I looked in the huge libraries were computers and other types of technology. Classrooms were full of technology I've never even seen. Students were creating things in front of me with just a few clicks. It made my head spin. That is the future of our students. Not to even mention the fact that when my third graders get there it will be even further advanced. The funny thing is, and the most telling, my head was literally spinning at it all and my daughter was salivating, so anxious to get right to it. She doesn't know all the technology we saw today...but she isn't afraid to jump right in, in fact, can't wait to do so.

How does this relate to this week's blog? It made me realize that I need to stop making excuses for the lack of technology in my classroom. I need to stop letting my own discomfort get in the way. We have work to do! I need to revise my GAME Plan in many ways. I need to figure out a way around having only 3 working computers in the classroom. I also need to get over my want for control and let the students take over their learning sometimes. That's not always easy with third graders who are not very independent.

I looked at the NETS-T standards and have decided that I need to focus on standard 1: Inspiring and Facilitating Student Learning and Creativity. I don't have all the answers yet, but I know I need to make sure that I can facilitate that learning even without the technology at my fingertips. With my unit I will have to get creative. I can show students techniques they can use for our Economics unit that they can do at home, if they are able. Maybe I can even have a Parent Education nights teaching the parents about the wikis and blogs we are creating. This could take away some of the parents' fears about technology and may create an avenue at home that has not been available to me as of yet.

All in all, I think the most important thing I've learned today was from my daughters reaction vs. my reaction. She had the "Bring it!" look in her eyes where I was more cautious and intimidated (and more than a little overwhelmed) from the unfamiliar technology. I need to create lessons that create that "Bring it!" look in my students' eyes. I don't know all the answers yet, but I do know I need to approach it from that angle from now on.
Tonya

Week 5 Progress

Seeing how this week was the last week before Spring Break, not much got done with my students as far as progress. It was all I could do to hold on to our normal routine. Most of the instruction toward my GAME plan this week were guided. We tried to go to the computer lab to work on spreadsheets for the ACTION plan; however, none of the mice would work. After much frustration, we returned and I did a guided lesson on the SMARTboard.

What I learned from this is that it is imperative to be flexible! When you are dealing with technology, especially at our school lately, the best laid plans usually lead you elsewhere. The students were very engaged during the guided lesson so that helped, but I know they were itching to get their fingers on actual keyboards.

What I still need to learn is the best way to deal with the obstacles I face. I don't even know where to start. The internet is up, then it rains and it's down. The mice work, then they don't. I'm blocked from critical sites from our filter. I'm trying to make a lesson out of being flexible and demonstrating how to find my way around them. Talk about Problem based learning...dealing with our latest technology issues has been problem enough!

I will have to adjust my plan if things remain the same when we return from Spring Break. If I have to use just my one classroom computer, I will need to work out a time schedule for the students to have equal amounts of time with their groups. We'll get there, I know, but it is frustrating at this point!

Monitoring my GAME Plan Progress

This week I have been searching for resources and information I need. I've searched various search engines for virtual field trips. What has amazed me is how unaware my student are of heroes from long ago. They are so wrapped up in their own little worlds that it will be so beneficial to open up their eyes to heroes around them using technology. I've found tons of resources on United Streaming. Some of these are videos and some are photos. The virtual field trips I've been searching for this week would help to dive deeper into the person's life. For example, the students can learn about Thomas Jefferson and then take a virtual field trip to Montecello. I found a virtual field trip of an old slave market that I could show while learning about Harriett Tubman or even Abraham Lincoln. A few classes ago, the instructor gave us a virtual field trip to the theater in which Lincoln was shot. I also discovered I could use Google Earth to "fly" us directly to certain places.

The only way I've decided to modify is by spending more time on the prior knowledge part of it. Before students choose their own hero, I will spend more time introducing them to various types of heroes.

So far I'm amazed at the resources out there. What I've learned so far is that it will take a long time to sift through it all and pick out the truly valuable resources. I also need to find a balance and that will take time as well. I realize that some will be trial and error, but having a plan ahead of time will be greatly beneficial. I must admit, though, that as the school year is winding down and all the state tests are coming upon us, I don't feel I have been able to truly sift through all the resources completely. At this point, I'm thinking, next year will be my year. This year, I'll do what I can and next year I will be able to truly finesse it.

Carrying out the GAME Plan

In order to go forward with my GAME plan I will need to locate different resources. Already we have United Streaming within our classroom which will assist me with finding videos, pictures, etc. when needed for certain subjects. For instance, with our hero unit I was able to use this to find videos or snippets of videos of various heroes. Also, there are experts out there just waiting to be found. We've had speakers come in for various reasons. For the hero unit we have an Olympian come in and talk to the students. Being able to locate these experts is a task I will continue to work on. Finally, since I am fortunate enough to be going through this Program with 3 of my colleagues, it is so nice to be able to go to them for advice when needed.

Additional information I will need will involve how I can use certain tools. For instance, our district blocks certain sites that I would like to use in the future. I need to find out how I can go about unblocking them. I have heard there is a way, but I have not looked into it entirely. Other information is coming to me daily through this class alone. Knowing what is out there is so beneficial.

So far, I've taken steps to look at my curriculum and lessons I already teach to analyze just how I can integrate these new tools. It will be an ongoing process. I want to choose two or three to be the guinea pigs, so to speak. Once I am comfortable enought with the process I think it will be much easier to quickly integrate the rest of the curriculum.

Developing a GAME Plan

Developing my GAME Plan will force me to fully integrate technology is the best manner possible into my classroom. What I like about this assignment is that we are given time to develop it step by step. I took the time to really familiarize myself with the ISTE NETS-T standards. Looking through them I was able to reflect upon my teaching and realize that while there are some that I feel comfortable with, a few are very overwhelming for me and need a GAME Plan in order to for me to conquer them.

This year I have focused on Standard 4: Promoting and Modeling Digital Citizenship and Responsibility. I felt that this was the base that all other standards need to be built upon. Before we can make our classroom truly digital, the students needed to learn how to be digitally responsible and safe while using internet tools. We’ve discussed internet safety and ethical use of digital tools. My students know not to use their names, to avoid plagiarism, and the proper etiquette for online activities.

The two standards I am not yet fully comfortable with are Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments and Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity. I feel I am gaining experience in facilitating student learning and creativity and am much better able to teach using new digital tools. The students are inspired; however, I feel I need to learn the best methods in which to carry this further. Where my discomfort with this comes is always within the management of the lessons. I am still searching for best practice methods in how to best have the students all part of the digital creation. An example is building a VoiceThread. They love this, but I still am working on how to best engage all students without some of them being left behind. I’m sure a lot of it will come the more I do it. One thing I know for sure is the more I do these lessons, the more I learn “what not to do” the next time. The other standard of Designing Learning Experiences is overwhelming in the sense that I am learning how to creatively use what I have, or more precise, what I do NOT have. The technology is my classroom is sparse. I have a SMARTboard which I use daily and often. As far as computers for my classroom I have 4 computers for 33 students and access to the computer lab for 25 minutes each week. It makes it difficult to develop a technology enriched learning environment. I grapple with how to give all students time to not only learn the digital tools, but also to have time to use them.

Part of my goal for strengthening my confidence is simply to continue to dive in. I know that I learn best by doing and my comfort level grows the more I am engrossed in the “doing”. I’ve already learned from my mistakes and know not to bite off more than I can chew. I will choose one lesson or one digital tool and teach it well instead of trying to do too much all at the same time. We will grow upon each tool rather than try to grow them all at once. As for how to meet my goal of a technology rich classroom, I’m still at a bit of a loss and would love any feedback. I am growing it with my own money, in that I have purchased FLIP cameras, digital cameras, etc. with my own money, and I’ve brought in my own laptop, but I don’t know how to truly set up a digital classroom with so few options.

I realize that monitoring my progress will need to be ongoing and reflective. I will set specific goals and time frames for each technological tool. For instance, the students will have created a VoiceThread by November, PowerPoint presentations in December, etc. It will help to schedule as well as monitor.

As I continue to learn and grow in my own experience with technology I will be able to better evaluate and extend not only my own learning, but that of my students as well. The important thing in this day and age is to not remain stagnant. Technology changes so fast that we have to be willing to change along with it. Making a promise to grow along with the technology around me will be the best way to continue to extend my learning.

EDUC-6712I-4 Supporting Information Literacy and Online Inquiry in the Classroom

The most striking revelation I had about teaching new literacy skills as a result of this class is the one sentence that keeps coming back to haunt me. "We are preparing our students for jobs that don't exist, using technologies that haven't been invented, to solve problems we haven't begun to think about." That is such an overwhelming revelation. I always knew, in the back of my mind, that it was true; however, to see it spelled out so completely is a bit intimidating.

That revelation, along with the knowledge and experience gained in this course, will drive how I teach technology and other subjects. Knowing that there is no way to specifically prepare students for what awaits them tells me that it is even more necessary to make them “generally” prepared. Students need to be comfortable with technology to such an extent that they are able to generalize their skills onto the new skills to come. Teaching them the basics (and ethics) of researching on the internet and how to synthesize the information they find will always be a worthwhile skill. This course has also shown me how necessary it is to integrate the new literacy skills across the curriculum. These skills are not simply meant for “Computer Time.” They need to be used in all subject areas.

While it is easier said than done to say that I will integrate new literacy skills into all subjects, I know it is necessary to make that a reality. Let’s face it, we are in hard times and nobody will argue that the schools across our nation seem to be a few steps behind the rest of the country when it comes to technology. My state, California, is in the midst of a budget disaster that is very quickly turning technology in the schools into an afterthought. While it would be so easy to hide behind this reality, this class has taught me that if I do that I am failing my students. I need to be creative in discovering ways I can move these students along into the 21st Century literacy skills with what I have available to me now. I would love to say that I will be taking all kinds of Professional Development seminars, etc. to help me along with the goal of “making do with what I have,” but really, it is unrealistic. Any “professional development” will come from this Masters program and research I do on my own. I think we are in uncharted territory. To move the students along I will need to have help. This help may come from parent volunteers, student volunteers, or simply from behavior management plans that enable me to give students technology time with just a few computers. I am fortunate in that there are four of us going along this Masters journey together. We are all at the same school and can support each other and push each other to continue along this route with our students. I think it would be so beneficial to have a Master Plan along grade levels. For instance, 1st grade can introduce key concepts such as Search Engines. By third grade, we can work on evaluating the websites and introduce synthesizing the information. Fourth grade can continue where we left off. The ultimate goal would be to send our elementary students on to Middle School (grades 6-8) with the new literacy skills necessary to carry them through high school and beyond. Elementary schools should give them enough time and create enough comfort level within our students that when the new technology and skills come at them they won’t blink an eye, but instead, dive right in with the enthusiasm that we have helped to create in them.

References:


Eagleton, M. B., & Dobler, E. (2007). Reading the web: Strategies for internet inquiry. New York: The Guilford Press.

Jukes, I. (2007). 21st century fluency skills: Attributes of a 21st century learner. Retrieved from: http://www.committedsardine.com/handouts/twca.pdf.