To restate my goals again, I’m working on modeling digital age work and learning and also engaging in professional growth and leadership.
I’m quickly finding numerous websites to incorporate into my teaching, but as far as reliable examples that deal with student blogging it’s hard to know what to look for. The internet is overwhelmed with examples and blogs, etc. It’s difficult to narrow it down. I’m beginning to think I may just build on what my students did last year. I have all of their wiki postings and may just use that as a base and start from there. I feel like I’ve done something completely different every year. I’d like to start with something I’m already familiar with and build upon that. Is that something I can do? This will be my fifth year as a teacher and I’d like to start building. Hope that makes sense.
Joining or even finding out about professional communities has been very difficult. Fellow teachers are difficult to reach during the summer. However, fellow cohort Marilyn suggested the following website (http://www.edutopia.org/). I’ve been able to look it over and they provide a discussion board for many things, but for middle school teachers in particular. I think that’s fabulous! I love hearing from all teachers, but what works in other grades may not work in the mid-level. Thanks, Marilyn!
Edutopia (2010) also presents 10 tips for project learning!! I hope my fellow teachers can check it out. You may find it useful! Click here for a direct link!
I’m still taking any suggestions! Also, helpful links that you’ve used are a plus! Keep them coming!
Valerie Gerdes
MS-English
Edutopia. (2010). The George Lucas Educational Foundation. Retrieved July 27, 2010, from http://www.edutopia.org/
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Monitoring...
I didn’t realize this needed to be posted Wednesday…sorry fellow students!
To quickly restate my goals, I’m working on modeling digital age work and learning and also engaging in professional growth and leadership. I’ve discussed that finding examples of work to show students is a must. Finding quality examples of appropriate age is difficult to find and have it suit my needs. The best that I can come up with is simply showing examples that are closely related. I’m hoping that when my students begin their work, I will be able to use some of their own work as models.
As far as joining professional communities at my school, well, it’s difficult to describe. These communities seem to be an invitation only-type of thing. I’m not even sure where to start. Does anyone know of online communities that you are a part of and would recommend to fellow teachers? I’m looking for something to which I can contribute, but also receive excellent advice and information. I’m not looking for a community that is focused on complaining about mandated tests, students, parents, etc. Any help?
After reading through our material, I’m very interested in learning more about Hot Potatoes (Cennamo, Ross, Ertmer, 2009, p. 144). This software allows teachers to create quiz questions online with results being mailed to the teacher and recorded. I haven’t used this program much, but I can see this being a fun review tool for students with instant feedback. If you haven’t looked at this tool, try this website. http://hotpot.uvic.ca/index.php I’m curious, has anyone used this in their classroom before? Are there other recommendations you would make? This one is free and looks relatively easy to use, which is why I’ve posted it, but would gladly take suggestions. I will be in touch with the technology department at my school, as well as the librarian, as soon as the start of school nears. I will post any suggestions given by them.
Any help you can offer is only a bonus so don’t hold back!
Valerie Gerdes
MS-English
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: a standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Hot Potatoes. (2010). Half-Baked Software, Inc. Retrieved on July 22, 2010 from http://hotpot.uvic.ca/index.php
To quickly restate my goals, I’m working on modeling digital age work and learning and also engaging in professional growth and leadership. I’ve discussed that finding examples of work to show students is a must. Finding quality examples of appropriate age is difficult to find and have it suit my needs. The best that I can come up with is simply showing examples that are closely related. I’m hoping that when my students begin their work, I will be able to use some of their own work as models.
As far as joining professional communities at my school, well, it’s difficult to describe. These communities seem to be an invitation only-type of thing. I’m not even sure where to start. Does anyone know of online communities that you are a part of and would recommend to fellow teachers? I’m looking for something to which I can contribute, but also receive excellent advice and information. I’m not looking for a community that is focused on complaining about mandated tests, students, parents, etc. Any help?
After reading through our material, I’m very interested in learning more about Hot Potatoes (Cennamo, Ross, Ertmer, 2009, p. 144). This software allows teachers to create quiz questions online with results being mailed to the teacher and recorded. I haven’t used this program much, but I can see this being a fun review tool for students with instant feedback. If you haven’t looked at this tool, try this website. http://hotpot.uvic.ca/index.php I’m curious, has anyone used this in their classroom before? Are there other recommendations you would make? This one is free and looks relatively easy to use, which is why I’ve posted it, but would gladly take suggestions. I will be in touch with the technology department at my school, as well as the librarian, as soon as the start of school nears. I will post any suggestions given by them.
Any help you can offer is only a bonus so don’t hold back!
Valerie Gerdes
MS-English
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: a standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Hot Potatoes. (2010). Half-Baked Software, Inc. Retrieved on July 22, 2010 from http://hotpot.uvic.ca/index.php
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Things I need...
In order to meet my goals of Modeling Digitial-Age Work and Learning and Engaging in Professional Growth and Leadership, I will require the use of experts, colleagues and updated information, whether it be from printed material or online. I believe that by taking advantage of the professional communities provided to me online here at Walden, and those provided by my district, I can maintain professional growth and leadership. My using these communities I know that I will be able to converse with those who also wish to support students by remaining current with technology and provide a supportive learning atmosphere in which to achieve these higher goals.
Before I can model digital-age work, I would need grade-level resources to show my students. I have thought of examples to provide, but most have come from my graduate work and would be well above my students’ understanding. I would like to find resources geared towards my 7th grade students so as to have examples that are readily comprehensible.
Some of the steps I have taken so far, that will be available for future classes, is providing wiki pages to my last year’s students. These examples are still online and will be a great resource to show my upcoming students so that we may build on what has already been done. My concern is that this resource isn’t quite what I wanted and would like a better example to present itself.
Working with last year’s students, I found that most had not heard of a wiki. Much time was spent on discussing appropriateness and publishing online. New examples would need to be simple and straightforward to ease the transition of this digital tool. Anyone know of examples like this? I would love to hear any ideas or comments. Please share!
Before I can model digital-age work, I would need grade-level resources to show my students. I have thought of examples to provide, but most have come from my graduate work and would be well above my students’ understanding. I would like to find resources geared towards my 7th grade students so as to have examples that are readily comprehensible.
Some of the steps I have taken so far, that will be available for future classes, is providing wiki pages to my last year’s students. These examples are still online and will be a great resource to show my upcoming students so that we may build on what has already been done. My concern is that this resource isn’t quite what I wanted and would like a better example to present itself.
Working with last year’s students, I found that most had not heard of a wiki. Much time was spent on discussing appropriateness and publishing online. New examples would need to be simple and straightforward to ease the transition of this digital tool. Anyone know of examples like this? I would love to hear any ideas or comments. Please share!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
GAME plan
I’m thrilled to be setting up a potentially very useful plan for my classroom. I’ve been wondering when and if I’d have time to promote technology in my classroom. Also, I was puzzled how I could make it worthwhile to my students. There are numerous goals that I would like to set for my students, and myself so we must start with baby steps. Ultimately I want my students to feel at ease with the computer and not be afraid to try new things while also using technology as a learning tool, not just for socializing and sharing funny videos (although, I really enjoy those aspects!).
Two of the NETS-T (2008) standards I would like to strengthen throughout this course are Modeling Digital-Age Work and Learning and Engaging in Professional Growth and Leadership. I would like to be able to model how to work and how to learn to use technology while keeping current with its uses and applications. Technology is continuously updating and I never want to be that teacher that absolutely needs someone to come in and “just do it for me.” I will of course be open to suggestions and learning situations, but I must feel confident. As a teacher, I need to pass along current and correct information to my peers, students, parents, etc. To help with this goal is my second standard. I worry that after my master’s program is completed, keeping up-to-date with information will be more difficult without the help of a professor and mandatory assignments.
Often teachers become lax and used to what they have always done and fall into a routine. By engaging in professional learning communities and classes, I can maintain current understanding as well as how to incorporate such items into my classroom with seamless transitions, making learning effortless. To achieve these goals, as I have mentioned, classes are offered that will keep teachers updated. I can also partake in learning communities within my school as well as online and within our community.
By monitoring my learning and its usage within my classroom, I will be able to adapt these goals to suite my needs as well as make changes to achieve them. Surveying students and asking opinions of peers will also help to monitor my goals and examine progress. By using the information gathered from my students as well as observing their learning progress, I will be able to modify my plan.
To understand whether I have met my learning goals, I will be using my students’ own learning as a guide. Did my students master the content? Did what I model help them learn efficiently? Are they able to utilize digital tools effectively? Did my lesson or plans work? What do I need to work on? What strategies do I need to work on?
With this plan in mind, I have many ideas that I’d like to collaborate on with my fellow teachers. I’m interested in using technology more efficiently within my classroom.
References
National Education Standards for Teachers. (2008). Retrieved July 7, 2010, from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf.
Two of the NETS-T (2008) standards I would like to strengthen throughout this course are Modeling Digital-Age Work and Learning and Engaging in Professional Growth and Leadership. I would like to be able to model how to work and how to learn to use technology while keeping current with its uses and applications. Technology is continuously updating and I never want to be that teacher that absolutely needs someone to come in and “just do it for me.” I will of course be open to suggestions and learning situations, but I must feel confident. As a teacher, I need to pass along current and correct information to my peers, students, parents, etc. To help with this goal is my second standard. I worry that after my master’s program is completed, keeping up-to-date with information will be more difficult without the help of a professor and mandatory assignments.
Often teachers become lax and used to what they have always done and fall into a routine. By engaging in professional learning communities and classes, I can maintain current understanding as well as how to incorporate such items into my classroom with seamless transitions, making learning effortless. To achieve these goals, as I have mentioned, classes are offered that will keep teachers updated. I can also partake in learning communities within my school as well as online and within our community.
By monitoring my learning and its usage within my classroom, I will be able to adapt these goals to suite my needs as well as make changes to achieve them. Surveying students and asking opinions of peers will also help to monitor my goals and examine progress. By using the information gathered from my students as well as observing their learning progress, I will be able to modify my plan.
To understand whether I have met my learning goals, I will be using my students’ own learning as a guide. Did my students master the content? Did what I model help them learn efficiently? Are they able to utilize digital tools effectively? Did my lesson or plans work? What do I need to work on? What strategies do I need to work on?
With this plan in mind, I have many ideas that I’d like to collaborate on with my fellow teachers. I’m interested in using technology more efficiently within my classroom.
References
National Education Standards for Teachers. (2008). Retrieved July 7, 2010, from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)