As I have been working toward my goals, progress has been slow but steady. I think the most important thing is to always keep my goals at the forefront as I make decisions and work on projects with my colleagues.
My first goal was ISTE Standard 1B: “Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.” Our students are still working toward making a dent in our first real-world problem: the fact that students in different countries don't know much about each other or the problems that affect one another. Our students have begun creating a digital book about our community to share with the students in Spain. Due to state testing, teacher strikes in Spain, and general lack of time, this has been making very slow progress. I look forward to continuing this project at a faster pace once testing is over.
My second goal was ISTE Standard 2B: “Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress” (ISTE et al, 2008). I published three blog posts for my coworkers, promoting just one aspect of a technology-rich learning environment: student web presence.
I can revise my plan by adding more topics to my blog (relating to technology-rich learning environments) and trying to get a feel for what some good "next steps" would be for our classroom teachers when it comes to enriching their environments.
New Learning Resulting from my GAME Plan:
By following my GAME Plan, I have learned that it kept me focused on specific goals. Having a GAME Plan is a good tool because there are so many resources and ideas available that it can be easy to lose focus and not progress toward anything. I often find myself dabbling in several different new ideas at once, but never bringing them to completion. A GAME Plan reminds me what my most important goals are and helps me to be continuously evaluating whether I am meeting them, need to change them, or need to plan new steps to bring me closer to the goal. This would be a great tool for bringing about focused change.
How I could Modify and Use a GAME Plan with students:
I think this model could be used to help students stay focused on their goals in classrooms following a Project Based Learning model. One of the biggest questions when having students do open-ended projects or research is how to keep them focused on what is important so they can finish in a reasonable amount of time and have something worthwhile to show for their efforts. I think this is a skill that needs to be taught, reinforced, and reviewed. The GAME Plan format could be a framework for teachers to use. To incorporate this well, a teacher would need to model continuously, not just teach it once. I think it would be beneficial for teachers to begin each class with a think aloud (teacher modeling the project while speaking mental steps and reasoning out loud), and then allow students to begin working. In this way, students would slowly but surely be conditioned to use the GAME Plan in the way it was intended.
EDUC 6713 Course Reflection:
My instructional practice will change as a result of this course because I now see the importance of introducing my colleagues to a different way of structuring the classroom. Inquiry-based learning is an option that is difficult to implement, guide, and assess. Yet, it puts the student in a new role where they are more active learners and can do things that matter to them.
Right now, I think the best way of demonstrating how to implement inquiry based learning is through blog entries and coteaching with my colleagues. I have a lot to learn, and I recognize that until I have tried something with students, it is ineffective to suggest it to others. I am thankful for the teachers who allow me to come alongside them and bring new methods into their space. This gives us both experience from which to learn and to teach others.
Problem-Based Learning:
I gave a presentation to my colleagues a couple of months ago about best practices for online research. I hope for the opportunity to enter their classrooms and be a part of digging deep into online research skills with students, opening the door for inquiry and question-based learning. I routinely contact different departments of our school with ideas and always give the option for them to request my help.
Social Networking:
I have been doing research and authoring a social media policy for our school. I do this in hopes that it will unlock websites that are collaborative in nature but which are currently blocked, such as Google Hangouts and Twitter. I would also like to see younger students receive Google accounts so that collaborative features can be used and accessed by more teachers for their projects.
Digital Storytelling:
I ordered a new digital storytelling app for our Elementary School iPad cart, called Book Creator. I plan to assist teachers in learning how to use it with their students. I hope they can see it not just as a fun app or a way to create temporary engagement (because it's new) but as a way to integrate 21st Century learning and connectedness into their classroom.
EDUC 6713 has been a course where I have researched and tried practical applications for the Connected Classroom. I enjoyed exploring the "why" behind doing these things as well as the "how."
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