Course Reflection

Through out this course the emphasis of teacher literacy was prevalent. Obtaining the skills involved with using information to accomplish goals was an objective of many discussions, blog posts, and our applications. Starting the course with creating a personal GAME plan helped create the focal point of the course. We learned the skills of evaluating, synthesizing, and communicating our own ideas to ensure successful transition of our work into our classrooms. Self-reflection was also stressed and to always evaluate oneself with the purpose of producing our best work was another task we pondered on weekly.
Working on our skills as educators, we also explored self-directed learning environments. The importance of letting students learn as independents with little teacher instruction makes for a successful classroom. Tasks such as creating problem-based learning activities helped students learn content as they learn higher order thinking skills, which promotes self-directed learners. Other benefits of lessons like these are students learn to collaborate, learn technology language, learn content deeply and then can apply their learning to new situations. Mostly importantly all of these skills can cover many standards at once.
I feel this course was a great balance of teacher and student reflection. We as teachers had to monitor our own learning and then had to share our skills with our students. We as a classroom gained much from this course. Thus far of the technology courses, this has been the course where we had to evaluate ourselves the most. I truly enjoyed this course and what it had to offer. It has enabled us to let students be self-sufficient learners while in time will make them productive citizens, which is our main goal.

Stephanie Coultrip

Week 7 Extention of NETS-S

Based on the experience and growth I have gained from implementing my own personal GAME plan, I have more confidence in my ability to help my students achieve proficiency in majority of the NETS for students. Working through the NETS for teachers, I incorporated a lot of student/teacher activities where we could learn from each other. By working in this fashion I discovered majority of my new skills with the aid of my students; the more knowledgeable other. Collaboratively we covered many NETS for teachers, as well as students.

At the beginning of the school year I briefly go over the math standards we will be covering as a class and give an example which reflects the standard for students to gain a better understanding of the wording. To incorporate the NETS for students, I would introduce the technology standards in the same method; including example activities and resources. After the introductory period, I could then have students select two or three standards they would like more knowledge on. From here the student could construct their own GAME plan for which we could work on through the year. Discovering the standards in this manner would be a great opportunity for strengthening a student-centered, collaborative, networking classroom; a goal of 21st century learning.

Stephanie Coultrip

Reflecting on My GAME Plan

New skills I have obtained through practicing my GAME plan are new ways of monitoring student progress when using technology applications. Monitoring these activities is time consuming and somewhat of a treasure hunt, but I am finding better methods of organizing student participation and performance. What I have learned the most is I can learn a lot from my students. By watching them complete and turn in final products I find myself asking the students, “How did you do that?” They enjoy teaching me as much as I do them. Implementing the GAME plan in my curriculum has turned my classroom into a well working collaborative environment.

Over the past few weeks I have touched on both of my goals equally, but still need to continue these processes for my students to master these skills. My life skills math class is now able to successfully search for critical real world information and my sophomore math class have explored Wikis, podcasts and a VoiceThread. We will continue adding new technologies as we gain access from our building principal.

A new goal I would work on achieving would be: gathering data, examine patterns, and apply information for decision making, using digital tools and resources. These skills are also crucial to the success of my students’ performance post high school. It seems a lot to take on at once, but all of these goals are closely related and can be easily integrated.

The collaborative, student-centered learning environment has seemed to work well thus far. Learning will continue in this fashion until we see a need for change. As Dr. Peggy Ertmer (2009) states, “Learning in this manner enriches student understanding of content, produces a higher order level of thinking, and gives students ownership to their cognitive gains.” This style of learning will prepare them to be independent problem solvers and self-sufficient citizens.

Stephanie Coultrip

Evaluating My GAME Plan Progress

What I have come to realize when evaluating the effectiveness of my GAME plan progress is that this is not a task fully achievable in a mere number of weeks. Having goals such as incorporating digital tools and resources to promote student learning, as well as, improving students’ online literacy skills to aid in the progress of them becoming self-sufficient citizens are tasks which take time. These goals are tasks which should be incorporated in a year long progression plan. But, we have been able to take baby steps.

The effectiveness of my actions for promoting these skills has produced some valuable skills and data. My students are now able to utilize two additional technology tools and are more familiar with searching and reading resourceful web material. We have also explored some bogus information. It is important for them to be aware of the misleading information that is out there as well. My life skills students now are able to search for employment, transportation, living quarters, and survive on budget.

Taking into consideration what I have learned from implementing my GAME plan and applying them to my instructional practice, is time management. Many of the tasks I had planned took double the time to accomplish. Other factors which have affected my instructional practice are not assuming students know certain things and to always have a back-up plan if the technology fails you.

I believe as I continue to teach these skills new questions and problems will arise. And with the rapid progress of technology, I am going to try to always be a step ahead and learn a little faster then my students. I am very open to them teaching me certain skills and having my classroom be a collaborative learning environment for us all.

At this time the only adjustment to achieving my GAME plan is lengthening the time of progress towards meeting the goals I have established for myself and my class. It is a task which is going to take me the remainder of the year.

Stephanie Coultrip

Monitoring My GAME Plan Progress

Finding the information and resources necessary to adequately carry out my GAME plans has been a success and also not so successful. We are accomplishing a great deal with GAME plan two: engaging students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. The reason for the achievement is having full access to websites which coincide with the aspect of real-world issues and solving its problems. An area where we could advance our skills with this GAME plan would be to purchase simulation programs where students can use their creativity and exploratory learning skills to control a virtual life. GAME plan one which reflects the standard of designing or adapting relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity has been a struggle incorporating extremely valuable tools. We have very limited access which is our biggest downfall, but we are doing the most with what we have.

Modifications I have considered with the first GAME plan have been focusing on my skills of manipulating my classroom SmartBoard. Since I already have this piece of technology I should utilize it to its fullest potential; at least I know I have unlimited access to its features. I need to locate a resource seminar and learn about all the mathematical capabilities the tool has to offer. Are you aware of any videos on youtube which may help? Or any other websites that would benefit me?

What I have learned thus far is always give yourself enough time prior to teaching a lesson to explore the sites you want your students to operate and to always have a back-up plan. You never know when technology may crash or be blocked.

Stephanie Coultrip

Carrying Out My GAME Plan

The resources needed to carry out my action plan of improving the quality of my performance, as well as my students, are resources I have utilized in the past. I do not consider myself to be an expert in using these tools, but collaboratively working with my students, L believe we can achieve above average ability when it comes to manipulating these technologies and other human resources.

Technology resources we will mostly be working with will require Internet access. From here I will teach, then allow the students to explore digital tools such as Screencasting, podcasting, VoiceThreads, concept mapping, and posting videos on sites such as youtube. For my second GAME Plan, students will be utilizing their skills of searching the Internet for life skills apps; looking for housing, employment, transportation, etc. Collaborative and explorative learning will both take place during these activities by using classmates and the teacher as an additional resource.

Additional information needed to carry out the process of my GAME Plan will become more prevalent once in the process of completing these activities. The first time we complete these tasks my unknown questions will be answered. The initial teaching of any new lesson is a learning experience for both the teacher and the students. Once at this point, it will be easier to identify additional needed information.

Working mostly with GAME Plan 2, my students have completed searches for apartments in the newspaper, on the Internet and in bi-weekely livingaccommodation magazines. They have searched for personal transportaion methods in the same fashion. What I would truly love to locate, would be real-life on-line simulators, such as building a house, maintaining a checking account; any simulator which reflects real-life applications. If you know of any, your suggestions would be greatly appreciate.

Stephanie Coultrip

GAME Plans

National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers

The two NETS-T I chose to focus on were high school level appropriate standards. My first “GAME” plan is structured around the standard: design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity. My second action plan is centered on the standard: engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. Both of these standards will help students increase their digital age learning experiences, as well as, encourage student creativity in the learning process.

GAME Plan #1

Goals: Students will incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity. My goal is to be able to teach students how to utilize numerous different digital tools and for the students to be able to apply the tools to academic content knowledge and class activities.

Action: Information I need in order to meet the goal are the skills necessary to effectively manipulate multiple digital tools and attain the knowledge necessary to reflect my learning onto my students.

Monitor: Monitoring my effectiveness of teaching these skills will be measured by student understanding and application of the digital tools. If students are struggling with utilizing a specific tool, we will manipulate the tool together using an interactive whiteboard. We will use a collaborative learning environment when necessary; all other applications will be individually or partner explored.

Evaluate and Extend: In order to meet the goal of incorporating digital tools students will have to be able to perform the skills to operate these functions accurately with little to no teacher interaction. Extension of the goal will be to put together a portfolio of assignments reflecting the use of the digital tools. If instruction of these tools is not easily absorbed as planned, step by step instructions will be printed out for students to follow.

GAME Plan #2

Goals: Students will be able to locate and utilize resourceful websites and digital tools enabling them to solve real-world issues and problems with ease; in turn making them more productive citizens.

Action: Students will perform tasks such as locating jobs, residency, transportation, insurance, paying bills, on-line directions, operating a gps, locating recreational dates and times, on-line banking, weather, filing taxes, checking personal credit reports and searching on-line classifieds. Resources needed to perform these tasks will be access to the school’s computer lab and library. Student exploration and authentic instruction will be the learning strategies utilized.

Monitor: Student findings will be monitored by their answers documents and spreadsheets. Some tasks will be monitored by observations and student teacher conferences.

Evaluate and Extend: Evaluations will be scored based on a teacher created rubric and the ability students are able to perform these skills. Extension of these skills will be re-applied by giving students a fixed budget, which they will have to abide by and survive three months of bill pay.

Stephanie Coultrip