Spotlight on Emerging Technology: Online learning in K-12 schools

Here is the link for my presentation on online learning in K-12 education. My hope is that teachers in my school would find this presentation helpful when considering using online learning in their classroom. However, if discussion about this comes about, I would hope it would be meaningful, helpful conversations.

http://web.me.com/j564huston/Site

Refection for EDUC 6714: Reaching and Engaging All Learners Through Technology

I have learned through this 8 week course all about Universal Design for learning and how much we use it along with differentiated instruction. Differentiated instruction is not strategies for the different levels of students within a classroom; this is however, how teachers have been taught. Throughout this course we have learned how to teach individual children while figuring out how they learn best. Teachers can sometimes figure out how children learn the best by observation of the classroom.

With children as young as 5, I can ask them to complete a student survey by having them point to pictures of things they enjoy and how they like for someone to teach them new things. I have set up my classroom with the idea of teaching with centers. This is a way that I am able to meet the individual needs of my students. There are certain centers that children who don’t speak English can go to. I also have daily guided reading groups and for those who are not reading, we work on word work/letter skills/word sounds. Through these reading groups I have individualized instruction. One of the centers during the literacy block is computers. There are many different programs that can be used for phonics introduction. There are programs that work at the student’s levels to move them along at their own pace. This can reiterate what is being taught during the week.

Laureate Education, Inc. (2009) Reaching and Engaging All Learners Through Technology. Virtual Field Experience: Managing the Differentiated Classrooms.

My final GAME plan

By moving our GAME plan forward (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009), we came up with ideas that we can use with our students. I worked at creating two specific goals to use in my classroom with my 5th graders. My first goal was for the students to facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity. My 2nd goal was to design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments through a blog that would be used for the class to start.

I feel that I the first goal is easier to attain than the 2nd one. One reason is because I feel like I am more creative and can think quickly on the spot. This will be very beneficial to the students who are coming from 4th grade to 5th grade. I would like for the children to publish the book after their year of blogging is over so that the other children can read it and know what to expect. I would have to learn all the ins and outs of blogging first before teaching it to the students; and this class has definitely prepared me for this. I do feel like I can definitely teach my students what they need to do in the "blogging society."

My 2nd goal is going to be a bit more challenging and I will have to spend some time while I am off this summer perfecting how to develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments to use with my students. With the students using their journey in journal writing, they would be incorporating their digital tool with blogging at least once a week; they will be using their experiences inside and outside the classroom when writing/blogging. To promote the digital tools, I would like for the students to have their parents reply to them on their blogs. Then I would like to have family from other states and/or countries to respond to the blog also.

Each summer I have always taken time to look back at what I've done and reflecting on what I have done, have learned and need to do are at the tops of my list. I want to make the most of utilizing what I have learned during this Walden class and pass that on to my students. I have learned that being flexible and showing the students that we are learning at the same time, speaks volumes.

GAME plan process in school

The website that we were introduced to, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) was where we helped to develop and create our GAME plan. I think that after reviewing the goals that I had set out to accomplish, I have been able to meet those goals. It is imperative that a teacher learns to train her students with what she expects of them. After reviewing what I wrote, I am thankful that I was able to tweak what I wrote if it wasn't working, or change the plan. You need to introduce the GAME plan starting as soon as they were able to understand what it was all about so that their skills can progress at a steady rate. I wouldn't be able to explain to them at first the acronyms, or what the goals would be; but I would be able to show them through examples. While teaching 4th and 5th grade I have learned that the students apply more of themselves and try harder when they find out exactly why they are doing this particular lesson. Giving them a choice in which standard (say out of 3) that they would like to learn first would allow them to take ownership of it. There might be some children who learn best with plan A, and others plan B. And having them predict which way they want to learn it opens them up to a whole other level of learning. I am always up for a challenge as a teacher, and realize that there is so much that has to go into preparing a lesson the first time you teach it; but involving the students in it not only breaks it down for me, but involves them with the GAME plan.

Revising GAME Plan

What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instructional practice?

I will be teaching Kindergarten next year, and we all know that children as young as Kindergarten are not usually diagnosed with anything at that age. ..unless it is something physically that you can tell (ex. downs syndrome, CP, etc). But dealing with children with disabilities is something that I will have to tweak my curriculum and way I deal with them. I would like to spend this summer finding new ways to improve the ways to teach Kindergarten. I have taught it for 10 years, but I feel like I am open enough that I welcome suggestions.

What goals are you still working toward?

I feel there is one goal I will be working on over and over and for a long time. When I last taught Kindergarten it was 5 years ago, and technology was NOT that up and coming. It was there, but nothing more than email and random things to look at on the internet. Now, having gone through this class and learning what I have the past 4 years, I am feel quite confident in what I will be able to do.

Based on the NETS-T, what new learning goals will you set for yourself?

Indicator 2; Standard 2a: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments. Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS*S. Teachers:
a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

I want to promote creativity with Kindergarteners. That isn't always easy and it is going to take a lot of creativity.

What learning approaches will you try next time to improve your learning?

I would like to say that I will try the problem-based learning....but I feel that before I try it out on students I want to make sure that I understand exactly how it works. I would like to see a teacher in person try it and observe it happening. I would be willing to try this approach with Kindergarten because they "might not remember" if I make a mistake.

Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use. (M. Staudt, & M. Stranz, Eds.) Mason, OH, USA: Cengage Learning.

National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/
2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf

My Game Plan

Evaluating my GAME Plan

How effective were your actions in helping you meet your goals?

I have been reviewing my GAME plan and the actions I said I would take. There is always room to improve strategies and goals. I have looked at other blogging websites, paying careful attention to the names of the blogs, and how they were set up. I've gotten some good ideas for what I want to do with my upcoming class.

What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instructional practice?

I have researched some educational benefits to blogging. I have read that it promotes critical and analytical thinking, but it also promotes social interaction amongst the 5th graders. Other teachers have commented that blogging with students allows for collaboration with projects, online sharing ideas, ongoing dialogues and a central place to keep everyone's work. Teachers have stated that this can be done with both the whole class and small group settings (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009).

What do you still have to learn? What new questions have arisen?

I have a few concerns that I need to find solutions for. We all know that blogs are posted on the web and can be viewed by anyone if the privacy settings are not set before blogging begins. Teachers need to discuss privacy issues in depth with students before we allow them to start. Teachers need to explain the importance of never sharing personal details or their last names on the internet for all to see. When the students were younger they were told not to talk to strangers, well I would want them to understand that this falls in the same category. My question would be how would I make them understand this?

With the first question, comes another concern. At what point do I not "filter" what is posted? I know that at first I need to do this, but when do I let them decide how to word things and post things without being "filtered" first?

How will you adjust your plan to fit your current needs?

I would like to start the school year off with blogging, and use it as much as I could, to get the children familiar with the "new way of responding." Change isn't always easy, but I would like to get them started with it as soon as they get back from summer vacation.

Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use. (M. Staudt, & M. Stranz, Eds.) Mason, OH, USA: Cengage Learning.

Game Plan Progress

This past week I have been having the children ask each other what they would want the name of the blog to be for the class. We came up with some different ideas; but we "tried them out on the computer to see what they looked like." The students loved that idea. We also took a look at the curriculum alignment that we needed to cover. We picked out the appropriate AKS (academic knowledge and skills) that we would be covering. Some of the questions that were asked of us to answer this week were:

Are you finding the information and resources you need?

I explained to the 5th graders that we would be working on curriculum alignments and that we "must develop and select assessments that allow students to demonstrate mastery that is demanded by the standards." (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, p. 141). I know that you must be wondering why I told my students all that information and those words, and the reason is because we continually talk to the children about tests, and content area information that they need to know. We found other class websites where the class had a continuous blog. I showed them what it would look like which then lent itself to more ideas.

Do you need to modify your action plan?

As of right now, I feel like my GAME plan is working like I wanted it to. As I get further into it, I might need to tweak some things here and there.

What have you learned so far?

By following this format and plan, I feel like my students and I are following some very similar protocols. I feel like I am learning some new things right along with them. I want to involve them in self assessments while blogging. In chapter 6 of our book, it talks about outcome feedback. It says that, "students will benefit most when they receive feedback about the quality of their work and suggestions for improvement - not just whether their responses were right or wrong." (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, p. 139).

I believe in that comment, and have observed and seen it occur firsthand.

What new questions have arisen?

I would like to make sure that I keep my students focused and organized and wonder how I can ensure that to happen. How can I better teach my students to blog and take notes and show constructive criticism to one another.

References
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

There are many things that I have to do to achieve my goals that I have put into affect for the GAME plan. As a teacher we may need certain resources certain times, but maybe not the entire time of the plan. I would need scheduled lab time each week, and not have to worry about messing up schedules. I would want the children to spend a great deal of time exploring time on the computers and able to have free time to see how things work.

I would spend time asking the kids for names for what they want our blog to be. Suggestions, and see how they wanted things to work. I would use a projector to show what is on my computer to show the kids first hand what they will be doing.

I know our three computer teachers. They are called our LSTC's. I have a great relationship with one of them in particular, and she and I get along very well. She has come in to my computer lab this year and gone above and beyond to make sure that things are connected and working like they should. This whole thing could eventually take off to ways that teachers, parents and students couldn't possibly imagine.

All of this can and will be incorporated into my teaching. I would eventually like for this to be done by the grade level.

EDUC 6713

I have reviewed the National Technology Standards (NETS-T) and Performance Indicators for Teachers. I realize that there is always room for improvement as a teacher, and I feel that with technology applying more creativity is imperative to keeping the attention of students of all ages. I feel like it is a truly valuable lesson for a teacher to recognize that they aren't perfect and sometimes slack in adequately learning technology. We need to model to our students how important technology is and use it ourselves. That is one of the NETS goals. This Walden class has lent itself to me realizing how much more I could be doing with my students and technology.

GOALS
Teachers must set goals in order to achieve what they have set out to do, take actions to meet those goals, monitor progress and evaluate the achievement level of the students (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009).
1. Indicator 1; Standard 1a: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity - Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face virtual environments. Teachers:
a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.
2. Indicator 2; Standard 2a: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments. Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in teh NETS*S. Teachers:
a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

Actions:
1. I would like for my students to embark with me on a journey with writing. I have a passion for writing and want to incorporate it with each subject area. I have always wanted to do a writing project that uses a blog and then publishing it at the end of the year for the upcoming grade level. Their blogging will happen a minimum of 4-6 times a month; those times must be spread out. Ideally I would like to have them "blog" each Friday so as to close up their past week.
2. Using their journey in journal writing, the students would be incorporating their digital tool with blogging at least once a week. They will be using their experiences inside and outside the classroom when writing/blogging.

Monitoring:
1. I will be looking at the students journals that they will use first to jot down ideas. This will be their writing workshop piece, and it will be ongoing. This is similar to a diary of a "their name". Which will and could be modeled after the book that so many children are reading, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid."
2. The teacher will be monitoring their blogging experience set as a reader to her own blog page. The teacher will be doing her own blogging experience with the children; which shows her modeling what needs to be done. The children will be commenting on at least 2-3 classmates each week, and the teacher will be picking 4 students a week also to post comments on their blog.

Evaluating:
1. This assignment will be an ongoing evaluation. They will be blogging for the whole year. However, there will be times that I give them a topic and they have to use life experiences to answer the questions. They will be graded on these 1. on their journal they are writing in, and 2. with their blog they are keeping.
2. to promote digital tools, I would like for the students (who have computer/internet at home) to have their parents reply to them also on their blogs. This would be tying the experience of home to school and vice versa. At some point with the more advanced students, or those from other countries, I would like to incorporate relatives from other countries. How cool would that be to have the student's blogs have posts from people not in the United States.

References
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.

ISTE (2008). The ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-T) and Performance Indicators for teachers Retrieved May 15th, 2010 from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf

Final Blog Posting

The most striking revelation I have had in teaching new literacy skills to my students is the 21st century fluencies. The information literacy is very important to the students of today. They need to be able to read what information is true and not true, evaluate the information, understand the grammar of the internet, and to find the source of the information. From a teacher's perspective they need to be able to evaluate the information online. Student's need to be able to navigate their way around the internet. Teacher's are having to be steps ahead of their student's.

The knowledge and experience I gained in this course will help me determine where to take my student's irregardless of what level they are at. I might be teaching a 4th grade classroom, but have many levels within that grade. This course has given me guidance on how to teach new literacy skills the proper way. I now have the resources to go forth and figure out how to best incorporate the new up and coming skills. It isn't easy to do sometimes, but I feel better prepared to do this.
One professional development goal I would like to pursue is the bring the teachers together by grade levels, and have one grade level tell the grade before them what skills their students are lacking, and how they could improve. I think this is very important. After bringing the teachers together in a grade level, I would have them write down the things that they think their students are weak in. I feel like if they can start to bridge the gap of technology between grades then the other things might fall into place. The particular skill that one grade is lacking might be a simple fix, or it may be one that the technology teacher stresses, reviews and goes over during specials. Becoming literate in books and computers goes hand in hand. Furthermore, the teachers could review with the other grades the things that are needed to make the classes flow. This would take a few tweaking of steps, information and data collection to make this go smoothly. It would take a few years to make it work. Being proactive and telling the administration what you have planned would show initiative and show that you wanted to ward off problems before they start. This might be able to diminish the problems, but nothing will make them go completely away. Working together to promote new literacy skills will make their learning invaluable.