The GAME plan is a new concept to me. Over the past several weeks as I have evaluated this plan in terms of my goals to become more proficient as a digital learner, my primary objective is to ultimately help my students met the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-S). My first goal has been from the beginning standard 3.b "Collaborate with students,peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support success and innovation". I feel this as been a very rewarding experience. The starting of a personal class blog through www.classpress.com has been a big success. Using social networking is helping my students understand how to use digital tools to become digital citizens. As we continue to explore this avenue of communication my students have begun to search, identify, and probe for new and better ways to interact within our classroom and outside in educational networking.
Through this blog I have received very good advice and feedback. It has helped me think and realize, that is my job, to teach thinking, Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer (2009). Also, that turning over come control to my students is a sign of strength not weakness (Laureate Education Inc., 2009). Problem based learning, social networking, and digital storytelling ar as new today to me as powerpoints were three years ago and with practice these too will become ways for my students to improve skills that Dr. Arnie Abrams says will cross every content curriculum (Laureate Education Inc., 2009). The use of these tools I feel will help my students reach the proficiency that the NETS-S standards require.
John
HS Health
References:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach (Laureate Education custom edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Laureate Education Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Abrams, A., Program:12. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas [Educational Video]. Los Angeles: Solution.
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Theo to John:
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, you made it! I know that you have had some personal circumstances that made an already challenging course even more challenging experience, but now you can have the personal satisfaction of having faced and conquered both! I have been impressed with how you have been successful with implementing some of the theories and techniques that we are learning with new technologies in your classes. In this sense you are far ahead of me, an ISS teacher with limited options- although I hope to change this with becoming a part time cyber teacher (see my blog post for details).
I recall that in your February third blog post, you expressed a concern about off-task students when using different technologies. That concern has been with me since you mentioned it. For week seven’s discussion ideas, and for my lesson plans, I kept envisioning how some students may try to sabotage the learning experiences that I had painstakingly crafted by being either off task or expressing some other form of misbehavior. More (2007) notes that often, students with special who needs, regardless of whether they are intellectual physical, or emotional, lack social skills.
He also expresses that special-needs students can often learn proper behavior by making social stories, which he defines as “…a short story that delivers social instruction…” (More, 2007, p.169). More (2007) then states that “digital stories targeting social skills promote relationships with peers by selecting skills based on individual and group needs” (p.171). Initially, More’s ideas appeared to be great ones for my ISS classroom- provided that I had the administration approval and support that I needed. However, I began to see how they might also be used in health classes, depending on what subjects you covered. For example, I know that health teachers in my state often cover the harmful effects of drug use. If you teach a similar unit, perhaps you could improve the social skills of special needs students. While they learned the harmful effects of drug use, which is also often associated with anti-social behavior, they would also be learning new technology, and improving the relationship they have with their peers. John I hope to ‘see’ you in the next class. If not, best wishes with all you future endeavors!
Theo Rudy
ISS
References
More, C. (Fall 2007). Digital stories targeting social skills for children with disabilities: Multidimensional learning. Intervention in School & Clinic, 43(3), 168–177.
Theo
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost, thanks for following this blog. I have really enjoyed both your suggestions and your positive reinforcement. I sometimes feel I am groping in the darkness and then I realize how far we have come. I realize that we have a ways to go as well. Sometimes my students laugh at some of my suggestions because they can see I am catching up but, sometimes they give me that look we all know...what is this guy talking about. I have to say to date I have had no students really try to sabotage the process but I realize their may be situations that arise and I like your suggestions from More (More, C. 2007).
Good luck to you in the future as well, I feel you will be very effective using digital tools in your opportunity whereever they may come.
John
References
More, C. (Fall 2007). Digital stories targeting social skills for children with disabilities: Multidimensional learning. Intervention in School & Clinic, 43(3), 168–177.