John's Final blog post for 6713D-1

As this course comes to a close I would like to thank all my classmaes for all your support, suggestions, and keen insights, you have helped me learn. For Dr. Wolsey, our instructor in this virtual classroom, thanks for your patience and understanding, while I have not always agreed with your scoring, I recognize you have a job to do as my teacher. This course as been far and away my most challenging course at Walden University, and having said all of that, I feel I have grown in my understanding of blogging and wikis. I am hopeful the workload for my last two classes does not match this.

My GAME plan was two fold. First I wanted to grow and become more proficient in my ability to use digital technologies, and secondly, I want to be a better facilitator to my students in this new age of digital technologies. Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer (2009) point out that in order to be that good facilitator teachers need knowledge and skills of technology. The GAME plan is the vehicle that has helped me understand and apply those skills and knowledge by, setting goals, taking actions to reach those goals, constantly monitoring and improving, and evaluation.
Using standards from the International Society for Technology in Education (2008) (ISTE) web site and the National Education Standards for Teachers (NET-T), I chose standard 3.b to start my GAME plan. The goal of creating a personal classroom blog through http://www.classpress.com/ with the idea of creating a community of learners in my classroom with the goal of branching out into our school, community, and world. The idea of a personal class blog not published to the web that could be controlled and help my students understand the potential of social networking educationally that Vicki Davis calles "educational networking" (Laureate 2009), was my motivation. Final approval finally came on January 25th and we began this quest to learn more by pooling all our resources as a class together. With the normal start up issues and changes we have progress for the past five weeks. We now go to the computer lab every Wednesday and students can access the in class desk top to make their weekly discussions boards and comments, or can contribute from home. Success was immediate, my students loved the idea, it was a natural fit, with all the social networking they do through texting, facebook, and twitter, they set the tone. I hade to pull the reins in at times to keep them on the topic or subject. I am constantly following the GAME plan and monitoring, evaluating, and facilitating. The newness is wearing off so I am having to come up with inventive ways, and probling questions to keep them engaged. Overall the experience has been very good. We are setting weekly goals for the blog to get out parents more involved and that too is slowly taking place.

The immediate adjustments this course has provided for me is seen in my allowing students to have more control when we use digital technologies. We are currently starting a PBL in class and I give guidelines to facilitate choices of topics and technologies but the students are choosing the technology. I am seeing the creativity and determination to produce excellent projects. Trying to prevent the competition that Dr. Abrams spoke of is difficult (Laureate Education, 2009). My plan is to continue to use the resources learned in 6713 and become better in my understanding and application of these valuable digital tools to the point that my students have a proficiency that allows them to communicate and apply this effectively. Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer tell me my job is to "...teach thinking" (p. 23).

Thanks for all the support and good luck with your future endeavors at Walden.

John
HS Health


References:

Cennamo, K., Ross, J., Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standard-based approach (Laureate Education custom edition). elmont, CA: Cengage Learning.

Laureate Education Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009) Davis, V. Program: 10 Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas [Educational Video]. Los Angeles: Solution.

Laureate Education Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Abrams, A. Program: 12 Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas [Eduational Video]. Los Angeles: Solution.