In order to carry out my game plan I will need the ability to access computers both for myself and the class, the library media specialist, and the technology specialist in district. In addition, I can also access professional development opportunities in the area in order to enhance the creativity of my lessons. The two days after school gets out I am attending two full day sessions the first day has outcomes of; learning about new tech tools to use with students, considering how to use these tools in new projects or GTEs, and hands on time to register logins and play with these Web 2.0 tools. The second day has outcomes of; applying what I learned from two prior professional development sessions to create a new project and/or GTE and exploring the Stafford 2.0 Wikispace.
In regards to my second goal I will again need access to computers. I have recently found that the NSTA website has great opportunities for authentic learning. In cleaning out some filing cabinets today, I also found some one minute readings about real life science that I could build upon as well. The above mentioned professional development day, involves one of the discovery education experts, who also has some great ideas for science labs and the incorporation of authentic science learning.
At this point in the school year, we are wrapping up our unit on the human body, reviewing for the final exam, and taking the final exam, so there is not much time to create new lessons and labs. Therefore, so far I have been able to schedule my attendance at the professional development days, begin thinking about my GAME plan for next year, and how to be reflective in practice.
My intended learning strategy for this GAME plan will incorporate all of the learner-centered strategies as mentioned in the course text. I will incorporate creating a collaborative environment, promoting content learning, and promoting reflection. I will be a participant in the collaborative environment as the presenters at the professional development workshops will ask us to create in groups. I will be using content learning by doing in both workshops “we need to remember that one of the primary reasons we use authentic learning is to promote students’ deep understanding of subject- matter content through the process of doing” (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, p. 169, 2009). Lastly, throughout my GAME plan next year I will think about thinking, or be metacognitive (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, p. 170, 2009). I plan to be reflective as stated in my above plan by writing myself a note in my lesson plan book to check and see if I achieved that goal after implementation of the creative lessons and authentic science activities.
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.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Christine, good work on implementing your game plan. The hardest part can be taking the first steps of choosing and joining helpful activities. You might consider discussing the course project with the library media and district specialists. I have found that these resource people are often familiar with such assignments/plans and can make your life a lot easier by pointing you in the quickest direction of technological success.
ReplyDeleteOn a note not related to your game plan, how does your faculty handle the two days for professional development at the end of the year? This is the first year our district is implementing this standard. Many teachers are rather annoyed as they are used to their last day being the same as the students'. Are your days relaxed because there are no students or stressed because the teachers just want to be done and on vacation?
Christine,
ReplyDeleteYou have a great game plan. I like the fact that you can use your professional development days for things that you want, and I do find it interesting that your district does them at the end of the year. My district does ours at the end of the first and third quarters. I think I would actually prefer that because you can use the time to plan for next year because I also am finding it hard to plan for next year with all the stuff that comes with wrapping up a school year.
Scott Monthie
Craig Jones said...
ReplyDeleteMs. Griswold,
You are most certainly correct about the end of the year being a difficult time to create any new lessons, and trying to implement them is nearly impossible! After I started my last unit of study for the year (and in depth book study of the book 'The Devil's Arithmetic' by Jane Yolen) my social studies department head decided that we needed to incorporate one more project before the end of the year in order to teach about personal finance. In order to get this project done, and keep students interested at the very end of the year (the projects are due this upcoming Tuesday, and we finish the school year on Wednesday)I have incorporated the use of technology. Much like you suggested, I wanted this project to be a collaborative one in order to align with the learning strategies suggested, however to my dismay, was told that the projects must be done individually. Luckily, though, earlier in the year the students were able to take much needed time to explore and learn the programs necessary to complete this project, so things have gone smoothly so far. It is just disappointing when the group support isn't there for applying the skills and strategies we're learning!