If the goal of education is to prepare our students for their post education lives then it is our responsibility to ensure that our students have the competencies and skills they need to succeed. An avenue to ensure that they have these skills is to incorporate the ISTE National Technology Standards (2013). The first step in ensuring that our students meet these standards is to become familiar with the standards ourselves and begin implementing the standards as soon as possible. An excellent method for meeting my goals of incorporating the NETS-T is to create a GAME plan (Laureate Education Inc., 2010).
The first step in creating my GAME plan is to set goals to meet. My goal will be to ensure that I provide my students with more opportunities to meet standards 2.a, which is to design relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital learning tools to enhance creative thinking and to meet standard 2.b which is to develop a technology rich learning environment that allows students to follow their own curiosities and set their own goals (ISTE, 2013). The reason that I want to focus on these specific standards is because I think that for a student to develop critical thinking skills and become life- long learners that it is essential for them to develop their own goals, and the learning experiences that they develop these goals for should be authentic.
To meet these goals my actions will be to ensure that at least once every unit I provide my students with choices for them to follow their own curiosities in their learning. I will support this by providing the students with a list of options initially and then as we progress I will allow the students to create their own goals. In this same process, I will ensure that these choices the students have are opportunities for authentic, real – world learning. The technology aspect of this is that the students will use computers and other forms of technology to pursue their interests and compile the material they will need to accomplish their own goals.
To monitor my progress, I will read my personal reflective journal after every unit to ensure that I provided at least one opportunity for my students to pursue their own interests. I keep a journal about all of the lessons that I complete so that I can reflect on what went well and what needs adjusted for next year. My journal will be a very useful way to monitor my progress because it will not require me to do any more work than I already am, and it is more reliable than just attempting to use my memory.
To evaluate if I was successful I will check my progress midway through the year and then again at the end of the year. My mid- year evaluation will allow me to make any adjustments that I need to in order to ensure that I will successfully meet my goal. My evaluation will consist of reading my reflective journal and determining if I have successfully provided my students with the opportunities to have choice and real experiences for every unit.
References
ISTE (2013). National Education Technology Standards for Teachers. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/nets-t-standards.pdf?sfvrsn=2.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Program one: Promoting self-directed learning with technology [Video webcast]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Cennamo, K.
Hi Rick,
ReplyDeleteI think that your goals are so relevant to what our students need to be productive, prepared members of our technological society. They not only need to know how to use tools creatively, but also need the motivation to create their own, self-selected goals and courage to take the risks as they begin working towards them (Laureate Education Inc., 2010). One activity a month seems very realistic goal as you begin this transition. Have you already developed a list of options for authentic learning opportunities, or will part of your “action” also include some research to compile those assignments? It is wonderful that you already keep a journal after each lesson! Have you thought about also trying to find another teacher(s) from your school to support you in this process? I know that whenever I think about trying something new or a little more “risky,” it helps me to have someone to brainstorm with and also to reflect with afterwards.
Kelly Ackley
Reference:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Promoting self-directed learning with technology [Video webcast]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Author
Hi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteI only have a partial list so far of activities for my students; unfortunately this partial list is for the second half of the year so I need to get on the ball for thinking about the activities for the beginning of the year. I have a teacher that I work closely with, and we have worked together multiple times. The most recent time is when we both decided to team up to “flip” our classrooms. I think it will take minimal convincing to get this teacher to help me with this next endeavor. I agree that it just seems easier when you have someone that is doing the same things you are to talk to, so I am hopeful that he will agree to create these authentic learning experiences with me.
I'm sure that since you are able to create a narrow focus, you will have little difficulty creating a list to begin next year. It is so wonderful that you have a teacher most likely on board. It can make such a difference.
DeleteI would love to learn more about your flipped classroom if you get a chance. The idea has really intrigued me recently, I am just nervous about the students who don't have access to a computer at home or never do their homework. Do scenarios such as those make it difficult?
It is always a challenge when students do not do their homework, I have found the students whom did not do their homework before are just as behind now as they were before. As for students without computers at home, I post the due dates at least a week a head of time so that they can use the schools computers or go to a public library to access their lessons. Also, since I teach juniors and seniors, ninety percent of them have phones that can access the internet so they can access their lessons any time anywhere. It has been very challenging, but also well worth it because I have had more time for student centered lessons, can provide more individualized instruction, and have seen improvements in the majority of my students test scores.
DeleteRick, I have found that students love to explore and learn about things that personally interest them. I like to include some form of a current event or current issue at least once in every course. They get to choose any topic of interest as long as they can specifically connect it to something in the course. With Biology and Environmental Science the options are almost limitless. They tie into nearly every other content area. In the past I have had students supply a copy of the resource and answer reflective and critical thinking questions about it. The only technology up to that point is that many look for their resources online but I am starting to think that these current issue responses might be very suitable for a class blog/discussion group much like we are doing here. Chemistry also seems to suit itself to making multiple connections. I think when students can explore topics that interest them and make real world connections to them then it sometimes plants a seed for future career choices. How flattering when a student tells you that they have changed their career interest in a positive direction because they took your course. You are doing your students a huge service by giving them a good foundation in Chemistry before they get to college. Using authentic learning experiences is a sound way to build that scaffold for later courses and skills.
ReplyDeleteDiane Miller