Having taught Geography for the last 16 years, I am
familiar with authentic methods of instruction like problem-based and
project-based learning. However, my
familiarity ends with the incorporation of digital tools to enhance the
experience and to make it easier, more engaging and meaningful. My Goal
is to strengthen my confidence and proficiency in following NETS-T indicators:
1b
Engage students in exploring
real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and
resources.
2a Design and adapt relevant learning
experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student
learning and creativity.
I would like to break down these goals to relate
specifically to the content area of mass wasting processes such as landslides
and rock falls and explore the availability and use of digital tools in
addressing the cause of these processes and the problems that are created as a
result of them. Tools I would like to
explore are the simulations or animations.
ACTION
To achieve my goals I will use a KWHL chart to
assess my knowledge on authentic instructional methods and digital tools. I will use the web to locate case studies and
lesson plans that incorporate technology in the instruction of the content
area. I will also access and read
teacher journal articles that relate specifically to authentic methods of
instruction in Geography and the tools that support it. In our second video this week Vicki Davis
pointed out that project ideas can be adapted from the principles and premises
of past projects and that that finding someone to collaborate with is not
difficult (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009a).
Therefore I will also attempt to reach out and collaborate with
colleagues both locally and globally who may have explored a similar activity
or would be interested in such. I will also
collaborate with a colleague on staff who is supportive of my undertaking which
Dr. Peggy Ertmer outlines as one of the requirements of effectively integrating
technology (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009b).
MONITOR
To monitor my progress I plan to keep a reflective journal
that will not only document what I’ve done, but my thoughts and feeling about
the process involved in preparing and implementing the instructional method and
the digital tool. I will seek to answer
questions relating to the ease or difficulty of preparation and implementation,
the reaction of students, my comfort level during the lesson and changes in my
thinking about the teaching –learning process.
By engaging in such critical reflection I will be able to “understand
the activity from different perspectives and use that understanding to set
goals for future behavior and learning” (Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009, p.
12).
EVALUATION
As with any lesson plan I must evaluate to determine
if my goals were achieved and if I need to modify my lesson in the future. My ultimate goal is to guide my students into
becoming life-long learners and fostering their creative and critical thinking
skills. To evaluate if I have achieved
this goal I will need to observe them while they are engaged in the activity
and also have them reflect on their thinking and feeling about the lesson. I could also record changes in their behavior
patterns in successive activities using performance rubrics. The students’ feedback and performance is
critical as it is via these indicators that I can determine if my strategy was
successful.
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.
Laureate
Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009a). Program four: Enriching Content
Area Learning Experiences With Technology, Part 21 [Video Webcast]. Integrating
technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Laureate
Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009b). Program three: Enriching Content
Area Learning Experiences With Technology, Part 1 [Video Webcast]. Integrating
technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Author.
3 comments:
Hello Amanda,
I think it is great that you are incorporating student performance indicators into your GAME plan. You mention using a rubric to assess that, Could you share more of your thoughts on what you might use as the dimensions in that rubric? And since your goal is to include more digital tools, what kind of digital tools do you have to access to there in St.Kitts? Is the technology just sitting there waiting to be used, or will you need to find a way to acquire the tools or make do with what you have?
Tracy,
Some of the performance indicators I think I could use to evaluate the students are their ability to define a problem, analyze and interpret results and the depth of their reflection. Hopefully I’ll be able to assess the student’s developing proficiency in those areas. With reference to digital tools, my school has limited access to those. Most of our classrooms do not even have the infrastructure to use a projector. However there is a bright spark in all of this in that the government here has initiated a one to one laptop program. All high school students have been given one and the wireless internet will be launched within the next few weeks. This was the motivation for my enrollment in this program. Therefore I hope to initially use web-based tools that are not cost prohibitive. One of the courses I did, spoke to using a Microsoft application to create animations and simulations and so I would like to explore that.
Amanda
Amanda, I think that your goal to incorporate other colleagues and educators to improve your technology skills is going to be time well spent. I have found that especially when things get tough or frustrating it helps to reach out to someone else who has been there, done that. Sometimes I still have to have one of my more techie friends give me the proverbial fish as opposed to teaching me how to catch my own fish, but I find that even learning little skills has helped me. For example I now know how to show two screens on my laptop at the same time using the window icon key and the arrows. see I don't even know the name of the key, just that it has the little window picture on it. Anyway I find it challenging having to not only learn the new technologies but also the new lessons to apply it with. Hopefully as we become more fluent with the technology, creating lessons with it will become more intuitive. Your plan for your personal development is well thought out. good luck with its implementation!
Diane Miller
Post a Comment