Course 6715 Final Reflection

For weeks 6 & 7 I was asked to create a lesson plan for a MUVE or digital game that could be used in the classroom. I chose digital game, because although I see a lot of benefits with having virtual worlds in the classroom, I believe that there are a lot of "bugs" that need to be worked out before it can be used in a middle school setting. One concern is the amount of time it takes to learn how to use a MUVE. There are companies that are fine tuning and perfecting the use of virtual worlds, but I would like to see some improvements and do some research on digital worlds before selling them to the staff. They are definitely going to be a great tool in teaching.
The digital game that I chose was Civilization. This is a great history tool that can used in my class, which is ancient civilizations. The amount of higher level thinking involved with the game is incredible. Students are thinking and having fun. The perfect combination. This course was about new technologies that "fresh off the press" The digital game is a new concept in the traditional classroom. This course focused on finding new technology, 21st century technology to use in the classroom. Digital games are a perfect example of this.
This summer, I will research how to adopt/purchase Civilization III for my classroom. I must say that time is a large concern. Content Standards, district and state testing make it difficult. I am planning on meeting with the other 6th grade teachers to see what ideas WE can come up with to incorporate some digital games into our curriculum. I have found that change can happen on a small scale, and if it is successful than more people want to join. I am going to start with the 6th grade team and see how the trial works out. I have learned so much in all the masters classes and have changed my idea of how I can best aide my students in learning. Now it is time to spread the word, the 21st century word.

Application 4

I used Prezi to create my Course Mangagement System.

http://prezi.com/my/

Reflection 6714

The Differentiated Station Social Network allowed me to find some web sites that I will be able to use in the future. The web sites will allow me to use UDL and DI in the classroom. A wealth of resources are available. I really like Differentiated Instruction since I already use this in the classroom and combined with technology it will be an even better source. Testing/assessments will have immediate changes. I need to utilize technology for assessments to allow each student to flourish.
I have already signed up for the computer lab an additional three times this year and I will sign up at the beginning of next year every 4-6 weeks. Differentiated Instruction supports 21st century learning. Blogs, web quest, wiki, voice threads, email experts or other students.
My real focus, which will be time consuming is to allow email access at our site. I would love to have my students email other students or work on a 21st century project. I need to do some research and work in order to allow this to come to life.
I enjoyed this class, especially with something that was familiar, which is DI and something I am learning, which is technology. This is a great combination.

Week 8 GAME Plan

This is the last week of my GAME Plan blog. The GAME Plan is a great reflective tool to use, especially with technology. The GAME Plan that I created was a great goal to open up dialogue with teachers, administration, students, and parents. I feel like like I need to become more informed about technology, which means that I need to continue to learn about technology. My first goal was (5b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others). I have taken baby steps to bring technology onto my campus. I just attended a PTA meeting and there is $10,000 to spend on technology on our campus. I am not quite sure what needs to be purchased. What to buy what to buy? I know that I have been saying that technology is not priority on my campus or district, and it is not, but we are in the worst budget crisis, since I started teaching 15 years ago. 720 teachers are receiving pink slips. Technology is not important. That does not mean that I cannot take baby steps. This particular GAME Plan has allowed me to bring a vision to my school about technology. I think my vision needs to be succinct and more exact. I am not even sure what a school with 21st century skills looks like. I still need to do some research on technology in the classroom. There seems like so much to do and not enough resources, but again taking baby steps helps a lot. I seen a difference with teachers at least talking about technology. I have to say that there is not a lot of exitement. One Planning Day a month was passed at our site, so I am hoping that we can show case a technology tool each month. Many teachers on my campus are like me prior to taking this masters program. Clueless about technology. Hopefully a monthly tech tool will be a start to showing the benefits of technology.

I would like to improve is 3c. communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats. I have added emails that I send to all the students, parents, and teachers on campus. I am the Student Council advisor and a weekly update on what events for the week are sent out. I have received a lot of emails with questions and comments. This appears to be helping with informing our community about events. I really feel like a need another teacher to join me on this quest. I have not lost my focus or excitement, but I need help. This sounds like another goal.
Technology has become priority and I have learned the importance of utilizing technology. The GAME Plan showed me a way to utilize reflection in a easy way. The NETS standards help to focus on what should be priority and what should be taught to the students and what teachers should use in the classroom to teach 21st century skills.

Week 7 GAME Plan Reflection

Creating a GAME Plan and taking action to complete the NET-S goal is beneficial for myself as a teacher, but the students benefits greatly as well. 21st century skills are expected and needed for students to succeed in the current and future job world. The NETS-S focus on critical thinking skills, creating original work, collaborating with peers, and proficiency with technology. My GAME Plan focuses on inspiring the school to embrace technology. Teach the staff about the importance of technology. This goal is the first step to having technology in the forefront of our school and hopefully district. With the GAME plan the students will learn Goals, how to take Action, Continue to monitor progress, and Evaluate the work. The GAME plan allows teachers and students to have a common focus to allow higher level teaching to occur. Reflection is a necessary skill to succeed. The GAME plan is a great reflective tool. Technology is a great tool, but the students need to be taught how to critically think, which is how the GAME plan helps NETS-S standards.

Week 6 GAME Plan Reflection

This week, really nothing has changed from last week. I am working with the staff to have computer classes for all 6th grade students next year, and have technology as a priority on campus and have teacher training on the planning days next year. We just received notice of 400 teachers that will be laid off next year and several other budget cuts. California is in trouble. It is difficult to have teachers focus on technology when such drastic measures are being taken to reduce the budget deficit.
I have learned the importance of implementing and "lobbying" for technology to be priority, in order to prepare our students for the 21st century.
As far as creating new goals, I need to find ways to collaborate with my colleagues. I need to have a group of core teachers that are focused on technology. I have found that if I become a "master" on one specific goal instead of adding additional goals, I am able to learn how to effectively use it in the classroom. Trying to have technology at my school is the first step that must be completed. Vicki Davis, who has the blog CoolCat, and is from our video this week, works at a school, and district that supports technology. The entire school appears to teach 21st century skills as a school. It is not just one teacher that does not have the proper equipment and support from staff. I believe, my goal to have colleagues work as a team to bring technology in the forefront must be done to be successful.

Week 5 Evaluate Progress on GAME Plan

My goal is to incorporate technology into the curriculum for all students. As previously described my school is along way from utilizing technology. I feel like the goal is and will be successful. There are still some important topics that need to be addressed. The first big hurdle that needs to be tackled is allowing all students to learn and use computers. The music program as not been changes for next year, and we only have one computer teacher. One computer teacher can not teach the 6th grade class of 440 students. We need another computer teacher. With our budget cuts, this will be difficult. The other problem which has been addressed, but not solved is reworking the music program. Both of these topics have been discussed with the principal and other teachers.
The two planning days each month will help with training staff on how to use technology. I great suggestion from one of my fellow Walden colleagues suggested having high school students come and train the teachers. Great idea. I have already talked to the principal about this.

I have not directly learned a lot to add to my instructional practice with my GAME Plan, but In the long run all teachers including myself with benefit from bringing technology to the forefront.

Some questions that has arisen are how and when will our technology be upgraded? When will the 21st century upgrade plan for our district take place? What type of technology should be taught to the teachers? How will the students have the opportunity to use technology?

I adjusted my plan last week and feel that additional adjustment is not necessary as of yet. I have some action to take, prior to additional adjustment.

GAME Plan Evaluation

What have I learned so far? Well, I just went to a meeting today that voted in plannning days for next year. This means that we get out at 1:30 twice a month. The time is going to be used for planning and teacher training, including technology. The goal was to have a new technology taught each month, and with planning days it is possible. The goal to have all 6th grade students take computer class is not doing well. However, I was told of a possible schedule change, which would allow all students to take a technolgy elective, by adding another class to teachers. This would have to be voted on, but the times and possible 'kinks" were discussed with colleagues. I have met with the principal and discussed the district technology plan to implement 21st century skills into the classroom. When I first read the tech plan I was impressed that I understood the plan. I have learned a lot in these classes, and seeing the plan and explaining to the principal the tech plan was proof of how much I have learned. The plan does not have a time line as far as when this should be implemented, but it is a start. I do not have time or the resources to currently check into grants. I will need to table finding the grants until I have in place 6th grade training, and teacher training. It is a catch tweny two. Without new and improved technology, you cannot teach new and improved things.

Tools Needed For GAME Plan

Before I start my posting about my needed tools you are probably wondering what the picture represents. Well, I could say that it shows the necessity to have the proper tools to be successful or I could tell the truth and wanted to see how to post a picture.
What have I done about my GAME plan thus far. I have talked with the principal about having all students take computers next year and have requested we discuss this at our meetings. Unfortunately, the staff is focusing on two glaring problems or problems that the teachers have deemed important, which are planning days for next year and action teams. Technolgy is not priority.
In order to carry out my GAME plan, I will need to do some research on the importance of technology in the classroom. Have statistics of the benefits of using technology. My school needs to have all students learning and using technology, but our music programs schedule does not allow all student to take computers. Specific examples of how technology directly benefits the students will be needed to present to the administration and staff. Samples of 21st century skills will be needed for the presentation. Possibly share a skill or specific technology tool each month to show case how it benefits students would help the teachers obtain information in pieces instead of one chunk of information.
The district has a 21st century plan on the web site, but the principal and other teachers that I have spoke to have never heard of the plan. This will need to be studied and presented to the staff. The plan shows the importance of technology in the classroom, which should be used now, not later.
I will need to find out about possible grants that can be used to get some technology onto our campus. Our computer teacher uses 15 year old computers, which does not allow him to use up-to-date programs.
Our campus does have some experts about technology, so it is important that I talk with them to create a sense of importance and to get some needed help. It is so much easier and efficient to collaborate with your colleagues. This creates a united front.

GAME Plan

The ISTE created the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS•T)
and Performance Indicators for Teachers. After reviewing the standards I realized I am not an expert at any of them. I feel most comfortable or knowledgeable with the first standard Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity. I have found some ways to incorporate technology into the classroom, but a lot more is needed. The first standard I chose deals with a glaring issue on my campus. Lack of technology. I felt that focusing on how to expand and bring the community together was the most important standard (5b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others) In order to make change on my campus, it is important to share a vision with staff members and the community. Knowledge is power. Just today I had a conversation with another teacher that attempted to use the computer lab, but several computers were broken. The focus on campus needs to be technology, which will allow 21st century skills to be taught in school. What action should be taken? We have staff meetings which could be used to discuss technology. The master schedule is the first item to tackle. At my school our full time music program does not allow all students to participate in computers. This needs to be changed. I need to do some research on possible schedules to use, so that all students have computer class. I would also need to evaluate the research and see if additional information is needed to find a schedule that works.

Another standard that I would like to improve is 3c. communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats. I already use School Loop as a form of communication, but I would like to announce a "town meeting" to come up with ways to bring technology to our school. There are web cams, video links and many more things that can be used to communicate digitally. This is a long term goal that cannot be started until my school decides to put priority on technology. Honestly, this year is the most difficult financially, that I have ever seen in 14 years, ,and next year in suppose to be even worse with more budget cuts. This entire school year we have focused on trying to find equability on our campus. (adjunct duty, discipline, and planning days) Technology is not the focus.