My GAME plan was to use a blog to improve student essays. My school’s computer lab is still not ready. All of the computers have been set up, but we are awaiting a server; so my project is on hold until then. However, I have planned out the format and laid the groundwork for the project. I am going to begin by posting a sample essay on a blog space and having the students post comments. I will then use the Smartboard to review and discuss the process of peer-editing and critiquing. This meets the NETS of “modeling collaborative knowledge construction” and will set the groundwork to promote student collaboration on the internet (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008).
This is a modification to my original action plan, which will, I believe, make it run more smoothly when the students post their own papers for peer-review. One new question that came to mind with this is how to ensure that every student paper receives at least one peer-response. I would also like to figure out if I can make my comments stand out more from the students. I suppose simply using bold type would help.
I think this project will be a great way to provide cognitive feedback for my students. Cennamo et al (2009) describe cognitive feedback as “feedback that helps students develop a better understanding of what is expected for performance, how their current understanding or skill levels compare to those expectations, and how they might improve their performances” (p. 139). The students will be receiving cognitive feedback from both their teacher and their peers, and this should be a valuable learning experience that, while possible without technology, is definitely enhanced and improved by technology.
References:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). The ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-T) and Performance Indicators for Teachers. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners
In today’s classrooms we often see students with a wide array of ability levels and learning styles. In my classrooms I see students with such a diversity of ability levels that it can be quite challenging to meet their needs. On top of this there are special education students in most of my classrooms, each of whom has their own Individual Education Plan. It’s much easier when you only have twenty or so students in the class, but becomes much more of a problem when there are thirty or more students in the class. And on top of this we have to meet state-mandated curriculum requirements.
However, we have an advantage in contemporary society. Technology makes it easier for us to make the curriculum more accessible to all of our students. Even in schools that do not have the newest and best technologies, there is a wealth of helpful resources out there on the internet: many of which are free. For example, the website Education with Technology (http://eduwithtechn.wordpress.com) offers free graphic organizer software. Graphic organizers can be a great way to help our students with special needs, as well as our best and brightest students. The Education with Technology website also offers many other ways to utilize technology in the classroom. And it is far from the only website to offer teachers help in putting technology to use to help our students learn.
However, we have an advantage in contemporary society. Technology makes it easier for us to make the curriculum more accessible to all of our students. Even in schools that do not have the newest and best technologies, there is a wealth of helpful resources out there on the internet: many of which are free. For example, the website Education with Technology (http://eduwithtechn.wordpress.com) offers free graphic organizer software. Graphic organizers can be a great way to help our students with special needs, as well as our best and brightest students. The Education with Technology website also offers many other ways to utilize technology in the classroom. And it is far from the only website to offer teachers help in putting technology to use to help our students learn.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Meeting the National Education Technology Standards
Working in a school with limited technological capabilities (many of my students do not have home internet access, our computer lab is currently empty of computers (although they are in the school and waiting to be set up), and there is only one computer in my classroom) I feel I have a lot of obstacles in my way to utilize technology to improve student learning. However, I do feel it is essential to work towards utilizing technology in my class to improve student learning.
The first National Education Technology Standard I would like to tackle is to Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008). The first indicator I would like to strengthen confidence in is to “promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning,
and creative processes”( International Society for Technology in Education, 2008). I haven’t used technology for much more than research projects, and while I do feel that these projects are one of , if not the, most important ways to utilize technology, I would like to do more. I would like to have my students collaborate on writing projects via the internet using a blog. This could be a very valuable tool for the students to give and receive feedback, and thus improve their writing.
This also goes hand-in-hand with the second indicator I would like to improve my confidence in, to “model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face to face and virtual environments” (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008). Modeling the process of peer-review and editing via a blog in our computer lab (when it gets set-up) and participating with the students in their blog responses would be a great way to meet this standard.
I do have some reservations about the technological challenges, but, as with any new idea we attempt while teaching, once we try it and work out the kinks, I’m sure it will be a great learning experience. I also think that experimenting with technology with your class is in itself a valuable learning experience for both the teacher and the students.
Reference
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). The ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-T) and Performance Indicators for Teachers. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf
The first National Education Technology Standard I would like to tackle is to Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008). The first indicator I would like to strengthen confidence in is to “promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning,
and creative processes”( International Society for Technology in Education, 2008). I haven’t used technology for much more than research projects, and while I do feel that these projects are one of , if not the, most important ways to utilize technology, I would like to do more. I would like to have my students collaborate on writing projects via the internet using a blog. This could be a very valuable tool for the students to give and receive feedback, and thus improve their writing.
This also goes hand-in-hand with the second indicator I would like to improve my confidence in, to “model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face to face and virtual environments” (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008). Modeling the process of peer-review and editing via a blog in our computer lab (when it gets set-up) and participating with the students in their blog responses would be a great way to meet this standard.
I do have some reservations about the technological challenges, but, as with any new idea we attempt while teaching, once we try it and work out the kinks, I’m sure it will be a great learning experience. I also think that experimenting with technology with your class is in itself a valuable learning experience for both the teacher and the students.
Reference
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). The ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-T) and Performance Indicators for Teachers. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)