Having gone through the GAME process, it is now time for me to review and revise my goals. As of today, I have successfully completed my goal of getting some of my colleagues to see the benefit of technology. Two of them have put in a request for new technology (projectors, video cameras, updated student computers, etc.). We plan on meeting once a month to share ideas and talk about other ways we can support each other. My other goal of creating a classroom website has been put on the back burner while I wait for the district to sort out a plan for classroom websites. In the meantime, I have been playing around with Weebly for Education. I am also compiling an assortment of links, including links to resources I have gained through my collaboration with peers at Walden University.
One of the things I have learned from this process that I can apply to my instructional practice is how to better work with my students in helping them set and work towards goals. Having gone through the GAME process, I can begin to create a classroom where my students are able to work towards becoming more proficient in meeting the National Education Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S). I have also learned to be persistent when working towards a goal. Often times, others may not understand why you might need a certain type of technology in your classroom. Once they see how it can benefit the students, they are less likely to fight the request.
As mentioned above I am still working towards the goal of creating a formal classroom website. I have everything mapped out, but will continue to seek out additional resources. Since I feel that I have accomplished my other goal, I will set a new learning goal using the NETS-T. At this time, I would like to set a goal based on standard 5c which reads, “evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning” (ISTE, 2008). It may sound like a cliché, technology is constantly changing, and new technologies with new implications for our classrooms will become available. I need to stay on top of the research as well as the technologies and the support they may provide student learning. I plan to take a hands-on learning approach with this. I am finding that the more I use the technologies involved the more I feel comfortable in integrating them into the classroom. Who does not enjoy playing with the newest gadgets and programs?
Shannon Eno
Reference:
National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Shannon,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on being the spark that ignited the fuse of two colleagues! While the rest of us were working on our own classrooms, you were truly altruistic and instead of focusing on yourself, took the opportunity to become a mentor to others. That’s just wonderful. And on top of that, instead of coming away with your hands empty, you have changed the way two colleagues look at technology and of course, have also touched the lives of the students those teachers have in their classrooms. You are truly ‘paying it forward’ as the saying goes.
My ITS is a huge fan of weeblies and is trying to get me on board. I believe it’s a great idea but as of now just haven’t ‘wrapped my head’ around how I could integrate it into my technology classroom. That may be an item I tackle my last two classes in the Master’s program.
I’m sorry you’re in a holding pattern with the website. What seems to us to be such a simple request oftentimes becomes bogged down in the redundancy of bureaucracy. Oh, patience, patience… I think showing the benefits of the technology and how it can impact student learning (always the barometer that gets the most attention) will help you convince the district to allow it. Good luck! Anita
Anita,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words. It does seem that the simple requests can often be the hardest to get through the red tape. I thought it would be a simple goal while my goal to work with colleagues on integrating technology would be the harder of the two. The important thing is to keep at it, and as you said, have patience. It is my hope that the more teachers to back the integration of technology, the easier these requests will become.
Shannon Eno
Keep up the good work. I to enjoy playing with new gadgets and ideas. I try to demonstrate how I know about computers and technonlogy in general. I would almost consider it a hobby to look for the latest and greatest in the tech world. If I can share that love then i have a great start to accomplishing my goals.
ReplyDelete