Boy, time is flying by!! This is a busy time of year for me- progress reports, parent conferences, IEP progress reports, homecoming, and the list could goes on! I feel like I have not spent adequate time working on my GAME plan in the last few weeks.
What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instructional practice?
I have learned several things as a result of this GAME plan-
#1- Changes do not occur overnight. It takes time to learn new things- especially in the area of technology. It takes time for some people to "Get on-board" with technology. I have discussed various ways to incorporate new technology into class and some of my co-workers are hesitant or uninterested. One co-teacher feels that technology-based assignments take too much time. Another co-teacher is very traditional and feels that technology-based activities are not needed. How can I help them see the value in technology? How can I help them see the disservice they are doing to our students by refusing to incorporate technology into our classroom?
#2- A person cannot always wait for others to answer questions. Sometimes, a person has to take the initiative to seek out the answers to his/her questions.
#3- A plan does not always come to together as imagined, but it is important to adapt and continue with the plan.
What goals are you still working toward?
I am still working on learning how to use and incorporate web 2.0 tools on my school web page. Also, I am still devising ways to best use these tools in my own classroom. One of my goals was to become familiar with blogging and podcasts through my web page before using them in my classroom. This is going to take time, I think.
Based on the NETS-T, what new learning goals will you set for yourself?
Based on the attitudes of some of my colleagues, I wish to add a new goal to my GAME plan- "exhibit leadership by demonstrating vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others." In other words, I want to teach my co-workers the value of incorporating new technology into the classroom, and show them the value and worth of the skills our students will gain as a result.
I have quite a challenge ahead of me this school year, but I am up to that challenge!
Linda
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Linda,
ReplyDeleteYou are right. It does take time to get used to new technology and it won't come over night. This is true both for students and teachers. In my classes, it took a while for me to get comfortable with how I was going to incorporate the blogs, and it took a while for my students to get comfortable with using them as well. However, once you get past the initial challenges, there is another world open to educators and students. If you want to use blogs in your classes, it might be easy to start slowly. First, I would use blogger since that is what you are personally using and most comfortable. That way you can help students with any issues that come up. You may have already faced them. Second, it might be easy to have students use them as journals. You can have them post a blog once a week. Journals are something students are used to anyway so it will help them become comfortable with blog quicker.
Thanks Matt! I am considering the ways in which I want to use blogs with my students. There are multiple ways in which they could be incorporated; I just have not decided upon which way I want to go. I will apologize if you have explained this before, but do you require your students to blog at home? If they don't have the technology to do so (no internet access, no computer), do they have an opportunity to blog at school? My administration does not like us to assign anything that requires the computer and the internet at home because many of our students are from low-income situations and claim they do not have computers. Therefore I will need to have a back-up plan if I require a blog outside of school.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your support!
Linda
Linda,
ReplyDeleteThe awful reality is that we have no power to convince other teachers to access the technology available to them. I didn't understand this for the longest time, but I have finally come to the conclusion that these "old school teachers" are simply too uncomfortable with the technology. Beyond that, these teachers feel unable to teach students how to use the technology because they themselves feel so inadequate. Not a surprise, when have we in class had a student show us a shortcut? It's sort of fun to me, because I know my students get to gloat a bit. Other teachers however, those less apt with the software, might feel threatened. I'm sure that learning the technology takes time and that time is best invested other ways. I do not, however, have any suggestion on how to best change their minds about the newest and greatest.
-Becca
Their blog assignments last one week per post. This way they have an opportunity to get the work completed at school at some point if they don't have access at school.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Kudos to you for wanting to take on the task of not only learning these tools for yourself but also teaching others outside of the Walden classroom how to use them as well. I have come to realize that there are many teachers in my school who are stuck in their ways and see change as an exhausting task which will put all of the work they already accomplished on the back burner. It is important for teachers to realize that change is good for students who are growing up in a rapidly changing world when it comes to technology. I have learned to seek out the teachers who I know are using new technologies and learn from them as well as teach others who are interested. For instance, the teacher across the hall from me is notorious for putting his lessons onto his website in podcast form so students can watch them again when studying for exams. I would love to learn more about podcasting from him! I have also intrigued the other English teachers with blogging due to the successful experience I had last year when I incorporated it into my Secret Life of Bees unit. Many of them are considering using this tool this year and have come to me for advice. I do not know if you can change the minds of those reluctant teachers, but remember to surround yourself with positivity because that is one of the key factors which will drive your discovery and success in your classroom!