Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Monitoring My GAME Plan Progress

According to Cennamo, Ross and Ertmer (2009), self-directed learners engage in planning, evaluating and monitoring their learning activities. Therefore, as a way to monitor my professional growth and leadership development, I have decided to create an electronic portfolio that demonstrates the technology learning activities used with my students across all content areas. So far, I have begun the process of including in my portfolio interactive Smart Board activities and writing assignments that my students have created on the computer. As the school year continues, I plan to implement a variety of technology related activities students have used to help make learning more engaging and interactive.

In addition, as a way to more efficiently monitor my progress, I have slightly modified my action plan. I have decided to update my electronic portfolio on a weekly basis, instead of monthly. Updating my portfolio weekly allows me the opportunity to include interactive technology activities as I complete my weekly lesson plans. I have learned that integrating technology into the curriculum as I create my lesson plan ensures my students more frequent opportunities to be enriched throughout every school week.

As a way to increase my self-directed learning, I have used more online resources to increase my knowledge and learn new skills about integrating technology across content areas. I have also continued professional dialogue with my colleagues, on a weekly basis, about the interactive technology activities I have used in various subject areas.

The new question I have to explore is how to find more time to incorporate individual use of technology on a weekly basis, instead of just using the interactive Smart Board for whole group lessons. Last year, I used to check out the wireless laptop cart once a week for my students to use as an added piece to their technology integration. Unfortunately, with the way our schedule works this year, I have found it very challenging to find an extended period of the day where I can get the wireless laptop cart, set it up and allow time for students to work independently. I may have to sign up for the computer lab that is already set up with computers instead of bringing the wireless laptop cart to my classroom. Although the students thought it was cool to have laptops in the classroom once a week, this year’s students may have to experience the computers in a different way due to less flexibility in our class schedule this year.

Reference

Cennamo, K., Ross J., and Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

9 comments:

  1. The best way to succeed is to have a plan and you have a great one. It is important that we change the way we do things because it does make a difference. I too have changed the way I do certain things this year. I decided to input my grades daily into my engrade account instead of waiting. It has made such a difference in how my planning progresses.yolette

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  2. Jewel,
    Keeping an electronic portfolio is a great idea! I have had some very successful lessons over the years and keeping a portfolio is a way to keep track of these lessons so that they will be ready to use the next year. Is it difficult finding the time to keep up with this portfolio? You are doing such a great job of implementing your GAME plan!

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  3. Jewel,
    Many of the teachers in my school also have problems gaining access to computers. We do not have access to a wireless laptop cart. Most have to try to reserve the computer lab. It makes it difficult to incorporate technology into the classroom when resources are limited.

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  4. Yolette, I like your idea of inputing your grades daily. I usually wait until the last minute and it catches up with me every time report cards come around. I will take your approach and see how well I can maintain it.

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  5. Angie,

    When I do my lesson plans on the computer every week, I make it a special effort to include interactive activities in my electronic portfolio that I plan to teach each week. Since I am updating my electronic portfolio as I do my lesson plans, it doesn't seem like I am spending any more extra time than before. So far, this approach has worked well for me.

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  6. Susie,

    That's very true. When we have limited resources, incorporating technology into the classroom can be very challenging. I would say to hang on in there and use what you have to the fullest.

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  7. Jewel,
    I thinkg the modification you made was needed. It is easier to do that weekly and gather the data. The problem with the wireless cart is one that I have found very frustrating myself. It takes so long to set them up. I actually like the computer lab.
    Brandy

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  8. Hi Jewel,

    Moving from monthly to weekly updates is a good move. Even if there is no updates in a given week it will give you a chance to reflect more frequently.
    One question, are you basing everything on Smart Board interactive activities?

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  9. Hi Jewel,
    That's a great idea! I am definitely going to have to start an electronic portfolio. We are learning so much and I need to store all of it and use it again! Thanks.

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