Reflection

In our school, we teach social studies one day and science the next.  Whenever possible, I try to teach more than one content area in a lesson.  Communities are started in a certain location for a reason.  Depending on the type community changes their way of life.  Weather affects people’s lives daily.  When a natural disaster occurs their life is drastically changed.  I want the students to understand how weather and storm change people’s lives and how people overcome the destruction of the storm.  Throughout this unit, the students are using multiple programs of technology to learn and present their knowledge.  Presenting their knowledge allows the students to hear information in their terms and for the students presenting to take pride in their worik and want to present the correct information allowing deeper learning.

When writing lesson plans, I am more focused on the technology.  The students should learn to teach themselves information and technology is a good resource for information.  There are many different programs to teach the same thing which allows all types of learners to learn.  I will try to use technology in every section of the lesson.

Week 4

I have been trying to decide which standard I wanted to complete for the GAME plan.  I think I decided on the natural disasters.  My goal is for students to understand what happens to a community when a natural disaster tears it apart.  The students have the Oklahoma tornado in their minds.  The students are going to create a VoiceThread.  I am finding resources; however, I want to find more interactive resources for elementary students and also to help my struggling learners.  I need to figure out timing of the project.  I feel as though I only have a little time in the classroom because it is not my class that I am afraid I am making the project too big or too complicated. 

Game Plan -Week 3

Resources:

·         Word processing

·         Web blog

·         e-books

·         collaborative databases

·         concept-maps of student’s choosing

·         grouping of the students

I need to know the students’ reading level so I can put them into groups.  I also need to know how much time they are able to access the computer and internet to complete the assignment.

 

I have been able to talk to the teacher about what they students are learning in the classroom.  I have learned what they had done within their literacy groups.  I was able to see the lay out of the classroom.  There are only three computers, however, there is a computer lab the students visit twice a week and it able to be reserved by classes. 

Ideas for improving and strengthening my GAME plan by understanding the NST-T standard:

NETS-T 1

I want to encourage the students to explore real-world issues.  In social studies, we are discussion creating a community and natural resources.  With the storms that have been hitting the United States in the past few years, I want the students to learn about the storms effects on the community and how the communities are rebuilding.  I want the students to use a communication tool to explain what they have learned.  We will complete one storm together and then I will have the students choose another natural disaster.  As the students are able to research real-world issue, I will ask them to complete a real-world event every week.  They will have to use a digital tool to present the event. 

 

NETS-T 2

In my past lesson plans, I was taught to always put technology in the lesson.  Whether it be the independent practice, a video, or a reteach program.  Now, I am starting to think about technology as important as the explanation.  Technology is supposed to be used in as many steps of the lesson as possible.  There are many digital tools that can be used for each subject.  I want to learn about all the tools that are able to help teach the students.  I also want the students to be able to use the tools independently and complete their own learning on topics that they are interested in.  If I can make learning fun and interesting, I can encourage and motivate my students to learn and succeed.

 

NETS-T 3

In this century, there are multiple ways for the parents to interact with the teacher and be aware of how their student is doing.  The parents used to have to write a paper note or leave a voicemail and although those are still ways of communication, technology has also brought parents closer into the classroom.  The parents can now e-mail the teacher.  The schools create websites and every teacher has their own page.  The parents can visit the teacher’s page to find out what is happening in the classroom and what their child is learning.  The school also has a program for the parents to access their student’s grades.  The parents no longer have to wait until the progress report or report card to come out to know the child’s grades.  The parents will be able to know the grades and work missing help parents become more involved in their child’s education. 

 

 

 

Reference:

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers

Mother's Day

I hope everyone had a great weekend and Mother's Day.  Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there.  

What a busy week.  Week one is done along with one of the busiest days/weekends in the restaurant world.  

I am excited for what we will be learning in the next few weeks awhile getting closer to completing my Master's.

Happy Learning!! :)

Reflection

After taking this course, I have learned about how to use different programs to use in the classroom.  I got to use the blog and podcast which I have never used before.  I wish that we used the wiki more to understand how it can be used in the classroom.  With only accessing it that week, I did not get the full affect.  The course has made me knowledge that the world and classroom are changing.  We need to keep up with the changing environment to help our student succeed in society and with academics.  They are digital natives and we need to use that to our advantage to keep them engaged in the classroom. In the past the classroom has been teacher centered, the teacher was in charge of the whole lesson.  Now classrooms are more learner centered.  The learners need to gain the information and from each other.  They will use the resources around them to learn.  I will keep myself updated about the new programs and equipment that can be used in the classroom to help students learn.

Within two years, I hope to have my own classroom in which every lesson incorporates technology.  I want to include blogs and podcasts to share thoughts, questions, ideas, summaries, and reviews. 

21st Century Skills

As the world around us changes, so should our education.  The educational field needs to have updated standards for the content that needs to be taught in the classroom and the use of technology.  The goal is for students to have to skills and knowledge they need not only to succeed in school but also in their environment and life.  The website Partnership for 21st Century Skills allows the teachers to get examples and guided to implanting the new common core standards.  The standards are created with higher order thinking. 

I believe that the standards should be the same throughout the nation.  By every state having common standards, all grades are learning the same content at the same time.  If the student moves during the school year, the students should not be behind or ahead of another school.  This also means that all schools should have the same expectations for their students and the nation should have the same expectations on their schools.