I believe I have most of the materials needed to carry out my GAME plan. We have the computers and wireless internet access throughout the building. However there are some things I am still working on such as having my students return the permission slips from their parents saying it is ok for them to participate in a class blog. Once I get the green light from that I will definitely have my students create their blogs. I am in the process of creating podcasts for my lessons. That way when I give them a particular assignment to do based on a particular topic they can always play it back to hear so that I will not have to repeat to them seven times and they can listen at their own convenience. I also want them to set up an account with Delicious.com which will help them to organize their research, if they have to do a search on a particular topic.
I am still thinking about how to get my coworkers to try this in their class. Many of them will tell me that our students do not respect property in that they will try to take the keys out of the computers and or steal stuff. I am going to encourage the ones I know will implement technology in their class by showing them how to use a voicethread or to use delicious as a search engine. I am not sure how to encourage my English coworker how to use this in her classroom as yet but I am slowly putting it together. My principal suggested I do a Professional Development on Technology and I told in sure. We should be doing it on the next PD day.
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I attended a workshop on blogs and was very concerned with what I saw. We learned one week later the blog was shut down. Remember to show the Teachers the Controls. Nothing gets published for public viewing unless the teacher allows it.
ReplyDeleteFor my district it is also important that the teachers learn to write open ended questions that students can discuss and debate. Not a question that it answered by the first two posts and the rest of the students copy.
I'd also suggest that you try to make your presentation interactive. Teachers are not the best students but if they are engaged and involved they can really produce some great ideas. Ideas they will use. Not ideas to put in a folder. Good Luck.
Good Luck on your PD presentation! As of right now, we have so many restrictions-we aren't allowed to have class blogs at this time. I think creating podcasts for students to use is a wonderful idea! I haven't created any for my students, but starting next week, my students will be creating their first-those that have permission of course. For some students, repetition is key to learning and using a podcast is a great tool for this. I like the idea of using open-ended questions for blogging-it will really allow students to use their critical thinking skills.
ReplyDeleteI can really relate with you about the difficulties of encouraging co-workers to try some new technology ideas! There will always be challenges, which my colleagues are quick to point out, but the only way to know if an idea will work well with students is through trial and error. I commend you for sticking with your ideas and getting approval from your administration. I hope you motivate your co-workers during your PD and are able to show them all the opportunities that technology, such as blogs, have to offer!
ReplyDeleteNeclisha,
ReplyDeleteI believe your students will be excited to create their blogs. What site are you using for this project? Creating a podcast I believe will be beneficial for your students as you mentioned that some students might need to hear a lesson more than one time to understand it better. Allowing those students to get the extra time they need can only help them in their learning. When are you planning on having your students listen to your podcast? Will it be during school time when they have free time or would it be when everyone has a computer like in a computer lab?
I have been using Delicious for a while and I find this tool very helpful. I have all my sites organized by subject so when I need to find something I just look like in my science tags. The great thing about a social site like Delicious is that you can access your listing from any computer anywhere. I learned about this site through one of my classes at Walden. Is this how you found out about it too?
Good luck with you GAME Plan.
Yolanda
I think it is great that you are trying to get your coworkers to integrate technology into their own classrooms. I have tried also and ended up with the same results. I did a cute little blogging project with my kindergarteners and my fellow teachers were very skeptical. However, once the project was over and they saw how wonderful it turned out I think they may be coming around. It is a little more difficult using technology with 5 year olds but the outcome is well worth the trouble. Keep on your coworkers they will come around. Good Luck with your GAME plan!!
ReplyDeleteAdriane