The standards that I feel most comfortable with are Communication and Collaboration, and Research and Information Fluency. Students in my 8th grade language arts class use digital media to communicate and work collaboratively through presentations and online discussion groups. They use applications such as iMovie, Garage Band, iPhoto, and Gaggle Students present information through the form of book reviews, newscasts, character monologues, etc. Recently, students have used Gaggle to chat about the immigration novels they are reading.
Our 8th grade students also write a 5-7 page research paper about Illinois history. Through this assignment students use digital tools to gather, evaluate, synthesize, and use ideas from a variety of sources and media. Students create a formal research paper with note cards, thesis and outline, bibliography, and end notes. Students also use their research to create a visual display or a technology presentation.
One standard that I feel I need to work on is Digital Citizenship. Recently we conducted a school wide on internet safety. This is the first time I recall doing this in the four years our students have had their laptops. Another area I do not feel as proficient in is Technology Operations and Concepts. Even though our students are pretty good with the applications on their laptops, I feel that they could use work on some of the other indicators.
Since every student in my class has their own laptop, it makes coming up with a GAME plan quite easy.
Goals
- Students will practice safe, legal, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.
- Students will exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.
- Students will troubleshoot systems and applications.
- Students will transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies.
Action
- Have a speaker come in to talk to the classes about internet safety.
- Have community mentors come in to talk about different careers in technology.
- Have students also do fun activities with technology such as chatting on Gaggle about different classroom assignments such as literature discussions.
- Train a team of students on troubleshooting techniques and have them work with students having technical problems.
- Have district technology support staff come into the classroom to teach lessons on new technologies and updated applications.
Monitor
- When using Gaggle to chat about their novel, are students practicing legal and ethical behavior?
- Can students discuss different careers that involve technology?
- Can students participate in appropriate conversations through chatting online?
- Can students learn different troubleshooting techniques and then use these techniques to help/teach others what to do when experiencing technical difficulty?
- Can students learn new applications and adapt to updates on previous applications?
Evaluate and Extend
- Are students attentive during presentations of visitors?
- Can students take the knowledge they have acquired and use it appropriately?
- Can students use Gaggle appropriately and effectively?
Hi Terri,
ReplyDeleteGAME looks very good; it makes me envious that you have laptops in your classroom! I was wondering who you might have come in to discuss internet safety; would it be school personal or someone else? I think in your monitor phase you do something really neat; have kids look for different careers that involve technology. Doing this takes away the students' ability to ask "Why do we have to do this."
Hello Terri,
ReplyDeleteYour GAME plan is very structured and straight-forward. It seems that student success is the ultimate focus of your game plan. Since this is the case I would suggest that you also have your students develop their own GAME plans. This would allow them the opportunity to become self-directed learners, and would motivate them to achieve the goals they have set. Of course you would discuss what your goals are for them as a whole before they create their own GAME plans, but giving them a sense of ownership would make them feel they are a part of the process. When students are actively engaged in their own learning it makes the teacher's job much easier.
Hi Terri. I agree with the other posters that your GAME looks good. I am also wishing I had laptops for each student, or even ones that work! How wonderful to have this advantage! I think your goals to teach internet safety are great. In our system, instead of teaching internet safety, we just block the sites we do not want them to use and pretent they will never ever see them, even on thier own! I think this is just turning a blind eye and is a very ignorant approach. I admire you and all you will do to teach your students the best way to use technology!
ReplyDeleteTerri,
ReplyDeleteInstead of having a speaker come in you can always explain to the students from your own perspective. I think the students will feel more confortable talking to you rather then a stranger. I know from these courses I have learned alot about internet safety and I am sure you have as well. Its just an idea to make sure you game plan is on time and going smoothly. :)
Stephanie Best
Terri,
ReplyDeleteWOW! Impresive GAME.
The use of gaggle as a filter for safe students search online is a good Idea.. I heard about it at the beginning of the year, when the whole computer system at school be renewed, will get it. the idea of having community mentors come in to talk about different careers in technology is fabulous. Students need to ask questions to the experts and each area. Good Luck.
The idea of
I forgot to edit for the word impressive, sorry
ReplyDeleteClint,
ReplyDeleteEven though we have people in our district technology department who could teach this lesson, I would prefer to have someone from outside the school district talk to the students. Our students are very familiar with our district technology people, as they are always coming to our classrooms to teach different technology skills. I would probably ask someone from the police department come in to talk to the students. I have heard their presentation on internet safety and it is pretty shocking. I think the shock factor would be an eye opener to the students.
Alicia,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to have students involved in crating the game plan! You are right, if they help to create it they have more ownership and are more likely to take it seriously.
Arielle,
ReplyDeleteI do feel very lucky to have the laptops! We also have sites that are blocked. I also feel like this is just turning a blind eye. We need to teach students how to react when they come across an inappropriate site.
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteSince I talk to students about this type of thing all the time, I think they would be more attentive if someone from outside the classroom came in to talk about this. I have listened to a police office speak on this before and they can talk about their first hand experience with this type of thing. I think it is much more believable to students to hear it from someone other than their teacher.
Juan,
ReplyDeleteWe used Gaggle for the first time last Friday. Students chatted with their group about their predictions for the novel. They loved it! My only frustration at this point is not being able to print out their discussion when they are done. We have yet to figure this out.
Terri,
ReplyDeleteHave you tried Photo Story 3?. Photo Story 3, is a free program from Microsoft, makes it easy to add music, narration, titles, and special effects to turn your photos and images into movies. Help to promote literacy skills across grade levels and content areas by becoming a digital story teller. It is easy and it is fun. Students need to bring their own digital photos or you can work with sample files that will be provided. The final product can be recorded on a CD on any other electronic device. My daughter worked in a project about the crusades and Marco Polo, was fun, also try http://www.scratch.mit.edu you’ll be surprise with students creativity. Good Luck.
Terri,
ReplyDeleteHave you tried Photo Story 3?. Photo Story 3, is a free program from Microsoft, makes it easy to add music, narration, titles, and special effects to turn your photos and images into movies. Help to promote literacy skills across grade levels and content areas by becoming a digital story teller. It is easy and it is fun. Students need to bring their own digital photos or you can work with sample files that will be provided. The final product can be recorded on a CD on any other electronic device. My daughter worked in a project about the crusades and Marco Polo, was fun, also try http://www.scratch.mit.edu you’ll be surprise with students creativity. Good Luck.