After looking at the ISTE NETS and Performance Indicators for Teachers, there were a couple indicators that I feel I could work on to become more proficient in teaching those indicators. In an effort to become confident with these indicators, I will develop a GAME Plan (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009). In my plan, I will establish a Goal, decide what Action to take, determine how to Monitor my plan, and finally Evaluate my effectiveness of my plan.
The first indicator that I will discuss falls under category 1d. “model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments”. In order to gain more proficiency in virtual environments, I will incorporate online discussions in at least 4 discussions. As my action plan, I will sign up for a blogging sight and require my students to do the same. Each blog will have a certain topic discussed and each student will have a minimum requirement of posts they must make. I will monitor the effectiveness of the posts by student participation and my effectiveness to keep students interested. Finally, I will evaluate myself and my own ability to facilitate the blogs. I will also reflect on my comprehension of using and setting up blogs.
The second indicator that I will try to become more proficient in 4a. “advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources”. My goal towards reaching proficiency is to not only monitor my own use of digital information and technology, but to conduct research projects with my students that stress the importance of appropriate use of the Internet. My action plan will first include myself giving credit to any and all sources I use with my students as an effort to model proper citation of materials. The second action I will take is to have my students complete a research paper where I will again model proper citation methods to my students and stress the importance of crediting others when using their work. I will monitor my plan by periodically checking students’ papers to make sure that all sources are cited correctly and I will also monitor students’ use of the computers while they are completing the assignment. I will evaluate my effectiveness by double checking all my own resources for citation and I will also check my effectiveness of teaching proper citation in my students’ papers.
So, these are my thought…please let me know what you think and offer any further guidance. I will do the same!!!
Justin
References:
References:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved November 5, 2011, fromhttp://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx
I think you have an effective GAME plan in place. Two aspects of the plan jumped out at me right away. My first question relates to your blogging action plan for you and your students. Do you have a specific plan in mind to accomplish this with your students? Will you set up some sort of rubric with posting requirements, or will monitoring take the shape of informal observations? Will you tie some sort of writing requirements to this first attempt at blogging or will this be a “trial run” with less focus on writing styles and more focus on participation? Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer (2009) recommend the use of clearly stated guidelines and objectives and I can personally testify to the need for these. I did try a blog – maybe a better description is a discussion board on the school website - two years ago with one of my senior classes. Our initial attempt was fairly open-ended without a lot of rules and regulations. It was an epic failure. Without a rubric that outlined detailed expectations for participation, expectations about appropriate postings, and writing components, the students literally ran amok. It took some time to teach students that their discussion posts were published works. Prensky (2008, March) tells us that we need to, “Give students the opportunity to use technology in school” (p. 43). Allowing your students to use the type of technology they will have to use in the workforce is a superb way to give them a head start on those vital digital skills. I know that my students definitely have better technological skills that I do; however, I can teach them to use those skills appropriately and effectively. Your plan to blog with your students will also allow you to demonstrate the effective use of digital media.
ReplyDeleteThe second part of your post that impressed me was your plan to model the need to properly credit sources. That is one aspect of the Internet that many students just do not understand. The other day I used a lesson plan on sentence fragments that I got from a teacher in Mississippi. When I told my junior high students that the idea for the chart was not mine, but came from someone else they were amazed that I bothered to tell them. It was a perfect opportunity for a discussion about intellectual property and giving credit for one’s ideas. I admire your willingness to address this issue with your students. We can talk about plagiarism until we are blue in the face, but once educators start giving credit for the sources they use – essays, handouts, photos in slide presentations, or even information discussed in class – our students will start to pay attention.
Kelly C.
References:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Prensky, M. (2008). Turning on the lights. Educational Leadership, 65(6), 40-45. Retrieved from the Academic Search Complete database.
Great question! This blog right here is actually my trial run so I am grateful to be taking part in it. When blogging, I would give my students a rubric that lays out my requirements. This would include both a posting requirement, as well as a component that deals with content including in the post.
ReplyDeleteI think this would be the bare minimum rubric, as I get closer to the actual assignment I can iron out all of the other details.
I think that is probably the best plan. I know that the key for me will be to remain flexible. Because I am also new to the blogging experience, I do not really have an idea what to expect from or for my students.
ReplyDeleteThis could be an exciting adventure - with a lot of twists and turns.