Reflection on Reaching and Engaging all Learners through Technology

There are several adaptations that I anticipate incorporating into my computer classroom. The three new approaches of technology that I plan on utilizing are online surveys, voice threading, and animations. Along with the current computer classroom technology, the three adaptations are key components necessary in supporting and converting my computer classroom into a successful differentiated classroom.

At the beginning of the next school year, I plan to administer the technology online survey that I created for Reaching and Engaging all Learners through Technology course to my elementary third through fifth grade students. This survey will provide me feedback on the skill level and capabilities of these elementary students so I can adjust my lesson plans as necessary. Additionally, throughout the school year, I plan to administer online assessments to check for student understanding on various software programs.

Another software application that I plan to implement into my computer classroom is voice threading. When students create a project that requires a presentation, they will be acquired to complete a written report and provide a recorded presentation for that written report. This method will support the visual and auditory learners because the project will be visible utilizing the computer classroom Smart Board and auditory with the voice thread. Additionally, many students will benefit from the voice threading to over come their public speaking fears when presenting their project in front of their peers.

The final technology that I plan to introduce to my computer students is animation which is obtained from an online animated website. Normally the computer students utilize Microsoft Power Point to create all their projects for presentation but after completion of this course material, I believe that the inclusion of animation into my computer classroom will instill a renewed learning interest and excitement in my students.

Reflection on Game Plan

This course of Integrating Technology into Content Areas has been very informational and offered several technological ideas that are easily implemented into my computer classroom. The GAME plan concept provides one the opportunity to set goals, reflect on the progress you are making towards the goals that have been set, and make changes to those goals when needed. The GAME plan has been a beneficial tool for myself in setting goals and compelling me to follow through with those set goals. By implementing the GAME plan, I will be able to create lesson plans that provides the students the opportunity to obtain the technology skills that are stated in Ohio's Technology Standards. An adjustment to my classroom that I would like to implement is to establish a new GAME plan for each nine weeks and a more significant GAME plan for the year.

Using the GAME Plan Process with Students

The GAME plan has proven to be a beneficial tool for myself and promises to be a major benefit for my computer students. The steps of the GAME plan provides you the opportunity to reflect on the progress being made towards the goal that has been set and permits changes when needed. Incorporation of the GAME plan within various projects provides a valuable tool for students because it will keep them on task and assist with the necessary steps in achieving the goal that they have set.

When reviewing the NETS-S, I recognized that my computer students perform many of these standards almost on a daily basis but may not be proficient in accomplishing the standards. By implementing the GAME plan, I will be able to create lessons that provide the students the opportunity to obtain these skills. When the students are assigned a computer project, they can develop their own GAME plan to assist them in completing their computer assignment.

Revising the GAME Plan

The GAME plan process has been beneficial in my classroom because the plan directs one to set a goal, monitor, and evaluate the plan throughout the process. This methid is helpful for my needs because it causes me to reflect on my lessons and raises attentiveness towards making adjustments as needed.

The most useful goal that I set for myself is "developing technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and becoming active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress" (ISTE, 2008). This standards allows diverse students to become invovled in their own learning process.

I would like to set a new goal to "promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility" (ISTE, 2008). My students utilize the Internet frequently to search and locate information pertinent to their various project requirements. Citing sources is an essential part of their requirements and I consistently stress the importance of citing sources and avoiding plagiarism but I do not model digital responsibility. When I demonstrate a project example to the students, I fail to annotate my resources. I have been setting the wrong example to my students because the need to observe the proper method of citing resources applies to both student and teacher alike.

I would like to introduce the inquiry/discovery method into various computer projects that I currently utilize. The normal procedure in the classroom involves the students being provided a computer assignment along with the questions regarding the subject that they must discover. With the inquiry/discovery method, the students are provided the topic subject and they are responsible in developing their own questions, which promotes creativity development in the student.

ISTE (2008). The National Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Teachers. www.iste.org

Evaluating Your GAME Plan Progress

My first goal that I would like to pursue is "developing technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress" (ISTE, 2008). I believe that the progress that I have achieved towards my goal of providing my students the opportunity to voice their opinion on areas or activities that they would like to address in the computer classroom is moving in the right direction. A comment made by a colleague has caused me to reconsider a portion of my goal resulting in my increasing the limitations to student choices. When I publish my list of the content material for the fourth and fifth grade students, I will organize the list by core subject areas. When the students select content areas that they would like to explore, they will only be permitted to select two areas that they would like to explore from each core subject area. From the students responses, I will determine which content areas the students are most interested n investigating and then create lesson plans. The additional goal of establishing a course management system is not progressing as anticipated because of the time required to learn the functions and capabilities of Moodle. The goal of establishing a classroom Moodle page is expected during the Thanksgiving break.

Another goal that I am attempting to accomplish is "model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning" (ISTE, 2008). The goal is to implement 21st century technologies into my computer classroom but first I must acquire a change in school policy to initiate this goal. I approached this goal by looking for activities for the students that incorporate 21st century skills to include into my proposal and statistics to reinforce the need for the school policy change. I have experienced difficulty locating statistical information to present to the administration that supports my goal. Upon acquisition of the needed statistical information, I must set up a meeting with the administration.

ISTE (2008). The National Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Teachers. www.iste.org

Monitoring My GAME Plan Progress

My first goal that I would like to pursue is "developing technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress" (ISTE, 2008). I have acquired a list of the content for all subject areas that will be addressed this school year for the fourth and fifth grade students. I will publish a list of this content material for each grade level and distribute the list to each class's students. From the list, the students will select content areas that they are interested in learning and exploring. From the student responses, I must determine which content areas the students are most interested in investigating and then create lesson plans. I have decided to modify my action play by including the students a choice of various forms of completing computer projects. I intend to implement my goal of providing the students the opportunity for more creative freedom during the second nine weeks. The goal t incorporate a course management system like Moodle has progressed through the discovery of the computer hardware specifications list that provides the requirements to operate Moodle. My next step involves evaluating the classroom computers whether they meet the required specification on the Moodle specifications list. If the computers fail to meet the required specifications, I must research my options for acquiring the materials needed to meet the specifications list. If the computers meet the specifications list, then I must develop the classroom Moodle page.

Another goal that I am attempting to accomplish is "model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning" (ISTE, 2008). The goal is to implement 21st century technologies into my computer classroom but first I must acquire a change in school policy to initiate this goal. I must formulate a proposal with statistical information regarding the educational benefits to the students to persuade the administration to change the current policy that prohibits the students' usage of blogs, wikis, e-mail, and social networking sites. If the school's administration disapproves the policy change, then I must re-evaluate my goal and modify my plan.

ISTE (2008). The National Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Teachers. www.iste.org

Carrying Out My GAME Plan

The sections of the standard Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments that I would like to focus my efforts on enhancing is "developing technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress" (ISTE, 2008). My goal is to provide my fourth and fifth grade students the opportunity to voice their opinion on areas or activities that they would like to address in the computer classroom. A resource that I need to acquire is meeting with my colleagues regarding the curriculum that will be addressed in each subject area for the year. Once the list of content has been obtained, then I would provide the students the opportunity to select content areas that they would like to learn and explore. I would develop lesson plans that correspond with the students' suggestions and set up a course management system called Moodle. I have begun to research information regarding the functions and abilities of Moodle using the Internet. I have discovered that Moodle is a free source that can be downloaded to various forms of operating systems. However, I have not found the computer hardware specifications list that provides the requirements to operate Moodle. This information is crucial due to the fact that the computers in my classroom are at least 10 years old.

The goal I would like to set for the standard to Model Digital-Age Work and Learning is improving the area of "model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning" (ISTE, 2008). My goal is to implement 21st century technologies into my computer classroom. First, I must acquire permission from the school's administration to change their policy because many 21st century technologies are currently blocked by the school's filtering system. I must provide statistical information to persuade the administration the educational benefits to the students by changing the current policy. If I am given permission, then I must approach the technology coordinator to bypass the filtering system for the various forms of 21st century technology that I would like to implement into my classroom. Before I can execute these technologies, I must become proficient in the capabilities, the usage, and discover how to incorporate the technologies into an appropriate school setting.

ISTE, (2008). The National Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Teachers. www.iste.org

GAME Plan

When reviewing the list of the National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T), I located two standards that I would like to become more proficient in implementing into my computer classroom. The two NETS-T standards that I would like to improve on are Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments also Model Digital-Age Work and Learning.

The section of the standard Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments that I would like to focus my efforts on enhancing is "developing technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress" (ISTE, 2008). My goal is to provide my fourth and fifth grade students the opportunity to voice their opinion on areas or activities that they would like to address in the computer classroom. Once I have obtained my students opinions and evaluated the feasible curriculum changes, I would develop lesson plans that correspond with the students' suggestions and set up a course management system similar to Moodle. The course management system will meet the goal of students managing their own learning and progress. Using the course management system, I will be able to monitor the progress the students are making in completing the computer activities that are listed. Evaluating the success of my students' independence will depend upon the continuation of using a course management system.

The goal I would like to set for the standard of Model Digital-Age Work and Learning is improving the area of "model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning" (ISTE, 2008). My goal is to implement 21st century technologies into my computer classroom. Prior to implementing these 21st century technologies, I must acquire permission from the school's administration to change their policy because many 21st century technologies are currently blocked by the school's filtering system. Once I have acquired approval, I will take actions to develop computer lessons that will teach and utilize 21st century technologies. The method I would utilize in monitoring the use of current and emerging technologies is through student excitement, class material comprehension, and evaluation of the students' understanding through administration of short assessments.

ISTE (2008). The National Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Teachers. www.iste.org

Supporting Information Literacy and Online Inquiry in the Classroom Reflection

I knew the importance of teaching my computer students new literacy skills but I struggled with myself determining the best method of how to teach and communicate these skills. The most important facet that I am taking from Supporting Information Literacy and Online Inquiry in the Classroom course is the Quest method. "The Quest method engages and supports students as they tackle the complexities of reading on the Web" (Eagleton & Dobler, 2007). The Quest method is the best usable teaching tool to assist in teaching my computer students how to question, understand, evaluate, synthesize, and transform Internet information.

The information obtained from this course will change my teaching practice when teaching new literacy skills. I will utilize the Quest techniques featuring evaluating websites, synthesizing information, and transforming information into a digital project in advancing the educational level for my students. With these new approaches, I can begin to teach my students Quest techniques at a younger age resulting in the students achieving an exceptional understanding of new literacy skills by the time they progress on to the middle school.

A personal professional development that I would like to pursue is the implementation of the Quest method into my classroom so that my computer students become more adapt in conducting research. A goal that I would like to share with my colleagues is the CHoMP technique which is "an effective metaphor for the concept that notemaking involves selectively biting off small pieces of information" (Eagleton & Dobler, 2007). Our school district has been focusing on improving students note taking and summarizing skills and the CHoMP method would be a simple approach to teach our students to achieve this goal.

These 21st century skills are crucial in our children's education because technology holds a dominant presence in our society. The daily usage of computers and electronic communication devices are essential tools necessary for our students to succeed in the 21st century economic environment. If our students leave school without these skills, "they will absolutely not be prepared for what awaits them after school in life and the workplace" (Jukes & Macdonald, 2007)

Eagleton, M.B. & Dober, E. (2007). Reading the Web: Strategies for Internet Inquiry. New York: The Guilford Press.

Jukes, I. & Macdonald, B. (2007). 21st century fluency skills: Attributes of a 21st century learner. Retrieved from www.committedsardine.com/handouts/twca.pdf