There are several things that I need to do to carry out my GAME Plan.
- I need to spend some time exploring and teaching myself how to use our class wiki. I have it set up and need to start utilizing it. I also need to think about how I can have the students use the wiki in a cooperative way.
- I need to focus on implementing technology across all content areas and for all students. I will have a tech plan for each student so that it can help them to focus on and reach their educational goals.
- I will use my student response clickers and their data on a more frequent basis. I will use the data to drive my instruction. I would like to use my clickers more "on the fly".
- I will set up a digital file for each student so that both of us can track their goals and achievement.
Amy,
ReplyDeleteI have a classroom wiki as well, and sometimes find myself stuck in a rut of "doing old things in new ways". To spark creativity, I'll conduct searches for grade-level classroom wikis to see what's happening in other online classrooms. Here's another site you can browse - it has 50 ways to use wikis for collaboration: http://www.smartteaching.org/blog/2008/08/50-ways-to-use-wikis-for-a-more-collaborative-and-interactive-classroom/.
Good luck with your GAME plan! I look forward to seeing how you use technology to engage your students and promote academic success!
Caroline
Caroline,
DeleteThanks for the info! I'm not sure why I didn't think to search for other wikis. I google everything else! I'll check it out!
Amy
Sounds like you have a good start to your plan. Your plan to use technology as a tool for communication amongst students, parents, and colleagues is an excellent one. I am unsure of the age of your students, but if you are working with older students, another suggestion for communication is the use of social media. I am using Twitter as a tool in my classroom (I teach junior high) for the second year in a row. It is a great way to communicate with both my students and parents. Students and their parents are able to follow me, and I post information such as nightly homework, upcoming tests, as well as what we are working on. In addition to the Twitter account, I also have a Twitter feed on my class website. With the Twitter feed anyone who is not on Twitter, can still see what I am posting. Students and parents can also post messages and questions to me. Many of my colleagues at school also use Twitter and we all follow each other. It is great to see what everyone else is working on in their classes. In addition, it is great way to increase collaboration.
ReplyDeleteGreat info, thank you. I teach 3rd grade so a little young for Twitter. However, I do have a feed on my website for our district Twitter page. Social media is a great tool!
DeleteAmy
Amy, I read your game plan and how you are planning to carry it out and I found it very inspiring. I have used blogging but I do want to try a wiki as well. As we heard in our lecture this week, Dr. Ross states that we (teachers) need to attend training and know how to use assisted technology in our classrooms (Laureate Education Inc., 2009). Thanks Caroline for sharing that link. It is so easy for us to use technology but continue to do the same things.
ReplyDeleteI also like how you said "on the fly" when wanting to use clickers. We can plan out so much but being able to do thing like that is sometimes our best ideas. If you technology is readily available to you then that strategy is perfect.
Your idea of a digital file has also made me think. My student email me assignments and I keep folders in my Gmail account. How do you plan to do this? My question may be premature...just wondering it you had something in your mind. Perhaps a file on Google drive that is shared by you and the student.
One last comment, love that you are looking into the classroom and talking to teachers!
Enjoyed your post...makes me think and that's always a good thing!
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009).Meeting Students Needs With
Technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Deborah,
DeleteThank you for all of your positive comments. I have really enjoyed "blogging" and getting to know a lot of new teachers. I plan to do much more in the fall after I complete my masters and have more time (you know, working full time, 3 kids, and going to school!)
Anyway, yes I was looking at Google drive, but I'm not very familiar with it yet. Do you know of any other ways that would be effective for a digital file? I figured I could always just keep a folder for each student in my documents, but I really want them to have access to them.
Amy
Amy,
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you have started a wiki with your class! One way I have used a wiki is through communication with not only students, but parents as well! I had one page dedicated to questions parents had that I could respond to. Parents were also able to see what their students were doing in class. It is very important to set up guidelines with the wiki space. If you give parents access, where will they be allowed to comment? If it's a page specifically for student interaction, do parents know that their participation on that page is strictly observing, not commenting?
I like how you have set up individual folders for each student and their technology goals. How have you set that up? Do students along with you, set their goals? Do you set this up one on one or could it be through Google Docs where you can collaborate when you're available?
Erika,
DeleteThanks for the info on the wiki. It's very helpful. I don't have the digital files set up yet but I was thinking about using Google drive (possible docs). I figured I could have a folder for each student in my documents, however, I want the students to be able to access them. Right now they are on paper. Next week they will be writing goals for their summer vacation. I would like to do something fun, possibly have them record them with a flip video and make each student a DVD. I thought seeing their friends goals may help encourage them over the summer!
Amy