Title: Reviewing the technology G.A.M.E. plan.
To begin with I would like to site where the idea of the GAME plan came from. The plan was developed by Katherine Cennamo, John Ross, and Peggy Ertmer in their book Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use (2009). Over the past few weeks I have been developing my own GAME plan to meaningfully incorporate technology into my choral curriculum. In short review, while following NETS•T standard 3c, http://www.iste.org I plan to build a class website that will create a base for students to revisit lessons for each week, stay current with the class calendar, and rehearse their songs with provided links to http://www.carlfischer.com Part-by-Part. I also plan to promote and model digital citizenship making sure that I as well as my students practice legal and ethical us of the digital information, NETS•T Standard 4a.
Last week I revisited my GAME plan and reviewed the resources I would need to accomplish my goals. So far I have set up a working flow chart that I still am changing and tweaking, trying to set up a logical flow of pages and links. I have downloaded a free PDF converter from http://www.pdf995.com/ to help my readers with accessibility. The technology director has been contacted and to begun the process of uploading my new website. And while there has been a few problems creating the proper links with in our school website the project is progressing as planned.
After reading the resources from my Walden University class Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas on assessment I have decided that I wanted to modify my plan by adding a class blog link onto my website. I will use this blog to create a platform for formative assessment of students understanding of musical terminology and digital citizenship. In the article Assessing for Technology Literacy by Dr. Daniel E. Engstrom, he suggests that “… assessment be viewed as a scrapbook rather than a single snapshot. In other words, viewing one particular source of evidence (e.g., a test, a project, notes, or observations) will not give a complete picture of student development”(2005). Student blogs will provide another layer of empirical evidence of what they have learned. Furthermore, with access to the blog being located on the website, parent’s colleagues and administrators can easily access what is being taught and learned in my class giving choir a little more credibility as an academic content.
References:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: a standards based approach. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.
Engstrom, D. (2004). Assessing for technological literacy. Technology Teacher, 64(4), 30-32. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database November 24, 2009.
ISTE International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). NETS-T. Retrieved November 9, 2009, from Http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/FroTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T__Standards_Final.pdf
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Reviewing The GAME Plan
For this weeks blog post I will be reviewing my GAME Plan for incorporating the following NETS standards into my choral curriculum: “communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats” (ISTE, 2008). During this review I will be looking at the resources needed to carry out the plan, and any other considerations as well as the steps I have taken so far.
The first part of my GAME plan was to build a website. After determining the audience, goals, and content of the website,the information will need to be organized (Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009). A simple concept map from Microsoft Word should help organize the flow of the links and pages. A PDF converter would also be advisable to down load because as stated by Cennamo, “Documents may need to be converted to PDF format to allow them to be viewed by the widest number of users”(2009). When the organization is complete the site can be built using the Microsoft Front Page and saved on a flash drive. At that point it would be advisable to secure the help of a technology director or an experienced colleague to help “Deliver” the created website to a “web server”(2009). I will be uploading to my schools server, so series of codes will be needed, my personal code and the servers FTP code. I have presently gained all the resources and completed all of the steps listed above.
References:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: a standards based approach. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.
ISTE International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). NETS-T. Retrieved November 9, 2009, from Http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/FroTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T__Standards_Final.pdf
The first part of my GAME plan was to build a website. After determining the audience, goals, and content of the website,the information will need to be organized (Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009). A simple concept map from Microsoft Word should help organize the flow of the links and pages. A PDF converter would also be advisable to down load because as stated by Cennamo, “Documents may need to be converted to PDF format to allow them to be viewed by the widest number of users”(2009). When the organization is complete the site can be built using the Microsoft Front Page and saved on a flash drive. At that point it would be advisable to secure the help of a technology director or an experienced colleague to help “Deliver” the created website to a “web server”(2009). I will be uploading to my schools server, so series of codes will be needed, my personal code and the servers FTP code. I have presently gained all the resources and completed all of the steps listed above.
References:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: a standards based approach. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.
ISTE International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). NETS-T. Retrieved November 9, 2009, from Http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/FroTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T__Standards_Final.pdf
Thursday, November 12, 2009
My Technology Integration GAME Plan
This week I will be exploring possible ways to integrate National Educational Technology Standards (NETS•T) and Performance Indicators into the content area of choral music retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf . I have chosen to integrate the following applicable standards:
Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers will:
c. communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats (ISTE, 2008).
My GAME Plan:
G: My goal is to keep parents and students informed by developing a clear and concise website
That will provide up to date information regarding choir classes and create a text group of parents and students on my BlackBerry to keep parents informed with up to date reminders of performances, meetings and due dates.
A: I will gather and post pertinent information regarding class assignments, expectations, calendar of events, fundraisers, links to music education sites etc. to the website and send monthly notification texts to parents and students concerning relevant events.
M: I will determine the effectiveness of my actions by monitoring the responses from the parents and the students.
E: To evaluate the success of goals I will create an create and post a link to an online parent students exist survey at the end of the school year.
Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers will:
a. 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 (ISTE, 2008).
My GAME Plan:
G: The goal is to teach students appropriate way to use and site copyrighted and Creative Commons music.
A: Students will learn how to appropriately use and site copyrighted and Creative Commons music when incorporating non original music into their media projects.
M: I will monitor the students projects weekly to ensure the ethical and legal use of digital property.
E: At the end of each project I will determine if students have properly sited all their music sources.
Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers will:
c. communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats (ISTE, 2008).
My GAME Plan:
G: My goal is to keep parents and students informed by developing a clear and concise website
That will provide up to date information regarding choir classes and create a text group of parents and students on my BlackBerry to keep parents informed with up to date reminders of performances, meetings and due dates.
A: I will gather and post pertinent information regarding class assignments, expectations, calendar of events, fundraisers, links to music education sites etc. to the website and send monthly notification texts to parents and students concerning relevant events.
M: I will determine the effectiveness of my actions by monitoring the responses from the parents and the students.
E: To evaluate the success of goals I will create an create and post a link to an online parent students exist survey at the end of the school year.
Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers will:
a. 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 (ISTE, 2008).
My GAME Plan:
G: The goal is to teach students appropriate way to use and site copyrighted and Creative Commons music.
A: Students will learn how to appropriately use and site copyrighted and Creative Commons music when incorporating non original music into their media projects.
M: I will monitor the students projects weekly to ensure the ethical and legal use of digital property.
E: At the end of each project I will determine if students have properly sited all their music sources.
My Technology Integration GAME Plan
This week I will be exploring possible ways to integrate National Educational Technology Standards (NETS•T) and Performance Indicators into the content area of choral music retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf . I have chosen to integrate the following applicable standards:
Model Digital-Age Work and Learning Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers will:
c. communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats (ISTE, 2008).
My GAME Plan:
G: My goal is to keep parents and students informed by developing a clear and concise website
That will provide up to date information regarding choir classes and create a text group of parents and students on my Black Berry to keep parents informed with up to date reminders of performances, meetings and due dates.
A: I will gather and post pertinent information regarding class assignments, expectations, calendar of events, fundraisers, links to music education sites etc. to the website and send monthly notification texts to parents and students concerning relevant events.
M: I will determine the effectiveness of my actions by monitoring the responses from the parents and the students.
E: To evaluate the success of goals I will create an create and post a link to an online parent students exist survey at the end of the school year.
Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers will:
a. 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 (ISTE, 2008).
My GAME Plan:
G: The goal is to teach students appropriate way to use and site copyrighted and Creative Commons music.
A: Students will learn how to appropriately use and site copyrighted and Creative Commons music when incorporating non original music into their media projects.
M: I will monitor the students projects weekly to ensure the ethical and legal use of digital property.
E: At the end of each project I will determine if students have properly sited all their music sources.
Model Digital-Age Work and Learning Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers will:
c. communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats (ISTE, 2008).
My GAME Plan:
G: My goal is to keep parents and students informed by developing a clear and concise website
That will provide up to date information regarding choir classes and create a text group of parents and students on my Black Berry to keep parents informed with up to date reminders of performances, meetings and due dates.
A: I will gather and post pertinent information regarding class assignments, expectations, calendar of events, fundraisers, links to music education sites etc. to the website and send monthly notification texts to parents and students concerning relevant events.
M: I will determine the effectiveness of my actions by monitoring the responses from the parents and the students.
E: To evaluate the success of goals I will create an create and post a link to an online parent students exist survey at the end of the school year.
Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers will:
a. 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 (ISTE, 2008).
My GAME Plan:
G: The goal is to teach students appropriate way to use and site copyrighted and Creative Commons music.
A: Students will learn how to appropriately use and site copyrighted and Creative Commons music when incorporating non original music into their media projects.
M: I will monitor the students projects weekly to ensure the ethical and legal use of digital property.
E: At the end of each project I will determine if students have properly sited all their music sources.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
A Reflection on Web Literacy
I am presently obtaining my Masters of Education with a concentration in Integrating Technology into the Classroom through Walden University. I have just finished the course EDUC 6712I Supporting Information Literacy and Online Inquiry in the Classroom. Throughout this course I have discovered that you can not assume that modern students are literate at internet based inquiry just because they are digital natives. Students need to be guided through the process of creating good research questions, that have a focus created from topics which are generated from themes. The text for this course Reading the Web by Maya B. Eagleton and Elizabeth Dobler (2007) have excellent charts and handouts to help with this process. Students also need to be taught how to determine if internet sites they have chosen for their research is valid, and how to glean the most important information from those sites. Students also need to learn to synthesize the information they have collected and teachers need to learn how to assess student synthesis. Eagleton and Dobler (2007) also have great handouts for this process. Students can learn to synthesize information through journaling and reflecting on their research subjects.
My own web literacy has improved through out this course. I think the most striking things I have learned is how to conduct a better search and how to determine if the sites I have found are valid. I have demonstrated this by creating a webcast at http://www.screencast.com/users/bchronister/folders/Default/media/08d0f264-8308-4fa9-9f52-2ba144594844 which is also listed in my blog from October 4, 2009. with this new knowledge I better help students and fellow educators learn to conduct more powerful searches that produce quicker and more useful information for the purpose of inquiry.
Although I teach choir which is a highly participatory subject, I still think there is room for inquiry based lesson plans. In the future I would like to have my students take more responsibility for the production of their spring musicals. I would like to encourage students to research the chosen themes by setting aside technology lab time and conducting group inquiries. I believe that it is important to keep students moving forward in a collaborative and competitive world. Students should not only be learning how to sing songs in my class but they should be preparing to be life long collaborators and learners for that is what world will be expecting of them when they set forth into adult life.
References:
Eagleton, M. B., & Dobler, E. (2007). Reading the web: Strategies for internet inquiry.
NewYork: The Guilford Press. November, A. (2008). Web literacy for educators.
Thousands Oaks: Corwin Press.
My own web literacy has improved through out this course. I think the most striking things I have learned is how to conduct a better search and how to determine if the sites I have found are valid. I have demonstrated this by creating a webcast at http://www.screencast.com/users/bchronister/folders/Default/media/08d0f264-8308-4fa9-9f52-2ba144594844 which is also listed in my blog from October 4, 2009. with this new knowledge I better help students and fellow educators learn to conduct more powerful searches that produce quicker and more useful information for the purpose of inquiry.
Although I teach choir which is a highly participatory subject, I still think there is room for inquiry based lesson plans. In the future I would like to have my students take more responsibility for the production of their spring musicals. I would like to encourage students to research the chosen themes by setting aside technology lab time and conducting group inquiries. I believe that it is important to keep students moving forward in a collaborative and competitive world. Students should not only be learning how to sing songs in my class but they should be preparing to be life long collaborators and learners for that is what world will be expecting of them when they set forth into adult life.
References:
Eagleton, M. B., & Dobler, E. (2007). Reading the web: Strategies for internet inquiry.
NewYork: The Guilford Press. November, A. (2008). Web literacy for educators.
Thousands Oaks: Corwin Press.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
How to Evaluate the Validity of a Website
This past week has been interesting. I have been working on a screencast production using Jing and Camtasia Studio 6. I was supposed to upload my video to YouTube or TeacherTube but niether would accept my production. I searched for tutorials asked a million questions of classmates, past and present teachers, Walden support and Jing, I downloaded files to convert my video to AVI all to no avail. I have finally decided to upload to Screencast and post a link to my screencast in this blog. So with out further adeu here is my video on how to evaluate the validity of a website:
http://www.screencast.com/users/bchronister/folders/Default/media/08d0f264-8308-4fa9-9f52-2ba144594844
http://www.screencast.com/users/bchronister/folders/Default/media/08d0f264-8308-4fa9-9f52-2ba144594844
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A Reflection
The name of the Walden University Course I have been studying is, “Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology.” In this course I renewed my knowledge of learning theories and rediscovered which ones I particularly liked and used. I began with the thought that I was an eclectic teacher incorporating many different learning styles into my lessons, assessing lesson to lesson which theory worked best to produce given outcome. In that manor I still find that my teaching approach has not changed. However, I have found many new technology sources for use in my classes. I particular liked concept mapping in the online program Spinscape. This particular program allowed me attach tags and links to other sites with just a press of a button I could travel around to related sites on the net enriching the learners experience. I also liked http://www.voicethread.com/ . I liked this site for learners because it was a great way to them to create artifacts for assessment and also gave them a global collaborative platform in which to publish their work and receive feedback from more than just me.
In the future I would like to incorporate the use of http://www.youtube.com/ and http://www.xtranormal.com/ a text-to-movie program in my lesson plans. To do this I will need to get an administrative account password to allow me past the schools filters, and a projector or SMART board for my room to display advanced organizers (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, Malenoski, 2007), and student artifacts when a project is finished. I will also need to organize my large classes into functional collaborative groups and plan for time in my schools computer lab. All in all a doable objective it just takes a little time and planning.
Reference:
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom
instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
In the future I would like to incorporate the use of http://www.youtube.com/ and http://www.xtranormal.com/ a text-to-movie program in my lesson plans. To do this I will need to get an administrative account password to allow me past the schools filters, and a projector or SMART board for my room to display advanced organizers (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, Malenoski, 2007), and student artifacts when a project is finished. I will also need to organize my large classes into functional collaborative groups and plan for time in my schools computer lab. All in all a doable objective it just takes a little time and planning.
Reference:
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom
instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
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