I created my Professional Learning Plan as a brochure. It was created in pages under a brochure template.
Professional Learning Plan
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
This I Believe...
Click Here to listen to Podcast
I believe that technology is the norm in today's 21st century society. Technology is also an essential part of an effective learning environment in today's classroom. School districts are setting up classrooms with highly equipped state of the art resources such as smartboards, document cameras, wireless internet, distant learning capabilities, laptop computers for teachers and laptop computers for students. Learners of today come to schools with abundant prior experiences using technology such as cells phones, television, mobile devices and at home computers. Educators need to incorporate the use of technology not only to teach content subjects but to expose the learner to the necessary technology skills they will need for future success in the workforce. That is why creative lessons using technology that relate to concepts taught in class is crucial. I believe its important for all teachers new or experienced to use technology in their classrooms as this is the fundamental aspect of 21st century learning taking place.
Since I believe that technology is a fundamental aspect of learning, it is my personal goal to learn as many technological tools, skills and resources I can that will help make me a better teacher in the classroom. By expanding my Personal Learning Network (PLN) I will continue to learn and find new ways to bring great ideas using technology into my own classroom. In the classroom teachers need to be creative with their lessons making sure the technology is being used appropriately based on the content students need to learn. The TPACK model is a good guide when it comes to teachers putting together lessons using technology. The interactions of technology, pedagogy and content (TPACK) forms the core of the TPACK model (Koehler & Mishra, 2008). By using these three components technology is the tool teachers can use to differentiate instruction to meet students various learning needs (Koehler & Mishra, 2008). When creating a lesson, first, teachers need to think about the content we need to teach our students. Then we strategize ways to incorporate technology into our lessons that are purposeful and coincide with our pedological philosophies. These thorough thought out lessons using the TPACK model will be most meaningful to the students as they are learning content using 21st century skills. I believe when you have the resources to expand your lesson and have students gain concepts they need to know through technology it makes it an effective and stimulating learning environment.
I believe I was making good attempts to integrate technology into my math and science lessons over the past two years. I was fortunate enough to work in classrooms that had smartboards, document camera, and student computers, I used those technology tools daily. I used these technology tools more for instruction and presentation. I was always frustrated that students were not using their computers more frequently as a way of engaging them in the content being taught. Having completed the first three Master's classes at Michigan State University in technology I feel I have been exposed to more ideas that I can bring back to my classroom to engage students in their learning. Some of the programs I would like to use this year include Glogster, Blogs, Wikis, Classroom Polls, and iMovies. These classes also made me investigate websites that I can use that have appropriate content for my subject area. The knowledge I have gained using technology to teach content will not be as challenging as it has been in the past. Since students have their own laptop computers provided by the school I am excited to have students use the above tools regularly.
All in all I believe technology is alway changing and it is the teachers role to use technology as a tool to present lesson that meet the content requirements. Technology allows teachers and students to collaborate content with creativity and latest technological advances to keep our students competitive for the future.
I believe that technology is the norm in today's 21st century society. Technology is also an essential part of an effective learning environment in today's classroom. School districts are setting up classrooms with highly equipped state of the art resources such as smartboards, document cameras, wireless internet, distant learning capabilities, laptop computers for teachers and laptop computers for students. Learners of today come to schools with abundant prior experiences using technology such as cells phones, television, mobile devices and at home computers. Educators need to incorporate the use of technology not only to teach content subjects but to expose the learner to the necessary technology skills they will need for future success in the workforce. That is why creative lessons using technology that relate to concepts taught in class is crucial. I believe its important for all teachers new or experienced to use technology in their classrooms as this is the fundamental aspect of 21st century learning taking place.
Since I believe that technology is a fundamental aspect of learning, it is my personal goal to learn as many technological tools, skills and resources I can that will help make me a better teacher in the classroom. By expanding my Personal Learning Network (PLN) I will continue to learn and find new ways to bring great ideas using technology into my own classroom. In the classroom teachers need to be creative with their lessons making sure the technology is being used appropriately based on the content students need to learn. The TPACK model is a good guide when it comes to teachers putting together lessons using technology. The interactions of technology, pedagogy and content (TPACK) forms the core of the TPACK model (Koehler & Mishra, 2008). By using these three components technology is the tool teachers can use to differentiate instruction to meet students various learning needs (Koehler & Mishra, 2008). When creating a lesson, first, teachers need to think about the content we need to teach our students. Then we strategize ways to incorporate technology into our lessons that are purposeful and coincide with our pedological philosophies. These thorough thought out lessons using the TPACK model will be most meaningful to the students as they are learning content using 21st century skills. I believe when you have the resources to expand your lesson and have students gain concepts they need to know through technology it makes it an effective and stimulating learning environment.
I believe I was making good attempts to integrate technology into my math and science lessons over the past two years. I was fortunate enough to work in classrooms that had smartboards, document camera, and student computers, I used those technology tools daily. I used these technology tools more for instruction and presentation. I was always frustrated that students were not using their computers more frequently as a way of engaging them in the content being taught. Having completed the first three Master's classes at Michigan State University in technology I feel I have been exposed to more ideas that I can bring back to my classroom to engage students in their learning. Some of the programs I would like to use this year include Glogster, Blogs, Wikis, Classroom Polls, and iMovies. These classes also made me investigate websites that I can use that have appropriate content for my subject area. The knowledge I have gained using technology to teach content will not be as challenging as it has been in the past. Since students have their own laptop computers provided by the school I am excited to have students use the above tools regularly.
All in all I believe technology is alway changing and it is the teachers role to use technology as a tool to present lesson that meet the content requirements. Technology allows teachers and students to collaborate content with creativity and latest technological advances to keep our students competitive for the future.
Growing Up Online / Digital Nation
Growing Up Online:
Growing Up Online is a video about adolescents growing up having easily available access to the internet. Adolescents talked about their actions online and their parents not knowing about it. The video discusses how interacting with others on the internet is so different than interacting with people in real life. The video discusses important topics about how adolescents are using the internet, their phones and digital devices to communicate with friends, online interactions and social networks and how parents are unaware of their child's actions online through the internet. When watching this video it was a little disturbing in the fact that these kids were doing inappropriate things online or looking at inappropriate things and their parents had not idea what they were doing. With a lot of the situations that took place in the video adolescents had their own computers in their own bedroom so parents could not see what their child was doing. I think it's very important especially at the adolescent years for parents to only allow their child to use the computers in the family room or kitchen where a lot of interactions take place and not allow your child to have their own computer in their room. As adults and teachers I think it's important to inform our children and students about their actions online and how their actions can affect someone else or themselves. When it comes to the internet if you wouldn't say it to their face, do not post it on the internet because you can't take back what was said. Kids need to realize when pictures that are posted online that are not appropriate or sayings things that could offend others have consequences. People get in trouble and these actions could affect kids later on in life, for instance trying to get a job. We as adults need to teach kids about appropriate internet edict and need to show students how to be responsible on the internet.
Digital Nation:
After watching the Digital Nation video it really opened my eyes to the virtual interactions that take place. I never realized that businesses today are having office meetings virtually online and people don't even have to go into work to hold a meeting with all your co-workers. They can just sit at home and hold the meeting virtually online. I also learned about the army using the virtual world to face battle fields and using virtual technology to bomb areas where we are at war in other countries thousands of miles away. Technology is being used in army recruiting and showing 14 and 15 year old boys what it could be like for them if they were to go into the army when they are older. The army is using technology to spark interest in future army soldiers. Watching this video it really opened my eyes to how important and crucial it is to use technology in our classrooms. I already use technology in my own classroom with the smartboard, document camera, and students having their own individual laptops but this video makes me want to do so much more with my students.
I found It very true in the fact when the video talks about students using computers, iPods, iPhones to multi-task in everyday life and how it is distracting to students. In today's society kids and students are so wired in with technology and all these technology devices that its making us not focus on one thing at a time. In a way multi-tasking can be good but it also makes it hard to focus on just one thing and do that one thing very good. As teachers I think its important to help students balance all these technology devices. We need to show students the importance of using specific technology devices at certain times and when students are working on certain tasks they need to do those specific tasks very well without getting distracted. I think its important for us as educators to show students appropriate edict for using technology in today's day in age.
Its important that we as educators are using technology in our classroom for a specific purpose. Students should be using technology to enhance learning on concepts covered in class. Teachers need to research and find good resources that students can use with their computers that will further engage learning on a specific topic students are learning. We need to make sure that technology is not just used in the classroom to help spare the last 5 minutes of class.
Growing Up Online is a video about adolescents growing up having easily available access to the internet. Adolescents talked about their actions online and their parents not knowing about it. The video discusses how interacting with others on the internet is so different than interacting with people in real life. The video discusses important topics about how adolescents are using the internet, their phones and digital devices to communicate with friends, online interactions and social networks and how parents are unaware of their child's actions online through the internet. When watching this video it was a little disturbing in the fact that these kids were doing inappropriate things online or looking at inappropriate things and their parents had not idea what they were doing. With a lot of the situations that took place in the video adolescents had their own computers in their own bedroom so parents could not see what their child was doing. I think it's very important especially at the adolescent years for parents to only allow their child to use the computers in the family room or kitchen where a lot of interactions take place and not allow your child to have their own computer in their room. As adults and teachers I think it's important to inform our children and students about their actions online and how their actions can affect someone else or themselves. When it comes to the internet if you wouldn't say it to their face, do not post it on the internet because you can't take back what was said. Kids need to realize when pictures that are posted online that are not appropriate or sayings things that could offend others have consequences. People get in trouble and these actions could affect kids later on in life, for instance trying to get a job. We as adults need to teach kids about appropriate internet edict and need to show students how to be responsible on the internet.
Digital Nation:
After watching the Digital Nation video it really opened my eyes to the virtual interactions that take place. I never realized that businesses today are having office meetings virtually online and people don't even have to go into work to hold a meeting with all your co-workers. They can just sit at home and hold the meeting virtually online. I also learned about the army using the virtual world to face battle fields and using virtual technology to bomb areas where we are at war in other countries thousands of miles away. Technology is being used in army recruiting and showing 14 and 15 year old boys what it could be like for them if they were to go into the army when they are older. The army is using technology to spark interest in future army soldiers. Watching this video it really opened my eyes to how important and crucial it is to use technology in our classrooms. I already use technology in my own classroom with the smartboard, document camera, and students having their own individual laptops but this video makes me want to do so much more with my students.
I found It very true in the fact when the video talks about students using computers, iPods, iPhones to multi-task in everyday life and how it is distracting to students. In today's society kids and students are so wired in with technology and all these technology devices that its making us not focus on one thing at a time. In a way multi-tasking can be good but it also makes it hard to focus on just one thing and do that one thing very good. As teachers I think its important to help students balance all these technology devices. We need to show students the importance of using specific technology devices at certain times and when students are working on certain tasks they need to do those specific tasks very well without getting distracted. I think its important for us as educators to show students appropriate edict for using technology in today's day in age.
Its important that we as educators are using technology in our classroom for a specific purpose. Students should be using technology to enhance learning on concepts covered in class. Teachers need to research and find good resources that students can use with their computers that will further engage learning on a specific topic students are learning. We need to make sure that technology is not just used in the classroom to help spare the last 5 minutes of class.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Group Leadership Project
This is the Group Leadership Project that Allison and I have created. The tutorial is a screencast for other teachers to view and find out about the appropriate way to use cite pictures from Creative Commons. The tutorial also has a slideshare that describes copyright and fair use.
Group Leadership Project
Group Leadership Project Screencast LinkGroup Leadership Project
To deliver the Professional Development tutorial on Copyright, Fair Use, and Creative Commons my group used PowerPoint and Quicktime to present a Screencast. We used these tools for our presentation to easily show our audience a clear visual on how to copyright work using fair use and properly cite a picture from Creative Commons.
During the development process of the presentation I learned how to create a screencast on Quicktime. I have never done a screencast on Quicktime before and this was a very easy tool to use and learn. We also learned that sometimes when you want to use a picture from Creative Commons you can't just copy the link for the picture to put on a document, you have to save the picture on your computer and upload the picture from the document you saved it under. We also learned that its difficult to upload a Screencast from Quicktime onto YouTube. The auditory did not upload onto YouTube and instead we put our Screencast on Screencast.com.
If I had to develop a similar product again I might include a website for my viewers to look at. I really liked our Screencast though. It was easy to follow and shows the viewer exactly what we wanted them to look at and learn from our presentation. I think its important to make a presentation that shows the viewer exactly what they are looking for when it comes to copyright, fair use and Creative Commons as there is a lot involved and it can become overwhelming.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Wicked Problem Project
Audience:
My audience is 7th grade middle school math students. Students will be provided with instruction, lessons, and practice activities for mastery of the slope-intercept form. My second audience is other middle school math teachers. This project is to help other middle school math teacher who need additional resources relating to the slope-intercept form. I would also present this project to fellow teachers at a professional development meeting that our school has for the math department. This project is beneficial to all 7th grade middle school math students and middle school math teachers, as it deals with a concept that students struggle with. It provides additional resources for the targeted audience.
Problem:
7th Grade math students struggling with slope-intercept form.
Solution:
Students will have a better understanding of the content standards using technology (TPACK). Various technology resources will be used such as the Smartboard, students will also be accessing a webquest and online interactives using their individual laptop computers to help them better understand the slope-intercept form.
Blog Post Part A (Description of Need or Opportunity): Click Here
Blog Post Part B (Application of TPACK): Click Here
The "Wicked Problem" that I am addressing is a concept my 7th grade math students struggle with, the slope-intercept form. When teaching this concept to students they struggled with the y-intercept and how to graph the slope of the line from the y-intercept. Students also have a difficult time with the linear equation of the slope-intercept form y = mx + b. By realizing what students are struggling with it is my job to fix and tweak my lesson so students have a better understanding of the concept. What makes this a "Wicked Problem" is that most students come into 7th grade not having any background knowledge on slope-intercept form so it is my job as their 7th grade math teacher to do a thorough job teaching this concept. By using traditional instruction and incorporating the use of technology this "Wicked Problem" provides visual representation, verbal explanation and actively involving the students in the lesson.
A Research study done at the University of Western Sydney by Catherine Attard finds that "the use of computer technology in the mathematics classroom has the potential to enhance students' learning and have a positive impact on their engagement when used appropriately." Her study reveals that math lessons need to continue to "emphasize math ideas and concepts rather than on teaching the processes of using the technology." My lesson will include direct teacher instruction on the concept of slope-intercept form but will engage the students and require them to interact with technology to practice the concepts and achieve mastery. This lesson which I planned this summer will be taught in the winter of next year. At the end of the unit a student assessment will be administered to indicate the success of this project.
The solution to this "Wicked Problem" with slope-intercept form is finding great resources using technology to help teach this concept. This lesson using technology, content and pedagogy (TPACK) will help students have a better understanding of the slope intercept form. Students will get a good grasp of the content standards they need to know through the smartboard lesson, webquest and online interactives. This lesson is based on using many technology devices such as the smartboard, students individual laptops, wireless internet in the classroom and resources on the internet. This lesson supports the UDL Framework as it meets individual students needs. Every student is provided with the technology they need through the school. The specific resources online show visual representation where students will be listening and interacting with the computer. The first solution to help students better understand this "Wicked Problem" is the introduction of the concept by the teacher using the smartboard and a lesson from SMART Exchange on slope-intercept form. This lesson has detailed visual examples and will allow me to give a good in-depth instruction and clarify any questions students might have. Students will take notes on the lesson presented in class from the smartboard. Next, students will be using their own laptop computers to access this webquest. Students will be exploring and get a deeper understanding of the slope-intercept form. When students are done with their task on the webquest they will create their own example of a linear function from what they learned in class and on the webquest. The final solution to this "Wicked Problem" will require students to use their own laptop computer to do online interactives relating to slope intercept form. When students get to this part in the lesson they should fully understand the concepts learned in class and on the computers. This overall "Wicked Problem" using technology will engage students learning on slope-intercept form.
Resources
My audience is 7th grade middle school math students. Students will be provided with instruction, lessons, and practice activities for mastery of the slope-intercept form. My second audience is other middle school math teachers. This project is to help other middle school math teacher who need additional resources relating to the slope-intercept form. I would also present this project to fellow teachers at a professional development meeting that our school has for the math department. This project is beneficial to all 7th grade middle school math students and middle school math teachers, as it deals with a concept that students struggle with. It provides additional resources for the targeted audience.
Problem:
7th Grade math students struggling with slope-intercept form.
Solution:
Students will have a better understanding of the content standards using technology (TPACK). Various technology resources will be used such as the Smartboard, students will also be accessing a webquest and online interactives using their individual laptop computers to help them better understand the slope-intercept form.
Blog Post Part A (Description of Need or Opportunity): Click Here
Blog Post Part B (Application of TPACK): Click Here
The "Wicked Problem" that I am addressing is a concept my 7th grade math students struggle with, the slope-intercept form. When teaching this concept to students they struggled with the y-intercept and how to graph the slope of the line from the y-intercept. Students also have a difficult time with the linear equation of the slope-intercept form y = mx + b. By realizing what students are struggling with it is my job to fix and tweak my lesson so students have a better understanding of the concept. What makes this a "Wicked Problem" is that most students come into 7th grade not having any background knowledge on slope-intercept form so it is my job as their 7th grade math teacher to do a thorough job teaching this concept. By using traditional instruction and incorporating the use of technology this "Wicked Problem" provides visual representation, verbal explanation and actively involving the students in the lesson.
A Research study done at the University of Western Sydney by Catherine Attard finds that "the use of computer technology in the mathematics classroom has the potential to enhance students' learning and have a positive impact on their engagement when used appropriately." Her study reveals that math lessons need to continue to "emphasize math ideas and concepts rather than on teaching the processes of using the technology." My lesson will include direct teacher instruction on the concept of slope-intercept form but will engage the students and require them to interact with technology to practice the concepts and achieve mastery. This lesson which I planned this summer will be taught in the winter of next year. At the end of the unit a student assessment will be administered to indicate the success of this project.
The solution to this "Wicked Problem" with slope-intercept form is finding great resources using technology to help teach this concept. This lesson using technology, content and pedagogy (TPACK) will help students have a better understanding of the slope intercept form. Students will get a good grasp of the content standards they need to know through the smartboard lesson, webquest and online interactives. This lesson is based on using many technology devices such as the smartboard, students individual laptops, wireless internet in the classroom and resources on the internet. This lesson supports the UDL Framework as it meets individual students needs. Every student is provided with the technology they need through the school. The specific resources online show visual representation where students will be listening and interacting with the computer. The first solution to help students better understand this "Wicked Problem" is the introduction of the concept by the teacher using the smartboard and a lesson from SMART Exchange on slope-intercept form. This lesson has detailed visual examples and will allow me to give a good in-depth instruction and clarify any questions students might have. Students will take notes on the lesson presented in class from the smartboard. Next, students will be using their own laptop computers to access this webquest. Students will be exploring and get a deeper understanding of the slope-intercept form. When students are done with their task on the webquest they will create their own example of a linear function from what they learned in class and on the webquest. The final solution to this "Wicked Problem" will require students to use their own laptop computer to do online interactives relating to slope intercept form. When students get to this part in the lesson they should fully understand the concepts learned in class and on the computers. This overall "Wicked Problem" using technology will engage students learning on slope-intercept form.
Resources
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tech Leader
Since starting my Master's classes at Michigan State University in Educational Technology I have learned so many great tools to take back and use in my own classroom as well as share with my teammates, colleagues and the principal. My goal with technology this next school year is to create a more informed teacher website, maybe start a blog for students to comment on, stay up to date with technology being using in education and attending the MACUL conference. With my students in the classroom I would like to have them use their computers more. I want to find more helpful resources that students can use when learning a specific topic taught in class and also have students do more project-based collaborative assignments with their classmates using technology. With my grade level and content area teammates I plan on sharing new ways to integrate technology into the lessons we create. My goal is to do research on specific topics students are learning in class and bring those ideas to to my teammates for all classes to use and have the same experience. Having a bigger PLN due to my Master's classes at Michigan State hopefully it will be easier to find great resources to use in the classroom. That is one thing I struggled with last year is not having the resources and information on technology tools to use in the classroom.
Going into my third year teaching and my second year in Pinckney I would like to show people what I have learned but I also feel like I still have a lot of learning myself to do. I feel by starting my Master's in Educational Technology this is a great way to learn more great things to take back to the classroom and share with others. I think the important thing about being a tech leader is by learning from others and sharing what you've learned with the school community. I am excited to continue my Master's of Educational Technology at Michigan State University and with this experience I hope it opens new doors for me as a teacher in Pinckney Community Schools.
Going into my third year teaching and my second year in Pinckney I would like to show people what I have learned but I also feel like I still have a lot of learning myself to do. I feel by starting my Master's in Educational Technology this is a great way to learn more great things to take back to the classroom and share with others. I think the important thing about being a tech leader is by learning from others and sharing what you've learned with the school community. I am excited to continue my Master's of Educational Technology at Michigan State University and with this experience I hope it opens new doors for me as a teacher in Pinckney Community Schools.
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