Monitoring my GAME Plan (Application 3)

In order to carry out my game plan, there are a lot of resources that will be very beneficial to my students’ learning.  My classes have introduced me to a lot of new resources, but I will also need to attend various workshops to increase my knowledge.  The resources this week helped me to realize the importance of setting goals for the students and that more emphasis should be put reaching the goal rather than how it was attained.  This is where the use of technology allows teachers to be “flexible” with their teaching to individual students (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009). 

To accomplish my goal, technology will be utilized to help address all learners.  The first part is a classroom website that allows communication through a blog, posted homework, as well as websites that provide practice problems.  The next resource is to become familiar with the on-line edition of my textbook, which provides an electronic format of the text in addition to a virtual instructor that will teach lessons.  These are everyday uses of technology that can be very convenient for the students.  Then, as a teacher, I will install the textbook question bank on the computers in my room.  This will allow students to get extra help or to complete their homework on the computer.  As a classroom lecture, I will utilize a smart board and projector to present PowerPoint presentations to the class.  The students will also need these tools for the project they will be assigned.  One of my classmates also suggested that students can keep track of their grades in Excel, so Excel will need to be available on my computers.  In addition, on the web many movies, computer generated manipulatives, and other teaching aides, all of which will require a computer or computers and a smart board. 

Through workshops and talking with peers through blogs or in person, I need to find ideas that will keep technology at the center of implementing different learning strategies.  There are many technology tools that I have already learned about but have never tested in the classroom.  Prior to implementation, I need to do a lot of research and become familiar with all of the programs.  To make technology a greater focus in my classroom I plan to “utilize instructional strategies that allow individual students greater access to active learning” (p. 123).   

I have taken the necessary steps and developed classroom website where homework is posted and students can read and respond to my blog, although the blog feature does not get used very often.  There were a few times I had my students play games on the computers in order to polish their skills through repetition, but this does not happen enough.  I have also had my students complete a PowerPoint presentation on a unit out of their book.  The students did all of the research on the internet to prepare themselves to present a unit to the class.  This is a recent project and the two classes are almost finished. 

When integrating technology to show students how important it can be for their learning, the possibilities are endless.  I am looking to gain more knowledge throughout the school year that will increase my ability to utilize technology in all of my lessons.   Hopefully my students will see the impact this technology has on their learning. 

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.