Once you have created your personal game plan, you have to establish steps to help you monitor and achieve your goals. I plan to try to incorporate more digital methods of assessment. The text, Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use, suggests that teachers should "provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching" (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2009). For this reason, assessments are an important part of the learning process. There are several technologies that support performance and project-based assessments. I plan to further investigate concept mapping software, simulations, and electronic portfolios. Along with these methods of assessment, I want to identify programs that our school may already have or can gain access to, that allow teachers to create on-line assessments. These assessments would focus mainly on selected response items, since I am hoping that the computer will compile student data.
Secondly, I plan to teach my students how to safely and ethically use the Internet. Therefore, I will investigate sites that promote safe use of the Internet. These sites should be "kid-friendly" and be available to students both in school and at home. I want to locate an Internet safety pledge that will outline expectations for my students. I currently have a wiki, but want to modify the site for the upcoming school year. Then, I want to create a blog site, which can be linked to my wiki. This will allow students to collaborate and respond to one another in a safe and secure manner. Using technology tools such as these, supports practice of skills, increases student engagement, and boosts student motivation levels (Cennamo, 2009).
To carry out my game plan, I will need to investigate educational sites that support my goals, including assessments, technology use, and collaboration. I believe by viewing and evaluating sites, I can identify those that are specific to my goals. For this reason, I am currently investigating tools and evaluating their usefulness.
A personal game plan is not achieved over night! You have to identify your goals, establish a plan, and monitor your progress. When choosing tools to help you achieve your goals, you want to be evaluative and selective. You want the best for your students!
References:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use: A Standards-Based Approach. (Laureate Education, Inc. Custom e.d.) Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Your idea about the class wiki and blog sound smart and useful. In the past, many of my families have expressed that the websites posted on my class website are useful and quite helpful in their child's learning process. When you give them directed sites to follow, they are more inclined to use them, rather than trying to find educational websites on their own. The tool about collaboration is a great way to assess your students as well. Posting assignments, and discussions, engages your students in learning with the peers (which is very important). We can learn a lot from one another and as a teacher we need to always take that into consideration. Best of luck with your GAME plan!
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post. I think your ideas for adding technology to your formative and summative assessments are great. Another technology driven assessment tool you could is clickers. My school uses TurningPoint for the software that goes with the clickers. This software is amazing because you can do so many types of assessments, and not just ones that you create. I have used this software and hardware with my third grade students. Not only do they get excited about using the clickers, but I get to assess them in a quick manner, which does not require a pen in my hand. Overall, great post and hope you will consider looking at clickers for another technology based assessment tool.
MHayn,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your idea regarding "clickers". We do use student response systems, but we use ActivInspire software. The actual student response system is called "ActivVotes". I do believe that they provide the teacher with a quick, formative assessment, which helps to drive future instruction. Great idea!