Reflection
Over the course of my teaching career I have created several unit plans. My GAME plan for this course is the first in which I have tried to incorporate a cumulative project with technology and digital storytelling. I like the idea of relating the unit of linear programming to each student’s unique preference for healthy eating choices in order to make the unit relevant and authentic to their real lives.
Previous to this course I had not heard of digital storytelling. I have learned to incorporate relevant technologies into my course that will enhance their understanding of the content area while allowing them to demonstrate their understanding of the unit. Digital storytelling is unique in the sense that students are able to achieve success through their ability to communicate using verbal and visual tools gathered through the process of group collaboration.
As with any teaching strategy, we want the units to run as smoothly as possible, require high order thinking skills, and have activities that engage students to want to learn. In order to make this possible I need to incorporate technology into more of my lessons so that it is more familiar to my students and myself. This includes creating podcasts and screencasts, which would be extremely helpful tools to proceed this unit. "Creative thinkers generate a variety of original ideas then select the best one by analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating the various options available" (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, p. 51).
References
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach (1 ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010a). Ertmer, P. (Speaker). Spotlight on technology: Problem-based learning, Part 1. [DVD]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
GAME Plan process
I. Communication and Collaboration
II. Research and Information Literacy
III. Technology operations and concepts
IV. Critical thinking, problem solving, & decision making
Students will collaborate on-line through on-line journaling assessing their understanding and progress.
Students will research information based on personal nutritional values and share their resources and experiences with the group and class by posting on a class blog site.
Students will become familiar with various technoloical ways in which to communciate effectively and present in a unique and creative manner.
Given a change in the original constraints presented in the problem, students will need to use various methods in which to problem solve effectively and draw conclusions based on the concepts and skills learned throughout this unit.
II. Research and Information Literacy
III. Technology operations and concepts
IV. Critical thinking, problem solving, & decision making
Students will collaborate on-line through on-line journaling assessing their understanding and progress.
Students will research information based on personal nutritional values and share their resources and experiences with the group and class by posting on a class blog site.
Students will become familiar with various technoloical ways in which to communciate effectively and present in a unique and creative manner.
Given a change in the original constraints presented in the problem, students will need to use various methods in which to problem solve effectively and draw conclusions based on the concepts and skills learned throughout this unit.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Evaluating Game Plan Progress
As I continue to work on my GAME plan I have had happy to say that I am having some success with having students self correct their work by using the Internet as a self-help tool. I asked each student to bring home their math journals and find websites and or tutorials to help them understand their misconceptions and correct their mistakes. I asked them to then reflect on how this experience helped them to further understand the concepts.
I have learned that I will still have those students who will not go the extra mile to help themselves but they are few and far between. The majority of my students were eager to share their findings with the class. I also shared this with my parents during conferences last night. Often, parents say they can no longer help their children with the homework because they don't remember how to do it or math just wasn't their thing. I explained my strategy and found parents to be very receptive and some were even relieved to have found a solution to the constant "I didn't do my homework because I don't know how". They have no excuse for not doing the research and trying on their own. I plan to share this experience with my colleagues.
I am adjusting my GAME plan daily, it depends on each lesson and how it was received. At this time we are gearing toward putting it all together so we may begin working on the final presentations. I will say that other Algebra II teachers were looking at my student’s work and commented that my students work was much better then their students were. I am hoping to be able to put this lesson into a solid format with assessments and rubrics in order to share with the department.
I have learned that I will still have those students who will not go the extra mile to help themselves but they are few and far between. The majority of my students were eager to share their findings with the class. I also shared this with my parents during conferences last night. Often, parents say they can no longer help their children with the homework because they don't remember how to do it or math just wasn't their thing. I explained my strategy and found parents to be very receptive and some were even relieved to have found a solution to the constant "I didn't do my homework because I don't know how". They have no excuse for not doing the research and trying on their own. I plan to share this experience with my colleagues.
I am adjusting my GAME plan daily, it depends on each lesson and how it was received. At this time we are gearing toward putting it all together so we may begin working on the final presentations. I will say that other Algebra II teachers were looking at my student’s work and commented that my students work was much better then their students were. I am hoping to be able to put this lesson into a solid format with assessments and rubrics in order to share with the department.
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