With the help of this course, my blogging has increased, and I am also trying to keep current with a professional blog: http://theedublogger.com/. Reading and posting to blogs is giving me practice with reflecting and journaling—skills that I want to pass on to my students.
Constructing a lesson plan using UDL (Universal Design for Learning) has also helped me to look closer at how I can bring technology into my classroom in ways that will support and be meaningful for all students. With technology always changing, I will need to be persistent with this action step as I search for new tools and beneficial ways to use them. "Explore how other districts, schools, classrooms, teachers, and students are using the technology" (Consortium for School Networking, 2006, p. 15). I have learned how to offer choices and make variations in my lesson plans to allow for diverse learners. Again, the diversity changes with each new group of students, so this plan needs to be flexible.
A question that has arisen because of this process is whether or not the software my classes use is best suited to the goals and objectives of the class. I plan to look at alternative ways to use the software as well as other software that might be available. In one particular course, the publisher is seeking feedback, and I have exchanged a few emails on elements that I would like to see changed. I plan to continue this process of analyzing current materials and making modifications if necessary.
In the last few weeks, I have also met with some community employers who share their perspectives on potential jobs and needed job skills in our area. This, too, can be unpredictable at times so it will be important to make this type of collaboration ongoing. In order to provide authentic instruction, I will need to know what the real-world activities entail as well as what technology they use or plan to use. "With technologies evolving rapidly, it's difficult to predict which ones will be the must-haves and exactly how they will be used. But administrators, teachers, parents, and students will be on the front line of figuring out effective, productive, and engaging ways of using technology innovations" (Consortium for School Networking, 2006, pp. 14-15).
References
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
The Consortium for School Networking. (2006, August). Hot technologies for education: What's happening now and later? Middle Ground, 9(4), 12-15.
Posts
Wanda,
ReplyDeleteI too am Blogging a lot more and am getting the feel for it, are you currently using blogs in your classroom with your students? I found lots of things I could do with my classroom Blogs that allows many variations and flexibility I have never had before. I like it that you are taking the extra step and e-mailing software companies offering up changes and seeking feedback, very pro-active. Did the community members you met with have any ideas for what you could incorporate into the classroom that you could use?
Good Post,
Eric
Wanda,
ReplyDeleteI too am Blogging a lot more and am getting the feel for it, are you currently using blogs in your classroom with your students? I found lots of things I could do with my classroom Blogs that allows many variations and flexibility I have never had before. I like it that you are taking the extra step and e-mailing software companies offering up changes and seeking feedback, very pro-active. Did the community members you met with have any ideas for what you could incorporate into the classroom that you could use?
Good Post,
Eric
Hello Wanda,
ReplyDeleteI think that it is a great idea to start seeking out how other classrooms, schools, and districts are using technology to implement UDL strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners. I know that the discussions and blogs that we have been reading from our classmates have provided a vast amount of information and ideas that others are doing to accomplish this. I have learned a great deal from my colleagues throughout this program.
Your comment about technology changing so rapidly is so true. That is probably one of the most difficult aspects for me. I find it difficult to keep up with all of the new innovations, let alone finding the time to learn them all. Good luck with your plan.
Kristin
Eric
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your loyal posts--your feedback is very much appreciated! Like you, I am also blogging with my students. We initially started using our blog for posting work ethics discussions each week, but have opened it up to include class information and also a place to collaborate with others.
Also, the local employers that attend my school's advisory board meetings are really helpful in giving us up-to-date information on what skills they will be looking for in future employees, what the pay might look like, and what the outlook for potential jobs might be. They also stress areas of concern that they want to see addressed--attendance, appearance, teamwork, etc. Through their input, we are better able to offer classes that will prepare our students for the future job market.
Kristin
ReplyDeleteYes, technology is an area that is continually changing. Our challenges might move from convincing our schools and districts to become advocates of technology to sifting through the multiple tools we have in order to find best or better ones for our particular situations. Networking with others will remain important, though, as we share what has worked well for us or something new we have heard about. Like you, I feel that the support I have received from this program has been positive as well as instrumental in helping me to extend my perspectives.
You have been particularly supportive throughout our courses, and I really appreciate your constant willingness to offer feedback and encouragement. As always, thanks for your ideas this week.
Hi Wanda,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to meet with community members for input on technologies important to our learners' futures. Perhaps I will canvas my parents to see if I can find such resources as well. There were definitely a few who were excited about our proposed endeavors into the extended use of new technologies. Thank you for the idea.
Monica
Monica
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I hope that you are able to gather support from your parents as well as community members. When everyone partners--teachers, students, parents, and community--it is easier to offer technology-infused activities that are authentic and meaningful. Even though you might just have a few parents who are excited, that excitement can be contagious and prompt others to join in. Good luck!
Wanda,
ReplyDeleteI think it is great that you are blogging more and practicing the skill you want your students to have. They will be much more into it if they know you do it and enjoy it.
Wanda,
ReplyDeleteI am very impressed that you are carving time out of what I am sure is a very busy schedule to participate in professional blogs. I don't know how you manage. It's all I can do to keep up with our assignments in this course. I am really dreading the holidays because there are so many holiday festivities I must turn down because I will be overloaded with teaching, my daughters dancing in the Nutcracker and Walden.
My only fear is that once I finally have time to explore all these great resources, websites and ideas for technology integration, I hope I remember everything I was interested in pursuing further. Early on in this program I started a resources document where I simply copy and paste anything that has caught my attention. I can't wait until I have a little time to investigate these resources as well as all the great ideas, suggestions and resources in our course texts that I have had to skim over due to time constraints.
Donnel