Online Learning in the K-12 School

Our school needs to move forward, but to where? We need to begin offering online learning options. Please watch the following video as we begin making bold strides to the future.

The GAME plan and How to Use it!

Over the course of the last seven weeks, I have been working on and re-working my technology GAME plan. Each week I have taken time to analyze the progress made from the original plan. While this has been a frustrating and yet progressive process for me, the overall structure of using a GAME plan in the classroom is a good idea. The National Education Standards for Students (NETS-S) and teachers (NETS-T) and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) outline technology goals for both groups. These standards are designed as a guide for using technology in a 21st century classroom.

What is a GAME Plan?

The idea behind a GAME plan is simply the “plan”. Too often students know they have an assignment, but don’t quite know the process to complete it other than start at the beginning and finish. A GAME plan helps students, and teachers, plot a course of action. What is the Goal? What Action will be taken to reach the Goal? How will the Action be Monitored? And finally, How will the Goals and Actions be Evaluated? This is a great sequence of steps that will benefit any student, regardless if the NETS standards or the content standards
are being used.

In the Classroom

As I have discovered over these last seven weeks, technology integration takes time. Even my own GAME plan had to be adjusted to accommodate time. The same could be said for using this process to help students become proficient in the NETS-S standards. A look back at the first 10 years of the 21st century is evidence enough of this. While technology has skyrocketed in recent years, integrating it into an education system and structure that is much older presents obstacles. Impossible? No, just a slow process. But if teachers develop GAME plans based on the NETS-T standards that get students creating projects using a GAME plan format, standards will be met and 21st century skills will be taught.

I like the GAME plan format and I think it is a strong instructional tool that I plan on using with my students.


http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForStudents/2007Standards/NETS_for_Students_2007.htm

http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_for_Teachers_2008.htm

A look back as I move forward

As I move forward, I must look back to see how far I have come.

•In what ways has this course helped you to develop your own technology skills as a professional teacher?

At the start of my Impact of Technology course, I have to admit, I went into it feeling confident in my knowledge of technology and my use of it in my classroom. I quickly realized that I didn’t know as much as I thought I did. During this course, I created a personal blog, collaborated on a wiki space with others from around the country and created my first. To use a crayon analogy, I feel like what I knew before about technology was like the crayon box with only eight colors. After this class, I realize that there is a box out there with 64 colors and I can’t wait to use every one. Learning how to use the various blogs and wikis was beneficial, but my greatest gain has come from the knowledge of the possibility of all that can be done. As a music teacher, I thought my only option for technology was to use a computer programs such a Finale or Music Ace. What I have learned is even a simple Google search can lay countless resources at my students’ fingertips in an instant and I don’t need to have the expensive programs. But more importantly, by gaining a broader view, I have begun to think outside the technology box to find creative ways to reach my students.

•In what ways have you deepened your knowledge of the teaching and learning process?

“Students need to learn, use or develop 21st century skills.” Not only has this course brought this to my attention, but I hear it now nearly everyday in the news. By looking at the skills that are considered to be 21st century, (www.21stcenturyskills.org) I have been able to look at who my students are and how they learn in a different light. As a 21st century teacher, I must prepare my students for their future. The best way I can do that is create a modern classroom environment beyond computers. Collaboration and a global perspective are two areas I feel will have great impact on my music students. I have always felt these were important concepts and have worked diligently to incorporate them into what I teach. But knowing that they are considered 21st century skills gives me that extra kick to develop them in a more focused direction.

•In what ways have you changed your perspective from being teacher-centered to learner-centered?

The biggest change for me in shifting from teacher-centered to student-centered learning has been in the shift of power. For a teacher to admit they are not the expert used to be a sign of weakness. But now the phrase “I don’t know, how can we find out together?” is more a sign of innovative thinking. My job as expert has moved to facilitator. I didn’t think this was really possible in a music class. But as I let go a little bit of that “I am the only expert in the room” mentality, I found a sense of freedom. My expertise in music is essential, but I must also be willing to ask the right questions to guide my students toward the answers, not just spoon-feed them. Not only will they often come up with bigger answers, but their hand in the learning will make it more meaningful and hopefully, more permanent.

•In what ways can you continue to expand your knowledge of learning, teaching, and leading with technology with the aim of increasing student achievement?

First and foremost, my master’s degree courses will continue to offer relevant resources to improve my teaching and classroom strategies. But on a more content specific level, I’m finding that many of the web sites I subscribe to through RSS feeds has given me many ideas. With the resources I have gained from this course, I can more skillfully navigate what may or may not work.

•Set two long-tem goals (within two years) for transforming your classroom environment by which you may have to overcome institutional or systemic obstacles in order to achieve them. How do you plan to accomplish these goals?

Two long-term goals for my classroom would be first to incorporate more technology and second, to develop better time management between content and use of technology. It is my goal to use music notation software as a way to incorporate more technology. I have taken the first steps to reaching this goal by purchasing music notation software for my schools’ mobile computer lab. This will put music technology directly in the hands of an entire class at one time. To date, this program has only been available on one computer. With better access comes finding a balance between preparing music and time to use technology.

The biggest obstacle to using the technology I already have has been feeling like I have to teach every aspect of a program before I can let students use it. As I learn to move from lecture to guiding, I believe the time issue will resolve itself. With a little guidance, students will learn the programs and less time will be spent on learning technology and more time on content. On a personal level, I must simply develop a schedule and stick to it. By giving up a little power and sticking to a plan, I believe I will find the balance I have been looking for.

I am thankful for the insights this course has given me. I look forward to where they can take me and my students.

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org

21st Century Skills.org - My thoughts

In 2003 I took a class presented by Intel on technology in the classroom. The skills we learned were building web sites, creating power points, creative uses for publisher programs and how to use these programs to teach students. At one point I was queen bee of the class because I found and downloaded a simple audio clip from the internet to accompany a presentation I created in power point. Today, it seems archaic. A simple search on YouTube produces far more complicated and creative videos that kids create in their spare time than we, at the time, ever thought possible outside of Hollywood. And yet, just a few years later, it's all commonplace.

That is the world our students "play" in. Our students are master web builders, movie makers and online travelers. Why is it that they can play with and master such technology but at school they still go to the library to research possible job opportunities from outdated books? As strange as it may sound, Education is slow to learn.

The web site http://www.21stcenturyskills.org is dedicated to seeing the students of today learn the skills they need to succeed tomorrow. Of course, that has been the job of public education from the beginning. But today’s education system is falling behind. This web site is packed full of information on what 21st century skills students need to enter the workforce in the future. I liked the many links to other school districts and industries that are working to improve learning for our students, but found it difficult to gain any real information.

I felt much of the information was just scratching the surface. The site suggests concepts and then links to another site that also speaks in concepts, which then links to another site and so on. I’m a give-me-the-facts person. Give me an idea on “how” to apply “Principle 4: The library media program models and promotes creative, effective, and collaborative teaching.” from the America Association of School Librarians web site and their attempt at promoting the 21st century skill “Information Literacy.” (http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslproftools/informationpower/iplearningteaching.cfm) I know this site is to “…Serve as a catalyst…” (http://www.21stcenturyskills.org ) for 21st century skills. But it feels more like a report on research findings. Maybe I didn’t look deep enough.

It is important to teach our students these skills, now help me know how.


http://www.21stcenturyskills.org
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslproftools/informationpower/iplearningteaching.cfm