First, I have learned that there are a set of technology standards for teachers and students which have been established by the International Standards for Technology in Education. Just reading them and reflecting on my teaching strategies helped me assess how well I align with them. By following my GAME plan I have learned that technology should be an integral tool in my classroom. The two goals I chose will help me be a better role model for my students and create a more open line of communication with students and parents.

In reference to 3c (communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats), I have learned that this is a vital element of my profession. Parents today are very busy, and sometimes an e-mail or a class calendar that announces upcoming tests, projects, etc. is a valuable avenue with which they can stay connected to their student’s educational progress. Also, attaching links to my web page to documents containing class notes and daily activities helps me stay in touch with absentees. It gives them a detailed account of what they missed and holds them accountable for the information and assignments given in their absence.

One immediate adjustment I will make to my instructional practice is to review each unit of study and evaluate how technology could help my students interact with the curriculum. Another adjustment I will make is to ask students to be a part of the implementation process. I will need to release some of the accountability for learning to the students. They must learn to become their own advocate for knowledge as their future roles in society will require this. I will ask for their input when creating assessment rubrics as well as for lists of technology components with which they are interested in working that create opportunities for research that will help them understand the historical settings of our literature readings.

Helping students with NETS-S standards

By following through with my goals from NETS-T, I can help my students develop proficiency in the technology standards and indicators outlined in the NETS-S. My first goal was in reference to 3d, (model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning). Requiring my students to create a digital storyboard to present a research project will help them with student goal number 6, Technology Operations and Concepts. As I model the use of technology systems, I can help students transfer their current knowledge of technology to the learning of new technology. The first digital tool that I indicated in my initial GAME Plan was the addition of podcasts. I am still working on having students share their Paradise Lost slide shows by creating a link from my web page on the school web site to make the podcasts. Students need to make final revisions and receive approval from me to complete the process.
Any time my students use technology, especially with the intent of sharing a product with a wider audience, I will need to help my students accomplish NETS-S goal 5 of understanding human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology. I will help them define and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information so that they can demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning and can exhibit leadership for digital citizenship.
Having students work with a group using a blog for communications will cover NET-S goal 2 Communication and Collaboration. Just having students work in a group using any form of technology covers several of these goals. I must be diligent to continue working on my NET-T goals so that I can help them gain proficiency in their technology standards as outlined in the iste.nets web site (www.iste.org/).

This week I have learned about EduWiki.us with over 2,000 resources for projects which will help me implement my NETS-T goal of modeling the Web 2.0 tools for my students. I might need to adjust which web tools I want to implement first. The Google presentation sounds like it might be able to be added sooner than a blog or wiki would be added. I will stick with the two goals in my original GAME Plan for now. Until I have mastered those two basic goals, I do not feel like I should add or change my learning goals. I do think it is helpful to write down my goals and assess my progress so that I can make changes each week. It is also helpful to hear suggestions from my colleagues as they have experiences about using the web tools from which I can benefit.

I have learned that students are more open to the addition of technology in their path to learning curriculum than I thought! I also learned (or I should probably say confirmed) that choosing an outside audience for their product made my students work more diligently and proofread more carefully. It really hit them that this product would be a representation of themselves. My students will be posting their slide shows on my web page on our school’s web site. This is the first time I have had them present to the ‘community’ of our school and beyond.

I still need to learn how to do podcasts because there are a lot of good video clip resources I would like to show to help solidify or explain the ancient culture or not so distant past (We will be hitting Modernism and Post-Modernism, but my students have a hard time relating to a world without cell phones and drive thru windows!)

I was able to look at some other English teachers’ web sites to get ideas on communicating with parents. I know I will need to spend more time creating and adding links to resources or daily assignments/notes to help absentees stay on track with the class. Something I added this week to an assignment was an extra credit opportunity for anyone who added music or narration into their power point presentations. This scaffolding gave advanced students a challenge and creative outlet, yet the scaffolding afforded students who have not mastered the skill a chance to learn how to manipulate these tools without penalty.