Carrying Out GAME Plan

After reviewing my game plan I realized that in incorporated a lot of technology use into projects. “Universal design for learning (UDL) Sugguests that teachers can remove barriers to learning by providing flexibility in terms of options for materials, methods, and assessments.” (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009) One thing I wanted to address in the data based decision making GAME plan was under the heading “Set Learning Goals” How Will my students demonstrate the new skills and knowledge? I didn’t take into account that some of these students don’t know how to use these technologies that I’m using in my projects. I will have to spend some time showing students how to use the technology in order to really get the benefit of using it. Yes I know that most students do know how to blog, use youtube, etc. But I know for a fact that there are students that do not. What is the point of having them do projects they don’t know how to use the tools. It will just make the students frustrated instead of learning the skills that are intended with the projects.

Another resource that I have to utilize is my colleagues. I cannot be the only educator knowledgeable knowing how to use the technology. There has to be some sort of workshop that requires teachers to learn technology. If my students have questions, there should be other qualified teachers in the building that can assist in helping.

The additional information I need to carry out my game plan is to find out exactly what technology I want to incorporate into my projects. Should I start with something simple that most students can understand? First start off finding something on youtube, than progressing the skill to finding something on youtube and then blogging about it on their own blog page.

The steps I have taken thus far are focusing on what the projects that will be issued to my students and the goal of the overall project. Two areas I’m focusing on : engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources, demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.

References:

Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach (Laureate Education custom edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Mike Benson

The GAME Plan- NETS-T

My GAME plan for performance indicators I would like to strengthen. NETS-T which is international society for technology in education. There are two specific Net standards I want to focus on:
1. 1b-engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.

2. 3a-demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.

The GAME plan I would like to strengthen in the following areas:

Goals

1b-Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. I would like to focus more on informing students on health and nutrition. By using digital media to show videos of what happens to your body if you don’t have proper nutrition. The use of resources that will help with living more healthier include websites like www.Beahealthyhero.com
3a- demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations. I will try to be up to date with today’s technologies and relay information to my students through wikipedias, blogs, and twitter. There are many resources that include technology that will aid in helping students be healthy and fit.

Action

1b- The problem with many courses and units is that it doesn’t correlate with real world problems. Students need to learn the skills to succeed after graduation. Students have to be taught with descriptive images of the obesity problem that is happening in our country. Therefore having students find articles and videos of real world problems affecting obesity and heart disease in our country.

3a- I will keep my students up to date on various fitness and health related studies and findings. Engage my students to be interested using various technology devices in aiding their own fitness goals. Using technology like certain programs wii fit, and x-box kinect can help students learn more about fitness and nutrition through video game software they enjoy.

Monitor

1b-The way to monitor my success and progress is to stay current with real world issues. Keep students to find new articles pertaining to health and nutrition. By Using the internet to find new articles that are affecting our nation.

3a-The way to monitor my progress is too keep using new technology in my curriculum. I think by using music, pedometers, Hr monitors; Active game counsels it will contribute to transfer current knowledge to using new technologies. Also by allowing students to adapt to new situations regarding the use of technology in the classroom.

Evaluate

There are a few things that have to be done to evaluate the progress with these to performance indicators. One is to make sure to continue to be up to date with technology. There should be a time table or an outline of how many technology tools that I integrate into my classroom. Most of all implementing current issues and problems using advances in technology will keep my students engaged in learning.

Reference:

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T).

Retrieved
http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/
2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf

Personal Theory of Learning Reflection

In my personal theory of learning paper I discussed that I primarily use a more of a social constructivism approach. “Social constructivism was well articulated by Lev Vyogotsky and Albert Bandura. In this view, learning is considered a result of collaboration of a group of learners in effort to construct a common core of knowledge” (Duffy & McDonald, 2008). Throughout the course I have learned that each student learns different. Therefore I must adjust to different kinds of practices that include constructivism, constructionism, and behaviorism. A modification I would like to make is to have class more engaging for the students. The units should include lessons with more cooperative games and teamwork.

I think the one thing that is lacking in physical education is the use of technology outside of the classroom. Our classroom is quite different because our primarily goal is to keep kids active during class time. I think by incorporating technology homework assignments students will learn more about health and nutrition. The immediate adjustments I want incorporate in this year unit is the use of Blogs, Voice threads, and Virtual Tours. The students do not have enough time in our daily classroom routine to learn about all the health and fitness topics. Students can access their blog from home and discuss certain topics and questions that I have assigned. This will help students be more aware of living a healthier lifestyle. Voice threads are great, because this engages students in talking about a certain topic. This is also very engaging which will capture the minds of young children.

One long term goal I would like to accomplish is to develop a program which technology is more part of the classroom. Students and educators will develop the necessary skills to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Information is important, but it’s how you relay that information that makes it worth while. Working together with classroom teachers to help the students develop the necessary skills to use blogs, voice threads, and virtual tours will help every classroom.

Another long term goal is educating other teachers about using technology in the classroom. Educators whose teaching styles are “old –traditional method” tend to stay away from technology. We as colleagues have to address the importance of using technology in today’s classrooms. Educators have to adapt to society to incorporate a more engaging curriculum. Having a demonstration to each teacher personally how technology can enhance the students learning experience will have more a effect on the teacher using that technology in the classroom.

Reference:

Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J. (2008). Theoretical Foundations (Laureate Education, Inc.,custom ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Voice Thread

Here is a link to my Voice thread promoting how to have a healthy heart


http://voicethread.com/share/1261926/

Connectivism and Social Learning in Practice

I believe that cooperative learning is very important when it comes to student interaction. Unfortunately with so many students in all the classes it is hard to really meet other people. In specials the students in the various classes are mixed. This gives a great opportunity for other students to meet each other. But students tend to stick with others that they know. I try to incorporate many activities that involve cooperative games and team building. In the chapter Cooperate learning it describes “ five basic components: 1. Positive interdependence ( sink or swim together) This strategy involves students working together if they succeed then the whole group will, but if not than everyone will be unsuccessful. 2. Face to Face, promotive interaction. ( helping each other to learn, applauding efforts and success) When students cheer on their group members giving positive support is extremely important in building team work. 3. Individivual and group accountability- Each student must contribute for the team to be successful. The slacking members will not help the team succeed. 4. Interpersonal and small group skills. Communication, trust, leadership, decision making, and conflict resolution) this is the most important one. Being able to communicate with your group members working together to achieve a goal. 5. Group processing (reflecting on how well the team is functioning and how to function even better). It’s good to ask questions after the activities to see what the students thought they could do better, or what things that was difficult for their group to achieve the goal (Pitler, 2007).

Voice thread is an interesting way to learn about a particular object. The voice thread orientation discussed how it worked. I found it very interesting about the mother in the photo with her children. She was reflecting on what was happening on the day the photograph was taken. Then each child gave their account on what they were thinking. This is a great tool for students to learn about a subject but even families to know more about their heritage.

Instructional strategies and social learning theories correlate together when collaborating with other members in a group to come to a solution. Many different strategies that help students learn especially involving activities built around social learning theories. Cooperative games are a way to incorporate student involvement to achieve a goal.

Constructivism in practice

Both constructivist and contructionist have similar theories. When I think of contructivist it reminds of piaget of thinking cognitive and social interaction. Then contructivist reminds of Vygotsky of thinking of critical reflection. In physical education there is plenty of social interaction. I like having my students work with different partners every class. This way the same people are not grouped with their friends all the time. It makes students work with someone they might not normally talk to. I believe that positive social interaction in class benefits the students tremendously. One way to promote social interaction throughout the year is the use of cooperative games. These activities are meant for the students to problem solve and work together. At the younger level it tends to be much harder for them. Some of the cooperative games that I use are setup in stations. There are various activities that have students thinking and working together to complete the task. In the reading there are six tasks that teachers can use to help students generate and test hypotheses. Three that I like for cooperative games activity include “problem solving, experimental inquiry, and decision making (Pitler, pg 203).” One of the tasks that the students are asked to accomplish is having multiple students stand on a 10x8 sheet of plastic. The object is for the students to turn the sheet over on the other side without stepping of the plastic. This is very hard for some groups of students. But this way the students are social interacting, problem solving, and decision making. They are working together to accomplish a task. Teachers need to create learning environments so that learner can be involved in the lesson. There are several instructional strategies that include direct instruction, indirect instruction, experimental learning, Independent study, and Interactive instruction. I believe that interactive instruction makes learning more enjoyable for students. By having them more involved in the learning process they will retain the information more.

Cognitive Learning Theory

In the reading in this week’s text we explored two different instructional strategies. The strategies included “cues, questions, and advance organizers” and “summarizing and note taking (Pitler, 2007).” The cognitive theory is based on many different theories that revolve around auditory and visual learning, The learner is like a computer processing information, and that students learn from each other from demonstrations and visual modeling. The instructional strategies described in chapter 4 talked about cues, questions, and advanced organizers. In physical education, cues are very important for students to learn the concept. Cues are related to the cognitive learning theory because it modeling a visual in the students minds of what is expected. For instance when describing a certain skill it is helpful to give the students some sort of cue to remember. When describing catching a football, if the ball is above your waist your pointer finger and thumbs together forming a “diamond”. If the football is thrown below your waist your hands will be closer together forming “pinky’s touching.” These forms are demonstrated visually multiple times so students can grasp the concept. Many students tend to ask questions, I feel that answering the questions is important. The more time you take to demonstrate and answer questions will make the quality of learning in the lesson greater.
The one thing that I found frustrating was taking notes. Especially when you didn’t know what was expected on the test. Most of your time was spent taking notes not really paying attention to what was really being taught. In the chapter “summarizing and note taking” it talks about more efficient ways to take notes. One recommendation that I found useful was “give students teacher-prepared notes (Pitler, pg 120).” I like being straight to the point and having my students know what I’m looking for. This eliminates time spent trying to find the answer or what is expected. They can study the notes off the sheet that was given to them. I think mapping is a great way for students to learn. Since most of the time students are in activity it is hard for me to have students take notes. This is their time to be moving around getting some activity in building up their Heart Rate. Therefore giving students notes of what is expected on the quizzes helps me and them understand what concepts I’m looking for them to learn.