After taking a week to think about my GAME plan,
http://dchiarella.blogspot.com/2011/01/personal-game-plan.html, I have realized that my action plan will be one that is ongoing throughout my career. It will be based on the digital tools that are current in our society, and by implementing UDL (Universal Design for Learning) in my classroom my students and I will be provided with flexibility in learning and teaching (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009).
In order to carry out my plan I will need to continue to come up with multiple ways to provide my students with project based learning assignments that include the use of technology. Not only will I need to research new activities, but I'll also need to bounce ideas off of my colleagues and maybe that means setting up a website or blog site that all of the teachers in my school district can go to so that they can easily exchange lesson ideas. This would provide me with another way of communicating to my colleagues aside from just sending them emails.
Just recently I came up with another project idea for my students which would allow me to reach many of my learners based on Gardner's Multiple Intelligences (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, p.124, 2009). This project would allow my students the opportunity to create a group choreographed dance and then present it to the class through the use of a variety of technology tools (prezi.com, powerpoint, FLIP camera, present in person, or voicethread). The students would have a chance to work on their projects in class, but would also be required to use a class blog site to communicate with classmates, answer questions, complete quizzes, etc..
As I mentioned earlier, this GAME plan is more of an extensive plan and will probably be carried with me through out my career. My hope is that I can experiment with a variety of tools early on in my career so that I can create an inviting, exciting, and engaging learning environment that appeals to all learners.
Reference:
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.
David Chiarella
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David,
ReplyDeleteThe choreographed dance sounds like a great idea. Students could video themselves to see how close they are together in practices. I too like Prezi, but I have found that it can take a long time and whilst it looks cool this is one instance where it becomes more about the tool rather than the message. Good luck on your dances, it you want any feedback my class can help! We are always using VoiceThread to provide feedback to each other.
Andy
David,
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of creating a website where teachers can go to bounce ideas off of each other. I think email can be somewhat restricting unless you send it to the entire school, but the website is something that a teacher can jump on quickly if they have something to share. I have gotten some of the best ideas from observing other teachers or just talking to them, so this would be a great tool to have. Even having the website open to teachers throughout the district, state, etc. would provide you with even more ideas, discussions and collaboration.
Liz
Andy and Liz,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestions. I'm open to using any technology resources, seeing as this project is in its beginning stages. I just talked to my coworker yesterday, who happens to travel to many schools throughout my district, and she said that another teacher in my school district did a similar project where he showed the students a video called "the evolution of dance" (on youtube) and then had his students do a project recreating "their eveolution of dance," current day. I probably would have found out about this project from that teacher had my school district had a blog site where teachers could all share ideas.
David
David
ReplyDeleteYou mention a website or a blog where teachers can communicate with you. Why not have the students make websites where they can communicate with each other? There are plenty of host websites out there for education that will give you complete control over them. From there, you can take any project you do and they can post it on their website. They can even have their own blogs on there. Almost like an ePortfolio.
Matthew
David,
ReplyDeleteIm having a simliar problem during our dance unit. How would i incorporate technology into it? what i want to do is have students come up with some kind of their own dance by filming it. And blogging about other groups. Maybe putting it on youtube, than having students comment what they liked or didn't like about it. At the middle school every year they to a square dancing unit. And the culminating activity is called the ho down show down. It consists of students geting together in groups of six performing the square dancing moves. Teams dress up in characters. its a big event the best teams in each p.e class are asked to come down at the end of the week to the ho down show down, and these teams compete for the best performance. creativity in dress, and accuracy of moves is stressed. It is really fun and the kids get really creative and into the event. it has become one of the best units of our year. The best thing is to get students engaged into learning. Especially somethign with square dancing to see them having fun and enjoying it is great!! good luck with your project.
Mike Benson
Matthew,
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great idea! I'm not all that familiar with having students create communication websites. Which ones might you recommend?
David
Mike,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response. In the past I haven't really done a square dancing unit, but this year I am. During our dance unit, I usually do something different for each grade (i.e. 5th grade does step routines, 4th grade does social dances, and 3rd grade does jigsaw dances). In response to videotaping and putting student performances on youtube, I'd love to be able to do that, but some of my students can not be videotaped which is why I thought this project might work because it gives students the option of videotaping or not.
David