Evaluating Websites

Use the REAL strategy when evaluating websites.

Read the URL
Examine the Content
Ask about the Author
Links-check them out

Here is my evaluation of martinlutherking.org:

http://www.screencast.com/t/yMeS0lgn

GAME Plan Progress

My Goals:

-Using Technology in the classroom and becoming a model for students and fellow staff.

-Incorporating one technology based assignment each unit for students to participate in.

-Engage in professional growth and leadership by researching resources and digital tools to be used in the classroom.

These are the goals that I have set for myself to improve student learning and participation in regards to incorporating technology into my classroom. As I reflect, I have made some minor changes to improve my Goals and overall teaching.

Am I finding the information and resources I need? Yes, I have spent a considerable amount of time looking through blogs, websites, and Diigo to find information regarding digital tools that I can incorporate into my classroom. This is a very active process that includes reading up on information and testing the technology to see if it would be appropriate for my classroom assisgnments and assessments and aligns with my content standards (Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009). The information that I have found has been saved to my personal library on Diigo, so I can access it anytime I want and share informaiton with fellow teachers. Here is my Diigo Library feel free to browse and offer any advice in adding information.

Do I need to modify my action plan? My previous goal was to incorporate at least one new digital tool in every unit. Although I will continue with this goal I want to incorporate more technology into my classroom without having students down at the computer lab. This can include using my laptop and projector and having students watch video clips from Learn 360, participate in a poll to check for understanding at the end of the class period (Laureate Education, 2011), or have students help create a Rubric for any particular assignment. These are easy ways to include technology that allows for participation from students on a daily basis.

What have I learned so far? I have read about so many exciting digital tools that I could incorporate into my classroom. However, I never realized how much time this research would take. I have also learned that a goal of learning how to incorporate technology into the classroom is a goal that many teachers have, especially within my own building. These teachers all have great ideas and we are going to try and start our own technology PLC group that will be dedicated to sharing ideas, explaining how the digital tool works, and strategies to include digital tools into instruction.

What new questions have arisen? With the idea of creating a PLC, or 'Tech Group' I have questions as to what we need to do to plan effective meetings that are beneficial to each member. If any advice can be given on this topic, it would be greatly appreciated. Also, if there is any new ideas on digital tools that can be used with an entire class and only 1 computer, I am all ears!

Carrying Out My Game Plan

In the previous post I explained how I am going to improve student proficiency in regards to learning and technology. I have chosen two NETS standards for teachers which are Model Digital-Age Work and Learning and the other is Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership.

In order to carry out my plans in being a model teacher for technology use I constantly need to continue reading teaching and technology based blogs and websites created from teachers and professionals. It is then adapting the technology and using it within my own classroom to engage students more fully to support student success. I will meet with colleagues and share information and digital tools that I have found useful. Our Education Service Department (ESD) provides technology classes and ideas to incorporate and teach students how to use the tools that we are given and the school pays for. For example: culturegrams, Proquest, eLibrary, etc. I am planning on taking a course through the ESD to aid in my professional growth and become more informed on using the resources that we teachers have available already in our school.

Additional information that I will be looking for is interesting digital tools and technology that I can incorporate into my lesson plans. I would really like to focus on differentiating lessons and giving more students flexibility is showing thier technology literacy skills (Laureate Education, 2011). In order to do this I need to have a reportoire of digital tools at my disposal. Once I find these ideas I need to get them passed through administration and our tech team in a timely fashion.

Steps that I have already taken include creating a online bookmarking page through Diigo that is complete with some of my favorite resources to use in the classroom. I have also started getting my students prepared for their next activity which is Digital Storytelling. I have worked with the Tech Team to get Photo Story 3 downloaded on student computers. They will be using this for their final project. Attending a technology workshop during a teacher inservice day was also a highlight. Teachers were able to spend time collaborating and sharing ideas, something that we do not get to do alot of.

I have a lot of work to do!

Feel free to browse my personal library on Diigo: http://www.diigo.com/user/rikkiraap

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Program 3: Meeting Students' Needs with Technology, Part 1 [Webcast]. In integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore: Ross.

my GAME plan

GAME plan for Student Success

Technology in the classroom provides students an authentic learning experience that increases both motivation and learning (Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009). As a teacher in the 21st Century I can do things in my classroom that teachers fifteen years ago could not have even imagined. Today teachers can provide students with a more interactive classroom where students are working to become more tech literate all while meeting the standards teachers are required to teach and students are reqyuired to learn.

While reading through the NETS-T standards I have decided to focus on two indicators: #3 Model Digital-Age Work and Learning and #5 Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership.

#3: Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

As a teacher, striving to become more tech savvy, I need to consciously start looking for more innovative ways to incorporate technology into my classroom. While having students participate in these projects I want to communicate with parents, community members, administration and fellow staff members and share what my students are doing in the classroom.

My GAME plan:

Goal: Incorporate a new technology based assignment at least once into every unit and then share students' projects on my classroom website for the community to view.

Action: Research new ideas for students. Collaborate with peers and the Tech Team within the high school to identify the possibility and use of new websites for student use.Keep to date my classroom webpage. Advertise the webpage-send letters home to parents inviting them to check the website often.Update website at least once a week.

Monitor:Journal and keep information on new uses of technology. Identify pros and cons of technology and changes to be made for the next time. Consciously reflect on goal to determine whether or not I am working towards it.

Evaluate & Extend:I will solicit and evaluate comments from individuals that have visited our classroom website. I will share new information in my PLC regarding incorporating technology into the classroom.

#5: Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
I will make a commitment to demonstrating and promoting the use of digital tools within my learning community. I will lead by example and share ideas when it comes to incorporating technology into the classroom.

My GAME plan:

Goal: I will stay updated on new digital tools that will enhance instruction and student learning and share information.

Action:I will join online communities, read blogs, and subscribe to journals regarding the integration of technology into the classroom. I will post new information on my classroom website and share information with colleagues.

Monitor:I will keep a journal of new digital tools and reflect on their effectiveness.

Evaluate & Extend: I can evaluate the effectiveness of digital tools and whether they helped students meet their learning goals. I can generate handouts for interested teachers regarding my findings and ideas for integrating technology into the classroom.