In reviewing the standards addressed in the National Education Standards for Teacher (NETS-T) I am finding that there are many standards that I am currently working on, and many more that I am unsure of and how to effectively apply them. One of the standards that I would like to work on is focused on students collaborating to share their learning. The importance of learning to work together and how to seek others that can contribute on problems is becoming emphasized in the future workplace for students, as well as an important skill for educators in the changing educational climate. Another standard that I would like to focus on is teaching digital etiquette and how to use social medias thoughtfully and safely. I believe that my third grade students will be using social medias in ways that the creators never predicted. I am becoming more concerned for student’s online safety as the access to private information continues to be more accessible. To work on my goals, I have developed a GAME plan utilized from Katherine Cennamo, John Ross, and Peggy Ertmer (2009).
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.
Teachers: promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.
Goal--To use technology tools to further enhance my students’ collaboration and sharing of their learning. To utilize blogs, wikis, and other collaborative tools to demonstrate their process of exploration and develop more meaningful learning opportunities.
Action--Using blogs, wikis, and other collaborative tools will allow for more communication among student’s peers, as well as professional resources. By using blogs, wikis, and other collaborative tools I hope to provide multiple opportunities for students to respond in multiple ways to further encourage their learning. Students will be able to respond to essay questions, explore different visuals, as well as communicate and work collaboratively with other students on projects.
Monitor--To monitor or supervise student’s efforts in the process, I will continually evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of the students and their material. Collaborative activities provide for “both the processes and the products of learning.” (Cennamo, K., & Ertmer, P., 2009, p.39).
Evaluate--At the end of the project, or unit I will be able to evaluate student’s progress, as well as the effectiveness of the collaboration tool that was used. By having a log of the changes made within the wiki, and the blog postings and commenting occurring I will be able to identify student learning, and observe their growth within specific content areas.
I have become increasingly concerned about social medias and the influence they have on students. I am also concerned about how students use social medias, and their online safety. My second goal is based on social medias and how to stay safe and appropriate online.
4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices.
Teachers:
Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.
Goal--To provide a safe environment to communicate respectfully with their peers online. To learn and use other social medias to positively promote appropriate social interactions. I would further my goal to include finding professional communities to foster my own growth, and use the social medias to model appropriate digital etiquette.
Action--By using kerpoof.com and other websites that offer a closed chat room option, my goal is to teach students how to communicate appropriately with each other. Students will have a safe environment to share, be heard, and be safely monitored. I will seek other social medias, as well as other classrooms that provide opportunities for my classroom to interact. I will seek other professional communities to encourage my professional growth and for finding opportunities to work collaboratively.
Monitor--Through observation of the conversations in the chat rooms, I will determine if students are being respectful and being thoughtful of student’s safety. I will provide prompts for students to discuss to guide their conversations. By following the discussions, I can identify whether modifications should be made.
Evaluate--I will use a checklist to identify specific goals that students have mastered. I will also identify goals that I have accomplished and use the social medias and collaborating with other educators as a means to document my professional growth. According to Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer “self-monitoring and self-evaluation are considered essential components of self-directed learning.” (2009, p.11). The evaluation step is important to readjust and reflect on my growth, as well as the effectiveness of my goals.
References:
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/
2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use: A Standards-Based Approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
