My personal game plan focuses on two indicators: 1b) engage students in real-world issues and 4a) ethical use of digital information.
To carry out the first part of this plan, I need to gather information. I plan to investigate collaborative projects on-line using the resources from our last course as a starting point. I also plan to send an email out to district colleagues asking if anyone is/has participated in such projects. The media specialist in my building is very interested in developing technology-rich projects with me. She has many contacts and resources, in addition to a global view of what all the grade levels in our building are working on. Together we can find or develop authentic problems for our students to explore. Working on such a project will require devoted class time and more computer access than the two student computers I currently have in my classroom. Currently I have the lap top cart for two periods a week but there is more room in the schedule to sign it for project use. In addition, we have a mini computer lab in the library. Before I can go forward with the rest of this objective, I need to settle on a project.
As for my second goal, I am already working to model and teach the safe and ethical use of digital of digital information. We are just getting into a new social studies unit so I am showing the students some of the tools we will be using. I have introduced my students to the Get REAL acronym (Almasi, 2009) to evaluate websites and to the two-column journal (Eagleton and Dobler, 2007. p.224). Because we have not gotten into real inquiry phase, I am modeling note taking on the journal with books about agriculture and a couple of websites linked to our school website (the journal page has been scanned into the computer and I model on the SMART Board). I have not yet met with the media specialist or administration about implementing a "SMART" curriculum as found on the CyberSmartCurriculum.org site. However, I still plan to do that as an extension of this goal. I think time to meet and plan is the next step. Developing a unified school-wide approach to digital learning skills and issues may need to be a summer project.
I feel better about my progress on the second goal although this is an on-going goal. How to safely, legally, and ethically use digital information and technology changes with the technology itself.
Almasi, J. (2009). Critical evaluation. Laureate Education, DVD.
Eagleton, M. B., & Dobler, E. (2007). Reading the Web: Strategies for Internet inquiry. New York: The Guilford Press.
Christina,
ReplyDeleteFinding a project can be the hard part, but you move down the path towards something it can be very rewarding. Perhaps you could start with one of your social study units and see if there is an easy way to adapt that. Social studies always seems easier to adapt. My students wanted a class pet and during class meetings we have now decided on what we want to get, after they managed to convince me in a presentation that they had enough research and were committed to it. Now they have to work out the costings, care and funding issues. This has become a big real life problem in our class that the students are inquiring about.
I have also found it difficult to have a more school wide view of safe and ethical use. At least I have begun and hope that the school sees a need to discuss this more and perhaps use the SMART or other curriculum.
Andy
http://www.rhinotion.blogspot.com/
Andy,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new classroom addition. I read that you have settled on a hamster. That is a great real-world project for the students. I love how you used a wiki and had the students create a presentation. Good luck to your students in raising the funds for their new furry friend.
Christina
Hi Christina,
ReplyDeleteI think that it's a great idea to use ideas from our previous course. I too found collaborative projects to be very beneficial for students. They are a terrific way to inspire your students to be self directed learners.
I also think you are smart to use a modeling strategy to teach your students about safe and ethical use of digital information. I feel that with elementary students especially, modeling is so important.
I think you have some great ideas for carrying out your goals. Good luck!