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We have discussed the tpack model of putting the focus on content as a first step in the instructional planning process and/or identifying a need, weakness, or problem (for curriculum or non-curriculum) will result in more meaningful and effective uses of technology as well as higher levels of learning. Research that has been done points us in that direction, and while it may not always be easy and obstacle free, if our primary goal is to reach and teach students well, we will work toward that end.
In order to facilitate this approach, you've been asked to think about these 3 questions over the past few weeks and identify a few areas, issues, problems that you want to work or focus on as you move through this class. You can identify all curriculum related issues or mix them with a couple personal/professional related issues.
1. What is the content/concept/skill you are trying to teach? (or what do you want to be able to do)
2. What issue/problem in your classroom or personal/professional life needs solving or an improvement made?
3. What types of activities/strategies/actions do you want to do/use? (or want your students to do/use)
You may want to construct this in a word processor if you are thinking and working on it and then paste into the comment section. If you don't have it all figured out yet, don't worry...try to identify at least one to get started. Once you've identified the items above...it will help to narrow the focus of the types of tools you will want to investigate further as we move forward.
Use the comment section to respond so that as a class if someone runs across an idea or or has a possible solution or advice we can share our collective knowledge.
9 comments:
1. The concept that I'm thinking about at this point is teaching writing.
2. The problem: Although I feel fairly confident as a teacher of writing, I have a few issues that I could improve upon. First is the idea of incorporating the entire writing process. I get bogged down collecting and re-collecting papers so that I can help students revise/edit, so sometimes I tend to almost skip that part. I need to make them more responsible as peer editors so I don't have to do everything. Second is "publishing." They "publish" to me. Big deal. I want REAL publishing so that students will (hopefully) feel more accountable for their writing.
3.I'v been dwelling on this for years. Strategies I want to incorporate are using Google docs to peer edit, something I tried with limited success this tri, and actual publication, maybe to a class wiki. My wiki now is non-collaborative, only a resource for students. I might come up with some different ideas as we go through class, but as stated, I'm always looking for better ways to deal with student writing.
Pam, great idea to find ways of using technology in writing. You could have your students submit their writings to a high school classroom for editing. By doing this their work gets "published" to someone else and you don't have to edit so many papers.
Similar to Pam, I would like to come up with an experiment where the students are involved with an actual experiment. It would be more motivating if they submitted real "data" toward research.
Most of our experiments are similar to demonstrations where the outcome is already known, not always by the student, but where the results could easily be looked up on google.
I am trying to teach students to be responsible citizens and to communicate in an appropriate manner.
I need to work on communicating with parents and students. I have heard the story that the JHS becomes a mystery because parents get a lot of communication form the elementary schools.
I am currently trying to be more web savvy. I am getting a lot of hits but several hundred is only a fraction of the school population. I am thinking that if I do more to attract parents and promote positive communication. I do have a mailing about PT conferences, so I may put important information that parents will need on the post cards. I am also thinking that if I post more things that the kids would like (pictures), then they would show the parents.
1. I want to create projects that are fun and apply what we have learned to the real world. I want my students to use what they have learned to analyze and use what we have learned as a result.
2. I want to be able to communicate with parents about assignments and provide help at home for absent or struggling students.
3. By creating classroom Blogs I can accomplish #2, I have already started working on this even though we are still learning about it. I think RSS is going to be what helps with #1, I visited several blogs and already used an idea for a project in my Geometry class.
1. What content/skills am I trying to teach; large group activities for indoors and outdoors. I need new lessons/activities to enhance my program. I would like to incorporate technology into my lessons/activities. To build a network of ideas/professionals to help me develop content/activities to fit the way our student learn.
2. To incorporate technology, develop/use new ideas, build a wide range of activities, find a way to communicate to parents about what is happing in P.E. and keep parents up to date on what’s going on in class and show of student accomplishments.
3. I would like to have a PLN to help me build my content/knowledge of P.E. Use a blog to communicate with the outside world and show of all the great things happening at B.J.H.S in the Physical Education program. The use of technology to enhance my activities would strengthen the P.E. program; funding is a problem we need to find a way around the funding shortfalls.
Roderick, I am surprised the junior high is looked at as one that does not communicate. We have had HAC before the elementaries and I had to show an elementary school teacher how to email an entire class via HAC. We have a web site full of information. Maybe the parents are just being natives and expecting more snail mail instead of logging on the computer and checking out what is going on.
1. I want to create a classroom blog for the purpose of communicating with both students and parents. This communication would basically center around what we are doing in the classroom.
2. I'd also like to explore the possibility of while reading a novel being able to share comments with their classmates or even students in another school.
3. Additionally, like Pam, I'd like to do something with sharing their published work on-line. Currently, my students participate in 3 state/national essay writing contests. I do this so they can see a broader purpose for writing than just an assignment for the teacher to see/read. Writing for a "real" audience is a great experience for them. I also have my students write a letter to the author of a novel that they choose to read. Three times an author has posted their letters on their web site. My students LOVE it when that happens. I don't know what else is available. It would be great to be able to blog with an author.
4. Nonetheless, I absolutely need help with this whole writing thing. Over the past 2 weeks, I have commented on 600+ drafts. (152 students with 4 drafts each) I try to give as much feedback as I can. I find no real value in peer conferencing because of insufficient writing skills to effect a productive result. I don't know how technology can help the writing process to be less painful for the teacher but still be a beneficial process for my students. Perhaps someone has an idea. Thanks.
Having two children that have attended Bedford Public Schools I think that there is a difference in the way students are treated at the elementaries vs the junior high. They go from a fuzzy warm atmosphere to one that is more serious and demanding. That is not necessarily a bad thing but it is a change. As students proceed through our schools the demands increase. In 5th grade a student may not do well in math but goes on to the 6th grade. In high school that doesn't happen, students must show they know something (pass the class or the exam) before moving to the next course.
Pamela, I'm sure with you on the problems peer editing. I've never had good luck for the reasons you stated and also because students just don't seem to take it seriously. There has to be a way to ease the pain.
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