The best thing about my current game plan is that the aspects of it do not involve me to go out of my way to complete. What I mean is that it is not some extra hassle that needs to be added on to my lesson in order to make it complete. Instead, the incorporation of technology to facilitate and inspire my students learning and creativity, and the process of engaging in professional growth and leadership are more like lifestyle in teaching switch. Technology has become an essential addition to the 21st century and naturally it needs to find it’s place in a classroom. I believe that walking into a classroom, we would expect to find a pencil and a paper and eventually finding computers and other forms of technology should be just as common.
I constantly engage in professional growth from a learner’s perspective as much as possible. This may involve a formal class, a professional development seminar, or even something as simple as learning from a youtube video or having lunch with a colleague and discussing classroom related rhetoric. However, anytime I am inspired with something that I created and this usually involves technology, I create a presentation for my colleagues for the next district wide staff music in-service. As Zach Chase describes everything can be archived with technology (Laureate Inc, 2009). This is essential, because everything that I teach is available to review instantly on my computer. Presenting is my way of giving back to the professional community and luckily other music teachers share this same ideology through their presentations.
The resources that I need to carry out my GAME plan involve resources that I currently have like, a class computer, my Ipad, Itunes, the Internet, a projector, etc…, the resources also include resources that I want like to have like a midi studio, more computers, a class set of Ipads, etc… and even includes resources that I’ve never heard about or that might not have even been invented yet. Basically, my main goal is to create a lesson and then ask myself “What technologies would make this lesson easier, more motivating for the students, and more successful in my classroom? “ If I do not currently have access to the technologies that I need, then I ask for them and if my request is denied, I make do with what I currently have. In today’s world, it is not necessarily what you know but whether or not you possess the creativity and knowledge to know how to find and access useful knowledge and resources.
Resources:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Enriching content area learning experiences with technology, part. 1 [Motion Picture] Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore: Author.
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I like your idea of archiving everything that you teach and making it available for review on your computer.It makes it easier for reflection, self evaluation and ultimately improvement.
ReplyDeleteIn your last sentence you mentioned the need for one to be creative in finding and accessing useful knowledge and resources.That is something a teacher should cultivate because creating meaningful instructions depends on how we can we turn the resources available into learning tools.Creativity would enable us turn what might seemingly not be obvious learning resources into one.In the midst of all of kinds of technology tools,one must be able discern what would be the best fit for his students.
You make a very realistic point about making adaptations to your teaching when you say that it should not be a hassle. To improve the way that technology is incorporated in lessons should not require completely revamping the way you do things. It should be more of a reassigning of your time and effort. As you mention, you still have to write your lessons, but now in your reflection you try to focus on the technology that can enhance the learning experience. Your professional development does not even seem like it needs much adjustment because you already research new ideas and share as much as possible with fellow teachers.
ReplyDeleteAshlee and William,
ReplyDeleteOverall, the main issue that we need to reach as a teacher is to constantly push forward. When we find something that does not work, we need to replace it or fix it. When we find something that does work we need to ask ourselves, "How can we still improve it?" Finally when we think something is absolutely perfected or at least close to it, we need to share it with other teachers.
Charles