Man of Action

Last week I established two standards I hope to achieve in my classroom. Those two standards are promoting student reflection using collaborative tools and the second being to design relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools (ISTE, 2008). I am planning on using a wiki and podcasts both are not areas of expertise for me. I have had a some experience with creating podcast and have used wikispace.com for discussions. To achieve these two standards I will have to take what I know of podcasts and wikis to a much greater level.

To teach these standards in my classroom Cennamo, Ross and Ertmer (2009) have created a GAME plan to help us learn these technologies. Having already established my “G”oal, it is now time to move on to “A”ction. My first step to learning wikis and podcast is Google. For me, I have to either see someone else doing it well or need to be hands on when learning a new technology. I find goggle is typically the best starting point for building a base. I feel as though if you do not search what is out there before you start doing podcasts and wikis, I would have nothing to compare my work too or to aim for.

A second resource I plan on using would be my technology director. He and I have spent many hours teaching one another how to use all manner of technologies. I would also attempt to find a seminar or private tutor. My school has great support for teachers when it comes to technology in the classroom. Summiting an email to BOCES will ensure that I will have a seminar, class or tutor to teach me exactly what I want to learn. Another resource I would use to learn podcasting and wikis are my colleagues on the technology committee with me. After school a group of us show off what we know or have found on technology in the classroom. We will typically explore and share but with a goal in mind this group has taught me a great deal and I would turn to them again as a resource. Finally, I would use students, as educated as all of the people around us are, I still feel students are some of the best sources when it comes to learning things like wikis and podcasts. It is amazing to find out how many of our students actually participate in blogging and podcasting. It also makes students feel good when they are the ones teaching you! This is my plan of Action to achieve my goal of promoting student reflection using collaborative tools and the second being to design relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools (ISTE, 2008).

Kevin Kleespies

ISTE, Initials. (2008). The Iste national educational technology standards (nets•t) and performance indicators for teachers. Retrieved from iste@iste.org, www.iste.org.

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.