Math 24 Regional Tournament

The Math 24 Regional Tournament will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center (JVS) on Palmyra Road. This is a competition between Mahoning and Trumbull County schools. The participants are the winners from the local tournament. Come show your support and cheer on the students from Stadium Drive!

Final Reflection- Educ 6713

As more emphasis is being put on technology skills for today’s students to be college and career ready, it is essential that teachers acquire a way for students to attain these skills. Integrating various forms of technology into lessons, via a GAME plan, is a way to accomplish this. These plans are techniques that teachers can use to educate students on the process of goal setting, action taking, monitoring and evaluating their own progress.  Students who use this method regularly eventually develop into self-directed learners (Cennamo, Ross, Ertmer, 2009). Additionally, this is an excellent tool for teachers and students to use for collaboration, reflection, or documentation. Teachers can further make use of this means for accommodation and differentiation of instruction (Laureate Education, 2010).

  After creating, revising, and implementing my GAME plan, I have come to understand the importance of putting a plan in writing. This enabled me to focus on the objectives and standards that were in my lesson plan.  Consequently, revisions had to be made to my original plan because parts if it could not be implemented. Originally, I had planned to Skype with another classroom to discuss math measurement, but when that fell through a coworker suggested that I Skype with an architect in our area. It turned out that an architect was the perfect person to give my students insight on the use of measurement in real world applications.  Owing it to collaboration and suggestions of my work and online colleagues, my GAME plan was successful and benefited all of my students.

By making small changes in my teaching methods, using a GAME plan, and incorporating technology standards I can be assured that positive learning outcomes will take place. As a result of instructing my students how to use a GAME plan, and requiring a digital story as a concluding product of their GAME plan, will guide them to be self-directed, lifelong learners and problem solvers.

Reference:
Cennamo,K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Customed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010a). Program 1: Promoting self-directed learning with technology [DVD].  Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Monitoring My GAME Plan Progress

As I move forward with my GAME plan I do not see a reason to modify it at this time.  Discussing my experiences with my peers has been a tremendously help, as their suggestions have steered me on the right path (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009).  I have learned from Walden colleagues, as well as school colleagues, information that will make implementing my GAME plan stress free and successful. For instance, I have been told to create a separate Skype account to use only at school so I won’t be interrupted by friends or family calling me and interrupting class time.  It was also suggested that I get a webcam to mount on my SmartBoard so that the class I am Skypeing with can view my whole class instead of me moving my laptop around the room to include everyone.  Where the cash for the webcam will be obtained from is still not clear. The only other questions that are still pending are if I have approval to use this technology and if I have to get parental permission to broadcast student video.  I submitted my instructional plan to my administrators and am now waiting for a response so I can move onto my next step.

Reference:

Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach: Mason, Ohio: Cengage Learning.

Carrying Out My GAME Plan

My GAME plan consists of a cooperative and collaborative measurement lesson via Skype with students in another country. "Authentic instruction enables you to meet your curricular standards in ways that can engage and support your students' interests, creativity, and motivation" (Cennamo,K., Ross,J., and Ertmer, P., 2009).   To ensure that my GAME plan meets this criteria it is necessary for me to complete the following steps:

First, I would need to get permission from my administrators to use Skype with my class. If this is granted, I would have the district IT person unblock Skype on our server so I could use it in school. Also, I would have to bring in and use my personal laptop since none of our school computers are equipped with webcams. The laptop would have to be connected to my projector so that all the students could get a clear view of the images. The additional information that I would need is to find a school in a country that uses the metric system. This country most likely will have to be Canada because of the time zone differences in other countries. The steps that I have taken so far is to research the cost to Skype to Canada. I found a monthly unlimited rate of $13.99, but for my purpose I found the 2.3 cents per minute to suffice.

I believe this problem based lesson will be motivating, engaging and spark creativity in the students  thus meeting the criteria of an authentic lesson. As ideas and strategies are exchanged among students  from two different countries, a better understanding  for solving measurement problems in both US standard measures as well as metric units should be gained.

Reference:
Cennamo,K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Customed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.



GAME Plan Design

The National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETSŸS) were designed for student engagement and improvement in learning. To improve content area learning via the use of technology, I am concentrating on:

 Standard 2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experience and Assessments

 Indicator a. - Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

And

Standard 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Indicator b. - Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.

My goal to strengthen my proficiency in these two indicators is to plan my lessons as usual, but enhance them with technology (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010). For instance, when I am teaching measurement my goal will be to Skype with a foreign country class that uses the metric system as their means of everyday measurement. This collaboration and problem solving between classes will, hopefully, benefit each class to better understand the metric system and the U.S. standard units of measure. Additionally, I would like to use Google Sketch up to have my class cooperatively design a community using various 3D shapes when studying geometry. My progress will be determined by the growth of my students in the aforementioned areas of math. I will evaluate my actions through self -reflection and anecdotal notes and I will further extend my learning through professional development and collaborating with colleagues.

Two indicators that I feel confident in are both in Standard 5- Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership. They are: Indicator a. Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning and Indicator b. Exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others. I feel confident in these areas because I have taken numerous technology workshops and classes and have taught my colleagues and others what I have taken away from these courses.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Program 3: Enriching content area learning experiences with technology part1 [DVD]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Author.

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved on September 13, 2011 from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx

4 Day School Week?

Seventeen states have already allowed schools districts to eliminate school on Friday in hopes of saving money in these days of budget cuts. The extension on the school day Monday through Thursday would make up for the loss of the Friday hours. Read more by clicking this link and take part in the nationwide poll that is located on this site:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704869304575104124088312524.html

The Start of A New School Year

Budget cuts have hit schools all across the nation and the Boardman School district is not immune. We will be starting the new school year with 28 fewer teachers and 2 less administrators. Our music and art classes have been cut to one per week at the elementary level. Some schools are opting for longer days but going only 4 days a week. Sounds good to me. Good luck to all who are experienceing similar cuts.