Reflection/GamePlan

As I reflect on the information provided in this course I immediately begin to think about the very helpful and engaging discussions I was lucky to be involved for the past eight weeks. I can honestly say that the discussions form this class were more helpful to me than any other during my time here at Walden.
I had some previous experiences using a project based learning activity the information and discussions this class provided will undoubtedly help strengthen my PBL activities in the future. I really enjoyed the Digital Storytelling Lesson; I believe this type of lesson will definitely increase the learning gains for my ESE students in the future.
This course has help me realize an area that I certainly need improve in is my willingness to visit blog’s and other social networking sites in order to improve my professional development in the area of technology.
Although I am comfortable using digital tools like movie maker, voice recorder and Skype, I need to use these tools to engage my class in a project that involves students in a different school. I have begun conversation with friend of mine that teaches in a different town about trying a collaborative project next year. Since we are both coaches we have discussed trying to do a collaborative project involving math and sports.
Following my game plan throughout this course has allowed me to engage my students and effectively enhance the instruction in my classroom.. The most important tool used in my game plan was my classroom set of IPADS. Once I taught my students how to use these machines, the engagement level in my class took off. My game plan consisted of a project that incorporated two different classrooms in two different cities. I was amazed at how the use of social networking really made my students begin to think critically about given topics. Once my students became comfortable with this type of instruction we progressed to creating digital stories, which my students enjoyed as well. While creating the digital stories my students got very creative with embedding voice recorder into the stories. Although my students enjoyed creating the digital stories, we did hit a few bumps along the way. I learned that in the few future I must spend some time teaching my students how to summarize information because many of them were copying the information on their blogs right out the text. I definitely realized how the use of a game plan is very helpful in creating lesson plans, the game plan serves as a guide then you can build the lesson plans around it.

Overall I feel this course has provided me with the type of valuable information that will help me become a better classroom teacher. But more importantly my students will be given more engaging lessons in class, which will allow them more opportunities to be successful.

Week 4 Blog

Since Integrating technology in the classroom has become a major focus in my school district over the past two years. The Florida Department of Education has become very hands on with our district because of low standardized test scores and one of the biggest deficiencies they see in our classrooms is the lack of student’s engagement due to inadequate use of technology.

In an attempt to address this problem I will be presenting project based learning activity that will require my students to use multiple technology tools in order to design their very own virtual museum. The technology tools being used will consist of computers, Ipads'/Ipods, adobe elements, clip art, and Microsoft word. Since we will be using a vast variety of technology tools I believe it will be very important for me to make sure my students have prior knowledge of the tools we will be using.

Part of my game has consisted of me getting familiar with the adobe elements so I can effectively model how to use it. One problem I am having that I mentioned in another post is what type of alternative activity do I provide students whose parents want sign the Internet usage permission slips?

Jerry Brown

Week 3 Game Plan

In order to carry out my game plan I will need a number of items in order for the plan to engage the students and effectively enhance instruction. The most crucial resource will be a lap top for each student to use in class, an alternative to the lap tops will be a classroom set of ipods. As I begin to lay the foundation for my game plan, I will need to continue to gather information on how to set up a project that incorporates two different classrooms in two different cities. I will also need to gather information on what type of release/parent permission the student will need in order to participate. As of now I have contacted a peer teacher and discussed a number of different projects we may engage in. I have also reserved a classroom set of ipods that I will be able to keep in my classroom next year.

Jerry Brown

Course Reflection

I can honestly say that every lesson in the course has been very helpful in giving information I could use in my classroom. This year my teaching assignment has changed, I will not be in the classroom instead I will serve as the district academic coach. Although I did not know this at the beginning of the course, the information provided will with a doubt help me better serve the students in my new role. One of my responsibilities will be to help the teachers in my district to differentiate instruction for all students, as well as to train them on how to use technological tools like the active boards. This course has provided me with many useful websites that will help me to show teachers ways to differentiate instruction. Another useful piece of information this class has helped with is how to use inventories and assessment that will help determine what type of learners are in the classrooms at my school. One of the first things I will do during the first week of school is to provide teachers with the assessment so they can complete them with their students.

Jerry Brown

Reaching and Engaging All Learners Through Technology

Inventory Resources


The following link is a student interest inventory that I have used in my classes before as a way to get some background knowledge of my students. I like this inventory because it is appropriate for the middle school and high school students I teach. I feel the information from this inventory helps me in create successful collaborative groups in my classes.

http://74.6.239.67/search/cache?ei=UTF-8&p=student+interest+inventories&fr=yfp-t-701-s&u=www.mcas.k12.in.us/plp/STUDENTINTERESTINVENTORY.pdf&w=student+interest+inventories+inventory&d=ZzmYsrZfVA0u&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=e7.I8tb8FSxynywDSbJ_5A--


The following link is a quiz to help determine your learning style, understanding student learning styles is crucial when trying to build lessons that effectively engage all learners.
The learning styles/multiple intelligences are:
Visual (spatial). You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
Aural (auditory-musical). You prefer using sound and music.
Verbal (linguistic). You prefer using words, both in speech and writing.
Physical (kinesthetic). You prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch.
Logical (mathematical). You prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.
Social (interpersonal). You prefer to learn in groups or with other people.
Solitary (intrapersonal). You prefer to work alone and use self-study.

http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-learning-styles-quiz

Here is another link that provides a quiz that will help determine a students learning style, it differs from the one above because it only addresses auditory, visual and kinesthetic. I would prefer to use this quiz for my low level ESE students because it is less involved and would be easier for my students to complete.
http://www.lhup.edu/jyoho/webquest%20di/docs/modalities-survey.pdf

Below is the link to my survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?PREVIEW_MODE=DO_NOT_USE_THIS_LINK_FOR_COLLECTION&sm=tzwSzb20bBczNQNdws5Ra4AxTzBJ8J7ioSJJIiMVaPM%3d

Course Reflection

Course Reflection
WOW! I can’t believe this course is finally over, I must admit the past 8 weeks have been a blur to me and although this course was somewhat overwhelming to me I can honestly say I got something out of it. I really liked the GAMEPLAN framework this course provided, the template was much more teacher friendly than the one we are required to use at my school.
As I reflect on this course the first thing that comes to mind is the information I gained in regards to using social networking sites in class as an educational tool. Although many of the students I teach are very familiar and comfortable with using social networking sites we as educators have been afraid to use them in class. This course definitely helped open my eyes to the positive and effective way to incorporate these types of things in class.
I also enjoyed learning about digital storytelling and how it can be used effectively in class. I look forward to teaching my students how to construct a digital story next school year. In the fall, I plan on having my students put together a digital story illustrating what they did over the summer or what they wish they could have done as a back to school activity. I believe this topic will be something each student will be comfortable with and it will allow them to use their imagination.
Overall I enjoyed the content provided during this course and I look forward to implementing many of the activities provided in my on class.

Jerry Brown

Week 5 Blog

Jerry Brown

To this point my knowledge of how to integrate technology in the classroom is definitely improving. I have really enjoyed learning more about PBL"s, I have some prior experience with them but this weeks lesson helped strengthen my knowledge. I have learned how to differentiate these PBL lessons to meet the needs of my special education students. One area I need to improve on is my ability to organize a PBL unit and implement effectively, but I do feel this lesson has provided me the resources to help me.