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
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
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
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
Sunday, June 27, 2010
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
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
Thursday, June 24, 2010
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.
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.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Week 4 Blog
As of now I have been getting some very good feedback in regards to my game plan. I have also been able to locate some very good information using the web and our classroom resources. As I continue moving forward with my game plan I am sure I will need to tweak and modify it on occasion. So far I have learned that are numerous ways to use technology in the classroom as a way to increase student achievement.
Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Week 3 Game Plan
Week 3:
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
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
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Week 2...
Week 2
As I read through and reflected on the National Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Teachers, I realized that I am good in some areas and poor in others. I feel my willingness to try new things that involve technology really does help promote effective learning among the students in my class. In my classes we use a number of different digital tools to enhance the content of the daily lessons, for example when completing vocabulary or key terms I have the kids use power point to create slide shows that uses pictures to define the given words. Recently we went a step further and used voice recorder to attach a verbal explanation to each slide the students created. I believe this type of activity definitely inspires student learning and creativity.
An area that I certainly need improve 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 “March Madness” the NCAA basketball tournament, the only problem is the tournament does not start until March. So if anyone has any ideas for another project we can do in the fall please let me know.
Jerry Brown
As I read through and reflected on the National Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Teachers, I realized that I am good in some areas and poor in others. I feel my willingness to try new things that involve technology really does help promote effective learning among the students in my class. In my classes we use a number of different digital tools to enhance the content of the daily lessons, for example when completing vocabulary or key terms I have the kids use power point to create slide shows that uses pictures to define the given words. Recently we went a step further and used voice recorder to attach a verbal explanation to each slide the students created. I believe this type of activity definitely inspires student learning and creativity.
An area that I certainly need improve 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 “March Madness” the NCAA basketball tournament, the only problem is the tournament does not start until March. So if anyone has any ideas for another project we can do in the fall please let me know.
Jerry Brown
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Reflection
Course Reflection
At the beginning of this course I must admit I was very skeptical about the information this course would provide, and specifically how it would impact my classroom instruction. But now that we are at the end of the road I can honestly say this course has helped further my knowledge of how to incorporate technology more effectively in my classroom.
Although my technology skills are pretty solid, I had never used an inquiry based project in my classroom. The information I learned about different ways to search and how to use sites that were more reliable really helped improve my classroom instruction. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing this information with my students, especially when they would come into class and tell me how they were using this information in their other classes.
I also found the information discussed in week four relating to 21st century skills learners today need in order to be successful in the real world. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that a number of my classmates agreed that public speaking is a skill that many students today are lacking. Maybe it is because of emailing and texting that students today feel they do not need to know how to speak in front of crowds, but with the ever changing technology and tools like Skype this is a skill that schools around the country may need to reinstate for the well being of our students.
Lastly the information acquired in this course has given me the courage to try a classroom partnership activity next year. I have heard of and read about these projects but I never saw myself as someone who could follow through with an activity like this. But as result of this course I have already contacted a friend who teaches in a different school district than mine and we have begun to collaborate in order to get this project up and running next fall. Since we are both coaches that teach ESE math, we would like to do some activities that combine math skills and sports. So if anyone has any ideas please send them my way.
At the beginning of this course I must admit I was very skeptical about the information this course would provide, and specifically how it would impact my classroom instruction. But now that we are at the end of the road I can honestly say this course has helped further my knowledge of how to incorporate technology more effectively in my classroom.
Although my technology skills are pretty solid, I had never used an inquiry based project in my classroom. The information I learned about different ways to search and how to use sites that were more reliable really helped improve my classroom instruction. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing this information with my students, especially when they would come into class and tell me how they were using this information in their other classes.
I also found the information discussed in week four relating to 21st century skills learners today need in order to be successful in the real world. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that a number of my classmates agreed that public speaking is a skill that many students today are lacking. Maybe it is because of emailing and texting that students today feel they do not need to know how to speak in front of crowds, but with the ever changing technology and tools like Skype this is a skill that schools around the country may need to reinstate for the well being of our students.
Lastly the information acquired in this course has given me the courage to try a classroom partnership activity next year. I have heard of and read about these projects but I never saw myself as someone who could follow through with an activity like this. But as result of this course I have already contacted a friend who teaches in a different school district than mine and we have begun to collaborate in order to get this project up and running next fall. Since we are both coaches that teach ESE math, we would like to do some activities that combine math skills and sports. So if anyone has any ideas please send them my way.
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