This week’s assignment asks me to synthesize my learning as it applies to the process of developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating my personal GAME plan. What I have discovered is that my plan, The Promotion and Modeling of Digital Citizenship and Responsibility, is an ongoing process that will never end. My indicator requires teachers to participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning. Thus far, I have established technological folders on our district’s network server and created an online account to network more efficiently with my students and their parents.
Networking with teachers and colleagues has been a slow process. We are in that time of the school year when most teachers are deeply involved in teaching their students and have already decided how they plan to accomplish this. Free time is at a premium, but this has given me the time to research more ideas and technological tools. I am discovering the tools that I need to accomplish this task, but it is time consuming. I like to test tools out before I recommend them but there is so much out there that I think that I need to modify and refocus my plan. This may help me to locate better tools and links at a quicker rate.
Networking with students and parents seems to be moving at a quicker pace. Both groups seem open to new suggestions and ideas. My Portaportal site is the perfect tool for this endeavor. I have established many educational links for my students and parents to explore, as well as being able to upload many PDF files for my students to download or access when they miss school. I may modify a few of the categories on my site, but overall I am very pleased with the results. In the video, Assessing Student Learning with Technology (2009), Dr. John Ross stated that one step in determining effective assessment lies in choosing supportive technology. I believe that my Portaportal site accomplishes this objective. It promotes communication and the use of assistive technology.
Resources:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Assessing student learning with technology. Baltimore: Author.
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Hello Michael,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are on track to accomplish your goals! I noticed you mentioned establishing technological folders on your district’s network server to communicate more with parents and students. This sounds like a great approach! I teach technology classes to middle school students and have found that the children are often more comfortable with new technology, my issue is with the parents. I guess every school district will be different, my attempts to integrate more technology tools for the purpose of communicating with parents has been met with mixed results. We just recently switched to an online grading system. Parents can now access their children’s progress at anytime. I can’t believe we have had several comments from parents that they do not want to bother learning how to do this and request a paper print out of the grades. I understand there is a learning curve involved when it relates to a new technology; however, some parents are just not willing to make the effort.
You mentioned that networking with parents is moving along well and I hope you do not run into some of the issues I have. Just a word of caution Michael, you may want to plan for a way of accommodating parents who fall into this category. I also received complaints from parents who do not have internet access at home so their children can not access assignments online. The cases are very few, but it is something to consider.
Thanks,
John
Mike,
ReplyDeleteWhat are technological folders? Are they attached to your class web page? I have links, folders, and files attached to my class web page. I am trying to begin eportfolios and this seems like a great idea.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly does Portaportal do for you? Is it a site directed specifically for teachers or have you customized the site to your benefit.