Recently, the program "Who wants to be a Millionaire?" was organized for the students of Emplace College It was an exciting time for the students as they competed favorably against one another with a JSS 1 student emerging the overall winner.

Pursuing An Advanced Graduate Degree

I recently made a decision to pursue an advanced graduate degree to further prepare me for my long term goal of establishing a Teachers Training College where educators are equipped with 21st Century tools which they will use to prepare students in creative problem solving and successful integration to a complex world of collaboration with the use of technology. 

There are three main topics of interest to me in education, these are Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership and ICT Based Learning. I consider these three main areas of education important because in an effort to make a national impart; and we need that a lot in my country which is presently riddled with corruption, terrorism and economic crisis; the focus should be to catch them young and mould them to useful citizens who can effect positive social change. It is important to motivate and inspire other teachers to be inspirational and innovative in guiding these young students to be creative thinkers (Claudet, 2011). 

I eagerly look forward to an exciting time of working together as a team, to keep ourselves motivated and encouraged so that we can persevere (Claudet, 2014) to the end of our course at Walden University.

Reference

Claudet, J. (2011). Leaders who make a big difference: Envisioning educational initiatives for positive social change. National Forum of Educational Administration & Supervision Journal, 28(2), 79-87

Reflection and Integration of GAME Plan in my Pedagogy

In retrospect, this course has helped me realize that in order to enhance my teaching so that learners learn; I have to find means of integrating technology to differentiate instruction so as to meet students with special needs, from different backgrounds including gifted students (Laureate Education, Inc., 2012b). 

In following my GAME plan, I see the inclusive nature of my lessons and how to streamline them to meet Federal, State and local standards. My lessons are more meaningful and self directed for my learners as it gives them as well as me the opportunity to establish my Goals as I consider what I want my students to learn; then take Actions as I go ahead to teach; then I Monitor their learning and finally Evaluate their learning to determine whether learning actually took place and to what extent (Laureate Education, Inc., 2012c).

Assessment helps the teacher to see how effective her teaching is and if a student needs help and what kind of help the student needs (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2009). I have also learned how to use technology to assess my students because according to Dr. Ross, technology can collect and analyze assessment data quickly (Laureate Education, Inc., 2012a).

Although my students had been engaged in online collaboration and problem-based learning, they have not done digital storytelling before and this course exposed me and my students to this kind of learning. Digital storytelling can be motivational for students in any subject because they know that their audio and visuals will not only exist on paper for the teacher’s eyes, but may ultimately result in a digital story for the world to see. The use of digital storytelling in any subject area transforms teaching style from the regular instruction to a classroom of students who have taken over the control of their learning by writing, illustrating and collecting images. This makes digital storytelling a veritable tool in my math classroom because students need constant motivation to make the abstracted nature of mathematics concrete and interesting. I especially like the effectiveness of a combination of problem-based learning, online collaboration and digital storytelling to teach related lessons as we have done in this course; and I intend to integrate them into my pedagogy.

References

 Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom

use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012a). Assessing Student Learning With  

Technology.  Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_1341773_1%26url%3D

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012b). Meeting students’ needs with    

technology,   Part 1. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_1341773_1%26url%3D   

Laureate Education Inc. (Producer). (2012c). [Video webcast]. Promoting Self-Directed Learning With Technology. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_1341773_1%26url%3D

Monitoring the Progress of My GAME Plan

In monitoring my GAME Plan, I will like to know if what I am doing is working for me or maybe I need to adopt another strategy. When I look at my goals, I realize that there is one constant that cannot be erased and that is the internet.

The goals for my GAME Plan are:

1.      To create a learning environment that is enriched with technology where students will be self directed learners as they incorporate the use of technology in their learning experience.

2.      To make my class inclusive of all participants in the educational pursuit of my students, by communicating relevant information through the use of technology.

I am working on creating the technology rich learning environment I desire even as we have placed order for more computers for the school use. Heretofore my school makes use of state/district and privately owned internet service providers who subscribe from oversees, and their service has not been regular because at a moment it is running and then the next it is off, and this may prolong for a while. This distracts and disrupts our use of the internet in classroom and at home. 

I have reflected and asked myself questions about how I can subsidize the use of the internet and I have not found an answer and I probably won’t. So I intend to start exploring the possibility of the school subscribing directly for internet service from overseas so that we can be sure of constant internet provision, which is fundamental to improving students’ learning experiences. Some of the most enjoyable lessons I have had with my students were those that had a link to the internet. I have come to a place where I just cannot do without it. 

I have learned that one important way I can make all participants in the education of my students, including parents is through the use of technology. Computer online conferencing gives room to many possibilities in participation and development of ideas that can help the school and home to enhance children’s learning (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2009).

Reference

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom

use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Monitoring the Progress of My GAME Plan

In monitoring my GAME Plan, I will like to know if what I am doing is working for me or maybe I need to adopt another strategy. When I look at my goals, I realize that there is one constant that cannot be erased and that is the internet.

The goals for my GAME Plan are:

1.      To create a learning environment that is enriched with technology where students will be self directed learners as they incorporate the use of technology in their learning experience.

2.      To make my class inclusive of all participants in the educational pursuit of my students, by communicating relevant information through the use of technology.

I am working on creating the technology rich learning environment I desire even as we have placed order for more computers for the school use. Heretofore my school makes use of state/district and privately owned internet service providers who subscribe from oversees, and their service has not been regular because at a moment it is running and then the next it is off, and this may prolong for a while. This distracts and disrupts our use of the internet in classroom and at home. 

I have reflected and asked myself questions about how I can subsidize the use of the internet and I have not found an answer and I probably won’t. So I intend to start exploring the possibility of the school subscribing directly for internet service from overseas so that we can be sure of constant internet provision, which is fundamental to improving students’ learning experiences. Some of the most enjoyable lessons I have had with my students were those that had a link to the internet. I have come to a place where I just cannot do without it. 

I have learned that one important way I can make all participants in the education of my students, including parents is through the use of technology. Computer online conferencing gives room to many possibilities in participation and development of ideas that can help the school and home to enhance children’s learning (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2009).

Reference

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom

use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Carrying Out My GAME Plan

After designing my GAME plan, I will need these resources to carry it out:

Technology Resources

·         Computers

·         Internet connection

·         Active Inspire software

·         Cambridge mathematics software

·         Geometry games on http://ixl.com/math  where the whole school is registered

and on http://www.mathplayground.com/area_perimeter.html

 

Other Resources

·         Course textbook

·         Square and rectangle mathematical tools

I will demonstrate to them what area means with the use of the wooden square and rectangle tools which are present in the class. I will pass these around the class for them to feel the shapes. Then we will visit the math playground site on http://www.mathplayground.com/area_perimeter.html  to watch a narration describing how altering the perimeter of a two dimensional figure can alter its area thereby giving them an extension of their learning of area to perimeter. This will be a good ground to start this lesson because the students’ interest will be aroused. Then they will work on their active inspire and Cambridge mathematical software before proceeding to games activities on http://ixl.com/math.

My intended learning strategy is setting objectives with the use of word processing application. I will use the draw tool to create a KWHL chart since it supports self-directed learning (Laureate Education, 2012) which will be in two segments for me as the teacher as well as for the students, to determine what I (students) already know about the topic, What I want to know and my students to know about this topic, How do I want to learn about the topic and enable my students learn, and What I and my students have learned about this topic. This will guide me to activate prior knowledge and personalize learning goals both in my learning and teaching processes.

So far I have been able to ensure that all the computers are in good working conditions; however the internet connection is dependent on the provider. The needed software for this activity have been installed on the SMARTBoard and the children’s computers. In our bid to acquire more computers, we have placed orders to have all classes equipped with computers.

Reference

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Promoting self directed learning with technology, Part 1. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_1341773_1%26url%3D

Developing My Personal GAME Plan

Preparing students of today for the 21^st century workplace demands that the teacher be conversant with the use of technology to facilitate better understanding of content and the development of appropriate technology skills that are commensurate to the new inventions and developments in the workplace. The teacher should display an infectious enthusiasm and confidence towards the use of technology and know how to select the right technology tool which enables her to present the content, and the students to interact with the content (Laureate Education, Inc., 2012). 

Today’s children are well immersed in technology and kindled by it much more outside the classroom, as they are exposed to both digital and electronic devices which they use more at home than in school; thereby making home hours more interesting than school hours (Prensky, 2008). The reverse should actually be the case, hence the need to integrate technology into classroom activities so that students will catch the fun in learning and at the same time be prepared for the 21^st century workplace. 

In reading through the standards of National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) which are the indicators of the skills expected in a technology enriched learning environment, I discovered that there are some of the standards I am confident in because I have been practicing them in my pedagogy and there are some I am not confident in so I decided to use the GAME plan to strengthen my confidence and proficiency in two of the indicators.

Lesson Title:    Mathematics - Geometric Measurement

Grade Level:   3

GOALS

Content Standard:

Geometric measurement: understand concepts of area and relate area to multiplication and to addition.

ISTE NETS-S

1.      Teachers develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.

2.      Teachers communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats (ISTE, 2008)

Instructional Objectives

·         To create a learning environment that is enriched with technology where students will be self directed learners as they incorporate the use of technology in their learning experience.

·         To make my class inclusive of all participants in the educational pursuit of my students, by communicating relevant information through the use of technology.

ACTION

•  I plan to equip the classrooms with more computers and this includes mine, so that we can have two students to a computer for the next academic session. In my class in particular, I will make sure all the computers are functioning well and that the internet connection is on because sometimes there is internet interruption in our country, Nigeria.

•  I will work on this lesson using the mathematics tool on my laptop that the students will for this lesson activity and make sure I am proficient in it before I introduce it to my students.
•  Then I will check out our class blog site to ensure that it is made accessible to all and inform parents ahead of time to watch out for a new post concerning this lesson activity.

• In grouping the class, I will first work with a whole class group as I show my students how to think independently and how technology can assist them in knowing how to transfer their knowledge of one mathematical concept to another.

•  I will encourage them to individually think about how the concept of multiplication can be applicable to area and how area can be divided into units of measurement that equals the addition of all the units.

• They will then make use of the Cambridge mathematics tool software installed on their computers to access rectangles and squares, so that they can make a choice of the measurements for the sides, divide the shapes into units and add all the units together. This activity will be totally self-directed because by now I would have left them to do this on their own since I had modeled it for them.

• I will divide the class into groups of fours and they will share their experiences with each other.

• I will write about our present class activity on our class blog site and tell my students to inform their parents at home so that they can read about what is going on in class so that they can also enable their children to do same at home.

MONITOR

·         I will move around to observe the children’s activity after which a representative from each of the groups will share a collective experience of the group with the class and this will help me know whether my actions in this lesson has worked well or not.

EVALUATE

• The main way I can evaluate myself is to take a look at my students’ finished work on the computers to assess their understanding of the concept and their ability to direct their learning by themselves.
•  I will expect to receive feedback from parents as well as students on this class activity.

References

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for

teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Enriching Content Area Learning 

Experiences With Technology, Part 1. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_1341773_1%26url%3D

Prensky, M. (2008). Turning on the lights. Educational Leadership, 65(6), 40-45