Thursday, 19 July 2012

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.



4 comments:

  1. Damilola,
    I assume that since your school has such a hard time with the internet access, that your families do as well. Do the families have computers at home? To include technology into your lessons maybe the students could do assignments on the computer in school and at home. You could create a bulletin board to act as your 'Class Blog'. The students would have to post but in order to to it they would have to type it then print and add it to the board. You could also still use the computer to download good videos and printable resources when the internet is working. That way you won't need the internet during your actual lesson. Good luck!

    Rachel

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    Replies
    1. Hi Rachel,

      Hi Rachel,

      Thank you for your suggestions.

      Actually many families have computers especially now that the school has started creating the awareness of the need for computers at home because the children take assignments home that they need to complete now that we use it a lot. I must say that the internet service was not this bad but we have no idea what has really been happening since the beginning of this year; and in my place such information is not readily divulged.

      You have given me great ideas here and I am sure they will work pending when we arrive at the point of solution. We are trying to make a direct subscription so that we do not need to pass through any local internet provider.

      Damilola

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  2. Response to Damilola:

    Thanks for sharing your challenges with using the internet in your school. Although we occasionally have interuptions in our internet service, I could not imaging trying to incorporate technology without consistent availability to the internet. Rachel's idea about downloading and saving information when the internet is available could be a possible solution. In addition, I have found PowerPoint to be a valuable tool that is not internet dependent.

    Thanks again!

    Jenna

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  3. Hi Jenna,

    You are right, it is unimaginable not to be connected to the web, it seems like a social dismal. I hope this will be over soon. Although we still have the service but can be very unstable. Take for example, as soon as I am through typing this, I have to select, copy and paste as a word document, so that I don't loose it in case the internet cuts off which may not be restored for another day or week.

    Thank you for sharing about the PowerPoint, it is indeed a valuable tool. We use it a lot and the children enjoy learning with it and expressing themselves through it.

    Damilola

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