The course, Integrating Technology across the Curriculum focuses attention on the idea of self-directed learning through the GAME plan. Cennamo,Ross & Ertmer (2009) suggested that self-directed learning is an individuals effort to learn new skills and knowledge through a clearly defined plans or procedures. These procedures are what encompass the GAME plan. Cennamo (2010) suggested that the GAME plan represents setting clear goals, choosing methods of achieving these goals, regularly monitor those actions and effectively evaluate the final outcome of the actions. Cennamo (2010) also suggested that it is not only important for teachers to use this strategy to increase their knowledge and acquire new skills but it is important for them to guide their students to use this plan to become Self-directed Learners. Learners that can use available technology to acquire information and to transfer the acquired information into usable products.
During the course, I embarked on a GAME plan that sought to engage students' thinking through the exploring of real-world issues and solving real-world problems using digital tools and resources. My goal was to learn new tools and to guide my students to use these tools, through Inquiry-based approaches, to investigate and seek solutions to authentic local and global problems. Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer (2009) described Authentic Instruction as, "an instructional approach that uses real-world issues and authentic problems to facilitate and inspire students' learning and creativity" (p.27). The same source surmised that Authentic Instruction enables teachers,"to meet their curriculum standards in ways that can engage and support their students' interest, creativity and motivation" (p. 40). As I learned new tools and strategies, I updated my action plan, after careful monitoring and evaluation. In addition, the students were introduced to creative ways of demonstrating their learning using technological resources. In summary, the GAME plan supported my teaching by providing a framework that encourages continuous planning, monitoring and evaluation in all aspects of the teaching/learning process.
This course has pointed me to several areas that I can use technology to improve my content delivery. I found the principals of Individualized Learning most urgent and hence I have made the greatest efforts to implement them in my instructions. Individualized Learning proposed the idea that all teachers should develop GAME plans that set goals, actions, monitor and evaluate every child to ensure that they can benefit fully from all teaching/learning activities (Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009). The study resources suggest that this can be successfully achieved with the support of technology. Hence, I am planning more effectively to avoid one size-fit all instructions, but rather more individually-based approaches that uses technological tools to meet the individual needs of my students. For example, I provide additional links for my gifted students to further their research and collaborative tools for my slow learners to give them additional time and opportunities to communicate their ideas. With the aid of technological resources, individualized assessment and evaluation are given attention as well. I guide my students to use a variety of media to demonstrate their understanding of the content materials. Digital storytelling is one of the tools that I am aggressively investigating for future use in my assessment.
This course exposed me to a variety of technological tools that can be integrated into my two specialized subjects, Geography and Social Studies.
Reference:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaning classroom use-A standards-based approach. USA: Cengage Learning.
No comments:
Post a Comment