Revising My GAME Plan
My GAME Plan is going good. At this point I don’t feel I need to revise it because I had the opportunity to do a few things that have helped me meet my goals. Last Saturday I attend a symposium in math and technology at Region 14, my regional education center in Texas. I attended a couple of sections that were good, although one did not included technology it included the creation of science booklets, which can be considered project-based learning. I could revise the way the information was presented to include technology by having my students type the information and find graphics in the internet to later cut it and paste it into their booklets. Another session I attended was about the use of the Phrometian board and all the great interactive activities that can be done with it. Hopefully in the future I can get one of this interactive boards.
Another thing that was valuable and was part of my GAME plan was to develop the first part of the lesson for last week’s application. Working on this assignment allowed me to spend time doing research on sites that I could use for my Webquest. I spend quite a bit of time doing this because the choices were very extensive therefore I was able to find a few good sites for my students to do their research.
Lastly, I attended the Texas Computer Education Agency 30th Annual Convention and Exposition in Austin, TX. At one of the workshops I was one of the presenters as part of a team of 4 teachers who participated in the summer technology camps in our school district. This was my first public presentation and although everything went well I’m glad is over (I was quite nervous). We had a room full of educators and administrators from all over Texas (over 150). During the four days that attended the conference I attended several workshops that were fascinating. I was amazed by some of the Web 2.0 tools that are free and are great to create students projects. Some of the sites that I would recommend for my colleagues to check out are:
Animoto for Education (not the regular Animoto) at http://animoto.com/education - for amazing slideshows
DUMPR at http://www.dumpr.net/ - to create pictures that can become art pieces
VOKI – at http://www.voki.com/ -to create speaking avatars – great for speech, Language art
Wordle – at http://www.wordle.net/ to create “world clouds”
Big huge labs at http://bighugelabs.com/
And… may I recommend the Logitech Quick cam model Pro 9000 (Web camera) to create your Avatar.
Although I attended multiple workshops and visited many vendors of technology I can say that the highlight was to meet THE one and only Dr. David Thornburg and his wife. I shake the man’s hand and we actually had a conversation – Yes we did! He and his wife were very friendly and pleasant. He was also presenting at the conference. Anyhow, that was an exciting moment to meet someone famous like him.
I think my plan is going good and I’m pleased with my little growth. But I Know that as an educators I need to constantly change my plan as situations change and new technology becomes available.
Yolanda
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Congratulations Yolonda. Speaking in a teachers meeting is one thing and presenting at a conference takes it to a whole different level. It sounds like you got to see a large variety of technology in one conference. It should come in handy as you teach. Each time you start a new unit you will think of some of the new technology you learned about and can plug it into your lessons. Good Job.
ReplyDeleteCindy,
ReplyDeleteYou are right, I had a chance to see a lot of technology in one plance. To me the most exciting thing was to learn from other educators about the tools they are using in their classrooms to create amazing projects using technology. I been brainstorming ideas about how to use some of those tools. I'm getting a little anxious because my students will be taking the TAKS test in less than two months. But the good news is that some of them have completed their solar systme Powerpoint and they can use the information they already have to build a different product using the same program. I hope we can construct many meaningful projects in the near future
I think it is great that you have the opportunity to attend all of these conferences. It really seems like technology is a priority in you district. I am curious how to successfully use an avatar? I saw that Erica S uses an avatar on her blog, but I cannot envision how they would be used with an assignment.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine told me about Donorschoose.org. As a teacher you can request items for the classroom. You may request a Promeathean Board. I think I am going to rquest one. She has received two items thus far.
What a great opportunity to attend the technology conferences. I was able to attend several classes this week and was given the same resources you posted. They even work with all the filtering systems my district has in place. I look forward to reading more. Thanks, Yolanda
ReplyDeletecmbrady,
ReplyDeleteThere is a vision for using technology in my district but unfortunately, the district doesn't have much money to purchase new computers and other equipment needed to do technology integration using different technology. We had two failed bonds and now we have a new superintendent. Hopefully a new bond is passed soon.
One of the ways a teacher was using an Avatar in her class was for social studies. The students created a talking Avatar to express their opinions about a subject, such as civil rights. This seemed to be a great way for those students who are shy at speaking. If they don't show their real face, they feel more comfortable in speaking to others. Each Avatar was showed to the class.
I was very impressed by the webcam that can be used to create Avatars. You use it as a Webcam and every time you move or talk your Avatar mimics your movement and on the other end the Avatar is shown speaking with your voice. I'm planning on buying the camera as I think my students will be thrilled to use something like this. I was wondering if there was a "Viola Swamp" Avatar to leave instructions to my students when I have a sub. That would be neat, don't you think?
I hope you had a wonderful Valentines Day.
Yolanda
You are welcome Donna. I'm glad you also had the opportunity to attend some classes and learn about the sites I shared. They are great sites that can engage our students into their learning because they can create awesome projects. And the nice thing about them is that they are free! Don't we teachers love free resources?
ReplyDeleteThat is nice that you will be able to access the sites from your district. I just returned Friday so I haven't had a chance to see which ones will be unblocked in my district. I need to spend some time tomorrow checking them out to learn how to create the educators' accounts.
Happy Valentines Day!
Yolanda
How exciting that you got to do your Public Speaking(as nervous as you think you were) and that you got to meet with Dr. Thornburg and his wife. What exactly is a Phromethian board? Is it like a Smart board only more advanced? My school is finally ordering smartboards for us to use. Some teachers are objecting saying let us use the money for something else. Can you imagine? I had to back my technology coordinator so that he would not give in. I believe that I was the only one who understood what it means to be up to speed with technology. Almost everyone else is stuck in the primeval times of chalk and talk and whiteboard.
ReplyDelete