As we learn about problem-based learning this week, I can really see how it fits in with my GAME plan. As we developed our goals and plan of action, we were really just identifying a problem and we’ve been moving along with self-directed learning, learning the content along the way and using technology to help us reflect and document our progress, as suggested by Dr. Ertmer (Laureate, 2009). As we looked for ways we can improve in the classroom or or thought back to situational dilemmas we’ve dealt with, we’ve been able to go through the PBL process throughout this course (Laureate, 2009).
Really, I think my plan of action has been very useful in meeting my goals. I’ve been able to do most of the research needed to identify the needed information, I have my districts acceptable use policy, and I’ve been looking at my state’s technology standards. Also, I am currently on my school’s technology curriculum committee, so I’ve been working to identify and list the activities we already do to meet those standards and identify those places where we are falling short. It just so happens that one area deals with internet safety and ethics, so I am actively planning lessons to teach in the first weeks of school to address the standard and my goal. Also, in looking at my kindergarten curriculum and standards, one area that my grade level does not do address fully deals with our social studies curriculum and the area of civics and citizenship. Knowing this, I can use my second GAME plan goal to develop a PBL lesson that addresses real-world issues in our community. Learning about PBL’s this week has been very helpful giving me some direction in where to go with my goals. Really, I can use the PBL process for both goals and allow students to make discoveries, rather than me doing all the work and teaching myself. And I can also integrate more content area standards into teaching these goals, and covering more content is always a good thing!
I don’t have any new questions at this point, and I would still like to learn more about creating an online collaborative project. The biggest issue I’ve had is not being able to discuss and share ideas with colleagues. With summer in full swing, not a lot of people have been available for school discussions. I wish I could get more of my goals accomplished, but until I am actually able to get into our computer lab with a group of students, I feel as though I’m at a standstill. Therefore, the best way to adjust my plan to fit my current needs is to design a PBL lesson for each of my goals to prepare for the beginning of school. I know I’d like to do a lesson in the first weeks dealing with internet safety and ethics, and I’m planning to do the PBL lesson on civics and citizenship in October when we get to our Community theme.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Program 8. Spotlight on technology: Problem-based learning, part [Motion picture]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore: Author.
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Erin,
ReplyDeleteI think you are heading in the right direction with your first lesson dealing with Internet safety and ethics. I am going to incorporate that into my introduction to my Hi-Tech Career class. This classroom is all computer based, so they need to understand the importance of computer safety and the ethics of using the computers.
Erika
Erika,
ReplyDeleteDo you think it would be appropriate to do a PBL on internet safety and ethics with the students? I could totally see posing a question dealing with this, but since I'm not going to pull up examples of bad sites to show students why it's important to stay safe, I'm not sure if it's a really good problem. I don't want to be the first one to expose the kids to the bad stuff out there! You, however, could probably do this with your students, since they already have background knowledge of this stuff. What do you think?
Erin
Erin,
ReplyDeleteI think you should focus more on ethics as opposed to safety. As kindergartners I really don't think they can get into to much trouble with you hovering around. But they should be introduced to the ethical side of using items from the internet.
Erika
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI also would like to learn more about creating an online collaborative project. I actually contacted another health and physical education teacher in my school district through a general email and she was very interested in developing a collaborative project. She has been teaching for about twenty five years and is not really all that familiar with technology tools. I suggested that we start simple and just create a health and physical education blog for students. I told her that we could use the blog to link our classes and use it as a way for students to express their opinions on topics that we are studying in class. I also told her that we could complete a project together once students became familiar with using the blog.