It seems hard to believe that we're in the home stretch of our MEIT program - but here we are. I was looking back at some of the earliest blogs and I smile thinking of how little I knew at the time. Funny thing is that I feel like there is so much more to learn about the application of technology to my classroom. After our class Tuesday night, I starting giving some serious consideration to what I want to accomplish for my culminating experience. Here are some of the ideas... let me know what you think!
1. I would like to update all of my presentations to "Presentation Zen" status. This would require taking my own stock photos or using creative commons photos - a little tricky with some of the science content - and creating all of the supporting materials. In addition, I would have to pull more stories to illustrate concepts instead of just lecturing the "material". This task would be a major overhaul but I fear I'd get burned out taking on all of my presentations and that this venture would be best undertaken a bit at a time...
2. I want to expand the Ning I created for our science department and create opportunities for my department to get involved in it's evolution by contributing to it. We currently email each other links, notes, etc. that may be appropriate for each others' classes. I envision taking those items and "training" my science colleagues to post them in our Ning, so that no matter who teaches what, we all have the same access to these resources.
3. As part of my district initiated professional development, I have been working with a small team to investigate the use of portfolios and exit interviews for seniors. At our last meeting, we gained approval from the principal to plan to implement the portfolios over the next two years. 2010-2011 would be a year of training and providing resources to the staff of the high school and we would begin implementation and creation of the portfolios in 2011-2012. For my culminating experience, I could plan the training sessions (f2f and online tutorials) to familiarize the staff with a number of technology tools that are available.
4. Finally, our district utilizes our distance learning lab for both inbound and outbound classes as well as software like Odyssey Ware for some of our students who need courses not offered or to fill holes in their schedules. We do also offer summer school on a limited basis but I'd like to start building an online option for biology in our district. Currently, students taking classes in one of these three venues lack the laboratory component. I'd like to build a class that utilizes models and demonstrations online as well as providing material "kits" for students to check out to complete labs at home. This may be in addition to offering lab days in a face to face environment as well.
Any ideas?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Ann, I really like all your ideas, especially the Zen transformation. I know you would do a great job with it, after seeing your pictures from last summer. I think you are right though in that the transformation is a long time frame project and would be difficult to sustain.
ReplyDeleteI was struck by your first comment about looking back at your earlier blog posts and reflecting on your growth as a learner. It is an amazing feeling to look back after a significant project like a Masters program. I think that would be a great project to work on with Seniors, reflecting back on their academic and personal growth over a period of time.
With so many tools available for the right price this would be a great project for a district to take on. We are doing a similar project at our school for 7th and 8th graders. Part of what I'm looking forward to is the level of personalization that will be allowed with the wide variety of tools and options out there for kids to use and share with.
With our staff we are planning on setting up a demonstration portfolio to work out the kinks with. That might be something the staff in your district could do for themselves and for showing to the group they would guide through portfolio process. Some of the tools we've been considering, wikis, blogs, prezi, glogster, voki, animoto, flick'r, anything that can be embedded into a blog or wiki.
Have Fun.
Ann you have really got it going on! congratulations on the leadership and involvement you are showing within your district. During the summer I promise I will start sending you stuff that I use including pdf's word docs and online sources for at home lab and simulations.
ReplyDelete