Evaluating My GAME Plan Progress

Even though I have had to put my plans on hold in regards to working with the MOODLE mentor I had located, I have still been able to access blogs, youtube videos, and a wiki that together have given me a snapshot of MOODLE’s capabilities. So far I have learned that MOODLE is a complete virtual learning management system that allows educators, students, and parents to communicate and collaborate in the learning process. In doing so, MOODLE acts as a class hub allowing for blogs, wikis, pod casts, videos, quizzes, and various online learning activities and assessments. Although I am not at the point where I’m ready to jump in and use MOODLE with my students this year, considering MOODLE and its applications has helped create a vision for my next school year. Instead of limiting my use of technology to the writing and researching components of my language arts curriculum during certain times of the school year, I intend to use MOODLE as a means of creating a multimodal literacy environment to engage students throughout the school year. In doing so, MOODLE can help me infuse traditional literacies with media-based literacies, as well as helping me foster 21st century learning skills such as communication, collaboration, problem-solving and creative thinking (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, pp. 195-6). At this point, I still need to learn the logistics of setting up a MOODLE account and how to go about creating this lush multimodal learning environment. I’m certain that when I’m in the process of doing so, many questions will arise. In the meantime, I intend to continue learning what others have done until my MOODLE mentor is available to give me the hands-on tutorial that this digital immigrant so desperately needs. Mary Reference: Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning

Monitoring My GAME Plan

Although I have visited the MOODLE site and tried to make use of the teacher demo, I find that I am suffering from sensory overload. I can tell that MOODLE offers wiki, blog, and podcast applications, but I’m having difficulty figuring out where to go and what to do next. I’ve also hit another snag in that my district connection who is proficient with MOODLE has taken a leave of absence due to an illness in his family.

Consequently, I need to modify my action plan by contacting my district’s techie gurus to see what they can tell me about MOODLE. I’m sure that there are others in the district who use MOODLE, so I am currently on a quest to find them. Also, I need to search outside of the MOODLE site to see if there are any teacher blogs or wikis offereing suggestions and models of how to use MOODLE.

New questions that have sprung to mind involve whether MOODLE can be set up to accommodate an entire school or whether it is accessible for parents. Also, I am wondering if it allows for individual portfolios and if so, will students have access to their work after leaving the class (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, p. 152). Additionally, I’m curious about what kind of assessment tools are offered, especially assessments to support reading and writing.

Until next time,
Mary

Reference:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use: A Standards-Based Approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Carrying Out My GAME Plan

As mentioned in my last blog, my GAME plan involves developing proficiency with using a virtual learning environment like MOODLE to access digital tools and resources to promote student creativity and learning (NETS-T 2.a) and to customize and personalize learning activities (NETS-T 2.b).

To do so, I not only need to access the MOODLE site myself, but also make certain the site is not blocked by my school’s district filter. As I have a tendency to become overwhelmed with digital media, I intend to make repeat visits while exploring the MOODLE site to ensure that I carefully explore and digest all information on the site. I am a visual learner, so I intend to sort my discoveries by creating categories as I go and posting information in a table. Additionally, I benefit from seeing models and demonstrations, so I will search and access educator blogs or demonstration sites which provide examples of how teachers are making use of MOODLE to enhance learning with their students. As I also mentioned in my original post, I need to tap into the human resources around me by seeking out those in my school and/or district in order to create a personal learning network of teachers who not only have utilized MOODLE or other technologies, but also are willing to share their experiences (Laureate Education Inc., 2009).

Thus far, I have done a preliminary visit to the MOODLE site to get a feel for the digital tools and capacities, and I have located and contacted a teacher from a neighboring high school in my district who is proficient in MOODLE to the point that he has conducted MOODLE workshops during previous TECH-fests held by my district. My next step is to arrange a visit to my MOODLE contact’s school so that I can see how he uses the virtual learning environment with his students and so that I can gain some hands-on experience with using the site’s tools and resources.

Mary

Last year at this time, I had zero experience with blogging, collaborating on wikis, or creating pod or screencasts. This year, however, I not only have had experience with these technologies, but also have become brave enought to utilize blogs, wikis, and screencasts with my students in my classroom. Doing so has given my teaching new life, and I have noticed a substantial increase in student motivation and engagement.

In order to keep up this momentum, I intend to expand my commitment to a life-long journey of growing as an educator to include growing in my abilities to teach with technology. To do so, I will use the GAME plan to set goals, create action steps, monitor my progress, and evaluate achievement of my goal (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009). For the first leg of my self-directed learning journey, I intend to focus on the following NETS-T indicators:

2.a- design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity,
2.b- customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilites using digital tools and resources.

My GAME plan for strenghthening my confidence with these two indicators is as follows:
G (Goals): I would like to develop proficiency with using a virtual learning environment like MOODLE to access digital tools and resources to promote student creativity and learning (2.a) and to customize and personalize learning activities (2.b).

A (Action Steps): I intend to explore the MOODLE website to learn more about the specific software applications and digital tools, as well as searching for blogs or demonstrations of how other teachers have made use of MOODLE. Additionally, I intend to seek out teachers in my school and district to create a personal learning network of those willing to share their experiences with MOODLE and other technologies (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009).

M (Monitor): I will monitor my developing proficiency by creating a list of MOODLE applications and features and checking off the ones I feel confident manipulating and using. Additionally, I will consider my content goals and attempt to match appropriate MOODLE applications with desired learning experiences.

E (Evaluate/Extend): One way to evaluate and extend my proficiency is to reflect upon my ability to actually use MOODLE's application and digital tools to meet my NETS-T indicator objectives of promoting student learning and creativity and of differentiating and customizing instruction. Once I have the confidence to create such learning experiences, I can continue to reflect, evaluate, and make improvements.

Ultimately, I am looking forward to using my GAME plan to customize and design creative learning experiences for my 8th grade English language arts students. If anyone out there has experience with MOODLE or other virtual learning communities, please feel free to share your experiences.

Warm wishes,
Mary

References:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer), (2009). Promoting self-directed learning with technology (DVD). In Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Greetings classmates from Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas!