As I look at the National Education Standards for Students (NETS-S) and think about the students that I work with each day, I am struck by the fact that the “standards” seem to be more than a little lofty. I understand that they are intended to be adjustable to grade level appropriate expectations, but most of my students are a very long way from beginning to understand what they even mean, let alone actually begin to meet them.
It seems the place to start though would be to make the standards known. We cannot work toward meeting a standard that we are not aware of. I can see my students helping me to go through the NETS-S and determining what each standard might look like for a sixth grader. We might go through the standards together and find some that we think are achievable to whatever degree we agreed was reasonable for our grade level. Of course, the GAME Plan would need to be explicitly taught if my students were to be expected to employ its use in working toward meeting the NETS-S.
The last thought that I have is one that I’m not sure that I have my mind completely around. I have been easing into the use of a wiki in my classes. We have done a few little things here and there. Some students have taken to it while some resist and would rather use a more traditional approach with paper and pencil. Having students use the wiki to collaborate to set and monitor the goals somehow… I’m not exactly how.
Anyway, I had my post observation meeting for the formal part of the professional development review this afternoon. I used the text on audio, a cloze activity for the chapter notes, and “clickers” to guide some of the class discussion. The principal and the school in general, come from a technology “poor” perspective. Most teachers on campus use very little technology in their daily classroom instruction. The words “impressive” and “exciting” actually made it into the formal paperwork. Most importantly, the principal now has a first-hand observer point of view regarding the use of things she had never seen before. I am certain that I will be called upon to share with the entire staff at some point a few of the things that I am doing with technology in my classroom. My GAME Plan continues to develop.
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I could connect with your idea of having students share what the standards could look like. I had the same thought that asking students to identify actions to match the standards would help. After they can visualize the standard, you could have the class choose one to work on. This could be the goal setting piece and then you could develop the plan from there. Do you think the students would be motivated to come up with a goal and action if they have the opportunity to choose what to work towards? Congratulations on your successful review! It sounds like you are on your way to being a leader with technology in your school.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn Doyle
I'm glad you were able to showcase the effective use of technology tools to an administrator - someone in the position to increase the level of technology happening in the building. Good for you. I'm sure you deserve the positive results in your evaluation.
ReplyDeleteIn my post this week I also touched upon the need to explicitly teach both the GAME plan framework as well as the NETS standards. We are on the same page here. Students need to understand what we (and they) are aiming for. Nice Post!
To present and discuss standards with 6th graders is an excellent idea. I usually write daily lesson objectives and goals, but I seldom the purpose for standards. I agree that students cooperate best when they understand the purpose of a program and activity, and as you mentioned, many students have excellent creative ideas how to achieve many of the content standards.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to the wiki, my 6th graders frequently visit scholasticnews.com. The site includes a wiki/blog component, Sticky Situations, a social conflict scenario that encourages students to offer resolutions. This activity also allows students to use their conflict resolution skills as well as practice writing for a public audience. The site includes appropriate rules for social writing, blogging etiquette, and a lesson plan.
Good Luck with everything!
To get studnets more motivated to use wikis and blogs, maybe you could require 1 assignment a week to include a wiki. Hopefully when students became more comfortable with them then they would be more likely to use them.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that this class is almost over. I have learned a great deal over the course of the last seven weeks. I am tired though. I need to take a weekend off and just rest. Unfortunately grades, district assessments, and the last minute push for standardized test preparation is in the offing. I wonder if I can use any of the things that we ahve been studying to make it easier, or if that would just add to the work load. I'm glad that the comments are here, and will be unless I delete them. I intend to return after everything settles down and read through them again. I just can't seem to fit anything else in my brain right now, or at least it can't grasp hold of any more info. I may try the one assignment a week on the wiki idea Shannon, but not because they lack the motivation to use it... because they need to practice a bit using it in an appropriate way. Several of the discussions had a common thread through this course. Like intentionally teaching and modeling the GAME Plan, Intentionality is necessary for most of our students when it comes to teaching appropriate use of the technology. And, they will need some repetition in its use before they become proficient in the process.
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