As a part of reaching my goals for my GAME plan (mentioned in my last post), I need to assess what resources and information I need to carry out my actions.
For my first goal - standard #2-"Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments", I wanted to find different ways to assess student progress through the means of technology. I was especially focusing on summative assessments. One of my classmates had mentioned using CPS "clickers" as a way to gather data and assess students knowledge. I thought this would be a great place to start. I need to seek the help of my Local School Technology Coordinator about setting up the software and my class list to use the technology. I also need to explore how to create tests and the multiple ways ask questions using the technology. I was hoping to use video clips, pictures, and text in one test. Lastly, I need to know the nest way to communicate the results to parents since I am using the assessments as grades.
So far, I have located and checked out the CPS clickers from the media center. I have contacted the LSTC at my school and scheduled a time for us to work together with the clickers.
For my second goal - standard #3- "Model Digital-Age Work and Learning", I wanted to focus on creating a parent/teacher blog to promote communication. My goal is to use the blog as a means to support parents by keeping them up to date on what is going on the classroom as well as providing useful information about how they can support their children's learning at home. I also wanted it to be a place where they could communicate with one another about new and interesting ideas they have come across to support their children. This is another goal I need to discuss with my LSTC. We have very strict rules about internet use when it comes to students, I need to see what the rules are when it comes to teachers and parents. I also need to locate literature to help me explain the benefits of blogging to my parents. One of my classmates had mentioned that it requires a lot of planning and organization to jump start a parent-teacher blog because many parents have never used one and are unfamiliar with the purpose of the blog. I would also like to research the best blogs for educational use. This means blogs with less adds and more security. So far, I have researched the internet rules through my teacher handbook but came up empty handed. Most of the rules pertained to children and personal computer use. I still need further investigation so that I don't find myself in any unwanted situations.
I am interested if any of you have some suggestions for additional resources I should use to carry out my action plan. I look forward to hearing from some of you.
Thanks,
Ashley
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Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of using the clickers as a form of assessment. I also felt that your idea to use text, video clips, and pictures on the assessement. This will make your assessment well rounded. One thing I like to include on my assessments are open-ended questions. I feel that this gives the students a larger opportunity to show what they have learned. Also, the questions allow for creative thinking. Maybe one type of assessment could use this idea, such as a self-created quiz using Zoomerang. I like this website because it is really user friendly and allows you to create a variety of questions.
I also work for a very strict county when it comes to internet use. I think the most important thing that you stress with the blog is that it is for parent use and not the students. I know that in my county, students are not allowed to visit sites that can have inappropriate ads or can lead to inappropriate advertisements which can make it very difficult because we can not control the ads.
I enjoyed your blog!
Amanda
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the comment. I will definitely check out zoomerang.com. I like using open-ended, critical thinking questions and that is one thing that the clicker assessment lacks.
As for the blog, I completely understand where you are coming from. Our county rule is that no student can use a site that allows them to get to an inappropriate site within in 15 "clicks" or links from the original site. That narrows down the sites we can use by a large number. Like I said, it is something I need to talk to my LSTC and administration about. Thanks again
-Ashley
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteIf one of the limitations to jump start a parent-teacher blog is that many parents have never used one and are unfamiliar with the purpose of the blog, I think you may respond to the problem with another digital-age solution, create a Screencapture video on how to create, access, an utilize blogs; forward it to the parents, and wait to see the results.
Michel Barrios Hernandez.
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteYou have some great ideas for the development of your GAME plan. The clickers are a great resource, but with every new resource there is a lot of work that needs to be done prior to student manipulation. The nice part though, is once it is created it is easily accessible the next year you need to use it. It is all worth it in the end. Plus, the clickers make grading and instant response/assessment a breeze.
As for the blog idea, it is a great idea, but as some of your responders said, not all parents have the knowledge to utilize a great resource like this. Another thing I would worry about using something like this would be an irate parent abusing the right of free speech. Things could get ugly and it is a shame we have to think like that.
Great post and good luck with the clickers,
Stephanie Coultrip
You ideas sound great! I especially like the concept of using video in your tests. It is sort of like a video Jeopardy. I like it. For clarification, what are CPS clickers? We have devices that interact with a smart board that allows each student to input there answer to a multiple choice question. Is this the same type of device as to what you refer to? You idea of using a blog to communicate information to parents is wonderful. I have used a blog in the past as a newsletter to the parents. I received a lot of positive feedback from that. I am sure you will as well.
ReplyDeleteYou are off to a great start. Good luck and let me know how it goes.
--John