As I continue to assess my GAME plan I am finding new and fun ways to use technology. I have been focusing a lot of finding ways to have students assess themselves. I hate that they do not get instant feedback when we do activities in class that need to be graded, so I have been searching for quick games to check student understanding. We have started studying human body systems and with learning the function of the system, students must also identify organs. When we are working on a body system I have students work in groups and rotate around to different stations. I have incorporated a station that uses the classroom computers to "test" students on their labeling/naming organs! They get instant feedback and really enjoy the time spent on the computer.
My other part of the GAME plan dealt with having students begin blogging. Next week I am planning to show students how blogging works. I have spoken with my principal about unblocking a website so I can set up a classroom blog. I am hoping that showing students how the classroom blog works as a whole group and then having them start out posting once a week from the classroom can get the ball rolling!
I would like to try and network with some other teachers that have used blogs in the classroom so I can see how they go about grading and assessing the student work. We had an opportunity last week to sit down with all of the 7th grade science teachers in the district and they had a wealth of information when it came to using technology tools. Many of them are using Flip cameras and having students do podcasts. I would really like to use these tools in my classroom, so that would be a modification I would make to my GAME plan. Allowing students to learn and show what they are learning through the integration of technology (video, ect) is an awesome experience for the students and me!
At this point in my GAME plan I would like to see how others assess students when using technology, like blogs, podcasts, flip camera videos, ect. It would be interesting to see if students are given a rubric of some sort or just a simple set of directions. Regardless of how you assess students it is more important to make sure that what students are doing with technology is meaningful and a positive learning experience!
Teresa,
ReplyDeleteI posted on you wall the other day and for some reason It is not showing up. I will try to recite what I was said couple of days ago...
The Biology Corner: http://www.biologycorner.com/
Cell Structure and Processes: http://www.tvdsb.on.ca/westmin/science/sbi3a1/cells/cells.htm
Food Webs Activities: http://www.gould.edu.au/foodwebs/kids_web.htm
The Food Chain: http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Science/FoodChain/FoodChain.htm
The Virtual Body: http://www.medtropolis.com/Vbody.asp
I taught 7th grade life science last year and here is some of the sites that were available to me. I am sure you have covered most of them already, but they could possibly be used for review or remediation. I would like you to look at the last site. You mentioned you are working on the body right now. There is a great virtual tour of the heart on there and it is also available in spanish if you happen to have some ELL learners. This is a good resource for last weeks UDL lessons we had to come up with. I am sorry this is short. I have no idea why my previous post did not show up.
Theresa,
ReplyDeletecollaborative teaching and learning with integrating technology using blogs, podcasts etc will motivate the students and teachers to become self directed learners .you have taken the initiative to talk to the school authorities and unblocking the websites, involving the teachers displays leadership qualities.