Online Learning in K-12 Schools

Here is my latest VoiceThread about Online Learning in K-12 School.

voicethread.com/share/1541002/

Hope you enjoy.

Reflection - Reaching and Engaging All Learners Through Technology

In this the final week of the course called Reaching and Engaging all Learners through Technology, I am thinking about how taking this course has and will change my instructional practices. This course has provided me with an opportunity to gain knowledge and web resources by collaborating with other educators throughout the country and the world. This course has not only discussed collaboration, but also discussed management which is a issue that all teachers must be aware of when facilitating for students.

The use of Facebook.com in this course gave a dynamic to this course that I had never experienced before. This avenue gave me instant information from colleagues like never before. My colleagues and I were able to bounce ideas off each other in a 21st century method just like our students would be able to do. The use of the chat feature gave us the opportunity to communicate with each other as if we were having face to face conversations. This ability to collaborate and discuss with others about Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Differentiated Instruction (DI) helped me to understand how the process affects the classroom teachers in a way that I as a specialist would not have understood otherwise. We posted different ideas every week and it was really beneficial to read the comments about what others thought about the web resource. I truly believe that the comments from other teachers using the web resources were the most valuable pieces of review that I could receive. I was able to take these critiques and edit how I used the resources in my class and how I was able to present them to my school colleagues as web resources that they should use. Utilizing these resources have given me more options than just using PowerPoint presentations. I have enjoyed using the resources and I am happy to see the excitement on the faces of the students from the use of 21st century teaching methods. When the teacher infuses technology into daily instruction students are provided with authentic learning experiences that appeal to all types of learners (Laureate, 2009).

The activity that we did in this course that had a huge impact on my instructional practices was taking of a survey on the CAST website. This site assist teachers in using the UDL principles to keep all of the students engaged in the learning process. "The goal of UDL is to enable all individuals to gain knowledge, skills and enthusiasm for learning (CAST, 2007-2010)." The CAST Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Curriculum Self-Check is a guide for teachers to look in-ward to see how they can create a open environment for student learning. Once completing this survey I realized that I have more work to do to be an effective teacher using the UDL in Health and Physical Education. Using The CPS clicker system, on-line surveys, and jeopardy games as assessment procedures were additions to my teaching methods directly came from me taking the survey.

In conclusion, I believe that taking this course has made me a better teacher. Being taught how to look internally and taking that information to better my own understanding of my teaching methods is important when teaching digital natives from the perspective of a digital immigrant. Infusing technology into daily instruction provides students with authentic learning experiences that appeal to all types of learners kinesthetic, auditory, and visual. When managing differentiation and technology in the classroom it is important to show the students that they can be resources for information that their classmates can use. I believe that using technology to reach out to the digital natives will provide them with opportunities to gain skills that will serve them well after they leave school (Bray, Brown, & Green, 2004) helping them to have success in the world that they were born into.

Final Post about MY GAME PLAN

I was not sure what this GAME plan was going to be about or if it was going to be beneficial to me at all. However, since creating this GAME plan I have learned so much about how I can connect Physical Education, Health, and technology. I am really interested in seeing how PowerPoint, blogs, voicethreads, and podcasts show the creative side of my students. The cooperation that will be used by my students I believe will surprise me and really touch me when I see the final projects. The biggest adjustment I will have to make for the success of my GAME plan will be getting all the students on a comfortable technology level, so that there will be the success for my GAME plan that I hope for.

I also believe that my fellow teachers will see my lessons and the interest that the students show and ask me how they can use technology in their classrooms also. This will expand the learning in the schoolhouse and that can only help the students in the long run.

Overall, this project has been a great experience for me. I thank my instructor for the GAME plan ideas. I also want to thank my classmates for all their great ideas and support.

Using my GAME Plan with my Students

I believe that the GAME Plan could be used by teachers to map out step by step where they want their students to go through the curricula in a modern way. I also believe that Plan could be a way for students and teacher to work together to plan out how the students can maximize their learning through the curriculum. With a teacher that is 21st century comfortable, the students can perform projects that are interesting to them and will maximize their modern learning skills. As a Physical Education teacher, I believe that even I could use the plan for my health related units. I believe that showing them that even Physical Education can reach the technology levels that they need.

Revising My GAME Plan

My task this week is the see what revisions my GAME plan needs. I have learned that putting my GAME plan into affect is not going to be as hard as I thought. I am realizing that changing my mental approach to education will go along way to the success of my GAME plan. As I look back at my GAME plan, I also see that my goals and indicators are good for the success of my plan. I am still working on towards my goals. I also now understand that there are many online tools for me as the teacher to use also. I can't wait to look at eduwiki.us and see how this website will be beneficial for my success.


I am still concerned about the lack of physical movement, however I believe that my GAME plan will work wonders when it comes to working cross-curricula and proving my subjects worth in the grand scheme of education.

Evaluating My GAME Plan

When looking at my actions in getting my goals accomplished. I have found that researching what I want to do, has been informative and interesting. I do however feel that this planning piece is necessary if I am going to make my GAME plan live this school year. So far I have learned that a project-based learning model might be the style that I find most effective for Physical Education.

I have had some concerns when thinking about the project-based model. My first concern is, understanding how many class periods I will have to be out of my gym to complete the problem-based lesson and project. With the basis of physical education being improving a student’s motor-development skills, how many class periods I need to be in the computer lab is important information. My next concern would be with having only 30 minutes with my students for their lesson, how do I guide them with limited access to me. By the time, they log on to the computers and truly get going their 30 minute class is not 20 – 25 minutes. My students will truly do most of their work on their own, if I do not get some help from the classroom teachers.

My plan will be adjusted with my knowledge of the time and how much classroom teacher help I receive. I hope the teachers find my lessons as important as they do their own and realize that we are all working together to teach the students.

Still Mentally in the GAME ......

This week I am looking back at my GAME plan and how I plan to reach my goals. I have really enjoyed searching the online resources and the abundant information that is out there. I truly did not know that there was information out there about technology and physical education. I expected more science, but to see physical education make me smile. I can’t wait for school to start back, so that I can get with my physical education colleagues and collaborate with them and see how they are integrating technology in their classes. So far the class that I am in has taught me that there are more ways to use technology in classes than I thought. Also, that it is important to keep an open mind when it comes to the different styles of assignments that I assign to my students. I have not had any new questions to come up so far. My GAME plan is going well so far. I have not made any changes to it; however I will not be opposed to making changes where they are warranted.