How To Integrate And Implement Web 2.0 Tools And Blogging In The Classroom

Transcription

1 Felicia A. Belcher January 2014 Dr. Sherri Booker Summer 2012 Integrating and Implementing Web 2.0 Tools and Blogging in the Classroom

2 CAPSTONE PROPOSAL Master s Degree in Instructional Technology Candidate Name: Address: Advisor Name: Felicia Belcher fbelcher87@gmail.com or fbelcher@atlanta.k12.ga.us Sherri Booker Date: January 2014 Capstone Title: Is this a Capstone Project or Study? Integrating and Implementing Web 2.0 Tools and Blogging in the Classroom Project Client Name & Description West Manor Elementary School, Atlanta Public Schools System, 2 nd grade Teacher; Title 1 School serving grades K-5 The goal of this project is to help, model, and encourage teachers to integrate Web 2.0 Tools and implement blogging within their regular classroom instruction to create authentic learning experiences and improve student achievement. F. Belcher Capstone Proposal - 2

3 Setting/Context The Capstone Project will take place at West Manor Elementary School, a Title 1 Atlanta Public School serving grade level students and teachers 2-5 only. Grade 2-5 teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators will be the stakeholders affected by this Capstone Project. Capstone Problem and Rationale West Manor Elementary School teachers and students are equipped with a plethora of technological resources in the classroom and around the school where Web 2.0 Tools and Blogging can easily be integrated within classroom instruction. These resources include Promethean Smart Boards, projectors, document cams, Apple Mac Book Air classroom cart, Apple Ipad classroom cart; Kindle classroom cart, HP laptop cart, 5 desktop computers in each classroom, 2 fully equipped computer labs with at least 30 computers each, and wireless internet connection throughout the school. With all the resources available, teachers often remain in the comfort zone of only using their classroom computers for early finishers and the Promethean Smartboard as a dry erase board and sometimes interactive lessons. This is indeed a great start in a time period where technology is beginning to not only drive classroom instruction but become a part of our everyday lives. However, teachers are not taking full advantage of all the resources available to them and using them to their highest potential and function. Creighton suggest that we move beyond the belief that technology s function is merely word processing or to serve as an electronic blackboard (Creighton, 2003). West Manor Elementary students are in need of more meaningful uses with technology and Web 2.0 Tools that will prepare them for lifelong learning and workforce readiness. These powerful tools are forever changing the way we live, work, and most of all how our students learn. Teachers should use technology to engage students in more meaningful learning than is presently occurring in many classrooms today (Creighton, 2003). F. Belcher Capstone Proposal - 3

4 Tom Bittman of Gartner Research states that we should provide professional development and technologies necessary to deliver the curriculum, to communicate, and to access, manage, and evaluate student-related information (Gartner Inc., 2013). However, with professional development we must continue to support and provide the necessary resources for teachers to implement technology effectively. Therefore, teachers at West Manor Elementary could truly benefit from professional learning workshops that bring awareness of Web 2.0 tools and blogging, how to implement them within their classroom instruction and increase student engagement, and using technology to make learning more meaningful for their students. Objectives/Deliverables Objectives: The participating teachers will identify their knowledge and skills of Web 2.0 tools based on three different levels; novice, intermediate, and advanced. The participating teachers will observe various lessons that integrate Web 2.0 tools within all content areas. The participating teachers will become frequent users of Web 2.0 tools and blogging that will enhance student learning in their Deliverables: classrooms. Each tool discussed will have a handout for further reference Power point presentation slides handout Video links will be provided modeling Web 2.0 Tools F. Belcher Capstone Proposal - 4

5 List of safe and appropriate blogging sites for students Surveys after each training session PSC Standards 1. Visionary Leadership Candidates demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to inspire and lead the development and implementation of a shared vision for the effective use of technology to promote excellence and support transformational change throughout the organization. 1.1 Shared Vision Candidates facilitate the development and implementation of a shared vision for the use of technology in teaching, learning, and leadership. (PSC 1.1/ISTE 1a) 1.2 Strategic Planning Candidates facilitate the design, development, implementation, communication, and evaluation of technology-infused strategic plans. (PSC 1.2/ISTE 1b) 2. Teaching, Learning, & Assessment Candidates demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to effectively integrate technology into their own teaching practice and to collaboratively plan with and assist other educators in utilizing technology to improve teaching, learning, and assessment. 2.1 Content Standards & Student Technology Standards Candidates model and facilitate the design and implementation of technology-enhanced learning experiences aligned with student content standards and student technology standards. (PSC 2.1/ISTE 2a) 2.4 Higher Order Thinking Skills Candidates model and facilitate the effective use of digital tools and resources to support and enhance higher order thinking skills (e.g., analyze, evaluate, and create); processes (e.g., problem-solving, decision-making); and mental habits of mind (e.g., critical thinking, creative thinking, metacognition, self-regulation, and reflection). (PSC 2.4/ISTE 2d) 2.5 Differentiation Candidates model and facilitate the design and implementation of technology-enhanced learning experiences making appropriate use of differentiation, including adjusting content, process, product, and learning environment based upon an analysis of learner characteristics, including readiness levels, interests, and personal goals. (PSC 2.5/ISTE 2e) 2.6 Instructional Design Candidates model and facilitate the effective use of research-based best practices in instructional design when designing and developing digital tools, resources, and technology-enhanced learning experiences. (PSC 2.6/ISTE 2f) 2.7 Assessment F. Belcher Capstone Proposal - 5

6 Candidates model and facilitate the effective use of diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments to measure student learning and technology literacy, including the use of digital assessment tools and resources. (PSC 2.7/ISTE 2g) 3. Digital Learning Environments Candidates demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to create, support, and manage effective digital learning environments. 3.2 Managing Digital Tools and Resources Candidates effectively manage digital tools and resources within the context of student learning experiences. (PSC 3.2/ISTE 3b) 5. Professional Learning & Program Evaluation Candidates demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to conduct needs assessments, develop technology-based professional learning programs, and design and implement regular and rigorous program evaluations to assess effectiveness and impact on student learning. 5.1 Needs Assessment Candidates conduct needs assessments to determine school-wide, faculty, grade-level, and subject area strengths and weaknesses to inform the content and delivery of technology-based professional learning programs. (PSC 5.1/ISTE 4a) 5.2 Professional Learning Candidates develop and implement technology-based professional learning that aligns to state and national professional learning standards, integrates technology to support face-to-face and online components, models principles of adult learning, and promotes best practices in teaching, learning, and assessment. (PSC 5.2/ISTE 4b) 5.3 Program Evaluation Candidates design and implement program evaluations to determine the overall effectiveness of professional learning on deepening teacher content knowledge, improving teacher pedagogical skills and/or increasing student learning. (PSC 5.3/ISTE 4c) 6. Candidate Professional Growth & Development Candidates demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to engage in continuous learning, reflect on professional practice, and engage in appropriate field experiences. 6.1 Continuous Learning Candidates demonstrate continual growth in knowledge and skills of current and emerging technologies and apply them to improve personal productivity and professional practice. (PSC 6.1/ISTE 6a, 6b) 6.2 Reflection Candidates regularly evaluate and reflect on their professional practice and dispositions to improve and strengthen their ability to effectively model and facilitate technology-enhanced learning experiences. (PSC 6.2/ISTE 6c) 6.3 Field Experiences F. Belcher Capstone Proposal - 6

7 Candidates engage in appropriate field experiences to synthesize and apply the content and professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions identified in these standards. (PSC 6.3) Project Description In an effort to provide teachers with resources, modeling, and observations in integrating Web 2.0 Tools and Blogging within classroom instruction, professional development workshops and trainings will be provided to teachers and interested administrators during common planning periods and after school staff meetings. Each grade level is allotted a two hour and ten minute common planning period one day out of the week. Therefore, I plan to get approval from administration to use one planning period each month for each grade level to conduct the Web 2.0 Tools and blogging workshop. Staff and faculty meetings are usually every Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and I plan to use one meeting per month to conduct the Web 2.0 Tools and Blogging workshop. In the scheduled workshops, teachers will view modeled lessons of Web 2.0 Tools being used in classrooms very similar to their own. Teachers will view various kid blogging sites and how they are used in various content areas. I will also provide a list of grade level appropriate topics for students to blog and show blogging assignments created by my own class. Each session will begin with teachers blogging about their experience with the Web 2.0 Tools workshop, which will give them plenty of practice and also show how it enhances learning. Lastly, each Web 2.0 tool will come with a quick mini project for teachers to complete to make sure they understand how to implement the particular tool within their classroom. Resources Needed Computer Lab Access (request and secure in advance) Promethean Board Access (already available in the computer lab) F. Belcher Capstone Proposal - 7

8 Apple Ipad Cart (request and secure in advance) Timeline for Capstone Project: January 2014 February 2014 Choose interested teachers and participants in grades 2-5 for the project. Explain blogging and the educational research behind blogging in the classroom. Set up a professional development blog for teachers and participants to use in blogging at each workshop. 1 st professional development workshop during common planning ( skills assessment given to organize participants in novice, intermediate, or advance groups) 2 nd professional development workshop during staff meeting ( 2 Web 2.0 tools presented and mini project completed) March rd professional development workshop during common planning ( 2 Web 2.0 tools presented and mini project completed) 4 th professional development workshop during staff meeting ( 2 Web 2.0 tools presented and mini project completed) April 2014 May th professional development workshop during common planning (blogging and only 1 web 2.0 tool presented and mini project completed) 6 th professional development workshop during staff meeting (2 Web 2.0 tools presented and mini project completed) Evaluations and Surveys conducted Evaluation Plan F. Belcher Capstone Proposal - 8

9 The evaluation plan will include the submission of completed mini projects of each tool presented, a survey asking questions pertaining to each tool presented, posted blogs and comments on the professional development workshop blog site, and the final survey of the overall experience of the workshops. Survey example, mini project rubric, and blogging rubric are attached below. References ISTE Whitepaper. (2011). Technology, Coaching, and Community. Retrieved from Creighton, Theodore. (2003). The Principal as Technology Leader. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, Inc. Roblyer, M.D., Doering, A. H. (2010).Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching. Boston, MA: Pearson Education. F. Belcher Capstone Proposal - 9