Professional Learning Plan

Below is my Professional Learning Plan which highlights what I have learned so far in my MSU courses, how I plan to use the skills and tools I have acquired, and what I plan to learn in the future.

If you have trouble viewing the Prezi below, try this link.

Professional Learning Plan on Prezi

Group Leadership Project

Below is Team4Tech’s Wordle Tutorial!

Team4Tech used Google Docs & Google Presentation to create our script and storyboard and the final product. We chose to use this tool because it is very easy to use when collaborating. We could each contribute without having to email the project back and forth from one person to another. The final product was created using GarageBand because the video was over five minutes long (Jing only allows for 5 minutes with the free version).

I learned that when using Google Docs and Google Presentation you can chat with others that are editing at the same time. This came in handy because if we happened to be on at the same time editing, we could discuss what we were working on. I never knew that Google had this feature until we started our project. I also learned that when you are doing a script and storyboard it is easier to start your final product first and work backwards. As a group we started the final PowerPoint and then created the script and storyboard.

If I were to develop a similar product, I would make the product more of a StAIR using a tool such as Prezi so that the viewer could click through at their own pace as they worked through the tutorial. This would also allow the viewer to only click on the content that they wanted to view instead of taking the time to view to all the information about each content area if it didn’t apply.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9uFo_TlteU

Mobile Learning

There were so many interesting articles and resources that starting me thinking and brainstorming ways to implement mobile technology into my classroom.

My ultimate goal is to incorporate cell phones into my classroom. Even though they are not allowed in class at my school, students always keep them in their pockets. I want to use this resource in a productive way instead of constantly having to confiscate them. The only challenge would be getting the administration to allow the use of this tool since the school rules say they are not allowed in class.

I-pods are another technology I would like to use with my classes. The only issue is that we do not have access to any at my school. I have one of my own and I know that some of my students have them as well and I was thinking that if students could download some of the free math apps they could use them when they were finished with their assignments. Students could also listen to relative math podcasts.

Many students already use a USB device for school assignments to transfer assignments from their i-drive at school to their house to complete the assignment. I would like to use this tool for students to turn in assignments. We do not have colored printers for students to access at school and with this device students could turn in their assignments without settling for a black and white copy. The only potential risk of using a USB to turn in assignments is the potential that it could get broken or lost and students’ work would be lost as well.

All new technologies have their challenges and drawbacks, but I firmly believe that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

Part D: Findings and Implications

1. Formative: Did the project get implemented as planned?

I implemented the Mobi with a 7^th grade math class, but being a substitute teacher right now, I was only able to implement it once as opposed to the 3 days I had planned. I was also able to use the Mobi with an 8^th grade science class to go through a PowerPoint review. It was interesting to see the varied responses from the students in each environment as the students’ responses were very different.

2. Summative: Evidence of success in addressing the problem of practice

In both occasions where the Mobi was implemented, I was able to move around the classroom to teach instead of being stuck at the front of the class which was the main focus of the implementation. Students seemed to really enjoy using the Mobi and were more engaged because of it. I gave my math class a survey to see their response to the use of the Mobi in the classroom and all but one student said that they felt they were more engaged in the lesson and paid more attention due to the teacher circulating. Students were a little leery to use the Mobi, but once a couple of students tested it out, they really enjoyed it. On the contrary, students in my science class were begging to have a chance to use it.

3. How would you approach another project of this type differently given what you’ve learned here?

I would use the Mobi to increase student collaboration. More than one Mobi can be used simultaneously and I would give each group of students a Mobi to use to work out a math problem. Each student would take a turn answering for their group using the Mobi. Then they could compare their answers with other groups and discuss different ways they arrived at a solution. This would give students an opportunity to use the Mobi which would help them become more confident in using it.

4. What are the lessons learned that others might benefit from knowing about?

Learning how to use a new piece of technology can take some time and practice. I feel it is very important to practice before you use new technology to make sure that it is going to work how you expect it to and so that you feel comfortable. Handheld devices, such as the Mobi, take some getting used to and take some practice so you feel comfortable before implementing it. For example, the Mobi can be difficult to write on and as a result handwriting can appear very sloppy. With a little bit of practice ahead of time, you can get used to the device and become better at writing on it.

5. In what ways will you endeavor to do the same project again, and what will you change or not do?

I want students to have an opportunity to use the Mobi more so they become confident in using it. Instead of just using the Mobi for notes, I will also use it to do the warm-up questions at the beginning of class. This will allow more students to participate and again will allow for teacher circulation around the classroom. The Mobi can also be used with programs such as ExamView and the classroom performance system (CPS). I will use the Mobi with the CPS and ExamView to help prepare students for a test/quiz/exam. The Mobi has a feature where the teacher can tell what students are struggling and what questions the class is struggling with.