Carrying out my GAME plan requires a great deal of resources. In order for my students to actively participate in an email program designed to practice proper netiquette, a coordinating teacher is needed who would like to accomplish the same thing. I will need to contact our region center for any possible programs already in existence and for a list of schools and contacts within our region.
Having only half an hour with my young little students a week is going to prove challenging. It will probably take multiple class periods to compose one email. Structured and careful planning on my part will be crucial. Because my learners range from ages 3 to 6, an instructional aide will be necessary in order to get the most out of such a short class period. I have several ELL children and one with Down Syndrome who require extra support. Due to these learning challenges I need to look into utilizing some of the UDL tools such as language applications, voice recognition systems and organizational software (Laureate Education, 2009). Additionally, I need to spend some time on the internet researching attempts at lessons like this, their outcomes and suggestions.
A weekly perusal of our region center’s online training catalog will keep me informed of any up and coming trainings that would be beneficial. As of right now, my three and four year old students are just beginning to get the hang of pointing the mouse where it needs to go and clicking the correct button on the mouse. They are now able to open and close programs, click and drag, point and click and a few other basic manipulations of the mouse. They are still a little rough around the edges. My six-year-olds are beginning readers and are learning to type simple sentences. We have a ways to go before we can fully accomplish the goals of my GAME plan.
Reference:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Meeting student needs with technology: part 2. [Educational video]. Baltimore: Author.
Allison,
ReplyDeleteThe accomplishments of your 3-6 year olds are great in comparison to the Kindergarten students at my school. I think the way you seem to scaffold the instruction and start with simple tasks would be a very effective way to teach computer. Do you have high engagement with students that young? What other programs and tools do you get into with your students later in the school year?
Allison
Allison,
ReplyDeleteThis is my first year teaching technology so I am not sure yet where I will be with these youngsters by the end of the year. They have really surprised me however, in their level of computer knowledge so far. They are little sponges and they are soaking it up fast! Thus far, I have had a high level of engagement from all of my learners. Once my students have mastered their alphabet and have obtained their beginning reading skills I would like to introduce them to Word and PowerPoint.