Professional Learning Plan

View at Screencast.com

Transcript:

My Professional Learning Plan by Abbie Bucska CEP 812 Fall 2011

Some of the goals that I set for myself this past summer in CEP 810 I have accomplished.  These include differentiating my instruction using technology, creating a Diigo bookmarking page, and incorporating movie making into the classroom.  The Diigo page that I created for my classroom offers students suggestions for websites that students can go to at home to play games and learning activities that go along with what we are learning in the classroom.  I used movie making to improve reading comprehension through my Wicked Problem Project and for video taping the student who wins our classroom poetry race each week.

Other goals that I have accomplished are using Jing to capture images and record audio, using Survey Monkey to question students, using Text 2 Mind Map to gather thoughts while brainstorming, and becoming familiar with a web conferencing tool like Adobe Connect.

After taking this course, I now have several professional goals for myself as a teacher.  I would like to incorporate student blogging into my classroom to boost my students’ use of technology and collaboration.  I would also like to use Audacity to record students reading or speaking to create podcasts in order to meet the needs of auditory learners.  Lastly, I would like to implement virtual pen pals in my classroom using a web conferencing tool like Skype or Adobe Connect.  I have a friend who teaches in Honduras who would be interested in starting this pen pal system with my class in Michigan.

I also have some new personal goals for myself.  I would like to take what I have learned and continue to learn about technology and share it with my coworkers perhaps at a staff meeting or teacher inservice day.  I also want to learn how to write a grant to obtain more technology for my students.  Lastly, as an ongoing goal I would like to continue to expand my Personal Learning Network.  I could do this by taking advantage of MACUL Space or Linked In more often than I do now.

My next steps include taking advantage of my Personal Learning Network that I have begun to create, researching on the 21 Things For Teachers site, continuing my Master’s Degree in the Educational Technology program at Michigan State University, and learning how to write a grant. 

Here are some different ways that I can utilize my Personal Learning Network!

Group Leadership Project

Adobe Connect Virtual Pen Pals Tutorial

We used Adobe Connect to deliver our tutorial.  We chose Adobe Connect because it doubled as the tool we were teaching about and our means of recording.  This gives viewers a first hand example of how the software can be used in the classroom.  We also included an example of how a pen pal interaction could be done using Adobe Connect.  Virtual pen pals could also conference using Skype, which is a popular web conferencing tool.  However, we wanted to broaden our web conferencing knowledge, as well as that of our viewers.

This project took a lot of thought and planning.  We worked together very well to develop a Google presentation to use while web conferencing.  We also created a detailed script that we would follow that went along with each slide on the presentation.  Since we had planned so much beforehand, I did not think the actual project would take very long.  I thought it would take less than an hour to run through as practice and then record.  However, we had some technical difficulties, so it took about 2 hours to complete.   I learned how I need to be patient with technology.  At first, I could not hear Jessica in Adobe Connect, but she could hear me.  We tried a few things and then luckily she had another set of speakers which worked.  However, then there was a delay in time from when I spoke and when Jessica could hear me.  We tried many things before deciding to move on.  We recorded two different sessions before we were happy.

If I had to do a similar project, I would use Skype.  Although Adobe Connect worked well for web conferencing, there was not only a delay in my voice for Jessica, but also a delay in the things that I shared on my screen that I noticed when I watched our final recording.  When I pulled up different websites, they came up fine when we were recording, but for some reason Adobe Connect did not register them as quickly for the screen share recording.  Also, my voice still lagged on the recording.  Since I recorded it from my computer, I do not think this should have happened.  Adobe Connect should have recorded what was going on from what I could hear on my end.  It did not do this satisfactorily.  Next time, I would use Skype because that is the software that most educators would use for their students.  Therefore, this project may hold more meaning and be more beneficial for fellow educators.

WPP Part D - Findings and Implications

Formative: Did the project get implemented as planned?

The project was implemented as planned.  Students were very excited to work on their scripts and film their videos.  Students showed great strides in their comprehension.  Through my observations, students were able to retell the story when writing the script in their group.  Each student focused on their character when retelling the story and coming up with the script.  Overall, they excelled in retelling each story.

Summative: Evidence of success in addressing the problem of practice
When I assess students’ reading levels again using the DRA in January, I expect students to score better on the comprehension portion of the assessment.  For now, I was able to see growth through the activities that I do with my guided reading groups.  Students are taking more time to look at pictures, make connections, make predictions, and retell stories than they did before we completed this activity.

How would you approach another project of this type differently given what you’ve learned here?
Next time, I would attempt creating a green screen and inserting the video into a background when editing.  That way, the movies would be more realistic and visually appealing.  I would have the students help me pick the correct setting that would match the story to use for the movie.  Everything else was planned out and implemented well.  If I did not have our story time to pull the group from, I would have to film in front of the rest of this class.  This may be more difficult as I would have to be sure that they all stayed quiet while the group was filming.

What are the lessons learned that others might benefit from knowing about?
Next time, I would not tell the students that we would work every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday during story time.  Things come up and sometimes I was not able to work with the group at that time.  I planned on each group taking about a week, but in reality, each group took about 2 weeks to work with because it did not work out everyday.  As teachers, we know that we need to be flexible, but sometimes students have a difficult time understanding why the schedule must change. 

Also, I learned that the first time that you record, the video would most likely not be perfect.  There may be interruptions or students who forget when to speak or what to say.  This was frustrating at first, but then I thought about how many times actors practice and film scenes in real movies.  My students are not perfect and it is okay if it takes several tries before the video runs smoothly.

In what ways will you endeavor to do the same project again, and what will you change or not do?
I will definitely continue creating videos in my classroom.  My students were very motivated when they knew that they would have an audience for their work! I would, however, take more time to devote to one video and not do one right after the other.  By filming during story time, I am sacrificing some of my prep time.  Therefore, next time I would give myself a few weeks in between working with groups.  Also, I may try to do a whole class video where some students represent props or additional characters that may not be in the original story.  Students could also act out different commercials before or after the story.  With these options, along with a curtain person, director, and other behind the scene roles, all students could be involved in the process at once!

Part B - Storyboard and Script

Storyboard and Script

On our Google presentation, if you click on the Speaker Notes icon on the bottom right side of the screen, you can view our script of what will be said and who will say what.

Jessica is a great partner to work with on this project.  Despite family emergencies, I believe that we both did an equal part on this project so far.  I set up the slides and the speaker notes, she did research and added more meat to the slides.  We both formatted the slides and added graphics to make it visually appealing.

For the final portion of this project, we will both be speaking.  We will alternate reading the slides and when we do our example of how virtual pen pals can work, I will speak as if I am from Interlaken, Switzerland and she will speak as if she is from Los Angeles, California.

Mobile Learning

Poll Everywhere

My students are in 2nd grade and do not have cell phones.  Therefore, I created a poll and sent it to several of my friends who are teachers around the country.  I asked teachers, "What technology do you use most often in the classroom?"  I did not want to send it to the teachers at my school, because we all have just about the same technology.  Out of the 7 responses that I got, the majority of teachers use an interactive whiteboard in their classrooms.

The poll image is embedded above and can also be found at: http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/MTQ4NzA5MDE5Nw

Classroom 2.0

I replied to a discussion about the implementation of using cell phones in instruction.  My post can be found at: Classroom 2.0 Post

Through my mobile learning explorations, I explored the flip video camera and the Poll Everywhere tools.  

I plan to use flip video cameras in my classroom to create students movies.  Right now, I use a camera to record videos, but it would be much easier for me and more worthwhile for the students if I had student flip video cameras for them to use to record and upload the videos themselves.  I could also use the flip video cameras to help with assessments.  I could record a student's actions or thoughts and later refer back to it for my records.  I like the Poll Everywhere tool, but my students do not have cell phones.  I think that a great way of implementing this tool would be for me to send a poll to parents about different activities or questions pertaining to the classroom.  Then, since most parents have a cell phone, I could easily get parent response without having to call or wait for a note back from each parent.  

Mobile learning in an elementary classroom is challenge, especially in my district where technology is not the highest priority.  I do not see our district purchasing flip video cameras, ipods, or cell phones for student use.  However, I am now more inspired to learn how to write a grant in hopes to get some of these resources.  I am also inspired to try the Poll Everywhere feature with my parents.  I would be interested to see the response that I get and how it would catch on!

WPP Part C Implementation

WPP Implementation Podcast

Part A - Brainstorm Session

Our brainstorming session:  http://remc.adobeconnect.com/p3yw1z9eg9h/

My group used Adobe Connect as our web conferencing tool.  We tried Vyew during the web conferencing lab, but decided that Adobe Connect would be a better fit.  Adobe Connect was user friendly and we were able to record the session very easily.  

One advantage of using web conferencing to discuss this project is the ease of talking back and forth with your group instead of having to wait for emails to be sent back and forth.  Web conferencing for group projects is very efficient, especially with online courses, enabling us to collaborate from home.  This is also helpful because you not only can read what your group members are typing, but you can also see them and hear what they are saying. 

A disadvantage of using web conferencing to discuss this project is the need to meet online at the same time.  With a big group, this could be difficult for people to meet online at the same time, especially when people are in different time zones.  Also, it may be difficult to meet and record without any distractions from people in your house or workplace...or even trains that go by outside (like in our session).  

Web Conferencing Lab

Jessica and I used vyew.com for our web conference.  We spent an hour in the room using the different features and getting to know each other since we will be doing our project together.  I did not particularly care for Vyew for the purposes that I would use it for.  I would like to use web conferencing for a virtual pen pal system with my class and another class in a different state or country.  Vyew had a very small window for the web cameras so you could barely see the people you were meeting with.  However, the chat feature was nice because you can read what is typed and hear the people that you are conferencing with.  I also liked how Vyew synced with my Google account so I did not have to create another login or download anything.

We both uploaded photos, created post it notes, text boxes, shapes, and drawings on the same screen.  You could also upload documents or screenshots to the shared screen.  Vyew seemed like a great tool to use as a virtual SmartBoard in a classroom.  It was easy to write, add photos, and make drawings.  However, it would have been easier to draw with a stylus.  Students could also use Vyew as a storyboard to draw out and plan group projects.  It is easy to see what others are adding on the screen and add onto it yourself at the same time!

Jessica was able to share her screen, but it would not let me share mine.  A window popped up for me to allow the action, but then it did not do anything even after Jessica made me an administrator.  I made several attempts at doing this.  I even left the room and came back, but it still did not work.  Also, we were not able to find a poll feature.  The tutorial did not mention it and it did not appear in any of the menus or options.

Next time, I would use a different web conferencing tool.  I do not have much experience with Skype so I would be interested in using that to carry out virtual pen pals in my classroom.  If I were to try Vyew again, I would try creating the room myself to test if I would be able to share my screen as the creator.  Overall, this was a great experience and I learned a lot about web conferencing.  I now know what features I would like to have if using this in my classroom, which helps me narrow down a particular software to use.

Screen shot of chat feature and the message I got when trying to share my screen.

Uploaded photo, text feature, draw feature, post it note feature

Jessica sharing her screen with me.

Uploaded and overlapped own photos in same area; added shapes

 

WPP Part B Application of TPACK

Technology and Pedagogy

The technology of videotaping using a Flip Video Camera and iMovie to edit support my holistic approach to reading comprehension.  Furthermore, by acting out and retelling a story, visual, auditory, and kinesthetic students will benefit.  Not only will I model and explain how to retell a story, but also students will be carrying this out in an interactive way.  Students will benefit from the technology by watching their own group’s video as well as the videos of other groups.  This will boost comprehension of all stories for all students who watch the videos.  The technology in this solution provides an audience for the students’ work, which enhances motivation.  Students will take part in cooperative and active learning through the use of technology in order to meet their learning goal. 

Technology and Content

The technology of videotaping and playing students’ videos increases student motivation to meet the content goal of understanding what students have read.  When students know that they have an audience and will be videotaping their group’s story, students will work together to make sure they retell their story accurately and thoughtfully.  Students want to present themselves well in front of their peers.  The technology is an incentive for students to accurately retell the story and represent this comprehension through the video. Without the technology, the task would be boring, as students would simply retell what they have read aloud.  Incorporating technology makes the task more meaningful and gets students participating in a cooperative and interactive activity.

Pedagogy and Content

My pedagogical choices liven up the content, making the act of comprehension more enjoyable.  Comprehension is important to ensure students understood what was read.  Instead of just retelling the story components aloud to the class, students are working in groups to interactively dissect and retell the story.  Students are recreating the setting, characters, and plot, causing them to think deeply about the story in order to depict the story accurately.  If simply retelling a story aloud, students may skip over important details, but when acting out the story with other classmates, they are more conscious of each part of the story and how it all fits together. Students will actually be a part of the story instead of just an outside observer.  

Part A - Description of Need or Opportunity

Educational Need
I am looking to address the lack of reading comprehension that my students have. Year upon year, students have a problem with remembering what they have read. This is very important for both their ability to retain knowledge as well as for standardized reading assessments that students are required to take.

Plan to Address Issue
I plan to address this educational issue by incorporating digital storytelling into my classroom.  Furthermore, students will choose one of our weekly stories that the whole class has read to focus on and they will be put into groups based on their choice.  Students will also choose the character in that story that they would like to represent.  Giving students choice builds interest level and motivation.  Each group will have a week to plan, practice, and record themselves acting out and retelling the story of choice.  I will be videotaping with a Flip Video Camera.  Then the whole class will watch the video.  This will not only cause the group to summarize the weekly story, but will also show a fun video summarizing the story to the other students in the class.  Students will be engaged in this activity as they each get their own role as well as an audience to perform for.  

Logistics
Everyday we have a half hour time block where the classroom teachers rotate reading aloud to the entire 2^nd grade.  Therefore, on the days when it is not my turn to read (Wednesday is my day), I will pull the group who is working on their video to collaborate about their story back in my classroom.  Once finished planning, I will film the video of the group retelling the story that the whole class has read.   Depending on the story, the video may need to be filmed outside or in a particular area of the school.  In order to keep students on track, I will have them discuss the story on Monday, write the script on Tuesday, practice on Thursday, and I will film it on Friday.  If necessary, I wlll edit the movie over the weekend and show it to the class the following Monday afternoon.  I will continue this strategy until each group has filmed their story.  Therefore, every student in my class will have an opportunity to be in a video.  If I find that this method has worked well in improving comprehension, I may choose to do a 2^nd or even 3^rd round of retelling and videotaping new stories.  Parents filled out a photo consent form at the beginning of the year so I will be able to take photographs for my future blogging for this project. 

Research
There were five websites that were especially helpful in guiding my project.   Four of these resources pertain to digital storytelling for reading comprehension, while the fifth source is an iMovie tutorial that will help me implement my project.  I found studies that showed an increase in motivation when collaboratively using educational technologies in the classroom (Coiro, 2003 and Heo, 2009).  This helped affirm my idea of using digital storytelling in small groups.  Furthermore, the RAND Reading Study Group described the significance of teaching reading comprehension through a social activity (Coiro, 2003).  With the incorporation of video creation, students obtain a deeper sense of purpose for their work as they are performing for an audience.  According to Heo (2009), integrating technology into my teaching increases authenticity and will also give students a sense of ownership over what they are learning.

I learned that my idea was worth trying.  Using digital storytelling gives students purpose and motivation.  It also is a holistic approach that reaches visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.  When researching, I used both Google and ProQuest through the MSU Library website.  I got the best results when using as specific words as possible.  For example, when I searched for “benefits reading comprehension digital storytelling,”  I got better results than when searching for “digital storytelling comprehension.”  Next time, I would start with the scholarly journals found on ProQuest through the MSU Library website.  Here you can search for full-text articles that relate to your inquiry.  I spent a lot of wasted time weeding through Google search results.  Also, ProQuest automatically highlights the words that are contained in your search to make it easy to find what you are looking for.

Coiro, Julie. "Reading Comprehension on the Internet: Expanding Our Understanding of Reading Comprehension to Encompass New Literacies." Welcome to Reading Online. (2003). Web. 27 Sept. 2011. <http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/elec_index.asp?href=/electronic/rt/2-03_column/index.html>.

Heo, Misook. "Digital Storytelling: An Empirical Study of the Impact of Digital Storytelling on Pre-Service Teachers' Self-Efficacy and Dispositions Towards Educational Technology." Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia 18.4 (2009): 405,405-428. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 27 Sept. 2011. <http://search.proquest.com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/docview/194003047/fulltextPDF/1321353AD93253736F7/15?accountid=12598>.

"IMovie 2 Training - Atomic Learning." Atomic Learning – Education: Professional Development, Technology Integration and Software Training and Support Solutions - Atomic Learning. Web. 27 Sept. 2011. <http://www.atomiclearning.com/imovie2x.shtml>.

Marfilius, Scott and Fonner, Kelly. “Using Technology to Support Reading Comprehension.” (2007). Web. 25 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.scottmarfilius.com/uploads/Reading_Comprehension_3HR_HO-print.pdf>.

Sherman, Diana, Glenn Kleiman, and Kirsten Peterson. "Technology and Teaching Children to Read." NEIRTEC - Northeast and the Islands Regional Technology in Education Consortium. (2004). Web. 27 Sept. 2011. <http://www.neirtec.org/reading_report/report.htm>.

Plan for Implementation
I plan to implement at least 2 videos/groups during this course.  Depending on how many characters are in each story and how many students choose each story, the group sizes will differ.  Therefore, there will be about 2-4 more groups creating and filming their videos after the course is over.  My goal is to finish one group per week, but this may change once I have a sense of how my students will handle this and if we have any school-wide activities that will disrupt our process.  It may end up taking two weeks for a group. 

Indicators of Success
As an immediate assessment I will view the videos and assess whether or not students actually retold and summarized the story accurately.  When assessing the group videos I will use a rubric that I created on Rubistar.  I will show students this rubric before we begin the project so students know what is expected of them.  The 4-component rubric that I created includes:  comprehension and accuracy of what is being retold, awareness of audience and point of view, conversational style voice, and voice pacing.  Students will not only benefit from the comprehension end of this project, but also fluency and speaking/listening skills will be practiced. 

In regards to comprehension and using the retelling/summarizing strategy, students must retell the story accurately with appropriate characters and props (if used) in order to gain full credit for that component. This comprehension component is the most important piece that I will be looking at as I assess my students and the effectiveness of this teaching strategy.  If students do poorly on this component, but do well on the other components, I will know that this digital storytelling strategy did not meet my goal of improving my students’ reading comprehension.   

The student growth will not only be measured during and immediately after the videos, but also throughout the year.  When I implement weekly reading comprehension activities as well as trimester reading assessments, I will assess whether or not students’ comprehension has improved.  This serves as a summative assessment.  One of my guided reading groups is grouped based on comprehension support so I will refer back to the videos and assess my students’ learning through my observations during guided reading. This serves as a formative assessment.

RubiStar Home. Web. 03 Oct. 2011. <http://rubistar.4teachers.org>.