Inspiration

Information and resources

I’ve been successful in finding web sites that show samples of student video projects. These projects were extremely impressive! Students integrate animation, sound effects, graphics, and humor to produce very creative messages. I viewed unusual videos about dreams, tessellations, student service learning projects, poetry, hobbies, etc. Another surprising development! My school’s part-time librarian, another resource person, agreed to be part of the iMovie project.

Modify my plan?
I’m on target by achieving many of my objectives; however, my school is about to enter the “testing phase” of our school year. Modified testing schedules will affect our grade team meeting times and I may have to redirect my attention and develop subtasks and activities that I will include in a video project.

What have I learned so far?
I’ve found it is easier for me to create goals that help me develop multimedia instructional units. What do I really need to know? What new skills do I need to learn to incorporate a video project into this unit? I don’t have to learn everything; just get started.

New Questions?
What is the difference among digital video tools and software products? Quicktime Player? iMovie? Video podcast?

Work the Plan...

To implement my GAME plan goals I will need access to following resources:

Resources Needed

Many of my colleagues are very proficient in using digital tools, specifically, integrating video into their instruction. Their activities also include students creating digital video products and sharing their artifacts on the school’s websites. My grade team members and I have common planning times built into our rosters, and we have planned to use these times to incorporate my GAME plan strategy in the development of our Social Studies/multi-disciplinary unit. My school’s technology coordinator is an indispensable resource and I plan need to meet with her frequently. Her expertise in video editing, moviemaking, integrating video and creating podcasts in her student learning activities will be invaluable.


Additional Information Needed

I will need to communicate with colleagues; to share ideas, activities, and successful student projects. My district has an online teacher network and many teachers use this network to troubleshoot, share web resources and provide support. In addition, I plan to access tutorial iMovie web sites and sites that share student project-based learning products as well as attend professional development workshops.


Steps Taken

I have registered on the edutopia site and visited a recommended site, atomiclearning.com As a “hand-on” learner, I’ve found the tutorials to be extremely helpful and have motivated me to start to “play” with basic features of iMovie.

My GAME Plan

To be an accomplished teacher of 21st century skills, I need to be proficient in many of the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS•S). Two areas that I plan to strengthen and enhance are: Standard 1a) promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness and Standard 2a) design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity. With the advent of high-stakes testing and the increasing demand for students to perform well on standardized tests, my challenge is to develop authentic learning experiences that encourage student to be creative thinkers. In addition, I want to strengthen my proficiency and knowledge of digital video products.

My Game Plan:

Goal
* To become proficient, increase my skills using iMovie software, including editing, sharing, and collaborative features
* To develop more project-based lessons that encourage students to be autonomous, self-directed, creative thinking learners (Cennamo, Ertmer &Ross, 2009)
* Develop a KWHL chart

Action
* Plan a mini video that incorporates a literacy standard; develop a script and timeline
* Schedule weekly informal sessions with colleagues and students (e.g. attend video production club meetings)
* Participate in school district’s collaborative QZAB wiki network teachers share experiences, ideas for lessons, and student products; enroll in professional development workshops
* Complete iMovie tutorial
* Become a member of edutopia.com; participate in online collaboration; access resources
* Review previous PBL lessons; How can you incorporate digital tools into student activities?
* Develop a project-based unit that integrates literacy standards and incorporates visual images: digital photography, videotaping, scanning images, etc.

Monitor
* Review progress of video product; revise timeline?
* Did the tutorial meet goal?
* Review KWHL chart

Evaluate and Extend
* Show movie and receive feedback from colleagues and video production club
* What software features still challenge you?
* Receive feedback from other literacy teachers about project-based unit; ask for suggestions for additional activities that enhance student creative thinking

References

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach (Laureate Education custom edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Retrieved on January 8, 2010 from: http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf.