Happy Thanksgiving Everyone and especially enjoy the time off from school with your family and friends!!!
I have found SOME information and SOME resources I need. The problems is that I am finding some information and resources that I don't need. The biggest problem that I am encountering is one that was easy to predict: time management. I have had some success finding resourceful information, but it is cluttered with material that is useless or irrelevant. By the time I sift through what is important and what isn't, what's credible and what isn't, I have spent an absorbent amount of time. Most of this time spent is partly due to being a perfectionist, but I am also skeptical that my processes are ineffective. Being proficient in utilizing these tools, I have found, will require the one thing that I have a very limited amount of: time. I may need some professional guidance from some of you that have been there, done that. What would be an effective, time consuming method of research and development?
I have been successful in collaborating with colleagues and sharing useful information via e mail and directly. I have learned a few helpful hints on how to effectively manage a class wiki and blog from our Media Specialist (librarian). Our class has since had several assignments via our class blog. One of my modifications to my GAME plan is to enhance our blog and wiki with more advanced requirements. I intend on having students attaching hyperlinks to their responses and becoming more proficient with many of their additional tools. If any of you have any suggestions on some blog / wiki information that you have found successful in the past, please speak freely and let me in on some of your secrets.
I have definitely learned that I need to allocate more time for planning. I definitely don't adequately prepare as well as I should. As a result of these tendencies, I tend to become overwhelmed with everyday tasks that are required of us, such as grading and communicating with parents. The only real "new" question that has arisen since initiation of my elusive GAME plan is simple, how can I make it better? This is not necessarily a new question, but rather a question that should be considered new each time self-reflection is needed.
Kevin
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Kevin-
ReplyDeleteIf you figure out where to find more time, please let me know. I am finding that this is one of the biggest obstacles, especially during this time of the year. We have hit the end of our semester at school, which brings report cards and more craziness. I also agree that the abundance of material gets in the way of finding relevant sources. The beauty of the internet is that it opens doors to soo much information, but that also gets in the way of efficiency.
Melissa
I agree. Do you teach with anyone or know someone who is an effective time manager? I know of only a few and that is within their personal lives. Do you think the same principles apply within lesson planning and research? I have always wanted a VIP, or behind the scenes look at someone that superiors feel are highly effective teachers and compare what I do similiarly and/or differently. Would you?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post.
Kevin