Engaged Classroom Goals for 2009-2010

I definitely plan to increase and improve my technology use in my teaching in 2009-2010. This year was just the beginning - an introduction - of all that I would like to do.
Now that I have my document camera and projections unit and screen, I will never go back to overhead projectors. (Let's face it -- I hardly ever used an overhead anyway.) It is such a great tool for demonstration and instruction.
One of my biggest goals is to become more adept at using the clickers. The students enjoy using the student response system so much, and their being engaged in lessons is the key to them learning. I want to use them on a more regular basis.
I have loved having a class wiki. I typically use My UEN, and I have not yet decided if I prefer that or wikispaces, but one way or another I plan to further advertise my class wiki to parents and students. It is a great resource and an efficient form of communication.
I have been a blogger for a little while now, but have just barely gotten my students into it. They are so excited about writing because of our blog. The potential for improving their communication skills and for teaching the Six Traits if writing via blogging is exciting to me. Next year I plan to be more organized with my class blog and really get my students participating with it.
I have used various forms of digital story-telling for many year in my classroom, and I plan to continue to do so. I hope to have a great student news broadcast running at our school next year. I would like to increase my students' use of digital cameras and PhotoBooth.
I have also been building a collection of technology-based lesson plans and activities to share with others. I plan to expand my website (http://www.30minutelablessons.com) to help teachers incorporate technology tools into their teaching of the core curriculum.

Student Response System (Clickers) Reflection

I have not gotten to use the clickers as much as I wanted to this year. I like to use them, and better yet the students like to use them, so my goal is to become better with incorporating them into my teaching. So far we have used the clickers to poll the students, to review for tests, and to play educational games, like Jeopardy. The students are engaged in the learning process when the clickers are being used.

Document Camera Reflection

My favorite way to use the document camera is quite simple. I use it to help the kids see things they would otherwise have a hard time seeing. Duh, right? But this is actually huge. It is amazing how much it helps my students follow along when doing daily planners or assignments. My instructions make so much more sense to them when they can see on the big screen what I am talking about. I have shown them how to fold paper for geometry projects, helped them view bacteria and mold samples in science class, displayed art work by Leonardo da Vinci in social studies, and graded homework assignments, just to name a few things.
I love the document camera! I am excited to continue to use it, particularly for its more advanced features I have yet to explore more.