Monitoring My GAME Plan

           As I am working towards the goals in my GAME plan, I am feeling overwhelmed.  With so many new resources that I have found or have been suggested by my professional learning community, I am having trouble focusing and must narrow my scope in order to feel that I am accomplishing something.

            I originally wanted to focus on collaboration and simulations.  I have seen proven success with Voice threads and the collaborative characteristics of them.  I would like to try WallWisher (www.wallwisher.com).  Using this website students can brainstorm, share ideas, and then comment on them.  I would implement this at the beginning of a lesson like a concept map in order to see the students prior or background knowledge on a topic.  For example, to introduce a unit on natural disasters I could have students post their knowledge of volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunami’s on the wall and then make connections between them. 

            To address the professional development goal I have, I want to survey the teachers in my school (using www.surveymonkey.com) to see that technology they are comfortable using, what they want to know more about, and what they are willing to try.  It can be anonymous to make them feel more comfortable answering, but I really want to see what types of staff development can be brought in to help them and make their lessons multi-sensory.  Not just another time wasting professional development session.  I have also started to connect to other computer teachers in the private sector and hope to connect with public school to see what they do with technology and what is expected from students when they enter and exit school.

            With all this being said, it is exhausting thinking about all of the options.  Technology truly is a double edged sword.  In so many ways it helps us in our everyday lives (i.e. cell phones, computers, Smart Boards).  However, it is also growing at such a fast pace that it is difficult to learn something, implement it, evaluate and perfect it before it is obsolete.  Does anyone else feel this way?

 

Carrying out my GAME plan

            In order to continue to grow professionally, integrating technology into my lessons must occur.  My goals are to “facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity and to engage in professional growth and leadership” (International Society for Technology Education, 2008) so ongoing changes will have to lead me to my aim.

            Being in the computer lab with unlimited resources allows me to be creative in planning lessons.  My school is restrictive about communications with outside schools but with a new campus opening in September I am hopeful that we can work collaboratively with the other campus.  I believe it is through collaboration that real inspirations come to life.  When planning out a lesson, I never underestimate the student’s ability to take an idea and run with it.  By using a Prezi or a Voice Thread I would like to do more collaborative projects with the students.  My students can always offer an interesting perspective or suggestion for a final product.  So I will continue to incorporate their suggestions for future lessons.  As far as my professional growth, I have signed up for additional training on google tools in the classroom, virtual environments and simulations as well as all of my coursework at Walden. 

            I can always rely on my colleagues to bounce ideas off of as well as the Director of Technology.  I often bring a portion of an idea and she can help me get the objectives and the technology piece into the lesson.  Conversely, other teachers come to me and have a topic but do not know how to incorporate technology and we work together to reach that goal.

Resources:

International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE): NETS for Teachers 2008 http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008.aspx

My GAME Plan

           In order to keep connected with technology in the classroom, looking at current practices and integrating technology as much as possible helps to develop lessons that incorporate 21st  century skills.  Through reflection on my own performance and keeping the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the National Education Standards for Teacher (NETS-T) in mind, I can focus on two goals.

            In order to “facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity” (International Society for Technology Education, 2008), I would like to incorporate more experiences with virtual environments.  Some strategies that can be used are collaboration via video conferencing or blogs.  “Computer conferencing allows students to engage directly in knowledge creation with others who are not physically present…and with multiple perspectives, students are challenged to think more deeply about the topic” (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, p. 74).  Another goal that I have is to “engage in professional growth and leadership” ((International Society for Technology Education, 2008).  Recently I attended a technology conference and found the information and practical applications so helpful.  For example, creating a customized search engine (CSE) for my students will allow them to search frequently and narrow the results to appropriate sites.  There are many more opportunities for staff development with the outside community.  My job title will be changing for next year and I will not only be the computer teacher but also the technology specialist for the building, so I need to develop my skills and be able to disseminate the new technology to my peers. 

            To monitor the progress of both of my goals, I will reflect on the new lessons and the implementation of web conferencing.  Getting input from students on projects will also be helpful for future plans.  In addition to that, getting ideas for lessons on technology from the students.  Using them as a resource to bring technology to the classroom not only motivates them to find the newest technology out there but brings inherent interest to the classroom. 

            In the end, setting goals and planning carefully to achieve them is part of being a good teacher.  By constantly reflecting on the ISTE NETS-T indicators and using technology to “facilitate group and community learning” (Cennamo, et al., 2009, p. 79), that goal can be closer to achieving.

Resources:

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

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T).  Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx