Reflecting on My Game Plan

In the beginning of this course, I set a GAME plan to strengthen my skills in integrating technology in the classroom. As an educator it is my responsibility to my profession and to my students to stay up to date on the technologies out there and provide my students with learning experiences that allow them to use those technologies.

I set some goals I wanted to accomplish by the e nd of this class. They were to improve in the following areas of the NETS-T indicators: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments and Model Digital-Age Work and Learning. In addition to setting goals, I implemented an action plan. My  plan of action was to design and develop digital-age learning experience and assessments by:

• Continue with my current Master’s Program at Walden University, and take information gained from the resources, my professor, and my colleagues back to my school and staff to begin implementation of some of the technologies introduced and taught in the program
• Create a consistent, calendar giving students computer time weekly to use different technologies to create different types of projects used for assessment and to show mastery of concepts taught
• Commit to creating a minimum of one lesson focused on students using technology as a learning tool, including but not limited to podcasts, blogs, glogs, wikis, educational social networking (edmodo)

Throughout this course, I have learned a great deal of how to integrate technology within the classroom. I realize that students respond better when they are true participants of their education. I know that I must incorporate technology into my instructional practice, but this is easier said than done. The only way for me to be successful with integrating technology within the classroom is to practice it in the classroom. Problem-based learning and online collaboration will play a vital throughout my instruction and class. Problem-based learning will require me to put more thought into my lessons and online collaboration will keep me on my toes as far as communicating with my students.

This course was extremely vital in my learning process, considering it forced me to develop lessons including a problem-based learning unit, incorporating digital media, social networking, and digital storytelling.  Even though I use edmodo.com for social networking in my class, and have students create digital posters on edu.glogster.com, I have never incorporated digital storytelling in any lesson...nor have I completed a unit study incorporating several different types of technologies in one unit.  The week 5-7 culminating project was very thought provoking and an experience for me, as well as I know it is a unit my students were very engaged in and excited about.

Learning from  my colleagues all of the ideas discussed on our discussion boards and from feedback from Professor Kirk, was imperative for success in the course.  I find this part of the Walden courses most beneficial to my own reflection of teaching, and what I can and will take back to my colleagues on my grade-level and in my school.

 

Although I use a great deal of technology in my classroom for both teaching and student learning, I have not completed my GAME plan for this course. It is my expectation to have it fully implemented by the end of the school year.  Once state assessments have been completed mid-March, I will be able to take more time with the implementation and begin incorporating the piece of including parents in the process.  I will continue to do everything in my power to stay up-to-date and continue learning about the new technologies, and exploring as many as possible over time.

Monitoring My Game Plan

I have made progress with implementing my Game Plan.  My action plan consist of many things including but not limited to creating a classroom webiste, planning weekly lessons with technology incorporated in them, and involving my parents more,

I am making some progress towards full implementation, but find that time is the biggest constraint I have.  We are currently pushing our indicators for the standardized state testing that is coming in March, and with my school being in it's fourth year of not making the AYP target, we are also in the process of beginning Alternative Governance from our district.  Therefore, the actual implementation of the GAME plan is sitting on the backburner pretty much for the next few weeks.

There is significant process I have made with implementing more technology in my weekly lessons.  The resources found in this course are extremely helpful with this, and I look forward to the digital storybook lesson that is coming up. 

My action plan for my GAME plan is still a work in progress, however, I know that there are some things I will have to tweak to make it work for my classroom.

I will continue to move forward development and implementation of my GAME plan.I welcome any and all suggestions. 

Carrying Out My GAME Plan

To prepare for the development of my GAME plan, there are different resources needed.  I will also need to obtain additional information, and there are some steps I have begun to implement already.

One of the steps I would like to take, which would be a valuable resource for my students and parents is a classroom webpage.  I would like to do this so I have open communication with my students and  parents, allowing them to become familiar with Web 2.0 tools.  This would be very beneficial for me because currently I have a twitter account that I use to connect with my students about homework, projects, etc…  However, I feel that the classroom webpage would be more effective for students and parents and would be a good demonstration of my skill level and ability to use digital tools..

About a year ago I really began designing lessons that allowed my students to use technology as learning tools and to demonstrate their understanding  and mastery of certain skills and indicators they were taught.  I began with edu.glogster.com for my students to create digital media posters, and then also use edmodo.com as a social networking site for education, and set the assignments up similar to the way our courses are setup for Walden.  My students are very engaged with any of these assignments and projects, but I know there is so much out there to offer them.  I would really like to start designing lessons with digital storyboards and give them experience with voicethreads and wikipages.  What I really need to do as a teacher, is practice and play around with these tools more to get comfortable with them so that my students can be successful with these tools as well.

The biggest resource I need for my GAME plan to come into full action is time.  I find that my time or lack of time, holds me back from doing so much.  There are so many wonderful tools out there, but finding the time to become knowledgeable to the point of using it successfully in the classroom is a big drawback for me.  One of the things I plan to do to help with this, is dig deep into the technology tools I want to use over the summer so that I can plan ahead for next school year..  

I love using any Web 2.0 tools in the classroom with my students.  To see my students so engaged in their learning process, is one of the most exciting feelings in my experience.  I am taking baby steps, but continue to work towards full implementation of my GAME plan.  It is a process, and I am confident in the steps I continue to make towards being an innovative educator and preparing my students for their futures.

Developing My GAME Plan

As an educator, I know it is my responsibility to prepare my students for the work force they will be entering when they graduate from high school and/or college.  I was a career changer, so I also know the importance of being able to use technology, be creative in dealing with problems and situations, and being able to use higher order thinking skills to make sure things are done in a proficient manner for a business to be successful and run smoothly with its’ day to day operations.  I plan to enable my students to be prepared by giving them the tools they need to become proficient with 21^st Century Skills.  The NETS-T for teachers gives a very clear indication of what I need to do as a teacher to prepare my students.  I would like to improve standard 2; design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessment.  I would also like to improve standard 3; model digital-age work and learning.

 GOAL: My goal is to improve in the following two areas from the NETS-T indicators:

1. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments which state that teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitude identifies in the NETS-S.
2. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning which state that teachers exhibit knowledge, skills and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. 

 ACTION PLAN:

I.  My plan of action for standard 2 – design and develop digital-age learning experience and assessments is to:

• Continue with my current Master’s Program at Walden University, and take information gained from the resources, my professor, and my colleagues back to my school and staff to begin implementation of some of the technologies introduced and taught in the program
• Create a consistent, calendar giving students computer time weekly to use different technologies to create different types of projects used for assessment and to show mastery of concepts taught
• Commit to creating a minimum of one lesson focused on students using technology as a learning tool, including but not limited to podcasts, blogs, glogs, wikis, educational social networking (edmodo)

II.  My plan of action to model digital-age work and learning is to:

• Incorporate Web 2.0 technology into my lessons as much as possible, encouraging students to go to the library outside of school to use computers for weekly projects on edu.glogster.com, and edmodo.com    
• Communicate with parents on technologies being used and make an effort to educate them on how to use digital tools used inside and outside of the classroom

MONITOR PLAN:

I will monitor my plan by analyzing the work my students are completing with the technologies I use, to see what worked and what doesn’t, what gives the best evidence of mastery of standards taught..

EVALUATE PLAN:

I will keep and monitor data on students progress from use of technology.  I will conference with students to see how technology has improved their learning experience, and inquire about their likes and dislikes.  

References:

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