Developing a GAME Plan

The indicators I chose from the ISTE website clearly show my struggle to give up control in the classroom.  Many people believe new teachers are creative risk-takers that push others to move forward in the education field.  While I possess many of the common attributes of a new teacher, I struggle to break down walls that restrict me from fully engaging my students.  Creating GAME plans will allow me to develop into the well-rounded teacher I set out to become.

The first indicator that I struggle with falls under Standard 1:. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity.  Indicator c. states that teachers “promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes” (ISTE).  While students have multiple opportunities to communicate and collaborate in my classroom, none of these experiences utilize technology.  Peggy Ertmer (2010A) explains that a teacher’s first priority is to teach content, and technology allows teachers to do that in a more effective way.  Due to my inexperience with collaborative tools in the classroom, I struggle in developing collaborative projects because I am intimidated by the risk that is involved in giving students the freedom to collaborate online. 

In developing my GAME plan for strengthening my confidence in this indicator I will start by setting goals.  My first goal is to become comfortable with at least one collaborative tool so that I can incorporate it into consistent classroom practice.  My second goal is to develop a weekly assessment in which students would consistently use the collaborative tool.  With my goals set, I will develop actions to achieve my goals.  First, I will familiarize myself with the technology restrictions within my school district in order to choose the collaborative tool I will focus on.  With the tool in mind, I will then develop one weekly assessment that my students will collaborate in.  I would like this assessment to be engaging for students so I would like to provide a great deal of student choice in the assignment.  I will monitor my progress by completing monthly reviews on the collaborative experience.  I also think it would be beneficial to discuss the assessment with students in order to gain an understanding of ways that it could be improved.  Finally I will evaluate and extend my learning by incorporating an additional collaborative learning tool into my routine.

The second indicator that I struggle with falls under Standard 2: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.  Indicator b. states that teachers “develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress” (ISTE).  While teachers can develop authentic, learner-centered instruction without the use of technology, it is a power tool to help increase students engagement and motivation in the learning environment (Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009).   I struggle with this indicator because I am inexperienced in allowing students to take control of their learning.

In developing my GAME plan for strengthening my confidence in this indicator I will start by setting goals.  My first goal is to incorporate a technology enriched assessment for each unit plan I teach.  With limited technology in my classroom, achieving one assessment per unit is realistic.  My second goal is to develop a list of creative, technology-based assessments for students to choose from.  The list of assessments will range from creating newspaper headlines for a novel to creating a soundtrack play list that represents a novel.  Students will have the opportunity to choose which assignments they would like to complete as well as have the ability to be creative.  My first action to achieve my goal is to work on creating or adapting existing lesson to incorporate technology.  I understand that it is important to enrich my lessons with technology, not develop my lessons to meet technology (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010b).  I will also begin creating a list of assessments that can be used for a variety of novels and themes.  I will monitor my progress on these goals as students complete the assignments.  I will gain a better understanding of student engagement during and after the learning process.  Finally, I will evaluate and extend my learning by at the semester break to determine the extent to which these assessments are successful.  I could extend my learning by allowing students to develop their own assessments.

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.

ISTE.  (11 May, 2011).  NETS for teachers 2008.  retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008.aspx

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010A). Enriching Content Area Learning Experiences With Technology Part I [Webcast]. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore, MD: Author

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010B). Enriching Centent Area Learning Experiences With Technology Part 2 [Webcast].  Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas.  Baltimore, MD: Author