Reflecting on my GAME plan...

The GAME plan that I constructed for this course was, for the most part, a solid plan. There still isn’t much that I would change, even with all that I have learned throughout this course. I still want my goals to focus on student-directed learning, differentiation, and technology rich learning experiences. I believe that this GAME plan has taught me a lot about the various uses of technology in my classroom. I have began integrating blogs, wikis, and digital storytelling into my lessons and have been creating more authentic learning experiences for my students, based on the goals I set forth in my GAME plan. The technologies also allow me to meet the varying learning needs and preferences of my students. The monitoring and evaluating portions of the game plan have proven to be beneficial to both myself and my students. I am constantly monitoring my students, as are they, to determine their understanding and, ultimately, to help them be successful self-directed learners. Overall, using the GAME plan is very effective and I plan to continue using it in the future and teach my students to use it as well.

As a result of following my personal GAME plan, I have learned just how beneficial this method can be. The GAME plan has taught me to break down the integration of technology into my classroom to make it a more smooth transition and not seem so overwhelming. The GAME plan has also helped me to learn to be more organized in my instructional practices and I have learned an abundance of new technologies. I realize now that using these technologies in the classroom is an effectie way to differentiate my instruction. This is necessary for my students because they do not all learn the same way or at the same pace. Using the GAME plan has helped me learn how to teach my students to be self-directed learners because “the GAME plan requires you to think about and take steps to direct your learning process” (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, p. 3). Using the GAME plan enable me to model this self-directed learning for my students. I want to get my students in the habit of using the GAME plan for their own learning so that they will have control over their learning and be empowered to become self-directed learners.

I plan to take steps to use technology in my classroom everyday. Students today are constantly immersed in technology, except when they are in the classroom. To make the learning experience authentic and the instruction engaging for my students, I need to infuse what is relevant to my students, technology, into my classroom. My students need this exposure to technology to be prepared for their futures. This course has given me the confidence to do this and the ability to see the synergy between technology and classroom instruction. One should no longer exist without the other. Technology can make learning engaging for the students and leave a lasting impression on their classroom experiences.

Using GAME plan process with students...Week 7

The GAME plan is a valuable resource for teaching students to become a self-directed learners. Having created a GAME plan for myself, I can see the benefits it will have for my students. Setting goals, taking action, monitoring progress, and evaluation are all essential skills for self-directed learning. I will use this process to teach my students to become self-directed learners themselves.

To set goals for themselves, I will introduce my students to the NETS-S standards and indicators. From there, students will be able to decided which standards they are strong with and which standards they need to work on. They will then set the goals that they wish to accomplish in technology for the school year. To take action on these goals, I will make sure that I am doing my part to integrate technology into my instruction as much as possible to ensure student proficiency with these tools. This will help my students become confident and capable 21st century learners and enable them to meet their technology goals. Throughout this process, I will be monitoring their progress and expect them to be doing the same. I think that keeping journals or portfolios is the best way for students to ensure they are monitoring their own progress. To evaluate their progress, students will be able to look back on their work in the journals or portfolios and decide whether or not they have met their original goals for technology. If they choose, they can edit their work to ensure they have met their goals.

Having created my own GAME plan gives me the confidence to model this process for my students to ensure they are comprehending all that goes into creating a GAME plan and achieving their goals. By creating their own GAME plan, students have control of their own learning and it is a more personalized process. This process teaches them to become a self-directed learner and that is a skill that will enable them to be successful and capable 21st century learners.

GAME plan update...

This week's learning resources have brought an abundance of useful information. I have learned a lot about social networking and online collaboration this week and am excited to try to implement them into my classroom. In a way, I already do with the class blog, but I would like to extend that into collaborating with classrooms and teachers around the world. I think it is so exciting to think about actually having class discussions with students on the other side of the globe!! This week's learning has given me so many valuable resources and I can't wait to get started! My GAME plan is moving along quite well. I have hit a little bump in the road. I am having issues with getting my students access to the computer lab each week. Fortunately, we have set up a class blog and the students can work on it outside of class time if needed. I am still working on a couple of the goals that I set up for myself. I am still working on integrating more technology into my classroom. As I said, I want to make use of my new knowledge of social networking and online collaboration! I also am working on differentiating my instruction. I think that this week's learning resources will contribute to my meeting that goal.

I have added a goal for myself as well. Based on the NETS-T goals, I have added the goal of modeling digital age work and learning for myself. I am taking an online master's degree and learning about all this new technology, I should be able to model my digital learning and work for my students. They will be able to learn much more successfully from me if I can achieve this goal, in addition to my other goals. I am happy with the way my GAME plan is coming along and am looking forward to the challenge of truly integrating all that I learn into my classroom instruction!

Evaluating my GAME plan

My actions, thus far, have been fairly effective. I say fairly because I did not anticipate my students having any difficulty adjusting to my GAME plan, but am now seeing some. They are not accustomed to this type of self-directed learning and getting them to understand their roles is proving difficult. They are slowly coming around though. By providing them with authentic learning environments and collaborative group work experiences, I am seeing my students become more motivated and engaged in their learning. I am still doing a lot of scaffolding and students are hesitant to take control of their own learning, but I am confident that will dissipate with a little more time.

The theory of Problem-Based Learning is a valuable instructional tool that I have learned about this week and I am looking forward to applying it to my classroom. PBL is an effective way to enable my students to be more confident self-directed learners and, hopefully, less hesitant to take control of their own learning. I have also learned the benefits of integrating technology into the classroom. Technology can make using PBL in the classroom much easier. Technology can be a great motivator and can keep students engaged. There are many digital tools available to enhance student learning in my classroom.

I still have much to learn, however. I have not yet tried implementing PBL in my classroom and have some concerns and challenges that I will face. Making sure that I am presenting my students with quality problems that are neither too broad nor too narrow is a problem that I will face. I will learn how to do this through experience, I am sure. I will also have to learn more about the variety of technology that is available. I am becoming very familiar with blogs, which I believe is a great instructional tool. I am also learning more about wikis and podcasting. I would like to learn as much as I can about the different technologies and how they can be beneficial in my classroom.

To adjust my GAME plan to meet my current needs, I think I will just need to be more specific. I need to specify what types of assessments I want to use to monitor student learning. I also want to incorporate using a rubric for evaluation of student learning. I think the GAME plan is working pretty well so far and I don't think it needs any adjustment, just a little more specifications.

GAME plan progress

I think that my GAME plan is coming along quite well. I now have some great collaborative learning experiences planned for my students. They are really excited about the technology integration that I have done thus far, and are looking forward to more. I have continued my Internet research and have found some absolutely fantastic interactive sites that I can use for my upcoming units. I am also becoming more comfortable with actually using the technology that I want my students to use, such as blogs and podcasts. I have been meeting regularly with the digital arts teacher and she has been patiently explaining how our school programs can be used and allowing me to experiment with it all. I am also still conducting my research when I have time. I think it is important to continue this because there is so much available and you just never know what you may find!!

I have no problems finding the resources and information that I need to continue my GAME plan. If I do get stuck, I will have no problem asking my colleagues for a little help! I do not think that my Action plan needs any modification. I think it needs an addition. After learning about assessments this week, I think it is necessary to add in an action plan for assessment. I plan to try out all four types of assessments that we learned about this week, when the time is right. In addition to learning these new assessment formats, I found learning about the abundance of assisstive technology available what interesting. I want to look further into these technologies to see what may be beneficial for my students. I have not come up with any new questions that I have not already found the answer to through research, reading, or colleagues.

Carrying out my GAME plan

Resources:
To begin carrying out my GAME plan, I am going to need more access to the variety of technology that can be used. Internet access is a major obstacle in my classroom. There are not enough computers for each student to use, therefore, I will need to find a way to enable the students to have access to computers weekly. I will also need to figure out for myself how to use the different tools that I plan to use. For example, I need to explore the various websites that I want my students to use so that I will be prepared to model for them how to use these sites. I also need to do my research. I need to find the benefits of the various technologies that I plan to employ. To do this, I will spend time researching the pros and cons of different websites and tools that I want to use. I also want to work collaboratively with both the library/media arts specialist and the digital arts teacher in my school. They are both very knowledgeable when it comes to using technology in the classroom and can be a powerful resource.

Additional Information:
Some additional information that I may need to know to carry out my GAME plan would be, most importantly, my students learning needs and preferences. I need to be able to recognize what my students need in order to successfully incorporate technology that would be useful for them into my instruction. Students all have various learning styles and abilities and to get the most use out of technology in the classroom, the tools should coincide with the learners' needs. I also want to find out what my students' level of ability for technology use is. Some students may not be that good at using these new tools and will need additional instruction. Some students will be more advanced and may even teach me a thing or two! I also will need to know how much access each student has to computers and the Internet at home. It would not make sense to incorporate these technological tools into the classroom and then have students not be able to reinforce what they have learned at home.

Steps that I have taken:
To begin carrying out my GAME plan, I have already taken a look at a variety of websites that I want to begin using in my classroom. But, I am not just looking at them. I have been really exploring the sites and checking the background of the sites' creators. I want to find out as much as I can about the site so that I am prepared to use it with my students. I have also began discussions with the digital arts teacher in my school to work on my GAME plan. I want to discuss ideas with her that will enable me to meet the diverse needs of my students through the use of technology. She has an abundance of information and ideas that we will be discussing. Also, to further my GAME plan, I have made a schedule for my students to get into our computer lab during my class once a week. That is all that we have room for right now, but eventually I would like to make that more or get enough computers in my classroom for all of my students. I feel that I am off to a good start to carry out my GAME plan. I have a long way to go and a lot to learn and am excited about where this is all headed!!

My G.A.M.E. Plan

I plan to strengthen my confidence in the following NETS-T standards:

1. 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.

2. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote students learning and creativity.

My Goals are to integrate technology into my instruction to enhance student learning, meet the needs of my students diverse learning styles by developing authentic learning environments, and make my classroom instruction more student-directed. The Actions I will take will enable these goals to be met. First, I will develop authentic learning environments where students are in control of their learning. They will be participating in activities where they are collaborating with other students and developing their creative thinking skills. They will be creating their work for real audiences on a global scale and learning to communicate effectively with authentic audiences from all over the world. I will also take into consideration the diverse needs of my students and their various learning styles. I will learn as much as I can about technology so that I can make decisions about what kind of digital tools will best enhance my students learning experiences. I want to ensure that I am integrating the most effective technology into my instruction so that the students are receiving the best possible learning experience. Monitoring the effectiveness of these goals and actions will be done by using formative assessments. Throughout the learning experiences, I will question my students to gauge their learning and understanding of the concepts incorporated with the technology. This will, in turn, help me to monitor the effectiveness of my integration of technology. To Evaluate the instructional effectiveness of my plan, I will reflect upon my teaching to try to determine what was successful and what was not. I will also be assessing the students' learning. I need to consider what strategies and technology integration worked and what needs modifications.