Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas: Reflection

Right when I started this course, I realized that format for my GAME plan is very much like the Plan, Do, Study, Act goal-setting activities I conduct with my classroom for our CLS (Classroom Learning Systems) model. I have to admit, I like the GAME plan method better than the Plan, Do, Study, Act method, mainly because of the constant monitoring and re-evaluation process you must go through with with the GAME plan.

As for my persona GAME plan, I have been pleased with my first goal: demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations. I promised myself I would participate in at least one blogging discussion each week and have been very successful. Not only have I participated in the class blog each week, I have been blogging on educational sites such as Beth's Thoughts on Technology in the Classroom and Weblogg-ed. As a result, I feel much more comfortable with blogging and how to instruct students how to blog. In addition, our class wiki-project has allowed me to really experiment with what you can do with a wiki. Once again, I feel confident enough to teach my students with wikis next year. This all comes with perfect timing because I just received word that my county has finally approved the use of Web 2.0 applications in the classroom! Next year will be fantastic!

As for my second goal: evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning, blogging on those aforementioned sites have broadened my horizons to new and upcoming technology. After my first evaluation of my progress in this area, I realized I needed to set up an aggregator to keep track of all the new and upcoming technology. The list I have developed through this aggregator will help keep me up to date as my tenure at Walden U. comes to a close.

Once again, knowing how to carry out a GAME plan will be reflecting in my instruction. Right in the beginning of the year, I will start my 5th grade classroom off with a series of goal setting activities with establishing a GAME plan on the forefront. In addition, through creating my unit plan, I now realize how easy it is to integrate social networking and digital storytelling aspects into each lesson. With the approval of Web 2.0 activities for next year in my county, I plan on utilizing these tools to improve my lessons. Needless to say, I have a lot to look forward to next year! Thank you all who have helped me throughout this course!

NET-S

The NETS-S (National Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Students) are basically the same as the NETS-T (same thing, but for teachers) except instead of describing things to be taught, the NETS-S suggests standards that students should strive for. Developing a GAME plan for to accomplish as many of these standards througout the year would work much like the GAME plan I have developed for teaching at least two standards.

Students would start off by choosing one standard they feel is important to master and make that their Goal. They will then use critical thinking skills to develop an Action. Once their actions are in order, it will be time for them to Monitor their progress. As they monitor, they will Evaluate and assess their progress.

In my classroom we conduct ourselves accoding to a CLS (Classroom Learning Systems) model. Each week, students pick a short-term goal and create an action plan for it. As the week goes on, students follow their action plan and monitor their progress. By week's end, students evaluate their success. If they succeeded in their short-term goal, they will choose a new one next week. If their goal is not met, they will reevaluate what they need to do in order to accomplish their goal. I plan on encouraging students to view the NETS-S standards in the beginning of the school year to help them set a GAME plan for all 6 Standards

This Week's GOAL Update

With the year coming to an end, every teacher knows of the insanity of the last few days of school. Because of this, I haven't done too much towards my goals, but what I have done is already paying off.

For my second goal to continue my technological studies after my tenure at Walden U, I decided to save some tech sites on my aggregator to keep news about new and upcoming technology constantly streaming on my computer. I find myself now taking a few minutes each day to read an article about some new technology or how to make the most out of existing technology. I will continue to check my aggregator to learn as much as I possibly can!

First Change of Plan

As I monitor my progress toward my two goals set forth by my GAME plan, I realize that a slight change is in order. My first goal is still going really well, my students are wrapping up their web quest this week and have really done a fantastic job!

My second goal, reflect and evaluate current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emergent digital tools and resources in support of student learning, is where I need to make a change. I have been gathering a database of websites that I have found reputable information about emerging technology. Realizing my own personal weaknesses and my extremely busy schedule, if those websites aren't placed in front of me on a constant basis, I will tend to forget to check them or push them off to a more convenient time. To alleviate this, I plan on subscribing to the RSS feeds of each available site to my local aggregator. That way I can check that each day and the results will be presented to me in a more reminding manner. I know that if I am constantly reminded of my goal, I won't stray off the path.