EDUC 6713-Week 4:Monitoring My GAME Plan Progress

The lesson opened this week with a quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It said, “Correction does much, but encouragement does more.” This quote is indeed a true statement. Throughout the construction of my GAME plan, I have received much encouragement, for that I am very appreciative. Helpful ideas, websites, and other resources are indeed aiding me in accomplishing my plan. I am finding the resources I need to carryout my plan with the help of my school’s technology specialist. We have been working together teaching each other, which exemplifies a TEAM (Together, Everyone, Achieves, More). I have ordered resources on wikis, pod casting in the classroom, and much more to give me ideas and projects to incorporate these new digital tools.

Now, I do not feel as though I need to modify my action plan. It is certainly working out for me. I have also taking things a step further and have already registered for classes at my school district’s Teacher Instruction Fair in January. I have learned that learning new ideas and ways to teach my students is definitely a task. However, it is a rewarding task because I know I am obtaining knowledge that will help them in all of their future endeavors. Keeping a journal and collaborating with my colleagues has also been very beneficial. Just as I quoted before, “Overall, when we set goals, tack action, monitor our learning, and evaluate our progress, WE take control of our own learning process. Being a self-directed life-long learner, we will be able to respond to the rapid and continuous technological changes,” (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2010).

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Farena

Resources:

Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use: A Standards-Based Approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing

EDUC 6713-Week 3 Blog Post: Carrying Out Your GAME Plan

Reflecting on my GAME plan, I am reminded through our learning resources that, we as teachers, “are one of the biggest factors in providing access to learning resources in a way that is sensitive to the individual and cultural needs of our students. We have to ensure that all students, whatever their backgrounds or abilities, have equitable opportunities to use all of the technology resources available in an interactive classroom with an atmosphere that respects students and provides ample opportunities for students to build on and extend their knowledge and skills,” (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2010).

The Goal of my GAME plan is to implement new digital tools into the classroom to further engage my students in their learning. In addition, increase my knowledge of technological advances in order to better serve my students. In order to carry out my plan, there is a variety of resources than can be used. Beginning at school, my IT specialists as well as other teachers are resources that will aid me in carrying out my goals. In addition, the South Carolina Business Education Association, the National Business Education Association, the South Carolina Middle School Association, ISTE, NETS are all valuable resources to help me carry out my plan. Attending conferences, conducting research on their websites will give me the ability to learn the new digital tools I would like to implement into my classroom. At conferences, I will be able to collaborate with other business teachers to gain further knowledge.

Taking the step of being a member of the South Carolina Middle School Association as well as the South Carolina Business Education Association is a step in the right direction of carrying out my GAME Plan. Again…a work in progress!! :)

Resources
http://www.iste.org/
http://www.scbea.org/
http://www.nbea.org/
http://www.scmsa.org/

References
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful
classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

EDUC 6713-Integrating Technology Across the Content Area

The National Educational Technology Standards requires that “teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments,” (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2010). “Teachers promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness. They engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources,” “Teachers promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes and model collaborative knowledge, construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others,” (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2010).

Reflecting on the NETS Standards, My GAME Plan will be developed based on the standards Modeling Digital-Age Work and Learning and Engaging in Professional Growth and Leadership. Modeling and facilitating effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning,) In addition, participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning, (www.iste.org) .

G-(Set Goals): To implement new digital tools into the classroom to further engage my students in their learning. In addition, increase my knowledge of technological advances in order to better serve my students.

A- (Take Action): Working with my school’s technology integration specialist to gain further knowledge on the different types of digital tools that are being used and have yet to be introduced to my computer lab. Also, increase my knowledge in the technological advances by attending in-services, field trips, registering and attending business and technology conferences to gain knowledge and materials.

M- (Monitor): I will monitor my progress by using a journal/portfolio. In that, I can reflect on a daily basis as to what lesson was right, what was wrong, and what I can do to improve.

E-(Evaluate/Extend): I will evaluate my learning through principal observations and the technology specialist observations. Reading their feedback as well as seeing how the students implement the new tools, will determine whether or not it was successful. There is always room for improvement in all that we do. The GAME Plan is definitely a work in progress.

“Overall, when we set goals, tack action, monitor our learning, and evaluate your progress, you take control of your own learning process. Being a self-directed life-long learner, you will be able to respond to the rapid and continuous technological changes,”(Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2010).


References
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful
classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T). (2008). Retrieved November 9, 2009 from http://www.iste.org.