My GAME plan is now in its third week, and I am continuing to make progress toward my goals. This blog post is an example of the third step of the GAME plan, which is to Monitor my progress. Another example of the third step of the game plan is my journal.
Keeping a journal is one way to reflect on, and monitor, the progress that I have made toward my goals. Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer (2009, p. 11) explain that "Key to effective reflection is the ability to go beyond ... what happened to consider why it happened ... and what adjustments should be made." In my journal I have listed some steps that I have already taken, reflections on those steps, and ideas for the future. You are welcome to view the journal and comment if you would like.
In addition to creating my journal, I have also made other progress towards my goal. My FaceTime experience with an elementary music classroom was good overall, but could have been smoother if I had spent more time preparing my students. You may view a blog post by the other music teacher here. I have also e-mailed five math teachers from my district to see what authentic learning experiences they have created in their classroom, but have not heard back from them yet.
I believe that my GAME plan is running smoothly and do not believe that I need anything but more time to continue making gains. Two hurdles that I currently face are the end of the school year, which is less than a week away, and the fact that I am searching for a new job for next year. Regardless of where I am in the future, the knowledge and experience I gain as I work at my GAME plan will help me to be successful.
References:
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, Cenage Learning.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
GAME Plan, Part 2
Last week I posted my GAME plan for improving in my professional practices. Since that time, I have made progress towards my goals, and I am continuing to consider what resources will be needed to progress further.
Two short-term goals that I listed in my previous post were to implement a short project in my remedial algebra class, and to make plans with another teacher in my district to have my students demonstrate instruments for her class using Skype. On Monday and Tuesday of this week I was able to do a project with my algebra students that was based on this webquest, created by Mr. Moor. The project helped students to see linear relationships in real life, and to connect "slope" with ratios such as points per game and calories per hour. I have also made plans with the elementary music teacher to allow my students to demonstrate instruments for her class using FaceTime on our iPads, which will be linked to projectors and amplified using speakers. We also tested the technology to be sure that everything will work smoothly. I have also begun collecting resources that may provide ideas for using technology and providing more authentic experiences in my math classroom. I have listed a few resources at the bottom of this post.
To continue making progress, I will need to find more resources, especially in the band area, and seek out experts to bring into my classroom, either virtually or physically. I plan to speak with other math and music teachers in my district to get some ideas of authentic lessons for each of my classrooms. Thankfully, playing music is already an authentic experience, so my band students are engaged in authentic experiences nearly every day. Since "both educators and business and industry leaders have increasingly stressed the importance of developing students' creative and logical thinking skills," (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, p. 23) I need to continue to find ways to make these authentic experiences a part of all of my classes.
Links I have collected so far:
- http://pinterest.com/eyeoneducation/technology/ - a collection of ideas for integrating technology in the classroom
- http://pinterest.com/murrmurry/math/ - math resouces
- http://pinterest.com/tlacey83/math-strategies-and-resources/ - more math resources
- http://www.classroom20.com/ - social network for teachers using technology in the classroom
- https://sites.google.com/site/mrhermannssite/Home/online-textbook-resources/geometer-s-sketchpad-algebra-tools - resources for using Geometer's Sketchpad to help explore mathematical concepts
- http://www.keycurriculum.com/products/sketchpad/sketchpad-resources - More Geometer's Sketchpad resources
- http://sketchexchange.keypress.com/search - More Geometer's Sketchpad Resources
References:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureat Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
My Personal GAME Plan
The GAME plan is a four-step plan for self-directed learning that was developed by Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer (2009, pp. 3-5).As a teacher, I need to model self-directed learning for my students as I work to grow in my abilities as a teacher. I will use the game plan, along with the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T)(International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), 2008) to help me develop professionally.
The first step of the GAME plan is to set Goals. The goal I currently have for myself is to improve in two indicators from the NETS-T (ISTE, 2009). The first is indicator 1b, "engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources." I want to do a better job of developing, and seeking out, authentic and real-world problems for my students to solve, rather than teaching almost exclusively from the book in my math class. The second indicator is 1d, "model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments." While I frequently work with the orchestra director to solve problems, I would like to do a better job of modeling the process of working with another person virtually and/or from outside the school.
The second step of the GAME plan is to take Action. In order to improve in the first area, I will speak with other math teachers at my school and search the Internet for ideas of authentic, real-world experiences/problems at the level of my students. Some areas where I may look on the Internet include teaching blogs, problem-based learning sites, and professional learning communities. With only two weeks of school left before exams, I will focus on my remedial algebra class and try to implement one short project before the end of the year, as I also collect more ideas for next year. To improve in the second area, I will seek out ideas for ways that I can bring professionals into my classroom either virtually or in person for next year. In my band classroom, I will look for a day in next year's calendar that I can set aside, I will make a plan to bring bring another person in, and speak with them about topics that they may be able to cover. I have also spoken with a teacher in another building in my own district who is interested in having my students demonstrate their instruments to her class using Skype before the end of the year.
The third step of the GAME plan is to Monitor progress towards my goals. To help me monitor my progress, I will enlist the help of my colleague who is working on a similar degree through another university. They will serve as an accountability partner and as a sounding board for my ideas. I will also check my progress in one week to be sure that I have made progress toward my goal of implementing one project with my math classroom before the end of the year.
The final step of the GAME plan is to Evaluate if I met my goal and Extend my learning to future efforts. Throughout the process I will keep a digital journal, where I will write down the ideas that I find and reflect on them if/when I use them. Through the journal I will be able to evaluate my progress, including the completion of my goal, and I will be able to extend my learning through my reflections.
Using the GAME plan, I will have a process for self-directed learning. I know that authentic instruction is critical to developing interest and depth of knowledge in students. I also know that "whatever [I] am teaching, there is probably someone out there who is interested in collaborating with [me]" (Laureate Education, Inc., 2013). By following my GAME plan, I will meet my goals.
References:
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, Cenage Learning.
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). ISTE NETS for teachers 2008. Retrieved from: http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2013). Enriching content area learning experiences with technology, part 2 [Video webcase]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_2818306_1%26url%3D
The first step of the GAME plan is to set Goals. The goal I currently have for myself is to improve in two indicators from the NETS-T (ISTE, 2009). The first is indicator 1b, "engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources." I want to do a better job of developing, and seeking out, authentic and real-world problems for my students to solve, rather than teaching almost exclusively from the book in my math class. The second indicator is 1d, "model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments." While I frequently work with the orchestra director to solve problems, I would like to do a better job of modeling the process of working with another person virtually and/or from outside the school.
The second step of the GAME plan is to take Action. In order to improve in the first area, I will speak with other math teachers at my school and search the Internet for ideas of authentic, real-world experiences/problems at the level of my students. Some areas where I may look on the Internet include teaching blogs, problem-based learning sites, and professional learning communities. With only two weeks of school left before exams, I will focus on my remedial algebra class and try to implement one short project before the end of the year, as I also collect more ideas for next year. To improve in the second area, I will seek out ideas for ways that I can bring professionals into my classroom either virtually or in person for next year. In my band classroom, I will look for a day in next year's calendar that I can set aside, I will make a plan to bring bring another person in, and speak with them about topics that they may be able to cover. I have also spoken with a teacher in another building in my own district who is interested in having my students demonstrate their instruments to her class using Skype before the end of the year.
The third step of the GAME plan is to Monitor progress towards my goals. To help me monitor my progress, I will enlist the help of my colleague who is working on a similar degree through another university. They will serve as an accountability partner and as a sounding board for my ideas. I will also check my progress in one week to be sure that I have made progress toward my goal of implementing one project with my math classroom before the end of the year.
The final step of the GAME plan is to Evaluate if I met my goal and Extend my learning to future efforts. Throughout the process I will keep a digital journal, where I will write down the ideas that I find and reflect on them if/when I use them. Through the journal I will be able to evaluate my progress, including the completion of my goal, and I will be able to extend my learning through my reflections.
Using the GAME plan, I will have a process for self-directed learning. I know that authentic instruction is critical to developing interest and depth of knowledge in students. I also know that "whatever [I] am teaching, there is probably someone out there who is interested in collaborating with [me]" (Laureate Education, Inc., 2013). By following my GAME plan, I will meet my goals.
References:
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, Cenage Learning.
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). ISTE NETS for teachers 2008. Retrieved from: http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2013). Enriching content area learning experiences with technology, part 2 [Video webcase]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_2818306_1%26url%3D
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