My GAME plan started with two overarching goals based the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NET-T) from the International Society for Technology in Education (ITSE): Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity and Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments. These two standards can encompass a tremendous amount of work, but as I created my action planned, I found a way to accomplish them simultaneously.
At first I was skeptical about writing out a GAME plan and monitoring and evaluating it weekly. It seemed to be a waste. However, I am amazed at how much more I accomplished towards achieving my goals because I constantly read and reviewed what I had set out to do. Our last blog post required me to think about using the GAME plan with my students. How powerful it would be for my students to experience the success in setting and accomplishing a goal!
I required a weekly session in the computer lab to force the completion of these actions. By visiting the lab every week, I needed to plan lessons that would facilitate student learning. Also by visiting the lab every week, my students would be developing digital-age learning experiences as we explored and utilized new technology tools. Since I created my original GAME plan at the beginning of this course, I only included Webquests into my action plan. I am so excited about the new tools I experienced during this course: www.epals.com for online collaboration, digital-storytelling (most likely Photostory), and Problem-based learning projects that can incorporate a variety of technological tools.
When we return to school, I am going to continue working on my GAME plan. The new tools I experienced in this course have me excited about using them with my students. I am constantly brainstorming ways I can use blogs, wikis, digital-storytelling, and PBL. I am also thinking of ways to fit these new projects into my schedule. I try to remind myself that my students will learn content more deeply when they experience learning in their “language” (Prensky, 2001). I don’t want them to learn everything an inch deep and a mile wide. I’d rather go for an inch wide and a mile deep!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
GAME Plan for Students
Once I make my students aware of NET-S goals, we will set two goals together with the intent of furthering their GAME plan by adding another goal on their own. The two most basic NET-S standards are:
Digital Citizenship : Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.
Research and Information Fluency: Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.
These Goals will remind them of the appropriate behavior while using technology, as well as one main purpose of the Internet in our classroom (research).
They will take Action by answering the three questions provided by Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer (2009): What information do I need to meet my goal? What learning strategy will I use? What resources are needed?
Students will Monitor their goals by "consider"ing these questions: Am I finding the information I need? What patterns are emerging from the information sources? DO I need to modify my action plan? (p. 4). By answering these questions students will begin to see the benefits of goal setting and taking action.
Lastly, students will Evaluate their progress towards becoming a responsible digital citizen and being fluent in researching methods. How was I successful in meeting my goals? What will I do differently in the future? After achieving succes in Digital Citizenship and Research/Information Fluency, students will select ONE additional goal to add to their NET-S standards (Creativity and Innovation, Communication and Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making, OR Technology Operations and Concepts.
This will be an exciting opportunity for students to realize they have technology standards as well. Holding them accountable for content standards is important, but I am glad to see that technology is also crucial to students becoming a 21st century learner and leader!
http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForStudents/2007Standards/NETS_for_Students_2007.htm
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Digital Citizenship : Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.
Research and Information Fluency: Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.
These Goals will remind them of the appropriate behavior while using technology, as well as one main purpose of the Internet in our classroom (research).
They will take Action by answering the three questions provided by Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer (2009): What information do I need to meet my goal? What learning strategy will I use? What resources are needed?
Students will Monitor their goals by "consider"ing these questions: Am I finding the information I need? What patterns are emerging from the information sources? DO I need to modify my action plan? (p. 4). By answering these questions students will begin to see the benefits of goal setting and taking action.
Lastly, students will Evaluate their progress towards becoming a responsible digital citizen and being fluent in researching methods. How was I successful in meeting my goals? What will I do differently in the future? After achieving succes in Digital Citizenship and Research/Information Fluency, students will select ONE additional goal to add to their NET-S standards (Creativity and Innovation, Communication and Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making, OR Technology Operations and Concepts.
This will be an exciting opportunity for students to realize they have technology standards as well. Holding them accountable for content standards is important, but I am glad to see that technology is also crucial to students becoming a 21st century learner and leader!
http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForStudents/2007Standards/NETS_for_Students_2007.htm
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Revising the GAME Plan
This course (Integrating Technology Across Content Areas) seems to have had the most impact on my thinking and planning lessons. Instead of teaching past lessons the same way, I have really been inspired (given many practical ideas) to include technology to modify my students' instruction or final product. The NETS-T goal that has motivated this: "design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity" (NETS-T).
I am still working on the goals of my original GAME plan, so at this time, I do not want to stretch myself too thin or become discouraged by setting too many goals. In order to keep working towards those goals and extend my learing, I have a few students that need to extend their learning. I am currently brainstorming and will start testing ideas for these few gifted students who are "bored" with current lessons. This will stretch all of us as learners, as well as excite them about learning.
Jenelle
I am still working on the goals of my original GAME plan, so at this time, I do not want to stretch myself too thin or become discouraged by setting too many goals. In order to keep working towards those goals and extend my learing, I have a few students that need to extend their learning. I am currently brainstorming and will start testing ideas for these few gifted students who are "bored" with current lessons. This will stretch all of us as learners, as well as excite them about learning.
Jenelle
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Evaluating the GAME plan Progress
This has been a crazy week to see my GAME plan in action. My students are taking MAP tests, which occur three times a year. They are a great assessment tool; however, they require the computer lab for 2 weeks. It also jumbles our daily schedule. I am sad to say my action plan has not been the top priority this week. We have not worked towards our technology goals - Webquests or digital tool exploration. I have had to be flexible and adjust my class schedule to accomodate testing in the computer lab, as well as other activities that 'interrupt' our school day.
I have definitely learned that for goals to be accomplished, they have to be purposefully planned. Goals will not be met if I rely on "when I have time" or "whenever". I have to PLAN for the mobile lab.
I still need to model Webquests for my students. Dr. Krauss offered advice on doing a Webquest as a class using my SMARTboard. This will be something I am going to plan in the next two weeks before Christmas break. I may try incorporating this modeling process with my PBL Unit Plan. Since this is a first for me - Webquests AND Problem-Based Learning - combining them may be a good learning experience. I am looking forward to experiencing this new learning with my students.
I have definitely learned that for goals to be accomplished, they have to be purposefully planned. Goals will not be met if I rely on "when I have time" or "whenever". I have to PLAN for the mobile lab.
I still need to model Webquests for my students. Dr. Krauss offered advice on doing a Webquest as a class using my SMARTboard. This will be something I am going to plan in the next two weeks before Christmas break. I may try incorporating this modeling process with my PBL Unit Plan. Since this is a first for me - Webquests AND Problem-Based Learning - combining them may be a good learning experience. I am looking forward to experiencing this new learning with my students.
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