GAME Plan Progress

As of this week, my progress feels slow because my students were not available to meet. Although, I have personally been working on new things I will use with my group of students and their parents in the upcoming school year. I have created documents detailing out to our parents the information regarding the technology which I normally use within our daily classroom work. For example, it includes directions to access our class website, our class blog, as well as using Gizmos (our science technology tool). I believe that this will help them feel more prepared to be involved with what the students are working on. 


I have also started researching more options for teacher and parental involvement within district wide technology opportunities. I hope that through this I will inspire other teachers to increase the amount of technology they use in their classrooms. I am beginning to find the resources I need although I am not yet where I would like to be with resources. I hope that in the next week I will find the national and district wide blogs and groups I will become a part of. 


I have not encountered any new questions as of yet although I would like to continue working on building the plan so that my goals and actions will be the most beneficial to the students. 

Carrying out my GAME plan

After reviewing my GAME plan I realized that in order to complete the plan in its entirety I will need a variety of resources. First, I will need to provide my students parents with access to the proper internet sources. In order to do so, I need ample computer access. By doing this I automatically improve my students capabilities of being successful. I will also need the assistance of the library specialist to help with resources, another teacher to assist in forum development and video conferencing.

I have taken several steps in years past to begin to integrate parental support into my technology curriculum. I have provided parents with seminars to allow them to understand the tools we use in the classroom. My next step is to understand the national technology standards in order to incorporate them into my work.

I hope to be able to find the information and acquire any skills needed before the beginning of the next school year.

GAME Plan for NETS-T Indicators

There are several indicators in the International Society of Technology in Education that I would want to improve on, although there are two in particular. The first one is under the third standard, Model Digital-Age Work and Learning, to collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008). The second indicator is under the fifth standard, Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership, which states participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008). In order to improve these indicators, I plan on implementing the following GAME plan.

Goals

• Increase the access for parents and community members to the internet and computers in general in order to help student success.
• Begin participating in district wide initiatives to improve teacher education and use of technology in the classroom.

Actions

• Work with parents directly to increase their use, access to, and understanding of the internet and tools on it that help students to improve their academic success.
• Participate in national and international technology groups and/or forums to improve understanding of how technology is used in other schools.

Monitor

• Monitor progress of parental and community involvement in technology based projects and initiatives.
• Work with district members to improve national and international relationships.

Extend

• Invite parents into the classroom on a day where the class will have the laptops in order to allow all parents to work with their students on the technology we use in the classroom.
• Work with other schools on video-conferencing and chatting to allow students to work with others.

Resources:

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, Cengage Learning.

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards

for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx

Using Technology Across the Content Areas

I'm looking forward to continuing to work on my blog for this course, EDUC-6731, and learning how to better use technology in all content areas.

Keep Reading :)