Reflection

Much of today's learning is self-directed. Therefore, using the Game Plan process allows learners to achieve their goals and systematically analyze their progress. The Game Plan process has four steps: setting goals, taking action to meet those goals, monitoring your progress toward achieving your goals, and evaluating whether the goals were achieved and determining how to apply your learning to new situations (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2009). The Game Plan process has allowed me to ask essential questions in order to develop as a learner and educator.

My personal game plan outlined two goals. First, I wanted to create digital assessments to help track student progress. Secondly, I wanted to teach students the importance of Internet safety and evaluating resources. Through my game plan and research, I have discovered several resources that will allow me to digitally assess my student's understanding of various concepts. I am hopeful that these assessments will not only provide insight regarding student progress, but will help me to increase my personal productivity. My research has also lead me to several sites that promote safe Internet use. During the upcoming school year, my students will access and share this information with their parents. I have also learned a great deal about the evaluation of information. Therefore, I plan to share my expertise with students to help them become more self-directed, knowledgeable learners.

The personal game plan that I have created will apply to the start of our new school year. As I accomplish the goals that I have outlined, I will formulate a new game plan to help me achieve goals in other areas of need. I plan to implement the game plan process with my students this year. I believe that it helps them to set goals and monitor their progress. Setting goals and reflecting upon your achievements helps students become intrinsically motivated.

Along with the personal game plan process, I have learned a lot about technology integration. Technology should be seamlessly integrated, allowing lessons to apply to not only content, but also technology standards. Students should use technology to inspire creativity, communication, and collaboration. Technology can help teachers create authentic learning experiences, which support student inquiry (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2009). This course has broadened my understanding of problem-based learning and the importance of establishing a good question that is authentic. Although I have used social networking sites and digital storytelling in the past, I believe that the expert advice within course readings has offered resources and fine-tuned my approach to these tools.

As I continue my teaching career, I will integrate what I have learned about technology and its ability to support content area instruction. Technology can be an inspiring and motivating tool! As a teacher leader, I will continue to support other teachers and relay the importance of instructional tools and strategies that I have learned.

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, Cengage Learning.

Online Learning: Course Management Systems for K-12 Schools

Below is the link to a Voice Thread presentation outlining the benefits of course management systems in the K-12 setting:

http://voicethread.com/share/2157200

Contains text and audio

References:

Cavanaugh, C., & Clark, T. (2007). The Landscape of K-12 Online Learning. In P. Adamson, B. Adamson, & N. Clausen-Grace, et al (Eds.). What Works in K-12 Online Learning. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.

Monitoring Game Plan Progress

"A game plan enables you to customize your approach to learning tasks, to develop relevant skills that are important to you, and prepare you for lifelong learning" (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer). The game plan that I have outlined will help me to create a learning environment that enhances engagement, knowledge, and assessment. It is important to revisit your personal game plan regularly to determine if you are gaining knowledge, pacing your progress, and locating valuable resources (Cennamo, 2009).

In my game plan, I set a goal to locate electronic assessment resources. There are several sites that enable teachers to create electronic assessments. Intel Tools for Educators, Discovery Education, and Class Maker allow teachers to generate electronic assessments, incorporating various levels of questioning. These sites will allow me to integrate forced-choice, open-ended, and project-based assessments (Cennamo, 2009). Sites such as these, provide question generators and rubrics for projects. With these resources at hand, I believe that I have been able to locate reliable electronic assessment tools.

My second goal focuses on Internet safety and ethical use. Students are aware of the benefits of Internet use, but many do not recognize the potential dangers. The website SafeKids.com provides valuable information regarding Internet safety. The site also includes a safety quiz and Internet safety contract. There are also many videos available through TeacherTube and YouTube, which provide visual reminders of the importance of Internet safety and use. By integrating these technologies, students will begin to realize the importance of using the Internet properly.

The integration of technology continues to be an emphasis in my game plan. Therefore, searching for valuable resources continues to be a major component of the process. If any readers have suggested sites, programs, or other resources that would help me to assess students or encourage safe and ethical technology use, I would appreciate input.

Developing a personal game plan and monitoring its progress has allowed me to systematically achieve my goals. The initial creation of my plan, provided me with a vision for enhancing my current educational practices. Evaluating how the plan will be carried out, helps to outline the path that I will take to ensure success. Lastly, monitoring my game plan progress has allowed me to identify valuable resources. "The ability to monitor and evaluate your personal and professional decisions is enhanced through reflection both "in action" and "on action" (Schon, 1983). The "in action" component of my game plan is well underway.

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, Cengage Learning.

Carrying Out My Game Plan

Once you have created your personal game plan, you have to establish steps to help you monitor and achieve your goals. I plan to try to incorporate more digital methods of assessment. The text, Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use, suggests that teachers should "provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching" (Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, 2009). For this reason, assessments are an important part of the learning process. There are several technologies that support performance and project-based assessments. I plan to further investigate concept mapping software, simulations, and electronic portfolios. Along with these methods of assessment, I want to identify programs that our school may already have or can gain access to, that allow teachers to create on-line assessments. These assessments would focus mainly on selected response items, since I am hoping that the computer will compile student data.

Secondly, I plan to teach my students how to safely and ethically use the Internet. Therefore, I will investigate sites that promote safe use of the Internet. These sites should be "kid-friendly" and be available to students both in school and at home. I want to locate an Internet safety pledge that will outline expectations for my students. I currently have a wiki, but want to modify the site for the upcoming school year. Then, I want to create a blog site, which can be linked to my wiki. This will allow students to collaborate and respond to one another in a safe and secure manner. Using technology tools such as these, supports practice of skills, increases student engagement, and boosts student motivation levels (Cennamo, 2009).

To carry out my game plan, I will need to investigate educational sites that support my goals, including assessments, technology use, and collaboration. I believe by viewing and evaluating sites, I can identify those that are specific to my goals. For this reason, I am currently investigating tools and evaluating their usefulness.

A personal game plan is not achieved over night! You have to identify your goals, establish a plan, and monitor your progress. When choosing tools to help you achieve your goals, you want to be evaluative and selective. You want the best for your students!

References:

Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use: A Standards-Based Approach. (Laureate Education, Inc. Custom e.d.) Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Personal Game Plan

Teachers are always asked to reveal their game plan, "How do you plan to achieve your goals?" Dr. Katherine Cennamo suggests that both teachers and students need to develop game plans. To be a self-directed, independent problem-solver, you have to plan, monitor, and evaluate your actions (Laureate Education, 2009). This process is how teachers continue to grow professionally.

After reflecting upon the National Educational Technology Standards for Students, I have identified two areas that I would like to improve upon. First, I would like to develop and design digital-age assessments (International Society for Technology and Education [ISTE], 2008). Although I have become proficient with technology integration and its ability to promote student learning, I have not ventured into digital assessments. In the future, I would like to create more opportunities for technology related assessments. These assessments might include, Word documents, graphic organizers, presentations, surveys, learner response systems, or teacher-created on-line assessments. During the next year, I plan to organize a digital assessment portfolio. Many systems, such as Discovery Education, have this component accessible with your subscription. I want to create assessments that can be stored and accessed electronically. By doing this, I hope to electronically analyze student data and progress. As I embark on this task, I will research various electronic assessment platforms, to identify those that best fit my personal needs.

Secondly, I plan to promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility (ISTE, 2008). I believe it is important to teach students about safe, legal, and ethical use of technology. Our students are engaged in many social interactions, via the Internet. As educators, we need to teach them how to appropriately correspond with others. I want my students to recognize the potential of the Internet, and its ability to help them collaborate with their peers and other cultures from around the world. In order to achieve this task, I plan to design several lessons that teach my students about Internet safety and ethical use procedures. My students will be responsible for exploring Internet safety and ethical practices through the use of a webquest. Then, they will be required to sign an Internet safety and ethical use pledge, which will outline appropriate behavior. I will share additional Internet safety information with parents via our class website. In order to promote collaboration, I plan to incorporate the use of wikis, blogs, and video conferencing to help students develop an awareness of the capabilities of these tools. As we utilize these tools, we will evaluate their user friendliness and appropriateness. I will continue to attend professional conferences and workshops to identify emerging technologies to help us achieve our goals.

For professional development to occur, every teacher has to have a game plan. We need to identify our goals, set expectations and timelines for their accomplishment, and reflect upon our results. Technology integration is no different. You learn which technologies align to your curriculum and best fit the needs of your students through exploration.

References:

International Society for Technology and Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Author.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

Technology Integration:

I have always been passionate about the use of technology in the classroom setting. I believe that technology offers new methods of obtaining and presenting information. Technology tools engage our students in the learning process, allow them to be creators, and provides opportunities for collaboration. As an educator who is always willing to try new gadgets, I have become familiar with the use of many different applications. I have experienced the transformation that has occurred in my classroom, since integrating technology. I believe that you have to observe the technology integration process and its effect on student learning, to understand why it is so powerful!