One way to strengthen ones confidence and proficiency in anything is to develop a GAME plan. The GAME plan helps someone set goals, make a plan of action to reach the goals, monitor their progress, and evaluate their achievement (Cennamo, K., Ross, J., Ertmer, P., 2009, p. 3). For educators, the GAME plan provides a tool to support them in their development of new instructional strategies and tools. The International Society for Technology in Education (iste) has developed a set of technology performance standards for teachers (NETS-T) (iste, 2008). I will use the GAME plan to support me in developing my proficiency in several areas on the NETS-T.
NETS-T: To facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity by engaging students through the use of digital tools.
GAME plan:
G (Goal) – Learn more about how to integrate student response systems into instruction and guided practice.
A (Action) – Observe response systems being used in other classrooms within my school and discuss response systems with teachers from other schools in my technology cadre.
M (Monitor) – Reflect on how the teacher used a response system. What type of response system was used? Were the students engaged? What type of preparation is needed to prepare/use the response system?
E (Evaluate) – Make notes during observations regarding ways to integrate a response system into instruction. Reflect on ways to use a response system in my classroom.
NETS –T: To design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments.
GAME plan:
G – To design and develop an authentic assessment for my Algebra course that provides students multiple options to use technology to demonstrate learning.
A – With my teaching partner, discuss what content can be demonstrated through project-based learning. My hope is to develop a minimum of one authentic assessment this school year.
M – Reflect on the discussions with my teaching partner. What content would be best addressed with an authentic assessment? What types of technological options will be provided to the students? What is the time-line/steps that students will need to complete? How will students demonstrate proficiency on the content?
E – Are the students able to complete the assessment and demonstrate learning? Does the assessment address the diverse learning styles and abilities of my students?
NETS-T: To promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility.
GAME plan:
G – To provide a tool to support me and my colleagues in teaching our students about digital citizenship and responsibility.
A – Develop a series of lessons that teach students how to conduct and internet search, “how to verify the legitimacy of content on the internet” (Cennamo et al., 2009, p. 75), and how to cite internet sources.
M – Reflect on the three lessons. How and when could these lessons be provided to students? Who could provide the lessons to the students?
E – Are students demonstrating understanding of digital citizenship and responsibility? Can students conduct an internet search and find the information needed? Can students determine if a web site is legitimate? Are students giving credit to the sources they use?
The NETS-T are standards that all teachers should continually plan to achieve. The GAME plan is one tool that provides a structure to learn, understand, and apply the standards. The NETS –T standards can not only improve the effectiveness of a teacher but also student learning.
References
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use: A Standards Approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). Nets-T. Retrieved on January 11, 2011 from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008.aspx.
Anna,
ReplyDeleteObservation is a great way for teachers to see what works for their students. It seems like you have a good GAME plan on what you you are going to doing to do with the different standards. Techology adds to the educational process between teachers and students. The GAME plan does help with structure within the lesson plan because of the way you have to go about setting goals, the actions you are going to take to reach the goals, how you are going to monitor the actions, and then how you are going to evaluate to reach the goals. Great points.
Michael Thomas
Anna,
ReplyDeleteAlthough I did not discuss “To promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility” as one of the standards in my GAME plan, like you, I also feel that it is another area in which I must become more proficient. After completing the previous course “Supporting Information Literacy and Online Inquiry in the Classroom,” I did informal surveys with my students regarding their knowledge of website evaluation and crediting sources, and I found that many of them have had only little exposure to these skills. In my own classes, I realize that I need to allot more time to incorporate the teaching/reteaching of these skills and help my students to truly understand the importance of learning to evaluate websites for credibility and the responsibility that comes along with using material of others.
Well thought out plan!
Good luck in achieving your goals!
Regina
Anna,
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea that you have of going to observe other teachers that use technological response systems. Sometimes, our best assets lie in the ideas and practices of our colleagues, and our schools are better when teachers share good ideas and teaching methods. What are some of the different response systems that you know your school currently has or that you personally use in class?
Joshua,
ReplyDeleteCurrently, there is only one type of response systems in my school and only in two teachers rooms. One of these teachers did a brief demonstration with the staff in December. However, there were some technical issues. I do not know the the brand of the response system. As the tech coordinator at my school, I feel I should be more knowledgeable in this area.
Anna
Anna,
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of authentic assessments / PBLs can you do in an Algebra class? Do you mean exploring professions or professional situations that would involve algebraic problem solving? Have you ever brought in guest speakers? I did a PBL about comic book writing and illustrating and I was fantastically lucky enough to have a colleague with a pretty famous friend in the industry. He came in, spoke about his career and then 'presented' the PBL to my students, kicking it off. I was so fortunate to have a respected professional from the industry come in to deliver the PBL as if it were a free-lance job and the students were being hired. Is there a profession that would lend itself to algebra? Something that would lend credibility and authenticity to a math lesson?
Thanks!
Meg Boyd