EVALUATING MY GAME PLAN PROGRESS: WEEK 5

How effective is my actions in helping me meet my goals? My game plan was to head to school one day last week and start experimenting with the software on my own. However, unexpected family obligations kept me from this goal. It has been rescheduled for this week. Having quite time to perform some trial an error work will eliminate a lot of anxiety that I’m feeling know.

So far, I’ve learned that I need have a good subject matter. This will keep it interesting for the students and my hope is that their creative ideas will be flowing so that they won’t get so hung up on the new technology they are learning, The best way to assess their learning is to do a practice run in class together and then have the students work in groups and for the final evaluation, have the students turn in individual projects.

I still have to learn about the application itself and this is only going to be resolved with time and practice. So, I have a lot of application questions and then I my other concern am how to divide them up in productive groups. Only in my second year of teaching, I’ve come to realize how beneficial group projects can be.

The only adjustment that I see at this time is that I would like to contact the technology specialist in our district and see if there is a way I can bring a copy of Inspiration software home. Maybe there is a lab top with this application on it in the district. With a 5 year and being 20 minutes away from work, this would allow me quite time at night to learn more about the application. Once, I become more familiar with the application other adjustment may be needed.

MONITORING MY GAME PLAN PROGRESS:

So far I believe I have the information that I need to begin meeting my goals. I’m getting a little nervous as the new school year is quickly approaching. I have verified that the Inspiration software is available on my computer and the lab. There is a tutorial for me to work with. I plan on spending some time at school next week to begin practicing with this software.

I’m not sure that I need to modify my action plan at this point. My nature is to follow my original game plan and then analyze the situation when I have completed the task on hand. I am flexible but because this is new to me, I tend not to veer from the game plan.

There are so many important lessons I’ve learned up until this point I’m not sure where to start. The most important lesson that I learned so far is that it is so very important to have a plan in place. Research and we have so much technology at our finger tips. I think it is so important to real try and understand how technology can be used in your own content area. Just because it is meant to be used a certain way doesn’t mean you can’t change the use of the technology to better suit your class. I’ve also learned that there are so many resources available to us and we need to reach out and use them. Through everything we’ve learned, I know I have to strive harder than ever to set a good example for my students and for other teachers. Another important lesson I learned is how technology can reach many types of students with disabilities. There are four different assessment strategies that can be used to better understand the needs of my students.

The biggest question I have is TIME; I don’t have enough of it. I see the importance of planning each lesson. But I wonder where I can find enough time to change all of my lessons to have a GAME plan associated with it. So I’ve decided to take baby steps. If I can revamp 3 lessons for each of my application areas and then the same goal next year or over the summer I will be in a better position than I am today.

CARRYING OUT MY GAME PLAN:

What resources will you need to carry out your plan (video, reading, experts or colleagues, etc)?

For my first goal, which is getting the students to understand Inspirational Mapping Software, I will need to make sure all the computers have this software. I will also check with my staff to see if anyone uses this tool in any other classes. I will dedicate 2 hours a week to practice using the software myself. At this point I know enough to be dangerous but really want to understand the ins and outs of this software. Once we are back in school, I will discuss this software with colleagues and see if I could make the a cross content teaching lesson.

The second goal is similar to the first, its learning how to use a Wiki properly. This tool is a little more involved. I’m trying to determine a great subject area and have the teachers create and maintain a Wiki, another wards use them as my trial for teaching. Once I have mastered this I would then like to introduce this to my classes. I would need an instructional video from the web and then make a list of acceptable subjects. One idea I had was having each group create a Wiki of field trips or rewards trips that they would like to attend. Then add items that would be needed, cost, and time frames. My objective is that they brainstorm some new ideas for the teachers while learning a new application. The other topic is cyberbullying. This would raise awareness amongst the students and the community.

What additional information do you need?

The only additional information that I think I need would be to search the area for any workshops on Inspiration or Wiki’s. I have a few other ideas of where to find additional information. I will check personal blogs and surf the web for lessons already created.

I will need information on parents approval forms so that I can move forward with these lessons. There is a website with sample letters and forms that I can use. I also just recently purchased a book on blogging that has step by step instructions on how to set up a lessons plan.

What steps have you been able to take so far?

Currently, I have a journal with all these ideas and have started researching on the web, any ideas that might be useful.

I’ve already placed an email on our staff news starting to inquiry with other teachers, if there is a need and maybe we can collaborate a lesson plan .

I have a yearly calendar where I’ve started mapping out my curriculum .

DEVLOPING YOUR PERSONAL GAME PLAN

Out of the five NETS-T for teachers I believe the two nets I am most comfortable with Model Digital-Age Work and Learning and Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership. My past work experience 20 years of working in corporate America before deciding to teach, gives me the knowledge and skills in a global and digital society. The last 10 years were spent working for a fortune 500 company. When I moved from PC computing to Apple Macs environment, I have to admit I was a little nervous, but quickly adapted. I welcome change and I do not fear the rapidly changing technology.

The second NETS-T that I feel comfortable with is Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership. I knew I had been away from teaching for awhile and needed to expand this part of my knowledge base that is why I’m pursuing my masters in integrating technology in the classroom. Being the newest member of our staff and finding faculty tapping my knowledge base regarding technology tools and issue I believe I exhibit knowledge and skills of an innovated professional. I’m constantly looking for seminars and great ideas to implement in my classroom.

The first of the two NETS-T that I would like to become more proficient in is the first performance indicator under NETS-T 2, promoting student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify student’s conceptual understanding, thinking, planning and creative processes. I would like the students to use and understanding Inspirational mapping tool. This software is currently on all the computers in our lab so I have the tools I need. In a past class this software was introduced to me and I think it would greatly benefit my students to learn Inspirational mapping tool.

My goal is to practice using the tutorial and working through the assignment as if I was the student. As a teacher, this helps me be proactive in any issues that might come up. The action for implementing this technology tool is that I will practice using this software for creating lesson plans. After I have completed a tutorial I will then monitor the characteristics of an effective computer Tutorial, (Cennamo, Ross, Ertmer p. 54). To evaluate this tutorial identify activities that best support this software. Give the students real life examples on how this software could be used.

The second NETS-T performance indicator that I would like to improve upon is developing technology-enriched learning environment that allows students to set their own educational goals, manage their own learning and assessing their own progress. I want to have the students learn how to use a WIKI.

As a past assignment I was part of a team that created a WIKI and maintained it for educational purposes. I had a particular job as a team player, but before I introduce this to my students my goal would be to learn every aspect of this application. My action to achieve this will be to set up a teacher WIKI, experience for me is the best way to learn. This action will then allow me to teach teachers a new technology and answer any questions to assist me in becoming more knowledgeable. The way I will monitor this lesson plan is make sure my questions have been answered at this point. By working through setting up a WIKI with other faculty members this will give me a chance to properly evaluate my instructional method and possible change any ideas I previously had.