Monitoring My Game Plan

My first goal was to evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice as well as looking at existing and emerging digital tools and resources to support student learning.  I feel like I need to modify my plan and narrow it down to existing and emerging digital tools and resources.  I have learned that I need to start with the technology tools that I currently have and utilize them to their fullest.  Just today, I had a technology “game” training at my site.  It was a great way to look at the technology that is currently on my campus.  I was able to see some ways to engage my students while covering any kind of content with the technology I currently possess (SMARTboard, PowerPoint, and the Internet). The information and resources seem to be landing in my hands right now.  I would like to observe some classrooms, beginning at my site to see how technology is currently being implemented.  From there I would like to branch out and see what some other school sites are doing with technology.  I feel that this will be doable because I currently have a student teacher, which will allow me some freedom to go and observe some classrooms at my site.  Additionally, I need to find some articles or journals that can provide me with ideas or facts about current and existing technologies.  A question that I have wondered about, is what are some good journals to look into that may provide me with some ideas, facts, or data concerning technology and my goal.

As far as my second goal, I have run into a wall.  My second goal was to promote global awareness.  The teacher that I was to “practice” Skyping with has not been able to practice.  I would like to try and get that done so our students can make the next step.  I am wondering if I should modify this goal by setting this goal aside and try to focus more on the first goal.  Something else that I have considered is to try and initiate Skyping with this teacher when her school day ends.  She is three time zones ahead of me and I am hoping that if I can catch her at the end of her day then maybe I can proceed with this goal.  If anyone has any suggestions, I would really love your input.

Carrying Out My GAME Plan

My first goal was to evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice as well as looking at  existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning.  Resources needed to carry out this plan would be to attend professional development conferences, obtain academic journals, a journal for my students and myself to write reflections in or a digital recorder, communication with a staff member on my campus (who is heavily involved in technology), and other technology professionals in my district.  One step that I have already taken was to attend the California Association for the Gifted (CAG) conference March 3-4th.  I attended five technology workshops.  Two of these workshops left me feeling excited and eager to implement the technologies that the presenters were using in their classrooms.  Additional information that I would like to get a hold of is how current technologies have benefited K-3 students who come from limited socio-economic backgrounds.  I know that many times students who have low socio-economic backgrounds do not have access at home to many technologies found in schools.  Those students who are lucky enough to attend schools with any technology,

My second goal was to help my students to promote global awareness.  Resources that I would need to complete this goal are computers, microphones, headsets, Internet access, webcams, and an interested classroom teacher from a different location.  Steps that I have already taken are obtaining the above mentioned items to complete a communication session.  The teacher and I have set up dates to "practice" with each other prior to letting our students engage in a Skyping session.  Once the initial communication has happened, I think I will have a better idea as to what additional information I might need.  But these are some things I inquired about just yesterday: time zone, start time, lunch, and recess times as well.  This will help me have a better understanding of a good time to initiate communication. 

Developing Your Personal GAME Plan

In the Engaging in professional growth and leadership NETS-T standard, is the first standard I would like to improve upon.  In the subcategory, “evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital 
tools and resources in support of student learning” my goal is to stay abreast in this area.

To reach this goal, plan on doing a couple of things.  First, connecting with other district personnel that specialize in technology and asking them about their current technology practices.  Asking them what technology tools help them relay content as well as what are some of the technology tools that their students enjoy using.  I would also inquire about what are some new or emerging tools that they have seen being used or things that they would like to use and how it will enhance student learning.  Another way that I would try to meet this goal is to attend any conferences or professional development regarding current technologies and/or emerging technologies.  After doing these two things, I would like to take a look at how the technologies can benefit my students and my needs.  I will keep a journal of any new technology tools that I am able to incorporate into my classroom and reflect on their effectiveness in my classroom.  A way in which I can evaluate and extend my learning is to involve my students.  I can ask them to blog about the new technologies and what they found beneficial and what they did not like.  After using the new technology for a couple of more weeks I can have the students reevaluate the technology to see if their opinions have changed.  If so, what factors caused the change and how can I use that information to improve upon the use of that technology.

The second NETS-T standard I would like to improve upon is “Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility.”  My second goal would be to help my students be more aware of the world through the “develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using 
digital-age communication and collaboration tools” subcategory.  One way I would like to reach this goal is by having my students be pen pals with students from another state or country.  A way to monitor my progress as well as my students’ progress is to see what kinds of questions they are asking each other about their culture.  If I see that students are not asking good questions or questions that are going to help their understanding of the other person’s culture or way of life, I can step in and prompt them with some guiding questions.  This will help me to see where I might need to reteach certain skills.  I can communicate with the other teacher via email and Skype and keep log of our plans and concerns.   I can read through our emails and make note of things that have worked well and things that need to be altered or eliminated.  If the teacher decides that he or she would like to do pen pal activity again, we can both discuss the things that worked well, things that we would like to do differently, as well as new things we would like to incorporate into the student sessions.  To extend my learning, I would like to ask my fellow classmates about their ideas.  Any suggestions as to how I can extend my learning and how it will benefit myself as well as my students?  

References:

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