Revising my GAME plan

Course: Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas
Instructor: Virgil Kirk






So far I have learned that integrating technology can be a slow process and I need to be very patient. This is the same when I’m teaching because students are like snowflakes – each is unique and has a unique way of learning. As a teacher I need to be patient and let them be creative in their exploration of the topics. As the teacher, I need to facilitate that learning. This may include guiding students toward a finished product. I really enjoy watching my students explore different ways to express what they have learned. This has given them ownership of their education and allowed them to express themselves.

I want to continue to incorporate technology into my content area instead of always assessing my students with flat piece of paper. In the same respect, I need to realize some that a pencil paper assessment might be the best way to assess students progress.

At this time I don’t want to add additional NETs standards onto my very busy schedule. I still need to follow through with my “Tech Café” plan and get more teachers involved with integrating technology into the classroom. I just found out that I am getting a student teacher for the spring semester. During her six weeks residence I will use that time to expand my “Tech Café” to more hands-on/in class assistance for my colleagues.

Evaluating my GAME plan

Course: Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas

Instructor: Virgil Kirk

“Patience is a virtue” could not be a truer statement with regards to my GAME plan. I feel as if I’m at a stand still on Goal 1. I have created the staff survey and sent it out but only seven people have responded. With the end of the quarter and holidays my staff is very busy and the last thing they want to do is fill out a survey. Some of them stated that they couldn’t open up the form so I’m going to put some paper forms in the lounge to see if I can get more responses.

I have come to the conclusion that these seven colleagues will help spread the news and get the rest of my staff excited about learning new ways to infuse technology into their lessons. Next Monday I will be meeting with my Building Tech person to start our “Infused Technology” plan. I’m excited about organizing what we want to do and that will help guide my “Tech Café.”

My students did fill out their “Learning Style” survey. They were very excited to learn what their learning style was. I was surprised by some of the results but for the most part I had figured out what style they were. This week we began the webquest I wrote for EDUC 6712: Supporting Information Literacy and Online Inquiry in the Classroom.

One of the tasks was to communicate with an Elder from their assigned region. They had to ask permission to explore the region. As a class we brainstormed different methods to communicate and the teams were allowed to pick which method they wanted. After it was created they had clues on the location in the school their elder was at and the team delivered the message. The different methods were: word processor, comic life and create a post card, or write it out on a piece of paper. All the students used comic life and even imported a picture for the region they are studying.

I was very proud of the results but more than that, my students were excited about the lesson. I talked to each of my “mock” Elders and they reported back the enthusiasm my students had when delivering their message. I still want to brainstorm a list of different ways to infuse technology into our lessons but this first experience was top notch!

Checking In!

Course: Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas

Instructor: Virgil Kirk

• Are you finding the information and resources you need?

Right now I’m still in the gathering stage of my GAME plan. I conducted a survey with my staff. I have only received seven surveys back. I think the Turkey Holiday is occupying my colleagues and they may have been a little busy to fill out the form. I will nudge them a little bit in the coming weeks. I’m going to meet with my building tech guru next week to go over the types of resources I will need for my workshops.

Because of the short school week I wasn’t able to have my students take the learning style inventory test. I plan on having them fill it out next week.

• Do you need to modify your action plan?

I think my action plan is well written and I don’t feel I need to modify it.

• What have you learned so far?

This process is very slow. Having a GAME plan to keep me on track keeps me organized. My staff seems very excited about learning different ways to integrate technology into their classrooms. I used Google Docs to create my survey and I learned that I need to include a place for names because it doesn’t identify who did the survey. Now I will have to send an email out asking my staff to identify who is interested in the “Tech Café”. If you haven’t used Google Docs before they are very easy. One cool feature I found is that the program will create a spreadsheet compiling the data.
One of the most frustrating things for me is that when I’m trying to create a project for my students I seem to go overboard. I have learned that more is not always better. Every project does not have to include technology.

• What new questions have arisen?

Some of the questions I’m asking myself include: Do I have time to create projects that include technology? Will the projects give me a clearer picture of my student’s abilities?

Carrying out my GAME Plan

Course: Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas

Instructor: Virgil Kirk

What resources will I need to carry out my GAME plan (video, reading, experts, or colleagues, etc)?

First goal: I will need to contact my Edtech expert and discuss different technology concepts/software I can teach to my staff. During our discussion we will also compile a survey that I will give my staff to determine what their interests are.

Second goal: I will need to determine which forms of technology my students are already proficient in. I will do this be giving them a survey. The survey will cover a variety of technology concepts so I have a clear picture of my student’s skills.

What additional information do I need?

First Goal: After my teachers have finished the survey I will tabulate the information and develop a schedule with the topics for each meeting. I have decided that the “Tech Café” will be open once a month and the topics of discussion will be posted so the teachers can decided which ones would best suit their needs. My plan is to have the meetings in the morning for about 30 minutes. I will take about 10 minutes to introduce the topic and then the teachers can have 20 minutes to explore.

Second Goal: After my students complete the survey I will review their answers to decide what technology they know and what I need to teach or review.

What steps have I been able to take so far?

First Goal: I have proposed my idea to my principal and he felt it was an excellent use of my technology expertise. In addition to the “Tech Café” I’m going to communicate to my colleagues via a digital newsletter. I’m in the process of developing the format. I have also talked to the Sunshine committee at my school and they will provide juice and doughnuts for the “Tech Café” to entice teachers to attend.

Second Goal: I’m reviewing different lessons that I teach and deciding which lesson would fit this goal. I want to give my students the opportunity to “think outside of the box” when they are creating their final project. Here are a few of my lesson ideas:

• Math – My students are learning about arrays – have them create a project that would visually assist a student that is learning how to solve multiplication problems using arrays.

• Science – pick an ordinary household item then redesign the object and what it is used for.

• Writing – Learning to use the 6-trait Voice - Create a story using voice and image.

I would love some feed back on my lesson plan ideas.

Dawn Bell