Having a GAME plan

I am a self-directed, creative life-long learner. In retrospect, I have always been self-motivated, determined and self-driven to learn new things. Every year I have a personal goal to learn a new skill and my interests include music, drama, writing, teaching and technology. Since my high school years, I have recognized my unique way of learning. The use of graphic organizers have facilitated my academic development and now, the use of varied computer softwares and other technological gadgets such as ipods and digital cameras have propelled me into an era that has awakened my interests in all things technological. Hence the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS.T) for which I will be creating a GAME plan is number two: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.

The Performance Indicators that I shall be addressing are (b) and (c): Teachers develop the technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning and assessing their own progress as well as customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.

My GAME plan is as follows:

1. Set Goals

I want to know how to develop a technology-enriched learning environment – what is it that I should consider and think about to develop such an environment so as to stimulate my students to talk about their individual curiosities. I want to be able to pay attention to their voiced curiosities and have it recorded and stored as a digital file or as a hard paper copy to which I can reference. I want to know how to model to my students the steps involved in setting their educational goals and how they can manage and assess their own learning. I already know a simple way to set personal goals, but I want to be able to modify it to incorporate the management and assessment aspect for the benefit of my students. I want to be able to use a strategy that can be customized and personalized to help students identify their own learning styles. I want to be able to model to my students how they can utilize various strategies to help them learn subject matter at their own pace. I want to be able to help my students to become, in a timely manner, independent of me in helping them self-assess. I know that I can get quantitative evidence in the form of grades, but I also would like to know how to create anecdotal notes on each student.

2. Take Actions

I plan to search the Internet for tutorials on how to use basic word processing software such as Excel or Chat room in my teaching. I also plan on collaborating with the school’s IT personnel to brainstorm with me about programs or gadgets that I can use to create a technology-enriched learning environment. I plan on learning via discovery how to manipulate the available technological devices at my school prior to their use in and introduction to my students. I plan on searching the Internet for learning and teaching strategies that can be used to help me model and provide my students with materials that will help them set goals, identify their learning styles, engage in self –monitoring and self-assessment.

3. Monitor

I will continually question if my chosen actions are addressing my goals. I will question whether or not my course of action is really providing me with the information that I need to provide an environment wherein students’ learning curiosities are being addressed and if they are becoming skilled at managing and assessing their own learning. If my course of action is not addressing my goals, then I will revamp it and brainstorm for a better solution.

4. Evaluate and Extend

I plan on creating a personal checklist that I will use to evaluate whether my actions are working. If I find that my courses of actions are thwarted somehow, due to lack of specific details or lack of assistance from human elements, then I will adjust and find an alternative source of help or information. I shall store all data on my computer or have them printed out and readily to be used, when needed. If my course of action produces the desired result I need, then my students will definitely benefit from my preparations.

Reference

Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Chapter four. Technology-enriched learning environments. Technology integration for meaningful classroom use. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning