Reflections

Summary of new learning that resulted from following my GAME plan and the impact of that learning on my instructional practice

When I first saw the term “GAME Plan” I very naively thought that we were going into virtual gaming and I was going to learn some “neat” tricks.  I think I did learn some “neat” tricks and my thinking did go “virtual”. 

My GAME plan intended to achieve ISTE NET-T standards that would inspire learning and creativity as well as promote professional growth and leadership (ISTE-NET, 2008).  As an administrator and part time teacher, those two appealed to me as I could tap into both my worlds.  My GAME plan challenged me to create conditions within my teaching practice and at the school level that would develop and encourage the use of digital tools in the classroom.  For me, every time I think of a lesson to be developed I never end it without thinking how I could integrate technology (however small) into the lesson.  That I believe is progress and change in action.  As an administrator, I am more inclined to encourage a teacher to rethink their lessons to include technology, however small.  I am always thinking of how I could provide needed support to others on how they could use technology in their classrooms.  This has yielded positive returns in that the majority of teachers at my school are now using technology in their classrooms (even those who were previously opposed to its integration).  I have teachers using blogs and wikis. Including videos to clarify or supplement learning has become part of the planning process for most teachers. 

I am of the view that this course has not just reiterated the use of technology in the classroom, but has provided support and hands on experience on how to do so.  I am not sure I would change my plan as it aptly demonstrates what my intended goals are.  What I would do, however, is to rearrange my strategies for achieving my plan.  I would be more open to ideas and try new things.   I would be more proactive in providing support to facilitate the integration of technology at my school. 

Immediate adjustments to my instructional practice regarding technology integration in my content area(s) as a result of your learning from this course

One immediate adjustment would be to definitely try different things.  When I did my collaborative lesson using Skype, I had so many “negative what if” scenarios going on in my head that I almost changed my plan.  Despite minor interruptions, it worked.  I think I need to be a bit more open to trying unstable technology.  I must have a back-up plan as is recommended during this course. 

We do not do enough problem-based learning at my school.  I was of the view that problem-based learning had to be long term and could not be achieved in one or two lessons.  My thinking was readjusted in this course.  I see the importance of having students develop those critical 21^st century skills.  Problem based learning not only achieves content standards, but it also helps students think logically, critically and systematically when tackling difficult real world scenarios.  I am a proponent of digital storytelling in teaching and this course helped to concrete my conviction of its relevance in achieving content standards.

As I reflect on the foregoing weeks and the wonderful tips and ideas discussed during this course, I cannot but feel that this was a very powerful learning experience for me.  I encountered many personal disruptions during this course, despite that though, I am happy to recount that I learnt tremendously from all my colleagues.  I also learnt some very valuable teaching strategies from Dr. L. Thank you ma’am, for not just promoting but modeling very positive instructional strategies in your and my classroom.

References

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers

Monitoring My Game Plan

My intended goals were to provide support for my community of teachers and utilize technology in my classroom.  I have created the checklist that would help to monitor the use of technology at my school.  I intend to monitor the use by examining teacher’s extent of work as well as their lesson plans.  I will select one or two persons within each department to monitor.  That way, I should be able to see the progress of the entire school. That would also give me an indication of the extent to which technology is used at my school.  I have already provided the avenue for mentors for teachers in need.  I have assigned mentors in the past for new teachers.  However, there are a few teachers that need mentorship assistance.  I am not sure how to address this issue and what procedure I should follow to provide mentors that would work.  

From my online learning community, I have made note of a few webinars and have posted those opportunities on the staff notice board.  I have also made arrangement to have a workshop for my staff on integrating technology in the classroom.  I would love to find information on ‘cheap’ but ‘reliable’ resources for the classroom.  We are presently using blogs and wikis in the classroom.  Blogs are an excellent tool that can be used for electronic journaling.

An important question that has arisen is how I could finance my plan?  This appears to be my greatest unease.

Resources needed to carry out GAME plan

In order to engage students in exploring real world issues, I would have to simulate many of those issues and create authentic problems within those simulations.  Using digital tools and resources would assist me to not only simulate but articulate and provide a medium through which students could attack, explore and solve those simulated “real-world” issues.  I would need to use computer hardware that would allow students to view videos that would simulate real world issues.  Also, word processing and Spreadsheet software would also be used as part of classroom instruction.  I would use electronic journals to record students’ progress.  This would allow me to convert raw data into interpretative information for analysis.  I would also have to build a collaborative team with some of my colleagues that would allow us to not only plan together, but interpret student learning goals and achievements together.  That reflective collaboration is going to be paramount to my assessing student learning and assessing teacher effectiveness.

Providing support is probably one of the most significant yet sometimes most ignored component of effective classroom instruction.  Providing collegial support is very important in inspiring a community of reflective educators.  Teachers benefit tremendously when they work as a team.  They are better able to share ideas as far fetch as they may appear to an individual.  When the administration of a school supports technology skill development and use, the school on a whole changes its perspective and attitude toward learning.  Lesson plans are an exceptional means of tracking effective teaching.  More importantly, teacher reflection after a lesson (which should be recorded on lesson plan) is as important as a beautifully planned lesson.  Using a checklist to evaluate and assess the use of technology can help to reduce wordy clutter and provide data that is relevant for the expected objectives.  Administrative support would come in the form of physical resources (hardware, software), staff development opportunities (workshops, conferences and opportunities for research and development), providing opportunities for collegial support on the staff (mentors, webinars etc) and community building within the school day (this can be scheduled into the day’s activities).

What additional information do you need?

In order to achieve those goals and acquire those resources, I would need to do some research into what is needed.  Also, I would have to discuss with relevant members of the school community how we could develop this GAME plan.  Then finally, I would have to decide exactly what is needed in the checklist if relevant data is to be collected.

What steps have you been able to take so far?

I have met with my HODs to assess the types of support that is needed on a departmental level.  Also, I have scheduled a staff meeting created specifically to discuss the needs of departments.  We have worked to develop of culture of collegial support where the curriculum and lesson plan are prepared horizontally and vertically.  I have reassigned mentor teachers to new and novice teachers on staff in order to strengthen that collegial support for those in need.  Departmental head have also listed some hardware, once that list is complete, I will forward this to the Board of Education (our financing body) to acquire some of those pieces of equipment.  By next term, I hope to conduct one or two staff development workshops that examine the use of technology in the classroom.

What do you think colleagues?  Do you think I need any additional resources?  Looking forward to your comments.

Ezra Jonah Greene

My personal GAME plan

Many educators, like me, are able to master content and basic pedagogy.  However, what makes a true educator is one that is able to include and integrate technology appropriately into the content.  Business educators should also be able to simulate business activity as closely as possible so as to produce authentic instruction to their students.  As an administrator, on the other hand, my greatest gain would be to have all my teachers integrate technology into their content areas.  I hope to create a learning environment that develops 21^st century citizens that model best practices.  

I reflected on the National Education Standards for Teacher (NETS-T) and decided that I needed to improve proficiency in the following standards:

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.

b. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources

5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources.

b. Exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others

The following is my GAME plan:

My Goal

Work on improving my proficiency in the (NETS-T) standards 1b and 5b as noted above.

Set Action

Develop lessons that simulate authentic problems.  I would develop conditions that allow my students to use digital tools and resources to dissect those problems and come up with authentic solutions. 

My second plan of action would be to provide needed support to my staff so as to develop an environment that inspires a community that supports technology skill, development and use.

Monitor

(a)    Collaborate with a colleague to dissect and discuss lessons developed and implemented to ensure that they achieve their intended purpose.  

(b)  Create a checklist of actions that would monitor and indicate the extent to which teachers are integrating technology in the classroom. 

Evaluate and Extend Learning

(a)   Develop a journal to record the progress of my students so as to test their ability to authentically deal with real-world problems using digital tools as simulated by business activity.

(b)  Examine teacher’s lesson plans and assessment instruments to assess the extent to which technology in used in instruction and their effectiveness.  Also, evaluate the checklist developed to monitor teacher’s use of technology.

So, colleagues, what do you think?  How could I improve my action plan?  I am looking forward to your responses.

References

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers

Welcome to a new learning experience

Good day colleagues
It is a pleasure learning with you in this course.  I look forward to our interactions.  I know we will get to know each other better as this course progresses. 

Have a wonderful day.

Ezra Jonah Greene