Week 8- Reflection

My GAME plan focused on the development of a digital ethics plan for my students and creating a way to find instructional ideas using technology. The first goal was difficult because of the large topic that it covers. The second goal is just a very large undertaking all-together. The main task for my GAME plan is that I have to keep up with all the changes that will effect a digital ethics plan and new technology that comes out.

I have learned to not take on so much at one time. I think that I will have to limit both how much time I can spend researching new technology and changes in digital ethics. I have begun to use Google Reader constantly to quickly scroll through updates on various technology blogs. As for the impact my GAME plan has had on my instructional practice, my students will be greatly pleased with the changes. In my class they come in excited because they don't know exactly what we are going to be doing when the technology comes into the room. Students also don't like to be gone on the those days. I think that my GAME plan has allowed me to focus on staying current and to look for ways to improve my teaching.

I am going to work to do less in book material and focus more on constant development of learning by my students. Textbooks tend to focus on beginning and end of learning. With my unit plan I created, the students rarely touched their textbooks, but still learned the same content and probably learned it in a way that lasts with them longer.

Week 7- Using the GAME Plan Process with Students

My GAME plan fits very well with advancing my students' technology proficiency. I feel that the standards that work best with my GAME plan is number 4- Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making and 5- Digital Citizenship.

My first goal is about finding different technology to use in the classroom. The technology I use will be used to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills in students. With my second goal the focus is to work with my students to create a digital citizenship sheet.

The NETS for students and the NETS for teachers are very similar and inter-related. This was probably done because as teachers work to improve their technology proficiency they would use their improved skills to improve their students' technology proficiency.

Week 6- GAME Plan

One tool that is going to be incorporated into my teaching is Google Moderator. It is like an open forum (with voting). Sometimes it is very difficult for students to organize their thoughts when they say them, they might prefer to take the time to write them down before other students can look at them.

I think I am already very loaded with goals and activities currently. I can't see myself adding another goal and still being successful with the ones I currently have. I have been exponentially adding people and resources to my learning network. I feel at some point I am going to have to go back and look through everything to find some things to drop. Otherwise, I am going to spend my entire day looking through the new stuff.

For my next time of improving my learning I will start by looking at other people's concepts on learning. Otherwise I might stay too long in my own comfort zone of learning.

Week 5- Evaluating my GAME Progress

How effective were your actions in helping you meet your goals?
My actions so far have been fairly effective. I feel much more successful in compiling technology tools than actually implementing them though.

What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instructional practice?
I really see a lot of value in using Google Tools in my classroom. I love the fact that they are all free and very well designed.

What do you still have to learn? What new questions have arisen?
I find all of these tools, but there really is no way to use them all. Also, there are many tools that fit into the same categories, such as picture manipulation. So how do I decide which to use? There is always the fear that the site will close down like Drop.io.

How will you adjust your plan to fit your current needs?
I think I need to start organizing all of the resources I find so while I may not have an immediate use for it, I could keep it and use it sometime else.

Week 4- Monitoring My GAME Plan Progress

Are you finding the information and resources you need?
So far I have been very successful in finding my resources. There are many organized educators out there that have been very helpful in getting me organized.

Do you need to modify your action plan?
No, I think it is going well.

What have you learned so far?
There is a lot of information out there. Much more than I originally thought. I think with my digital ethics guide I will want to focus on generalities, much like how the Constitution is structured because things change so often.

What new questions have arisen?
So far, none.

Week 3- Carrying Out My GAME Plan

What resources will you need to carry out your plan (video, reading, experts or colleagues, etc)?
There really are few resources I would need to carry out my plan. I would need to do some research to look for prior examples of digital ethics guides other teachers have created, and to incorporate Google Reader to make an easy search of blogs of educational technology ideas.

What additional information do you need?
There isn't any additional information that I need. I am just really excited to get going on the GAME plan.

What steps have you been able to take so far?
I have already found many educational technology experts out there that I am incorporating into my Personal Learning Network. I think I will also include Twitter as a means to increase my exposure to information.

Week 2- Personal Game Plan

Set goals for strengthening your confidence and proficiency in at least two indicators in the NETS-T.
(A) I will work to enhance the learning environment of my students through technology. This goal aligns with the indicator- Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.
(B) I will emphasize digital responsibility through the use of online ethics. This goal aligns with the indicator- Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility.

Decide what actions you will take to achieve those goals.
(A) I plan to seek out educational technology resources online that demonstrate technology tools that can be incorporated into a classroom. This is the best way for me to get mass exposure to technology tools, because some may not be useful. So by mass exposure it provides me the most opportunities to find the good technology "nuggets".
(B) I will work with my students to develop a digital ethics guide. It will be able to cover all the technology we currently use, and also any technology that we might use throughout the rest of the school year. I will also research developments with online rights and responsibilities.

Determine how you will monitor your progress.
I will set dates throughout the school year to assess my progress on each goal. I expect to find multiple technology resources and information about online rights and responsibilities by each date. The digital ethics guide should be created as soon as possible, but I need to monitor my progress of following the guide by myself and my students.

Decide how you will evaluate and extend your learning.
My evaluation will come the outcome of the quality of the resources and information that I find. Along with the quality of the digital content created by my students.