Game PLAN Part 3

Something that I have learned through our learning and experience is that data is important. Assessment is important in collecting the data we need to help our students obtain growth throughout their time in our classrooms. Our district is very data driven and strive to ensure that our students have every possible advantage. Therefore, I have taken that drive to the classroom and the students that I interact with. This weeks learning video and text reinforced many of the assessment strategies that are currently taking place during the time spent with the students that I teach. Assessment should take place often throughout lessons and projects.

There are a few things that make for successful learning:
1. Students need to know what they are expected to learn, what is the objective of the lesson.    
2. Students need attainable check points in which to meet throughout a lesson or unit.
3. Finally students need to be able to analyze their progress throughout the lesson/unit and at the end of                           the lesson/unit.

Dr. Ross explained in our learning video the steps for determining effective assessment (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009):
1. Identify learning objectives - know where your going and how your going to get there.
2. Determine teaching methods - what technology are you going to use.
3. Choose supporting technology - develop assessment tools that fit your students.

These are steps that I plan on implementing into our learning environment.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Assessing student learning with technology.  Baltimore, MD: Author

GAME Plan Part 2

Some of the things that I will need to act out my game plan is use of the Internet, global learning communities, and current research that can be obtained through our district. One suggestion a colleague made, their district decided to develop their own learning community to begin with to interact and share ideas pertaining to the needs of their teachers and students (michelle15102).

To address evaluation and reflection on current research and professional practice, I am currently enrolled through Walden University's Masters of Education program. During my time here at Walden, I have and will be interacting with other professional educators. Through interaction with my colleagues at Walden, I am participating in a global learning community, taking what I am learning and applying it to my daily educational environment. Through my learning at Walden, I will be supplied with resources that have been tried from experienced educators around the nation.

I plan to document my progress and learning throughout this plan through my blog spot, through lesson plans, and personal application.

GAME PLAN

GAME PLAN:

After studying the NETS for Teachers, the standard that I found that I lacked that most confidence was Standard 5 – Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership and the indicators that I structured my GAME plan around were as follows (ISTE, 2008):

a.     Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.

c.     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.

Participating in local and global learning communities is an area that we are lacking. Because of Internet safety and the privacy of our students, our district is very shy of using many outside sources that are open to public viewing. In response to indicator c., I tend to find something that works and stick to it. Many educators are guilty of this and a classroom cannot thrive if educators do not model and create a life-long learning environment. My GAME plan is as follows (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009):

Goals – To participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve students learning & evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis.

Action – To research some local and global learning communities that are safe and sound resources for our classroom, then educate and share my findings with our district for approval. Also, by attending my classes through Walden University and by collaborating with other technology educators throughout our country to evaluate the success of technology integration into the classroom.

Monitor – Create a checklist of expectations and concerns of our district and my classroom that we would like to see happening; child privacy, the learning communities focus, relevance, etc. As to current research and professional practice, I will monitor my growth through feedback from my instructors, through course work, through journaling, via my blog spot, and interacting with the group of educators traveling through the same educational journey that I am traveling.

Evaluate & Extend – Implement the local and global learning communities into our classroom experience. Getting feedback from my students as well as our district. Through interaction with my colleagues, gain knowledge and understanding to share with my students and other educators to follow.

Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: a standards-based approach. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.

ISTE (2008). NETS for teachers. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org.