After reviewing the website for the International Society for Technology in Education, I have created a GAME plan for two of the indicators under the National Education Standards for Teachers. The two indicators are to Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments and to Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership. I believe that these two go hand in hand. In order for me to be able to design and develop digital-age learning experiences, I need to first understand this new digital age. I can acquire this understanding through professional growth.
Here is my GAME plan:
G- Goals: 1. I would like to create more diverse learning experiences for my students. An indicator under Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments is to customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources (2008). 2. I am learning so much about technology through my courses here at Walden, but I would like to seek more professional growth experiences to gain more insight into this new digital age.
A-Action: In order to achieve these goals, I will look for various professional development classes in my area pertaining to technology. I will also ask our school technology coordinator if there are any on-site staff developments that we can participate in. I also can seek advice from other teachers and teacher resources, such as websites and blogs to gather information on teaching lessons that cater to the diversity of student achievement in my classroom.
M- Monitor: I will monitor my progress by keeping track of the professional development classes that I participate in. I will also keep a classroom record of the lessons that I am teaching where I integrate technology. I also can monitor my progress by collecting date from students assessments based on lessons that used technology and those that did not.
E- Evaluate: I will evaluate my learning by taking the data that I have collected from my student assessments and compare results to see if I am effectively carrying out these lessons with technology integration. From there, I can have a better understanding of lessons that I need to change or tweak and lessons that worked successfully.
References: National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf.
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Abby,
ReplyDeleteYou seem to have a well thought out game plan. In your action section you mention seeking out professional development on-site. Are there any other types of PD you can take? My division has special area groups (SAG) which puts on courses and seminars at different times.
Monitoring lessons that use technology and those that do not is a good tracking system. I would suggest to track the lessons with technology as well. As with every lesson, some work and some do not. Keep notes on how you would do things differently even if technology has been implemented into a lesson. Hope you game plan works out.
Russ
I agree with your comments about digital learning for students and professional development going hand-in-hand. I think it is hard to develop lessons using technology because of old habits picked up during my teaching degree program. Technology driven lessons were not the norm at during that time.
ReplyDeleteA great resource we have in my area is the local station for public TV. Through their services, teachers can attend classes that are really progressive when it comes to technology integration. They also often have contests and mini-grant opportunities to get your hands on some of the lastest digital toys. Try PBS in your area, they may offer classes too.
Abby,
ReplyDeleteHave you found that your district provides quality professional development opportunites for technology integration? Mine does not. We may have a class on how to utilize a tool such as the Gizmos (http://www.explorelearning.com/)or Study Island (http://www.studyisland.com/. However, most training is so dry that I must work hard not to fall asleep. For example, I received training on Podcasting about three years ago. When it was over, I still did not have any idea why I should create one. Nor did I remember how to use the software. We were not told how, or where to post one when complete. Our Walden courses have been much more beneficial to me than any training my campus or district has provided.
As for creating a network of like minded professionals who are willing to share resources, you can start with our class. I am sure that the majority of us would be willing to share resources we thought were worthwhile. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Russ to Ken,
ReplyDeleteAs with your division, mine does not porovide adequate development opportunities for technology. My division is indicating this will change. They are in the process of developing a five year technology plan. The vision is that things will be "turned upsidedown" compared to now. I will wait and see.
Great idea about the class sharing.
Russ
Russ,
ReplyDeleteMy school does offer opportunities for professional development. Unfortunately, most of them are not technology centered. Just this past week, 10 staff members were able to travel to a conference in Atlanta, which was paid for by the school. I'm in the process of researching workshops that focus on technology and presenting it to my principal. Hopefully, it will work out!
Ken,
ReplyDeleteI can definitely agree that many professional development classes that I have attended have been dry and quite boring. I learn more when I can actually be involved in what it is I am learning. When someone stands infront of me and talks for hours about how to do something, yet never lets me try for myself, I find it very difficult for me to grasp what it is I should be learning.