GAME Plan

The two indicators in the NETS-T that I would like to strengthen my confidence in are:

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

5.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 (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008).

My goal for the first indicator is to expand my instructional techniques in one of my curricular units to include more explorations and investigations into real-world issues. I want to use technology to help create lesson plans that involve my students solving and exploring problems that occur in the real world. For the second indicator, I would like to set aside an intentional time on a regular basis to research how new and current digital tools are being used to help teach students.

To achieve these goals, I need to first analyze and review my current lessons within the unit I want to implement more real world lessons. I need to see which content standards best lend themselves to this type of lesson and exploration. Then, I need to think about and research how these standards can be applied to real world issues, and how this relates to my students’ interests and thinking. As far as using technology, I want to increase the use of my classroom set of TI-Nspire handhelds to complete these investigations and activities because it is easy to upload and collect completed lessons and activities to and from these handhelds. In order to reflect and evaluate the use of digital tools by other professionals and educators, I need to assign a scheduled time every week to do this. This could be 15-20 minutes per day or maybe thirty minutes twice a week for example. To do this research, I plan to begin by following the journals on ISTE’s website.

To monitor my progress on achieving my goals, I will periodically need to self-assess myself on my lesson planning and on my research of technology tools. In my lesson plans, I need to look at whether I am focusing on students solving real world issues, and whether I am allowing students to utilize technology such as the TI-Nspires to do so. In my research, I need to discern whether the articles and websites I am using and studying are giving me the feedback and information I need to improve my instructional methodologies. I need to be make sure the time I am spending on this is worthwhile, or do I need to rethink where I do my research on this topic.

To extend my learning with the first indicator, I must look at how the lessons I modified went, and whether they met my learning goals. If not, I need to make notes to adapt and adjust them for improvement in the future. If I did meet the learning goals, I would then move on to think about how I could implement more real world problems and lessons using technology into my other units. With the second indicator, I must take what I learn and try to implement some of the instructional techniques and ideologies to see if they fit with my students and teaching style. I must also continue researching, as it is an ongoing process should continue to drive my improvement as a teacher.

Thanks,

Bryan

References:

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx