All in all, I am pretty pleased with the GAME plan even though I did not have an opportunity to utilize it IN a classroom. At first, I made a couple 'general' goals. However, the modification I made to my GAME plan, resulting in a suitcase of material, was essential in making me feel positive about the whole ordeal. I am not going to lie, the fact that I do not have my own classroom makes a project such as this a little difficult. However, the fact that I decided to make a little suitcase of strategies, materials, and ideas made the whole assignment worthwhile and effective.
I now have a list of technological materials that I can utilize when I get the chance, in addition to a brief synopsis of how I can utilize these tools. I think that this will be greatly beneficial when the time comes and I am very excited about the whole ordeal. I am also intrigued because outlining my own GAME plan has inspired me to have my own students look at what is expected of them and identify how they are going to fulfill these goals themselves. I think this is a great tool for kids these days to have and I believe it is something that not a lot of kids possess. This strategy could be greatly beneficial for my future students and I am excited to motivate them to take part in this strategy.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
GAME Planning in the Classroom
There are a couple different ways that GAME planning can be incorporated into my classroom, in my opinion. I think it can be done explicitly and also done by the teacher in way where students undertake GAME planning somewhat "subconsciously" (not sure if that's the right word?).
I think at the beginning of the year, it would be ideal to introduce students to NETS-S standards because they have most likely never heard of them. At the same time, I think it would be beneficial to go into a little detail about them and explain their relevance and their place in our classes curriculum (which they might wonder about because it is 'social studies' class). The next step I would take is pairing up assignments, projects, activities, and other classroom actions with the particular NETS-S that they go along with. Then, from time to time, I would require that students complete a brief GAME plan outline where they take the specific NETS-S and the particular assignment and go through the steps of GAME planning. It might require a little extra effort on my part, and the students, to incorporate this into a social studies curriculum, however it does have quite a few benefits.
First of all, it ensures that I am doing my part reaching NETS-S and preparing my students for the 21st Century. Secondly, it gives students the opportunity to work on identifying goals and looking at how they can actually go about succeeding in reaching their goals. I think this is a tool that students these days sometimes lack and it could be a very important tool for them to have in long run. I think a lot of people can make or identify goals, however, sometimes we lack the ability to create or identify a plan of action to actually reach the goal.
I think at the beginning of the year, it would be ideal to introduce students to NETS-S standards because they have most likely never heard of them. At the same time, I think it would be beneficial to go into a little detail about them and explain their relevance and their place in our classes curriculum (which they might wonder about because it is 'social studies' class). The next step I would take is pairing up assignments, projects, activities, and other classroom actions with the particular NETS-S that they go along with. Then, from time to time, I would require that students complete a brief GAME plan outline where they take the specific NETS-S and the particular assignment and go through the steps of GAME planning. It might require a little extra effort on my part, and the students, to incorporate this into a social studies curriculum, however it does have quite a few benefits.
First of all, it ensures that I am doing my part reaching NETS-S and preparing my students for the 21st Century. Secondly, it gives students the opportunity to work on identifying goals and looking at how they can actually go about succeeding in reaching their goals. I think this is a tool that students these days sometimes lack and it could be a very important tool for them to have in long run. I think a lot of people can make or identify goals, however, sometimes we lack the ability to create or identify a plan of action to actually reach the goal.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
GAME Plan Part III
Thanks to the advice I was given on last weeks post, I have decided to modify my original GAME Plan in a way that suits my situation of currently being a substitute teacher. Since I cannot simply put things into practice the way I could in my own classroom, I am changing my action plan to creating a 'suitcase' of technological tools, strategies, and skills that I will be able to use and add to throughout my entire life.
That being said, how am I going to do this? My plan right now is to create a document that lists a specific tool, skill, or strategy with a brief summary of what it is capable of doing or how it is of use to me in the classroom. In addition to this, I am going to create a running list of ways that I can incorporate it specifically into my curriculum. This could be in general or through the use of specific lesson plans that could be supplemented with the particular technology. By doing this, I can create a significantly sized list without becoming overwhelmed with a bunch of tools that I may or may not use on a regular basis. Another thing (which I literally just thought of while writing this) that I will do is create a checklist for each tool. This checklist will keep track of which tools I have learned about and which ones I have practiced using. This way, I can continue to build on the tools that I am actually capable of integrating in my classroom and which ones I still need to become more proficient with.
That last bit goes into the next progression of fulfilling this particular goal of my GAME Plan. Not only do I need to keep track of all of the tools I am introduced to or come across, but I need to become proficient enough with their use so that I can successfully integrate them in my classroom. I think that be creating a list such as the one I have proposed, I will be motivated to do this on my own and will be able to stay organized throughout the process.
Finally, I want to thank the people who suggested the basis of this idea on my last post, I may not have thought of this without your help! (What a way to learn the benefits of online collaboration first hand!!)
That being said, how am I going to do this? My plan right now is to create a document that lists a specific tool, skill, or strategy with a brief summary of what it is capable of doing or how it is of use to me in the classroom. In addition to this, I am going to create a running list of ways that I can incorporate it specifically into my curriculum. This could be in general or through the use of specific lesson plans that could be supplemented with the particular technology. By doing this, I can create a significantly sized list without becoming overwhelmed with a bunch of tools that I may or may not use on a regular basis. Another thing (which I literally just thought of while writing this) that I will do is create a checklist for each tool. This checklist will keep track of which tools I have learned about and which ones I have practiced using. This way, I can continue to build on the tools that I am actually capable of integrating in my classroom and which ones I still need to become more proficient with.
That last bit goes into the next progression of fulfilling this particular goal of my GAME Plan. Not only do I need to keep track of all of the tools I am introduced to or come across, but I need to become proficient enough with their use so that I can successfully integrate them in my classroom. I think that be creating a list such as the one I have proposed, I will be motivated to do this on my own and will be able to stay organized throughout the process.
Finally, I want to thank the people who suggested the basis of this idea on my last post, I may not have thought of this without your help! (What a way to learn the benefits of online collaboration first hand!!)
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Evaluating Progress Part II
Well, similar to last week, I am having a hard time evaluating my fulfillment of my GAME plan due to the fact that I don't have a classroom to work towards the goals I have created. (If anyone has any suggestions or tips, please feel free to offer them to me, I am all ears!)
With that being said, however, I am able to work towards learning about new technological tools that can be used in the classroom to prepare myself to integrate them into my own classroom when that time comes. Although my original goal focused around actual technological tools, I feel that websites can also fall under that category as well. One new website that I was introduced to in the learning resources for this week is something I find very interesting and I believe it could be utilized in the classroom very effectively. The website, http://web.wm.edu/hsi/?svr=www, or Historical Scene Investigation, provides interesting scenarios in history and proposes inquiries about them. In addition, once a scenario is selected, numerous primary sources are provided to be accessed from the website to investigate the issue and create an opinion of your own. This is a great way to give students practice using primary documents and critically thinking in order to make informed opinions out of these documents. As a social studies teacher, I think this particular website could be very helpful in a classroom and would definitely be something new to me as well.
With that being said, however, I am able to work towards learning about new technological tools that can be used in the classroom to prepare myself to integrate them into my own classroom when that time comes. Although my original goal focused around actual technological tools, I feel that websites can also fall under that category as well. One new website that I was introduced to in the learning resources for this week is something I find very interesting and I believe it could be utilized in the classroom very effectively. The website, http://web.wm.edu/hsi/?svr=www, or Historical Scene Investigation, provides interesting scenarios in history and proposes inquiries about them. In addition, once a scenario is selected, numerous primary sources are provided to be accessed from the website to investigate the issue and create an opinion of your own. This is a great way to give students practice using primary documents and critically thinking in order to make informed opinions out of these documents. As a social studies teacher, I think this particular website could be very helpful in a classroom and would definitely be something new to me as well.
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