Revising Your GAME Plan

Goal #1: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments-More specifically-design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

1. What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instructional practice? What goals are you still working toward? I have learned some interesting things about digital storytelling, but not enough to feel comfortable about implementing it in my classroom. I still feel that I need to experiment with this digital tool over the summer when I have more time. This school year has been quite hectic, and I don’t want to rush things. I have spoken to my students about it, and I would like to have them write an “alternate” ending to the novel we are reading using digital storytelling because this digital tool truly lends itself perfectly for this assignment. I am still working towards gaining a better handle on how to manipulate the various tasks that need to be accomplished in order to create a digital story. I could practice with my classes because practice makes perfect, but I don’t know if I will attempt it this school year. Once I have succeeded in mastering how to use digital storytelling, I will utilize this tool to create other assignments. I have two other ideas in mind, and I feel confident that other ideas will come to me as I continue to experiment and become more familiar with it.

2. Based on the NETS-T, what new learning goals will you set for yourself? I would like to Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity-More specifically-engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. Now that I have created an authentic lesson about homelessness, centering on the novella my students are reading, Of Mice and Men, about homelessness, it has sparked a flame in me to truly bring this project to fruition. I would like my students to be able to talk with students from around the world about the issue of homelessness so they can discover, for themselves, how this problem is world-wide, and not just here in the states. I would like them to step their class project up a notch, and brainstorm ways to end homelessness in other parts of the world. What an accomplishment this would be-just the challenge alone would be so fruitful and worthwhile for students. It would lift their self-esteem, knowing they were making the effort to help eliminate homelessness. They can Skype with students or use Ning, a social networking website to communicate worldwide to discuss homelessness with their peers.

3. What learning approaches will you try next time to improve your learning? I think that next time I would plan ahead better to ensure that my goals were met. Most facets of technology are new to me, and I think that I did not allow enough quality time to be put aside to really learn digital storytelling like I would have liked. Also, I did not take into consideration that my fellow colleagues may not have the time to “show me the ropes” so to speak. Everyone’s time is precious, and I should have realized that teaching someone how to effectively implement a digital tool is probably not an easy task. This in turn has brought me to the realization that I must experiment more on my own, and that is what I plan to do.

Goal #2: Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility-More specifically-advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources.

1. What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instructional practice?
I have learned that Internet safety is first and foremost a priority if you want your students to conduct any kind of communicating online. I also learned how commonplace cyber bullying truly is. I of course knew all about cyber bullying before setting this particular goal, but after viewing various videos about it, I realized just how prevalent it is. The fact that there are commercials broadcasted daily about it, articles in the newspaper about it, and actual incidents in my very own high school relating to it, make this issue that much more authentic. As far as making sure to ascertain that my students understand the importance of “giving credit where credit is due” is very important to me as a teacher.

What goals are you still working toward? I will continue to work with the librarian on this because she is the person to seek out regarding specific changes for MLA formatting. She takes care of setting up the accounts that our school subscribes to, so I will make sure to keep in close contact with her.

2. If you are not ready to set new learning goals, how will you extend what you have learned so far? I am not quite ready to set new learning goals, but I would most definitely like to extend what I have learned so far by continuing to model and monitor Internet safety among my students. I will monitor blogs and Nings, and whatever other digital tools I implement with my students. I will also continue to teach and guide my students in the right direction where appropriate documentation of sources are concerned. I will make sure to remain informed of any changes made to MLA formatting so as to teach my students correctly.

3. What learning approaches will you try next time to improve your learning? In order to improve my learning, I will need to keep myself informed of updates on Internet safety and cyber bullying. I will make sure to keep abreast of MLA formatting information, and I will keep myself well aware of workshops and literature pertaining to same. I will make a point of conferencing with my colleagues, and I will take advantage of RSS feeds (which I am doing currently) so as to obtain information quickly and efficiently.