CARRYING OUT MY GAME PLAN

CARRYING OUT MY GAME PLAN

Developing a GAME Plan is one thing, it is another story entirely to follow through and accomplish your goal as you have planed.  Like an old saying that, nobody plans to fail, but many failed to plan. As indicated in my GAME Plan last week, I take to heart the judgment of Dr. Ross that, teachers should be aware of all the educational software out there, he says further that, teachers should attend conferences and training, “go out and seek information on regular basis” (Ross, 2010). In doing this, he suggests that we can take the advantage of local, regional and state organizations that are out there to help educators like me.

My Goals

The first “Goal” I set for myself is to advocate, model, and teach safe, legal and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property and appropriate documentation of sources.  My second “Goal” is to seek and reach out and participate in both local and global learning communities and explore creative applications so as to improve student learning, because the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Resources I Will Need

To achieve my goals, I need some resources, both financial and manpower to be able to accomplish these goals that I have set to improve student learning in my classroom. I know these resources are not beyond my reach, all I need to do is to reach out, ask questions and make necessary requests. I will need materials such as audio, video, books, experts, local and state organizations, school administrators, my colleagues, and even my students and their parents. No stone will be left unturned.

Additional Information Needed

The additional information I will need is to reach out to parents and see which parents possess the expertise that I need and solicit for their help in meeting my goals. I will need more computers in my room if possible, as at now, I have only one computer and overhead projector in my class, and access to computer lab is limited due to share number of classes that compete for the computer lab. I also need to find and subscribe to magazines and periodicals that deal with computer technology in the classroom.

Steps Taken So Far

 Following the hints given by Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, (2009), I have answered series of questions asked in the textbook and reflected on these questions regarding my preferred methods of learning technology-related skills that I need to accomplish my goals. The textbook also contained several web link resources that address some parts of my GAME Plan that I am looking at presently and see how I can avail myself of the benefits of these links.

I am talking to some technology experts at the moment, I have booked appointment with someone in my district school board to give me some of the needed information about how to use certain technology tools, and how to explore more creative applications so as to improve student learning. I have also requested for the list of our local organizations that have passion for technology in educations in my local school areas. The findings are promising so far and I will be following up on leads shortly. Some of my colleagues have suggested names of few international organizations and some conferences that I can attend that will be of benefit to my mission. My teachers’ association also has useful information on what conferences I can attend, well enough; the association also provides some stipends for teachers to attend conferences on a first come first served basis.

I continue on internet searching to find out about cases of copyright violations and their consequences so that I can share the outcomes with my students to make them become aware of the reality and grave repercussions of violation of these laws. I have also begun to teach my students about how to access and properly reference all information obtained from the internet and credit the source of their information appropriately. My students can now carry out a simple “easywhois” to determine the authenticity of any given website.

During the open day coming up in my school in the first week of October, I plan to speak to parents about my GAME Plan so as to identify those parents who may be of help to me in accomplishing my goals. I am searching and reading all I possibly can about laws and rules governing the accessing and using digital information and all laws governing copyright and intellectual property. I am also reading what experts have to say on topic of appropriate use of digital information and familiarize myself with the consequences of non compliance. With all these actions, I believe that I am on the right path, in a matter of time, my goals and GAME Plan will be accomplished.

References

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning

Howard,, K. L. (2004). Universal design for learning: Meeting the needs of all students.. Learning and Leading with Technology,, 31(5), 26–29.  Retrieved September 19, 2011, from the ERIC database.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Program 5: Meeting Students’ Needs With Technology, Part 1 [DVD]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Author