Monitoring My Game Plan Progress

I realized after I posted last week, that I had 2 goals in the area of professional growth and leadership.

The first point in this goal was to research and find 2-3 blogs to follow.  I spent some time on Monday and Tuesday of this week looking back over my old blogs and some links that I had been following in the past. It was a little overwhelming taking in all that information and remembering how to use the Google reader and RSS feeds.  I found www.ncs-tech.org, www.hloy.edublogs.org, and www.thethinkingstick.com  to be informative.  I'm going to keep on looking.

The second point to this goal was to do some research on the ACSI conventions and how to become a presenter.  I went to the ACSI website and the deadline for the January convention have already passed.  I will keep a check on the website to find out when the deadline is for the 2012 convention either in Raleigh or Birmingham.  The Upstate Technology Conference is held in June and I know they don't start asking for presenter until the spring.

My second goal goal was to check on the epals program.  I was able to go the website on Monday, but I need to continue to research and create a plan to present to my principal.  I've received a lot of encouragement from my fellow classmates on the use of this program.  One question I need to check on, and if anyone knows the answer, I will appreciate the insight, is if all the projects are free to participate in?

Carrying Out My GAME Plan

Last week I established a personal GAME plan for myself as a teacher.  This week, I need to focus on how I will carry out this GAME plan through resources that are available to me, what additional information do I need and what steps have I taken so far.

Goal #1 - Research to find 2-3 blogs that have value to me as a professional.  One of the first places I need to go back and look at is my different blogs that I have created for my other classes in this program at Walden.  Some of the other members in my classes, used blogs that were already active and they had links to blogs they were already following.  I also need to make sure my RSS feeder is set for my work email and not my personal email.  This way I will get updates while at work and not at home.  Unfortunately, this week has been super busy and I haven't felt well, which really aren't good excuses.  But I will definitely start before the end of this week by looking at my previous blogs and weeding through so of the blog links.

Goal #2 - Learn more about the epals program.  This summer, I had subscribed to epals to get their newsletters via email.  I actually got one this week and was able to scan through a few of their projects.  I had mentioned this program to my principal during the summer and she wasn't too sure about it because she didn't have enough information.  Monday and Tuesday next week, my schedule will be light because I do not have my science labs.  I will take time to research the the program, some of the projects and write up a short proposal for my principal.

Developing My Personal GAME Plan

     According to Cennamo, Ross and Ertmer in Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use, using the GAME plan method for self directed learning will help students think about and take steps to direct their learning process.  Using the ISTE NETS for teachers, I have created a GAME plan for my integration of technology in my role as an educator.  As a reminder, here are the steps of the GAME plan:
     1.  Set Goals.
     2.  Take Action to meet those goals.
     3.  Monitor progress toward achieving goals and
     4.  Evaluate whether the goals were achieved and Extend your learning to new situations.


ISTE NETS-T
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers:

a.	participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.

G - (1)Research and discover 2-3 blogs that are associated with educational technology and participate in weekly discussions.
(2)Participate in conferences by presenting information to other teachers as a speaker. A - (1)Blogs - set aside 30 minutes a day for the next 2-3 weeks to find and research appropriate blogs.
(2)Conference - Research when the deadline is for participating as a presenter for the Upstate Technology Conference and the ACSI Conference in Alabama. M - (1)Blogs - Set up the Blogs in an RSS feeder, set a reminder in my outlook calender to remind me to participate each week.
(2)Conference - Contact the appropriate people and register at the appropriate time.  If there is a long time until registration is possible, set up a reminder in my outlook calendar. E - (1)Blogs - at the end of the first month, monitor the amounts of times I contributed to each blog, re-evaluate if the blog is worthwhile, share with fellow teachers what I have learned.
(2)Conference - Did I participate and how was I rated by other participants.  Evaluate to see if I should participate again.

ISTE NETS-T

4.  Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in the professional practices.  Teachers:

d.  develop and model cultural understanding an dglobal awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools.

G - Learn more about the e-pals program and investigate what it takes to join and if it would be possible for our students in our lower school to participate in this program.

A - Go to the website, contact the appropriate people, talk with my principal before the end of the semester.

M - If approved by the principal, get an e-pal program set up with at least one grade level during the 2nd semester.

E - Have the students assess at the end of the project - Was it worthwhile?  What information did you gain from this project?  What was your favorite/least favorite part of the project?


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.

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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Hello everyone!  Sorry I was late in getting my blog address posted!  But, here I am!  I'm looking forward to writing on a blog again for our assignments.