Evaluating Your GAME Plan Progress

How effective were your actions in helping you meet your goals?

I have had my students begin to set up group blogs in which they can openly discuss the issues we are studying involving Japan.
Most of the issues are technical in nature and just require students following directions. I believe these blogs will fulfill the
plan of creating an engaging learning environment that involves networking and
and collaboration.

What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instruction practice?

The ideas that I take away from our own courses usually help with my students technology set ups or how group interaction should
proceed. I often find, though, once my students are set on track, they tend to take off and produce great products with minimal
guidance from myself.

What do you still have to learn? What new questions have arisen?

I'm still looking for the best ways to effectively implement my ideas. I feel that I may be leaving things too open-ended and not
quite focused enough. I will probably have to see final products before I can make an exact determination, though.

How will you adjust your plan to fit your current needs?

I'm going to stick with the current plan and then make adjustments after the end result. The outcomes might not be perfect this
time through, but they will certainly help me down the road.

Monitoring Your GAME Plan Progress

Are you finding the information and resources you need?

For my "real world issues," I am having my World Geography students focus on the current issues in Japan dealing with the earthquake, tsunami, and their aftermath. We have been researching all kinds of news stories and articles,
and now have to get to the point of focusing our research and findings to specific areas. We began with an idea of taking everything in, but now have to decide how to actually attack all of the relevant information. Most of the student
research has been Internet-based, and I believe will continue to remain so. That is generally the best tool for the most current information. Students will now have to determine not only the focus of their research but how they will
present their material. Group blogs and wiki pages have been discussed as presentation tools, with the idea that they open up further discussion. I like this concept but these tools and methods will have to be modeled to the students
to ensure that they can achieve their desired results.

Do you need to modify your action plan?

I believe the students' ideas gathered to this point will sustain my original action plan. Their ideas for presenting through blogs and wikis will fulfill the plan of creating an engaging learning environment that involves networking and
and collaboration.

What have you learned so far?

Students have really gravitated towards working with a news event that they can see developing in real time. There is so much video and new information coming out daily from the events in Japan, that the students are never "done" researching.
Each day they continue to want to learn more about the story and that has translated into some very positive work output.

What new questions have arisen?

How can I focus a project and plan that is changing and developing each day?
What are some other methods I can use for networking and collaboration? Beyond our class?

GAME Plan Review

For my GAME Plan, I am looking to carry out the following actions:

Action:
1. Come up with "real-world issues" that students or professionals may encounter and have students brainstorm ideas to solve these issues.
2. Create engaging learning environments that involve networking and collaboration

In order to take on these actions, my students need access to resources that can help them to identify, research, and evaluate "real-world issues." The students will need computers with Internet access and the ability to access our course web page. Using online resources and tools, students can work towards solving the issues encountered in our course work. The course web page provides access to class blogs and wikis where students can share the information they have gathered with their classmates. This collaboration will allow students varying perspectives on their issues and the ability to push and assistant one another in order to achieve better results.

GAME Plan

I want to begin my focus on NETS standard #1: "Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity: Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:" (ISTE, n.d.). Within that standard, there are two performance indicators in which I would like to strengthen my own confidence and proficiency by using the GAME model.

Goal:
B. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital
tools and resources
D. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments

Action:
1. Come up with "real-world issues" that students or professionals may encounter and have students brainstorm ideas to solve these issues.
2. Create engaging learning environments that involve networking and collaboration

Monitor:
1. View students’ solutions to problems
2. Collaborate with students on how to approach activities and assignments

Evaluate/Extend:
1. Have students work towards solutions and then analyze whether their solutions worked. Was it the best solution?
2. Reflect on outcomes

Resources:

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.

ISTE NETS for Teachers 2008. (n.d.). International Society for Technology in Education Home. Retrieved March 9, 2011, from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008.aspx