Monitoring Your GAME Plan

     
There are so many resources that are now available through the use of technology.  I have been searching the internet for ways to help me reach the goals of my GAME plan.  
The first goal that I decided to work on is standard 4.A, 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 (ISTE, 2014).   I discovered a lot of resources on how to keep students safe on the internet.  This site was filled with information on how to keep the students safe.  The website can be found at:http://www.edudemic.com/guides/the-teachers-guide-to-keeping-students-safe-online/

I have also found a video that I can show to the students about the safe, legal and ethical use of digital technology.  I think that this video would be good for them to view, as it is important for them to learn about the ethical use of technology. A lot of students that I have worked with like a variety ways that information is being presented to them.  I really think that this video will be a good learning resource for the students.  It can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps5LdzZxi_0

I feel that I have been able to find information that I need to be able to accomplish this goal.  I still plan on doing more research on my goal along with talking to others who have taught this subject to the students.  It is important to me that I am able to communicate to the students how important it is to be safe on the Internet, while citing the sources.  So far I do not feel that I need to modify my action plan, as I feel that it going on well.  I am concerned about how I am going to find the time to teach students about the subject.  There is so much that the students have to learn in a day, that at times it is hard to find time to include other things to teach within a school day.  I’m also concerned on how I should introduce the subject to the students, as I want to be able to to do it in a way that it will be interesting to the student.  When there have been assemblies or speakers in the past about the subject, the students have just tuned them out, as they are bored with just a standard lecture.  My next step for this goal is to find ways to present the information to the students, in a way that is engaging to them and they will be able to understand what is being presented to them.  

The second standard that I chose was 1.C, promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning and creative processes (ISTE, 2014).  This is the goal that I feel is going much easier and smoother.  The reason that I think that is because I was already familiar with some of the collaborative tools from other classes and from just playing around with them.  I found that I really like the idea of a wiki in the classroom.  I have used wiki’s before to work with others for classes that I have taken.  I found them easy to use and I personally think that students will find them easy to use.  
I found a website for teachers who are interesting in using a wiki in the classroom.  It has some information that I believe they will find useful, as I did. I learned some more things about wiki’s that I believe makes them a good choice to use as a collaboration tool.  The link is: 
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/07/teachers-guide-on-use-of-wikis-in.html.  

I have set up a couple of wiki’s that I had to do in other classes.  The links to those wiki’s are: 
http://technologyintheroom.wikispaces.com
http://technologyinsociety.wikispaces.com

I have also set up a quick wiki, that could be used in a literature circle.  The link is: 
http://lit-circle.wikispaces.com/

I really feel that I am really close to completing this goal and do not feel the need to modify it.  I’m actually excited to use wiki’s in the classroom, and I can’t wait to get started using them.  A couple of things that I think could be a problem is convincing the principal that it is a good thing to let the students use a wiki.  There are bans on a lot of the collaboration software, as the schools and district feel that it could lead to problems and could be potentially unsafe.  I will need to come up with a plan to present to the principal to show up how useful a wiki can be in the classroom.  I will begin researching more ways that  wiki is useful in the classroom and begin working on something to that  I will be able to present.  Another problem that could arise, is when will time be found for the students to work on the wiki in class and outside of the classroom.  Like I stated before it is hard to find time for new things when you have to present so much information in a day to the students.  It is also a problem that some of the students do now have their own computer and have to share with their older siblings, who usually get preference since they have papers to write.  I need to be able to find way to ensure that the students will get time in the classroom to work on their wiki’s.

In conclusion, I feel that my GAME plan is coming along nicely and smoothly.  I thought that I would have complications with finding the information that I need, but so far it has been a breeze.  I’m looking forward to completing my GAME plan and then begin another one.  



References:


International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).  (2014).  ISTE Standards for Teacher Resources.  Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/standards-for-teachers