Game Plan

My GAME Plan was one to learn new technology that I can use in my classroom.  The Smart board was my largest focus.  With the help of my fellow teachers and classmates I was able to get a lot further with my goal to learn just what I can do with a Smart board.  I started to tweak my GAME Plan to other forms of technology that I have in the classroom and how I can incorporate them into my everyday lessons.  It will be an ongoing plan the will be evolving as I introduce more and more technology into my art lessons.

Progress with my GAME Plan

My GAME plan was to learn how to use a SMART board in my classroom.  I am happy to say I have been getting lots of helpful ideas and links from my fellow classmates and fellow teachers.  It is sad and funny at the same time as to see how many different teachers are in or have been in the same situation that I am finding myself in.  I have been given new technology and given no instruction as to how to use it.  What a waste of money that so many teachers are given the much needed technology, but no one followed through with the instruction leaving the teachers to put the extra time into learning the technology on their own.  It is not asking too much to be instructed on how to use something.  People from all professions know that the education system is in many ways broken but no one has an idea how to fix it.  Here is a great idea, allow the teachers to solve the problems and take the politics out of education. 

My problem with the new technology is just one example of the many problems in education.  Neither my principal, my superintendent, school board, nor any Politian came up with any solutions on my problem with the SMART boards.  Fellow teachers agreed and said “Hey I had that happen to me too”.  It comes down to good old communication. This communication is not clouded by selfish political agendas or anyone trying to justify having a job by sitting in four thousand meetings and getting no ware.  It did not have to do anything with any tests.  By communicating with someone on how to do something and then pass that knowledge on to the next person.  There was a problem and my fellow teachers rolled up their sleeves and got to work.  How much work could be accomplished if there was not any red tape in education and just allowed teachers to be teachers?  Not test givers but real life educators.

            I am going to have to modify my GAME plan by getting deeper in the idea of figuring out how to use my SMART Board.  I have to basic understanding now and a few different programs and tools for it.  Now I want to know what else can be done with using a smart board.  I know that I am able to keep my students attention when I do use the board.  Students and technology is like peanut butter and jelly.  When done correctly they are a natural fit that is hard to separate.  What I am trying to do is figure out how to get it correctly done.

If anyone else is having any trouble with this like me these are some of the links that were given to me.  They really helped.  Or if you have any links that you use that helped I would love to add them to my list and share them with other teachers.

http://www.pinterest.com/twahlert/smartboards-in-education/

http://www.superteachertools.com/instantclassroom/random-name-generator.php

http://www.classtools.net/random-name-picker/

http://exchange.smarttech.com/search.html

 

 

GAME Plan for Personal and Student Learning

My GAME plan will have to involve the standards:  Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity & Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments.

Goals:  for Personal Plans

I want to be able to use the new technology in my classroom.  I have a smart boar and have no training on any of the software.

I know the basics on how to use the pens as markers.

If I am able to navigate through the software and have my students working with the software then I was successful.

Action:  for Personal Plans

What are the different applications that I can use for my smart board?

I will have to have hands on approach to learn as much as I can.  I will have students helping along the way.  I am sure they know much more about the smart board then I do.

Monitor:  Personal Plans

I will be asking fellow teachers for help as well as my students.

I am sure I will need to modify my action plan as I go deeper into the different applications or software. 

Evaluate and Extend:  Personal Plans

Have I met my learning goals?

If not, should I modify my goals or my learning strategies?

What will id do differently in the future?