GAME plan

Once again, I am enrolled in a graduate course that utilizes blogs as a means of communication and sharing between classmates. For this particular assignment, the students have been asked to develop ways to become more efficient in meeting national education technology standards and performance indicators for teachers (NETS-T). The idea is you use the “NETS” to catch yourself from inappropriately or inadequately using technology. Well, truthfully, that may not have been the actual goal of the acronym, but it definitely makes sense.

I was required to identify two standards I feel weak and/or less confident in. After review the five major objectives, I would say that I could use improvement with:
1) Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
2) Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

I have underlined the areas of those standards where I need improvement. I’ll admit that I never feel completely confident in my ability to master technology, but I never worry that I won’t be able to figure it out. Since I am still new to teaching, I generally find myself behind the curve in many teaching situations. However, unlike some other new teachers, I am more than willing to ask for help. The natural result is that I rarely take a leadership position. Furthermore, my weakest area of instruction has been designing assessments. I teach four classes of heterogeneously grouped students. Therefore, I am often making assessments for students who can barely read along with assessments for students who test into elite private high schools such as Choate (where the Kennedys, Trumps, and various others have attended).

My action plan has already been put into place. Our district has recently increased professional development days. The teachers were polled to find interest in certain topics. I have already signed up for assessments and technology. In addition, I plan to work with the library media specialist along with the computer resource person in my building to utilize the new Smartboard technology we have gotten to develop more technology interactive lessons. Students could be tested for both content and technology skills within the same lesson. As for leadership, I still do not feel comfortable taking the lead. However, I would not mind developing a collaborative for one of the professional development days. I would be responsible for creating the goals and objectives for the programs as well as explaining the desired outcome.

The best way to monitor my progress would be through two major numbers: the class average and my blood pressure. As my assessments become more varied and efficient, students should have more opportunities to exceed. As I learn to take on leadership roles, I would hope that my confidence would rise to a degree where I am not always worried that I’ll teach the wrong way. I definitely could use less stress and more success.

Evaluation would involve determining if my efforts had produced the desired progress. If not, I would need to rethink my action plans for development. If I am successful, I would hope to extend my learning through discussion with colleagues as well as available technology classes. With an ever-changing area, there is always room to improve.