Blog 3 Week 4: Monitoring Your GAME Plan Progress

As I continue to work on strengthening my confidence and proficiency in my chosen standards, I am developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating my personal GAME plan.

Are you finding the information and resources you need?
So far, I am finding the information I need. As far as resources go, the access to the computer lab may have changed. The English teacher is now the Dean of Students and there are long term subs in the room. Since it is an Academy classroom I should have full access, but there might be issues with the sub not knowing what to do while learning the curriculum. I do not have access to the experts yet since the first conference is March 3rd to 5th. However, I have reached out to the computer experts on my campus to find out what I can do. Unfortunately, most of what they have suggested is dependent upon me having access to a tablet, smart board, or LCD projector.

Do you need to modify your action plan?
So far, I do not need to modify my action plan. The way in which I have gone about figuring out which lessons to modify will change at my next World History PLC meeting. I am going to ask my peers who have taught these lessons which ones they think would be easiest to supplement with technology.

What have you learned so far?
So far, I have learned that it is easier to modify a plan after I have taught it without using technology. Then I can take my knowledge of the content and student reactions to the content to find the best ways to incorporate technology. For example, when it comes to World War II, the students are excited about learning different aspects of the war. I believe that some of the lessons would be best modified by creating scavenger hunts for students to participate in. Then they would use knowledge of key words in order to google the answer. I would have them copy and paste the URL next to their answer. I have also learned that unless I make the lessons fun, just getting to use computers does not change the excitement level my students have for the content.

What new questions have arisen?
Basically, the questions I have are all due to the inequality I see at my school site between the different subjects. The math and science departments have technology (smart boards, tablets, and LCD projectors), while the English and Social Science departments have 1 computer per room, 1 tv per room, and any LCD projectors are personally owned by teachers.