Progress of GAME plan

While still scheduling guest speakers to come in to speak to my students, I had my students google the top 10 highest paying jobs. We went through each job to explore what type of education would be required for each job and how much school would be required to be considered educated in that particular field or hold license in that field. We then discussed other jobs and the salaries that accompanied those jobs that the students were interested in. I was able to relate some of their career aspirations to their current academic courses to impress upon them the importance of working hard now and also how enjoyable some of their courses were that related to a possible career choice.

One thing I have learned that I can apply to my instructional practice is utilizing multiple approaches to providing instruction. Students are accustomed to a dynamic lifestyle with all the technology they interact with daily. They also need the social interaction of face to face instruction and the practice with communication it provides. Although no new questions have arisen, I still have to learn some new and creative ways to engage my students. I need to learn more about my students and how they feel they learn best.

I feel my plan is progressing steadily, but I will remain flexible in case adjusting is necessary.

Progress of GAME plan

For my first NETS for Teachers: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning my progress has been slow and steady. If I had the magic pill to inspire and motivate students I think I would be rich. Today's students seem more disengaged in school than ever before. I do, however, feel like I am locating the resources to assist me in my goals. Because I utilize technology daily, I am helping my students realize that learning can be fun. They often tell me how they enjoy learning online more than they do face to face instruction. I do not feel like I need to modify my action plan at this point. I have learned that because my students see me and hear me daily and have heard me talk several times about the keys to success that my words may be falling on deaf ears. So I have learned that I really need to facilitate getting guest speakers in to speak to my students. I feel like guest speakers would help my students connect the concept of knowledge is power and help them make the connection between school and the real world.

For my second NETS for Teachers: Creativity and Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership I feel a lot more pleased with my progress. My participation in my masters program through Walden University in Integrating Technology into the Classroom has been a major catalyst in my efforts. Through the resources available through the program as well as the interaction with other students in the program my creativity and imagination in educational approaches are constantly stretched. My participation in the professional organization iNACOL (International Association of K-12 Online Learning) has also been a tremendous asset to my professional growth in the field of educational technology. There are numerous webinars offered sharing the latest information regarding online learning not only in the United States but around the world. I feel like my progress in this area is right on track. My resources are plentiful, reliable, and credible. I have learned that there are many many educators embracing educational technology and eager to learn and share knowledge about the topic.

Resources for GAME plan

Some of the resources I will be using for my GAME plan are my co-workers. One of our Statistics teachers often uses football and basketball games to collect interesting data with his Stats students and then shares the results with the staff. This is an example of how I would demonstrate learning being fun; taking things students consider interesting and fusing it with the curriculum. I would use my friend who is a college football coach as a resource to come speak to my students about his road to where he is and the importance of education. I would also use my brother, who is the vice president of admissions for a university and also in the music business to give his perspective on education and what it did for him. I think these and others would be great resources for facilitating and inspiring student learning.

The main two resources that I would use for meeting my goal of professional growth and leadership would be the information gathered and learned in my masters program at Walden University and the iNACOL (International Association of Online Learning) organization that I am a member of. There is a wealth of information in both resources to broaden my knowledge tremendously and facilitate me moving into a leadership role.

GAME Plan

The two NETS for Teachers that I plan to focus on are, Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity and Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership. My goals for Facilitating and Inspiring Student Learning are:
-help students realize the fun in learning
-help students understand that knowledge is power
-help students connect school to the real world.
My main action to accomplish my goals is to model all of these things for my students. I can accomplish this by sharing my experience as a student. I can also show them countless examples of people of power and their education and how the two relate. I can also bring in professional people from the community so they can see and hear from people who may be actually earning a living in the same profession they may be interested in. I will be able to monitor my progress by the actions of my students. I will be able to evaluate my game plan based on my students progress through graduation and beyond high school.

My goals for Professional Growth and Leadership are:
-conduct professional development workshop during teacher workdays at school.
-participate in open forums on the iNACOL website.
-continue to familiarize myself with online learning products available to high schools.
My actions to accomplish these goals are to speak with my principal about presenting a technology lesson to staff at a teacher workday. Search the iNACOL website for upcoming forums to participate in. Contact the current online provider that my high school currently uses to find out if any upgrades are planned. Conduct periodic Internet searchers for online education providers for high schools. I will monitor my progress by checking goals off my list as I accomplish them. I will evaluate my learning based on the comments of my co-workers post presentation and responses and feedback provided in the forum and from the online learning providers.