Final Reflection (G.A.M.E. Plan)

My Walden University course, “Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas,” is drawling to a close, but my G.A.M.E. plan will continue throughout my teaching career. G.A.M.E is an acronym that stands for set goals, take action, monitor progress, and evaluation (Laureate Inc, 2009). Basically a simplified definition to this acronym is the process of a teacher moving forward and teaching the future and not wallowing in the past. When I talk about the past, I am not talking about content necessarily, but the way of teaching content. Books, the lecture method of teaching, paper-pencil tests were the standard teaching methods used in the past and yes they are still effective, but not as effective as when you expand these methods to computers, iPads, social networking, blogging, new interactive programs, and basically anything involving web 2.0. Although my teaching pedagogy involves the process of moving forward with all the NET standards, my specific Game plan focused and is still focusing on NETS-#1 “Facilitate and Inspire Students Learning and Creativity,” and NETS-#5 “Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership.”

Now I am formally reflecting on the effectiveness of my Game plan and how it influenced and changed my ways of teaching throughout this course. In general, the game plan has not completely changed my pedagogy, but definitely improved it by organizing my thoughts. The majority of times, teachers have the best of intentions, but in many instances the follow-through is not adequate. Technology can be overwhelming at times and by following the a game plan and setting goals, taking action, monitor progress, and then evaluating, puts matters into a clearer perspective. One thing that I learned through my experience with technology is that if you look at the little details in a big picture, the results is overwhelming frustrations, but if you visualize a general big picture and start with baby steps, the process becomes quite easy. Most technology programs are designed for self-learning and just by incorporating them into a classroom, the process of learning improves drastically. I bought an iPad for my room to use merely as a lesson plan document reader. However, after using it, I now use it to control all of my music wirelessly in my class, it acts as a wireless remote for my SMARTboard keynotes, I play videos off of it, and it can be used as a drum or xylophone with the right apps.

I picked NETS #1 and #5 as a focus, because instilling creativity into my students is my number one priority and learning and sharing through colleagues is the best way to learn as a teacher. Books and classes are great, but sharing and learning from fellow teachers that are in the same situation as you is extremely helpful.

Overall, I will not incorporate any drastic changes into my Game plan, however, I will continue to move forward. I want to started with the aspects involving social networking and publishing on the web. I like to think of education like money and inflation. If someone has a hundred dollars and saves it, then in the future it will eventually be worth very little due to inflation, however, if the money is invested and the use of the money is put in a positive forward motion, then it will always carry a great value. Even though something works great in education now, a good educator should always be looking forward for the new and improved version and then share it with other colleagues.

References

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate 
Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Enriching content area learning experiences with technology, part 1 and 2. [Motion Picture] Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore: Author.

National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T). (2008) located at http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf.

NETS-S

In my Game Plan, I chose the following NETS-T.: #1 “Facilitate and Inspire Students Learning and Creativity,” and #5 “Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership.” All of the technology standards are very important and useful, but I felt these two would be the most useful in my music classroom. Through my quest of improving and excelling within these two standards, I must reflect on how they value my students.

The most important NETS-S for students in music is #1- Creativity and Innovation. Music and the Arts is about being creative and innovating. One of my main goals as a music teacher is to teach the students to learn the art of music and then expand it to their own creative likings. In the past, a musician would have to pay a lot of money to get something recorded in a music studio. However, today, with resources like Garage Band and Audacity, young musicians can make their own music, burn it onto a CD album, and even self-publish it on Youtube all by themselves. With the creation and access of these new technologies, comes the responsibility of myself as music teacher, to make sure the students can reach their full potential.

Looking over all of the NETS-S, I find that they are all very important and hopefully I can reach all of them in music. However, the main issue that haunts me is lack of time. I see my students once every six days and can only do a couple projects that incorporates technology. Students should learn how to collaborate, problem-solve, and make decisions involving technology, and I hope to find ways to make this happen within my music class. I am open to any suggestions.

One last comment about the NETS-S is the importance of #5-Digital Citizenship. As part of my last Walden lesson on social networking, I am going to take chance and use Facebook as the core platform in the lesson. This is risky because I have to get it unblocked and convince the parents to let the students use this service. However, I would rather take the chance and use something that the students will become excited about, then to have one more school project that will easily be forgotten. With that being said, it is very important that I teach the children the rules about digital citizenship, so they not only stay safe, but also respect the rights of others.

Charles Lane

Social Networking in my GAME Plan

My GAME plan is an ongoing process and it always will be. I can’t see myself ever reaching a point when I reached the creativity cap in my classroom or the point when I find the advice and skills of my colleagues unhelpful. However, small goals can be set within the realm of the entire Game plan.

This week, I learned about social networking within education in my Walden Master’s program course. I learned that a site like Ning can serve as a place where students can collaborate and post or better yet publish their material (Laureate Inc, 2009). Honestly, I have never used Ning before, but it seems like a great resource for a music teacher. I could get the students involved and joining in by posting something like a clip from their concert, or even a short tutorial from me on how to play a cool song on the recorder.

One of my mini goals as part of this GAME plan is to investigate further into the benefits of Ning and try to incorporate it into my class. I sure hope that it isn’t blocked by my district like the sites Facebook and Youtube. I want to mostly use it for my choir students. I could post ideas and let the students build on them, and I could also post updates about upcoming events.

Resources:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Social networking and online collaboration, part 1 and 2. [Motion Picture] Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore: Author.

Charles

GAME Plan with Problem Based Learning

Overall my Game Plan is very broad in respects to exactly what I want to achieve. I know that as a professional educator I want to facilitate and inspire students learning and creativity and also engage in professional growth and leadership. However the means in which I reach these goals are a constant ever-changing journey.

This week I was introduced to the concepts of problem-based learning. General problem-based learning is nothing new to me because I use my personal skills of knowledge and creativity to solve problems every day. Last week I needed to hang up Christmas light and I realized that stucco was much different than wood and I could not easily put screws into the wall. I researched the problem and found little plastic clips that worked perfectly. Although the idea of problem based learning is not new, the idea to use it in my classroom was inspirational.

Problem based learning is valuable because it motivates, it teaches content through the process, it promotes higher-level thinking and creativity, and it stretches across different curriculums (Laureate Inc, 2009). Another bonus is that your students might be able to find some answers to unanswered problems.

I need to find a way to incorporate the elements of problem based learning into my elementary general music class. What kind of problem exists that are not easily answered, but are still in the reach of my music students, in the grades levels of kindergarten through fifth grade. This is something that I am going to put a lot of thought into and also reach towards other professional colleagues for ideas. If anyone has any suggestions, please share them with me.

Resources:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Spotlight on technology: problem-based learning, part 1 and 2. [Motion Picture] Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore: Author.