As my eighth course draws to a close, I look back on all that I have learned. I have always had a strong grasp of technology and have no end of ideas for implementing its use in the k-12 classroom. However, where I excel in marrying technology with imagination, I lacked in relative planning. Instituting the GAME plan into my lesson design (as noted in previous blog posts), has resulted in an aspect of professional growth I had not anticipated. This, along with discovering the NETS-T and NETS-S, were among the greatest aspects of my recent professional growth.
I used the GAME plan to design and deliver a lesson recently to a group of digital photography students. Photography is a content area that is particularly challenging to me, as I have no prior knowledge. However, my students and I encountered few complications because the unit was so well planned regarding setting Goals, taking Action to meet those goals, Monitoring progress and Evaluating whether we achieved what we set out to achieve. This is certainly a design plan that I will incorporate in all future lessons.
Working through my own GAME plan, I have connected with other technology teachers in my province and I have already begun collaborating on projects that will stimulate and engage both students and teachers alike. Along this line, I plan to incorporate problem based learning into my planning as soon as school starts. My newfound colleagues and I have engaged in discussions about exciting new projects. Some of these include digital storytelling for students throughout the province to share country versus city lifestyles, team tutorials, and blogging. Instituting GAME planning into my lessons includes incorporating NETS Standards as well. Knowledge of these standards is not common in Alberta districts and I look forward to incorporating them into my practice. Although we have strict technology standards, the NETS standards are far less ambiguous, making them more relevant to what is actually happening in classrooms.
It has been nine years since I last taught in the public system. Prior to embarking on my Walden MSED degree, the idea of returning to the profession left me somewhat filled with anxiety. Today I still feel butterflies, but now they are from excited anticipation, rather than anxiety. The technology tools, insight to collaboration, and GAME plan lesson designing that I have learned are precisely the tools I need to be successful as I re-enter the profession of teaching.
