Throughout our lives we set goals (that we hope) to accomplish, but during this course I have learned how to create a GAME plan to make sure that I am on the right track and always moving forward to succeed. Creating a GAME plan, as discussed in our course textbook, is a successful way for me to create goals for learning, take action, monitor my actions, and then evaluate whether I have met my goals. The goals I set pertained to the use of technology and resources within my classroom, but I was not able to fully accomplish them due to summer vacation. I was lacking a classroom of students that I need to build relationships with and assess learning styles. Since I did not meet my goals, I needed to reanalyze my GAME plan and make adjustments to my strategies (Cennamo, Ross & Ertmer, 2009). Thankfully, I was atleast able to move a step closer and find the resources I will need to feel more comfortable incorporating technology into my daily routine beginning this fall.
A goal of mine now is to share this same strategy with my fifth grade students. I want to assist them in meeting the National Educations Standards for Students (NETS-S) and other goals they wish to achieve in the future. In order to begin the process of setting goals, I will first show my students the NETS-S and explain to them what each of the skills are: Creativity/Innovation, Communication, Collaboration, Research, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Digital Citizenship…(to name a few). The students need to understand what is expected. We will then brainstorm, as a whole class, the various technology tools that may be used to practice these skills (blogs, wikis, digital storytelling software, VoiceThread, powerpoint…). Students will already be somewhat familiar with the various tools and have the opportunity to use these tools on various occasions.
Together, we will develop a plan that will be outlined, written, and posted within the classroom for everyone to refer back to it. While some students may need more assistance/practice using specific skills, I believe it will be most beneficial to work as a whole group while we begin to learn the process. I will be able to model and demonstrate the proper way to create a plan and move forward with it. Students will have the opportunity to observe as we set goals, take action, monitor our actions, and then evaluate and re-evaluate the GAME plan steps. Are we making progress? Are we meeting expectations set forth by NETS-S? These are questions that will constantly be asked over and over again.
Using the GAME plan method, will allow for my students to take small steps as self-directed learners and work towards achieving BIG goals. My students will take control of their own learning process and gain the ability to quickly react as changes take place in our fast-paced world of technology.
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.
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At the beginning of each year, I have my students identify short term and long term goals they would like to accomplish. At the end of the year, I hand back the goals and ask them if they had accomplished their goals. Many of them look up at me as if they have no idea what I am talking about. Now, I understand how important it is to help give my students the appropriate plan of attack. The GAME Plan is an excellent way to get my students to take ownership in their education. I also understand how important the journey is to accomplishing a goal. I assumed my students would work towards their goals throughout the year. Having a GAME Plan will help make them participate in their success throughout the year. I am hoping for better results.
ReplyDeleteSuzie,
ReplyDeleteI love your ideas for using the GAME plan with students. I think that this type of plan would work especially well with some our CAP students who really need that focus and need to be able to monitor their success.
Great ideas, I think that the 6th grade students will be even more ready once we start implementing this type of process in the classroom.
Chris,
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of having your students create short term and long term goals at the beginning of the school year. As teachers, I think it is extremely important that we continuously keep our students on the right track. This includes posting group/class goals within the classroom and providing a way for our students to continuously monitor and evaluate individual goals. One way is to model how to create a GAME plan and put it into action, but I think it is extremely important for students to have sufficient time to reflect and journal. It may be helpful to provide each student with a composition notebook to use only for setting goals, designing a plan of action, and so forth. It is usually impossible for my fifth grade students to remember where they sat their pencil down two minutes prior, so remembering goals from the beginning of the year (or even a week ago) is almost impossible. I am happy that you see the light!:) I will be anxious to hear how this year compares to past years of setting goals. Good luck!
Suzie
Shaina,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your thoughts on using a GAME plan with our CAP students. These students are lacking organizational skills and sometimes motivation. They need a plan! Taking small steps, together, to succeed is a way for us to move in the right direction. I will be curious to see how the various groups of students (grade levels) implement the GAME plan once we start to introduce the steps to them. There are so many of us (teachers) who are taking Walden classes and understand the importance of setting learning goals, taking action…
Suzie
I agree I can not wait to share these strategies with students and apply them in class. When you lay your goal out and assess the steps needed to obtain the goal it becomes more attainable.
ReplyDelete