During this course we were able to come up with our own GAME plan. Each week we did different work to come up with ideas and evaluate our progress. In my own personal GAME plan, I am taking steps to integrate technology into my curriculum. I have taken the necessary steps into implementing my goals.
One of my goals in my game plan was to implement the new iPads into my curriculum. This goal is well on its way. ISTE has provided standards for teachers and I chose two goals provided on the ISTE site to guide my plan. The goal I am pleased that has made tremendous growth is for myself to facilitate and inspire learning and creativity. We have been working on projects to help my self-motivated learners opportunities to enrich their education. Creative thinkers are self-motivated and directed in solving problems and using technology (Cennamo K., 2010).
Looking back through the GAME plan, one of the things that I have enjoyed is how actively involved in the learning I have become. I have always put a great deal of thought and effort into my lessons and I have always been very hands on with my students, but learning the new methodologies of podcasting and digital story telling has been as good for me as it has been for my students. I am a life-long learner and work with my students in finding ways to enrich our education.
The immediate adjustment I will make to my instructional practice regarding technology is integrating digital storytelling into my curriculum. I am going to implement a digital story with students in Social Studies. There are two digital stories that would blend nice. The first one is the Underground Railroad. They were learning about the conductors and passengers on the railroad. They can do a two-minute story about one of those passengers and narrate their stories. The second story we will do is for the Revolutionary War. We will examine the causes of the war and why British citizens would rebel against their home country. Digital storytelling is new to me but has endless possibilities for incorporating it into my curriculum. When students use digital storytelling to tell their story, learning becomes personal. Students can improve their writing, show creativity, and have a voice (Laureate Education, 2010). I cannot wait to see the growth and power of digital storytelling incorporated into my curriculum.
Cennamo K., Ross J., & Ertmer P. (2010). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use: A Standards-Based Approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). The ISTE NETS and Performance Indicators for Teachers (NETS-T). In ISTE nets Leading Digital-Age Education. Retrieved March 4, 2012, from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010b). Program twelve. Spotlight on technology: Digital storytelling, part 1 [Webcast]. Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD.
