The GAME plan process that I have been working on and speaking about in my blog lately has really been quite interesting. In the past, I have been the kind of person who has set goals for myself, but I have not been so good at keeping track of my progress and measuring out whether or not I have reached my goals. The GAME plan process that I have been using to track my technology goals has really helped me with this, causing me to first realize what success would look like in these goals, then forcing me to keep myself on track and write about my progress, which was great.
I think that in order to use the GAME plan process to help my students work on the technology standards, I would first have to narrow them down. I think that the NETS-T list of standards is a little intimidating to give to students as is, so I would pick some of the standards that I really wanted to focus on with the kids, and have them decide from there which ones they would need to work the most on. Keeping these standards in mind, I would have them create goals to improve their proficiency in those areas in accordance to the PBL, social networking and digital storytelling lesson plans. Students would look at the work that they are required to do during the unit, and then see where goals for their technology standards would fit naturally. This could then become a part of the assessment process. As students are working on each individual lesson, they will also be keeping track of their game plans to make sure that they are where they need to be in accordance with meeting their goals. They could journal about their progress in individual blogs, and their blog posts would become a material for assessment. Also, they will get the chance to blog about any technology questions or problems that they incurred, giving the answer to these questions so that other students can benefit from their knowledge.
You mention how important writing about your progress has been as you’ve pursued your GAME plan, and I have found the same to be true. If I hadn’t had to write, I might not have engaged as actively in reflection – or taken as much action, for that matter. This is a lesson I intend to apply to my future GAME plans, and also one I intend to carry into the classroom. Requiring learners to write as part of the Monitoring step will support their reflective processes, keep them on track, and create opportunities for formative assessment. It seems I am reminded again and again of the power and importance of writing as a learning tool. Thanks!
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