Monitoring My GAME Plan Progress

This week, I continue to refine and develop my GAME plan. In the interest of monitoring my progress, I will ask myself four questions: Am I finding the information and resources that I need? Do I need to modify my action plan? What have I learned so far? And, what new questions have arisen?

Am I finding the information and resources I need?

I have a copy of the documents for all of the modules I will be teaching. I have started reading over and studying these plans. As for spending time over the summer with the teacher in the position before me, our schedules have not matched at all to this point. Because it is summer vacation, I have spent quite a bit of time traveling. He has been on vacation also. I am out of town now for the next two weeks. When I get home, I will have approximately ten days before I have students in my classroom! I am still hoping to spend some time in the classroom with the other teacher before school starts. I have talked with him over the phone, and we have emailed and sent texts back and forth about various questions I have had. Spending time in the classroom has also been difficult because of limited access to the building. The times that I have had available have been times when the administration was gone on vacation. This part has been very frustrating and leaves me feeling unprepared.

I have had very little success finding blogs or websites written by career technology teachers. If anyone has suggestions on keywords to search, or knows of sites about career technology, I would love some input. Think about the old “Industrial Arts” or “shop” classes with technology incorporated in them. That is what I will be teaching. Someone suggested that I consider starting a Deca Club. I looked that up on Google and found that it is about marketing, finance, hospitality, and management for high school and college students. This does not match what I teach at all.

Do I need to modify my action plan?

I do not feel like my action plan is very effective at this point. This could be because it is summer time and I do not have access to the resources like I would during the school year. I think that the ideas that I have are good ones, but the timing is off. So yes, I need to change what I am doing right now since carrying out my GAME plan needs to be more than just good ideas. Perhaps I need to focus on studying the lesson plans that I have for the modules. At least that would give me some familiarity with the programs I will be teaching. Then, when I do get time in the building, I can work on learning the equipment and machinery.

What have I learned so far?

I have learned that finding resources is very important. I feel stuck because I cannot connect with the appropriate people, equipment, and websites. I have learned that action means ‘doing.’ I need to get in there and get my hands dirty. I cannot just keep reading about it and thinking about it. I have learned that technology comes in many forms. I have an extensive list of equipment, but my hands are still tied when it comes to integrating technology in a way that is most familiar to students.

What new questions have arisen?

One question that I have been thinking about lately is, “How can I integrate what I am learning about instructional technology with the technology I will be using in career technology?” It is amazing to me that a course on technology can be so outdated in its implementation.  The lesson plans for this class were written sixteen years ago!

I wonder how the new common core standards will affect my class. In Georgia, technology instruction is becoming a focus area. How will I need to change my program to meet those standards? What does the future hold? Will I be ready to teach when school begins in August?  I feel like I have many more questions than answers at this point.

Working through this process has been good for me. “The GAME plan requires you to think about and take steps to direct your learning process, specifically while learning about technology and how to integrate it into the curriculum” (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, p. 3). This course could not have happened at a more appropriate time. Because I am changing content areas, I need to plan a course of action. The GAME plan has helped me to focus on what needs to be done.

Reference

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.