My GAME Plan Progress

*Are you finding the information or resources you need?


     As I stated in my last post, the resources that I need to accomplish part of my goals is interaction with and observation of colleagues.  Due to the fact that we are on summer break, this is not possible at the current time.  However, I did speak with a colleague who I respect and believe would be a good model of creative thinking for me.  I asked her if she would be willing to let me come in her class at the beginning of the year and she agreed.  So, at the outset of the school year, I will be working with her to help initiate good modeling of creative thinking in my classroom. 

     I have not looked for information or resources for my other goal, which is to be involved in learning communities.  I do believe, however, that with the start of work on my first goal, I have effectively work towards my second goal as well.  Although my work with the aforementioned teacher will not be a structured learning community, it is a start. 

*Do you need to modify your action plan?

     At this time I see no need to modify my action plan.  I believe that I have two solid goals and an effective approach to meet these goals.  The only thing hindering me right now is that I cannot effectively begin to implement my plan until the school year begins.

*What have you learned so far?

     Becuase my plan is still in the infant stages, I cannot say that I have learned much specifically relating to my goals.  I have, however, learned some important lessons about setting goals.  This coming year will be my eighth year as an educator, but will be the first time that I enter the year with personal goals in mind.  I have never before set forth an action plan to meet goals.  In fact, I have never even given much thought to identifying weaknesses and working towards improving them.  I can see the importance of having a goal to work towards.  The benefits will help me, but will also help to make my students more successful, which is something I am always striving for. 

*What new questions have arisen?

     At this point in my GAME plan, I do not have any new questions.  I am sure as I move into the implementation phase, I will have more questions, but not at the present time. 

Carrying out my GAME Plan

* What resources will you need to carry out your plan?

In order to effectively carry out my my GAME plan, I will need a number of resources.  In order to model creative thinking for my students, I will need to see creative thinking being modeled in the classroom.  I think the best resource to use for this goal would be to observe how my colleagues model creative thinking.  I have a couple people in mind who I am sure are quite effective at modeling creative thinking so I plan to set up a time to observe them early on in the school year. 

For my second goal, which is to make myself part of learning communities, I will need to find the learning communities to join.  The resources necessary here are a group of colleagues willing to join me as well as some professional development opportunities. 

*What additional information do you need?

In order to carry out my GAME plan, I need to find information on the different types of professional development that are available that will help me to build a network of learning communities.  I have never been a part of an organized learning community and really have no idea what is out there or what a learning community looks like. 

*What steps have you been able to take so far?

Due to the fact that we are on summer break, I have not made much progress on my GAME plan.  In fact, the only real progress I have made is to compile a list of names of colleagues that I would like to observe when I return to school. 

GAME Plan

After investigating the NETS-T indicators, I have decided that the two with which I am most uncomfortable are indicator number one and indicator number five. The following is my GAME plan for each indicator.

Goal

            Indicator one – Learn to model creative thinking for my students

            Indicator five – Make myself part of various learning communities

Action

            Indicator one – As I have learned in this course, creative thinking involves more than merely coming up with something new.  Creative thinking involves decision making, being self-directed, and confidence (Cennamo et al., 2009).  This new meaning of creativity requires that I redo the way that I instruct so that I am modeling these skills for my students.  In order to accomplish this, I will review each unit of instruction this year before beginning and look at how I can incorporate the modeling of these creative skills. 

            Indicator five – I am by nature a person that likes to keep to myself.  It is not that I am opposed to others helping me or that I do not like people.  I just feel more at ease when I keep to myself.  This will need to change if I want my students to be successful.  Therefore, I will seek to become a part of two learning communities this coming year.  I would like to develop one in my school.  I will start with my department and see where it might go from there.  I will also seek to become part of a larger learning community.  The Ohio Foreign Language Association (OFLA) provides a number of opportunities for foreign language educators to interact, both through conferences and online.  I will try to be actively involved in the online discussion this coming year as well as attend at least one conference.

Monitor

            Indicator one – As a way of monitoring my integration of modeling creative thinking skills, I will keep a reflection log at the end of each unit.  I will critique whether or not I identified ways to achieve my goal of modeling these skills as well as how effective I was at carrying those out once I did identify them. 

            Indicator five – In order to monitor this indicator I will communicate my goals with my colleagues.  I will talk with my principal about my desire to attend a conference so that she can help keep me accountable in achieving that goal.  She has always been supportive in professional development opportunities and I am confident she will help me with this.  Also, at the beginning of the year department meeting I will express my desire to develop a learning community within the department.  We have done some collaborative group work in the past so I think that they will be receptive to this.  Having my colleagues and my principal aware of my goals will help me to ensure that they come to fruition.  As Dr. Peggy Ertmer (Laureate Education, 2010) pointed out, a supportive environment is vital in the development and execution of a technology rich learning environment. 

Evaluate and Extend

            Indicator one – Evaluating the modeling of creative thinking skills will come as a natural consequence of my monitoring plan.  My reflection journal will let me know how I am doing in that area.  In terms of the extension, I have two thoughts.  First, I will see if I have met the goal of incorporating creative thinking skills for my students. And second, I will look at how I can do the modeling differently or better to continue to improve my students’ abilities. 

            Indicator five –  In order to evaluate indicator number five, I will see what affect my learning communities had on my teaching and my students’ learning.  Did they help to make my classroom a more creative and effective learning environment?  If so, then I will seek to do more of the same and perhaps even expand my learning community beyond my department.  If not, I will attempt to determine why they were ineffective and see how tweaking the learning communities or looking for different learning communities could prove beneficial. 

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.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Program four. Enriching Content

Area Learning Experiences with Technology.   [Webcast]. Integrating Technology

Across the Content Areas.  MD: Author.