GAME Plan

    In finding a GAME plan for integrating technology into teaching their are several aspects I looked at.  First off was the Facilitate and Inspire student Learning and Creativity.  The goal would be to find assignment that through the use of technology would encourage students to become fully engaged in the learning process.  As a Social Studies teacher it is easy to allow students to identify with real world learning experiences.  Students can compare and contrast current and relatively modern issues with those that have happened in the past.  In order to monitor the students I would ask them to explain to me how they are tying the real world issue they have chosen into the class curriculum.  I would then take the final product and evaluate what the students have done and how it aligns with our current curriculum.  My one concern with emphasizing current issues in less would be that fact that students would need to make strong ties to the curriculum and not get to caught up with the new 'real world' issues.
     I would also seek to engage in Professional Growth and Leadership within my district.  So often teachers are caught up not wanting to change for technology or trying to use technology but not making any stride toward improving student learning.  In the leadership role a teacher could aid others in finding ways to effectively improve student understanding of given curriculum with new technology.  So often the key to helping students is through helping teachers with the process.  By becoming a leader and helping teachers to find ways to effectively incorporate technology I would also be helping high numbers of students.  This is a tricky goal as many teachers are turned off by others helping them change their methods.  It is also the case that many teachers believe they are already effective in their use of technology.  I would like to think many teachers will begin to see the importance as we move forward.  The challenge with this strategy is that it is relatively difficult to judge your effectiveness in this type of leadership.  Simple observation may be the only way to monitor the growth of colleagues in this area.