Over the past year or so, I have spent a considerable amount of time on the ISTE website for professional development purposes as well as to align our district’s core curriculum standards for technology with the ISTE NETS for Students. However, to be honest with myself, I have spent considerably less time reviewing and understanding the performance indicators for teachers. Shame on me because now that I have invested the time, I can see clearly how these indicators serve as the basis for creating a solid foundation on which the successful integration of technology across the curriculum and in the classroom rests.
In August, I will be starting a new job at a private school where the use of technology stands in high regard. The school has made the decision and the commitment to invest in technology with the objective of enhancing the teaching and learning experience. That said they also recognize that integrating technology is not a pedagogical panacea and sometimes more can be accomplished using paper and pencil rather than with an iPad and an app (King-Sears & Evmenova, 2007).
As an educational technology teacher, I need to create authentic learning experiences and to be able to assess my students’ progress both formatively and summatively (Cummano et al, 2009). Likewise, as an integration coordinator, my job will be to assist teachers in selecting the most appropriate technology or make the decision to go the “low-tech” route (King-Sears & Evmenova, 2007). Moreover, I will be working with them to design and develop technology-based instruction and assessment. Keeping this mind, I decided to make a commitment toward focusing on performance indicators #2 Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments and #5 Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership and have developed the following GAME plan to help me reach my objectives.
Goals
· I will learn how to assess my students effectively so that I can make better teaching decisions that result in enhanced learning experiences.
· I will continue to learn how to many better decisions regarding the use of certain technologies.
· I will stay abreast of the constant and considerable changes in technology.
Actions
· For each of my goals, I will actively participate in various networking sites and PLCs (i.e. ISTE) as well as consult with peers at other schools as well as my colleagues. I will subscribe to applicable newsletters and list serves as well as attend conferences and webinars. I will consult regularly with students to gather information about the latest technology that they might want to use for educational purposes.
Monitor
· I will reflect on if I am obtaining enough of the right data to make informed decisions as well as determine if I am making proper modifications to my lessons to meet my desired results.
Evaluate and Extend
· I will observe the classrooms of the teachers that I assist and I will maintain a journal noting what has and has not achieved a sufficient level of success. I will solicit input from my supervisor, colleagues, and other relevant staff and faculty. Through observation and surveys, I will note what personal technologies students might be using and then seek an educational extension.
For those of you, who did not have the chance to see this video, please take about 10 minutes to do so. I believe that you will find it to be well worth the time because it addresses why we need to create authentic digital learning experiences and how we should go about doing so in a seamless and meaningful manner.
King-Sears, M., & Evmenova, A. S. (2007). Premises, principles, and processes for integrating technology into instruction. Teaching Exceptional Children, 40(1), 6–14. Retrieved from the Academic Search Complete database.
