Working on My GAME Plan Goals

                In order for me to work towards meeting the goals in my GAME plan, I first need to look at the resources available to me.  As much of meeting both of my goals involves working with colleagues, I needed to identify some colleagues willing to work with me on this project.  In addition, the technology I have available to me at my school also helps me to meet these goals as I will be utilizing a wide array of technological devices as I work with my colleagues.  A third and often overlooked resource that I will need is time.  Due to the fact that much of my plan requires me to work with colleagues, finding a time that works well for them to collaborate with me can be difficult under everyone’s chaotic schedules.

                At this stage, I feel very confident in how my plan is progressing towards meeting my goals.  My first goal to collaborate more with students and teachers is well underway.  I have had a project that I have been waiting to start with my students for some time now.  One reason for my wait has been because I know the project itself will be difficult for me to teach my students on their own while I am helping one student at a time.  I want my students to start taking video with their iPads of themselves reflecting on activities we have done throughout the year.  This is something they could already do on their own.  However, I want to teach them how to use iMovie and make their reflection into a short movie that I could compile later on.  One colleague of mine, who teaches middle school, has offered to have her middle school students partner up with my students to teach them how to work the program.  Through this collaborative effort, my students would learn the program much more quickly and would each have their own tutor. 

My second goal was to become more of a leader to help other teachers incorporate technology into their classrooms.   I have been working on part of that goal recently when I presented what I’ve been working on with the iPads to the school board and my colleagues.  While the school board was very excited, my colleagues felt overwhelmed.  By seeing this, however, my principal realized how much help some of my fellow teachers will need in this department.  He now sees that half hour sessions in our staff meetings or optional technology trainings will never help these teachers because they will try their best to avoid implementing it.  Instead, he wants to tack on a new role for me in the elementary next year as our technology specialist.  I still want to be teaching in my first grade classroom, so the details of what this entails will still need to be worked out. 

                In conclusion, I have only just begun to work on meeting my two goals for my GAME plan, but it has already brought about so many changes for me in my district this past week.  What my year will look like next year is yet to be determined, but I’m excited for the possibilities!

Matt Larson