How one's GAMEplan can transform teaching...

A game plan is needed to achieve goals in life. John Wooden once said that "Failure to prepare is preparing to fail," and having a game plan when it comes to education is no different. One's GAME plan involves acting on a Goal, determining what steps are needed to put this goal into Action, being able to Monitor where along your journey in meeting your goals you are and then Evaluating if your goal was reached.

Using the NEST standards, teachers have the ability to implement a GAME plan of their own and in doing so, embed their teaching with that of technology of today's 21st Century world. Of these standards, two that I feel I could use more strength in improving my teaching repertoire, would be the following:

1) Standard 3; Section B - Collaborating with students, parents & community members in supporting student success and innovation

2) Standard 5; Section C - Evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice and make use of effective technology resources in achieving student success.

In establishing my own personal GAME plan, I have first understood where my deficiencies lie and thus take action. My goals for both standards, in a way, overlap one another - both have the same objective in mind and that is student success, built upon both by community support and current professional practice mixed in with a dose of technology.

Two avenues that are viable options in achieving my goals would to continue to attend professional learning opportunities in the realm of technology development and to also become involved in community programs within my school district. In doing so, this would enable more of an awareness in both areas of concern.

Throughout my GAME plan, progress will be monitored by keeping a checklist of sorts related to both of my goals. In referring back to this checklist, I will be certain to continue down the path of expanding my own options and teaching capabilities, while stay focused on the objective at hand.

References

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx