Tools Needed For GAME Plan
Before I start my posting about my needed tools you are probably wondering what the picture represents. Well, I could say that it shows the necessity to have the proper tools to be successful or I could tell the truth and wanted to see how to post a picture.
What have I done about my GAME plan thus far. I have talked with the principal about having all students take computers next year and have requested we discuss this at our meetings. Unfortunately, the staff is focusing on two glaring problems or problems that the teachers have deemed important, which are planning days for next year and action teams. Technolgy is not priority.
In order to carry out my GAME plan, I will need to do some research on the importance of technology in the classroom. Have statistics of the benefits of using technology. My school needs to have all students learning and using technology, but our music programs schedule does not allow all student to take computers. Specific examples of how technology directly benefits the students will be needed to present to the administration and staff. Samples of 21st century skills will be needed for the presentation. Possibly share a skill or specific technology tool each month to show case how it benefits students would help the teachers obtain information in pieces instead of one chunk of information.
The district has a 21st century plan on the web site, but the principal and other teachers that I have spoke to have never heard of the plan. This will need to be studied and presented to the staff. The plan shows the importance of technology in the classroom, which should be used now, not later.
I will need to find out about possible grants that can be used to get some technology onto our campus. Our computer teacher uses 15 year old computers, which does not allow him to use up-to-date programs.
Our campus does have some experts about technology, so it is important that I talk with them to create a sense of importance and to get some needed help. It is so much easier and efficient to collaborate with your colleagues. This creates a united front.
It is unfortunate that your district does not value technology as being a viable and useful tool within the classroom. Does your school or district have a technology committee? If not perhaps there are others in your building that feel the same way you do and could form a committee to discuss its importance to bring before other teachers and administrators. By having data to show its importance and how it helps to increase student success would be hard to ignore it sneed in the classroom. Grants are a great way to receive money for technology. My district has written and received grants to receive student sets of clickers as well as receive SMART Boards. I am fortunate in that my district sees the need for technology, but like your school, many of our computers are very old. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteCathy, One of the most effective ways may not just be showing how students statistically need technology but how your surrounding districts have accepted it into their programs and your district is falling behind. My small district starts the students with computers in kindergarden. They build their skills each year. The only aspects I do not agree with are the middle school students have keyboarding and are not worked with. When they get to high school they want to do papers with their index fingers. They never really learned to type. It holds them back with research papers. They also used search engines that do not prepare them for high school searches. Cathy, keep up the battle and smile along the way. It makes others wonder what you are thinking.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of using other districts as an example. A district that is not neighboring, but has a lot of similarities is San Diego. They have embraced technology. This is a great way to show the benefits and the necessity of technology in the classroom. Thank you for the idea.
ReplyDeleteLove the picture. It made me laugh as I was just thinking about the same kind of image for the Technology Showcase I am presenting at on Wednesday. I was thinking about setting up a "before technology" demo and then of course have all the displays of their amazing technology producted work.
ReplyDeleteAs for your wish to have 1:1 computers, a thought for the immediate or near future would be to see if you can find some local businesses to help sponsor 1 to 3 computers each. Then if you can get 4 to 5 companies to sponsor 3 to 4 computers that would atleast get 12 to 20 computers in your classroom. This would make a great "pilot" or "demo" classroom. Desktops can run as little as $300 at Best Buy. If you have a class of 30 and can secure 15 computers that would be a start. Then you could design a schedule were blue team can use the computers Tue & Thur while team silver can use them Wed & Fri. You can use Monday as a set up or recap day. Alternatively you can also try Microsoft's Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for options.
Just a thought.