The daily lesson GAME plan as provided by Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer (2008) is a flexible and easy to use template for teachers. Educators can use as much or as little detail according to their particular needs. As a veteran teacher, I do not need to write out everything for a lesson, but I found the GAME plan helpful in preparing for my students’ needs. At the beginning of each year, I require my students to teach the class a topic with which they learned the previous year as a review. I have provided my students with a lesson plan template in the past, but none of them chose to use it. Next year, I am going to require that my students use the GAME plan lesson template in the creation of their lessons. I think it will assist them in staying on track and focusing on the important features of the lesson.
As a result of this course, I have taken a lesson I have taught in the past and enhanced it to include social networking/online collaboration and digital storytelling. I have not had the time yet to implement all three, but the problem-based learning project is progressing well in my classes. I look forward to seeing the impact of the social networking/online collaboration and digital storytelling. I have introduced the topics to my students and they seem genuinely interested in the projects.
I have given my students the opportunity to post on a class wiki throughout the year, but they have not taken the initiative to post anything. I will require them to post as a result of the social networking/online collaboration project, so I hope that this will spur them to share other ideas. Next year, when I introduce the concept of a class wiki, I will require students to post. My students are hesitant when it comes to new technology. They would rather not try something new, rather than make a mistake. By requiring my students to post, I will give them the experience with new technology that will assist them with developing 21st century skills. Technology is the future and it is my goal to prepare my students for the real world.
References
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
