Getting in the Game

      Last week I initiated my GAME plan that focuses on two technology standards (NETS-T) identified by the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE).

My two main areas of focus are:

Standard 2-Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments (Authentic Experiences)
Standard 5-Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

      The second phase of the GAME plan is taking action to meet my goals.  This includes identifying the information needed to meet the goal, and identifying the resources to access that information (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009).  There are numerous ways I can access the information needed to accomplish my goals but I feel the primary way will be by using technology.  As Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer state, “you can actually use technology to learn more about technology”.

       One way that I will use technology to develop these skills is by searching educational blogs.  A few of my favorites are:
www.freetech4teachers.com
www.ilearntechnology.com
www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu
www.tech4mated.com/blog/
www.blog.leslek12.net/techclasslinks/fifth-grade-math-core-standards/ 

      These blogs are filled with resources for authentic learning experiences, but they also share ways to incorporate technology to take the lesson to the next level, the primary focus of my GAME plan. 
       Another way I will use technology to acquire this information is by searching for online resources.  I have found two sites (www.mathalicious.com and www.makemathmore.com) that provide a number of real-life activities for a cost.  I have made these known to my building principal, and my math committee to see if there is funding to purchase a membership to these sites.  However, in the mean time I have continued my search for free resources.
I have found a number of sites with links to activities to teach my fifth grade math content standards using authentic tasks.  Some of these are:

Shopping Spree
http://www.wilsonsd.org/cms/lib01/PA01000270/Centricity/Domain/489/Shopping-on-a-Budget-Calculating-Prices-Percentages-and-Sales-Tax.pdf 

Million Dollar Project
http://www.wilsonsd.org/cms/lib01/PA01000270/Centricity/Domain/489/The-Million-Dollar-Project.pdf 

Fantasy Football Project
http://www.wilsonsd.org/cms/lib01/PA01000270/Centricity/Domain/489/FantasyFootballMathExtension.pdf

Paris on a Budget
http://www.rblewis.net/technology/EDU506/WebQuests/parisbudget/parisbudget.html 

Christmas Math Budget
http://www.wilsonsd.org/cms/lib01/PA01000270/Centricity/Domain/489/Christmas-Math-Budget-Activity.pdf 

Diaper Math
http://www.yummymath.com/wp-content/uploads/diapers2012.pdf 

Hands-on-Math:  Doghouses
http://www.thefutureschannel.com/hands-on_math/doghouse.php 

Spaghetti Towers
http://jfmueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/toolbox/examples/willis08/spaghetti%20towers.pdf 

Calculating Profits Selling Virtual Lemonade
http://www.microsoft.com/education/en-us/teachers/plans/Pages/calculating_profits.aspx www.realworldmath.org 

Project-Based Learning Approach
www.sun-associates.com/lynn/pbl/pbl.html 

www.mathforum.org/paths/fractions/frac.recipe.html 

Fraction Unit
www.search.teach-nology.com/units/storyline.pdf 

www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/04/lp341-04.shtml 

MathLine-Real-Life Videos
www.pbs.org/teachers/mathline/lessonplans/section_6-8.shtm 

Census Math
www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/TM/ws_census_states.shtml

Another way I will work towards my goals is by attending professional development and presenting what I have learned with my coworkers.  This week I have signed up to attend the Indiana Association of the Gifted (IAG) Conference December 10^th in Indianapolis.  I have attended two IAG conferences already this year and I’m eagerly awaiting this next conference.  I always look forward to returning to work to share what I have learned with my coworkers and administrators. 

I would like to find ways to work with other teachers to see what authentic tasks they have found successful but I am struggling to find anyone interested in helping me in this search.  I am the only math teacher in my grade so I do not have colleagues that I can collaborate with on a regular basis.  I have created a section on my blog for others to share their ideas, and I have emailed numerous teachers, former classmates, current classmates, principals, etc. and have only had one or two ideas shared with me.   I would love to hear any ideas my Walden colleagues have on getting feedback from other teachers.  I know there are teachers who have resources and want to help, but with the numerous mandates they put on us, they simply do not have the time.  What are your suggestions to overcome this?

In addition to finding the information for this GAME plan, I’m realizing that I’m in need of a way to organize the information in a way that resources will be easily accessible.  I can use my social bookmarking to mark pages, and I can save PDFs or Word documents in my DropBox in folders, but I haven’t really found a method that I really like.  I feel I may need to make an outline or schedule to help me remember what items I have found on each topic and a way to identify which standards these activities support. 

I am really feeling the pressure of balancing work and school right now.  I’m hopeful that my Walden colleagues will have some great suggestions on how I can improve my GAME plan, or even tips to make it a success.  I welcome any suggestions you may have. 

References:

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P.  (2009).  Technology integration for meaningful classroom use:  A standards-based approach.  (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.).  Belmont, CA:  Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

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