Using the GAME Plan Process with Students

By James Matthews

Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer’s GAME Plan outlines “recommendations for self-directed learning” (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009, p. 3). It offers a tangible guide for teachers to visualize, organize, plan, analyze, and reflect on effective lesson planning. When technology is incorporated into the GAME Plan, the setting is perfect for interesting, relevant, and productive teaching and learning.

I have been a little intimidated by changing the way that I teach mathematical topics; but it is not really about the inclusion of technology (though that is different perspective) that produces the hesitation. I have feared that I may not completely cover the mathematics by including the technology – the old “fluff” versus “substance” excuse. This class (and this graduate program in general) has helped to more confidently envision the widespread use of voice threads, podcasts, wikis, blogs, movies, and presentations in general, in my math classroom. Each of them offers opportunities to gain and apply 21st century skills while digging deeper into the math content through actual real-life application. ISTE standards are all about integrating technology skills with the understanding of the content in a fun and creative way (NETS-T 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity as noted on page 23 of the text).

The more I can infuse technology into my thinking, the more I will apply it to my planning, the more I have to prepare to use it, the more my students will appreciate it and be more interested in learning what I have to offer.

On many levels, teaching utopia.

James


References
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: a standards-based approach. Mason, Ohio: Cengage Learning.