To my group: I am so sorry that my post did not go through. Below is what I thought I posted last Wednesday night (before everything with my internet connection--or lack there of since then--started happening). Thank goodness I saved this in a Word document :)
My actions so far have achieved some of my GAME plan goals. First, I set up a new free educator blog site so parents, students, and the community can have free access to it: http://abroberts08.edublogs.org/ By creating this new webpage everyone is able to have access to it. My former classroom webpage was created through Blackboard, where it is password protected. The only people that could gain access was my students (and parents through using the student's log in information). However, I did not want to leave out easy access for parents and the community so that is why I chose to create a new webpage. This new webpage through Edublogs.org has allowed me to gain closer achievement to my first indicator: "collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation".
My second indicator was not so forthcoming though. I was able to find a personal learning network to join, but unfortunately did not find it very beneficial. The link to the network is: http://www.technologyintegrationineducation.com/ I constantly was having to ask for my membership to be changed from pending to a full member. The administrator of this personal network was very slow and late in getting back with me about my membership. Unfortunately, this put me behind on gaining access to the blogs, discussion boards, chats, videos, and other cool resources (like free podcasts!). My whole point in wanting to join this network was to work on reaching my goal for my second indicator: "participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning".
After all this being said, I believe that for the most part, my actions were somewhat effective in trying to reach my GAME plan goals. One lesson that I have learned that I can apply to my instructional methods in integrating technology in the classroom is you have to be very patient. When using technology, not always is your first or second plan of action going to work. After creating a teacher webpage, then finding out not everyone (including my Walden classmates) could gain access to it, then creating a second teacher webpage, and finally trying to fight the battle of becoming a member of my PNL...I never thought that I would have to jump through so many loops. At this time I do not have any questions about how to continue with my GAME plan. The only thing I need is more time to work on my newly created teacher webpage. In addition, I am still awaiting the verification email saying I have been granted full access to my PLN. One way that I am going to adjust my plan to fit my current needs is I am now on the search for a new PLN. Instead of waiting, I am currently in the process of searching for a new PLN. Any suggestions?
