Final Reflection

Over the past eight weeks, I was able to establish a GAME plan focusing on two main goals: incorporating blogs and wikis whenever possible into instruction and establishing a classroom website to increase communication. I have learned that even with a well-designed plan, adaptations must occur and the ability to be flexible must remain a constant reality. I was notified a few short weeks ago that my county was eliminating blogs from the technology department and focusing on wiki communication for all students. My GAME plan has been altered and the technology teacher and I are meeting this coming week to discuss the switch from blog communication to wikis. We have a tentative plan to switch our assignments over to wiki format but this will take several planning sessions and a great deal of flexibility when it comes to our students. My classroom website is coming along quite nicely. I found out that my website must be linked though my school's website and I have developed a trial site that I plan to have approved after returning from winter break. I feel that this website will increase communication with my parents and also allow me to keep my students up to date while they are outside of my classroom. I look forward to implementing both of my plans by the beginning of the second semester so that I may continue to challenge myself as well as increase the level of learning within my classroom.

Many people are surprised at the amount of technology integration that occurs in my physical education classroom. After completing my most recent graduate course, I plan to continue to increase my level of technology integration and look for additional creative ways to infuse technology into my program. I have learned that technology should not be forced into a classroom, but rather utilized when appropriate in order to achieve a high level of student success (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009). I plan to increase the amount of contact with our partner school in England by communicating on a monthly basis via wikis. I am also interested in creating more problem-based learning activities and opportunities for my students to communicate through social networking devices. My goal is to take these plans in moderation and limit the overwhelming sense that technology often brings to a classroom by remaining organized and focused on achieving short term goals. Finally, I pledge to remain educated on the most recent technology advances so that I may give my students the best possible environment to succeed in the 21st century.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore: Author.