Evaluating Your GAME Plan Progress

Working on a project using a GAME plan has helped me make the project more understanding for the students and at the same time keeps them engaged in what they are doing. Having them create short lessons on the Chapters they are assigned to present to the class as a review of the quarter's material has opened their eyes to what happens on the other side. They are realizing a little what it is like to be the teacher and not the student.

*How effective were your actions in helping you meet your goals?
By using the GAME plan and creating the lesson, it has helped me focus more on how it needs to be created with the students interest in mind. It has helped me narrow it down to the important information they need to present so that they are not picking information that will not be needed.

*What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instructional practice?
I have learned that there is more than one way to do things. I am use to being the lecturer. I want to give my students the opportunity to take charge and I can just be a facilitator.

*What do you still have to learn? What new questions have arisen?
What I still have to learn is to let the students think for themselves. I have found that the more information I give them, the more dependent they are on me. If I allow them to research information on their own, they become more dependent on their own research and learning skills. The question that has arisen is, How do I let go of the "control" and allow them to be independent in some of the work. It is hard to do seeing I have always taught in the way where I give the information and they just store it in their memory. I want them to take control of their learning a little more and at the same time, I am learning how to let them do that.

*How will you adjust your plan to fit your current needs?
I will a little at a time find information that the students are able to find on their own and understand with little or no help from me. This would be a good start for them to use that higher-level learning.

I believe if I make some of these changes in my lessons, the students will become more engaged in the learning process and not sit there board listening to me talk all the time.