The outcomes I envisioned for this course were to gain knowledge of where technology is going in the 21st century classroom and what role I play as an administrator in the process, what kinds of new technology was out there to be used in the classroom, and ideas of different ways educators are taking this new technology and incorporating it into the classroom. I do feel that I have achieved those outcome from learning about the many new technical tools being utilized in the classroom today such as blogging podcasting and others. Before this class, I had never posted a blog on the Internet. The readings gave insight as to how other educators are using this technology in their schools. I do believe that the course outcomes aligned with those that I envisioned. I was able to understand through the Long-Range Technology plan the goals we have set in the state of Texas. I also have used other resources such as the STaR Chart to analyze data to see how our school rates on achieving those goals, how we have gain or lose ground on achieving our goals, and how we rate when compared to other schools in Texas.
All of the outcomes of this course have been and will continue to be relevant to the work that I do. As an assistant principal and soon to be pricipal understanding copy-write laws and reading about how teachers and principals are using these new technology tools give me the opportunity to begin to develop the user policies that will enable students at our school to use these Internet tools. It also has given me ways to model technology and use these new Internet tools for staff development for my staff which will encourage them to use it in their classroom. I believe I have a better understanding of the goals, assessements, and the direction that our school needs to be moving in to develop our classroom into classrooms of the 21st century.
I believe I was successful in carrying out the course assignments and I also believe that the assignments gave me the ability to master understanding of the role technology plays in the education of todays students, the need for technology by our students, and how teachers are going to have to work hard to incorporate it into their classroom in order to effective engage students in the classroom.
Before this class started, I had always considered myself moderately technology savvy. I had developed PowerPoint lessons and used those lesson and other technology tools in the classroom. I probably used technology in my classroom more than most. After gaining a broader view of technology and better understanding about the goals of the state to improve it's use in the classroom, I see that I have a long ways to go to become the educator needed to teach in todays classroom effectively incorporating technology in multiple venues. I attitude about Internet usage and using the Internet in the classroom has not changed much. I am open to the newly introduced Internet tools being used in the classrooms, but I still have many reservations about it until we can create a way that students can use it and not abuse it.
The value of blogs and blogging to the 21st century learner is to create a way that reaches digital natives and engages them in the classroom to better prepare them for their future. I provides a way for teachers and students to interact and communicate, it also provides a way to involve parents and other stakeholders in the discussion. The blogging provides ways for experts in the fields of discussion to provide input to the discussion too. Blogging allows a variety of media tools to be displayed and used on the blog. Students can post videos, audio tapes and respond by text.
The concerns about blogging include safety, abuse, and misuse. My number one concern is safety. I have to know that our use of Internet tools is not going to place any of our students at risk of falling prey to predators who surf the Internet in this day in time. Abuse and misuse is the concern of any administrator and may questions and policies need to be worked out for most to be at peace with blogging.
Blogging is an excellent platform for school leadership to post important news, upcoming events, request for feedback from parents, and general information about the school. Parents could have a way to provide feedback, feel that they are a part of the decision-making process, and stay current on the school related issues. Student and parents could post questions of concern and school could post answers to those questions. Teachers could post weekly assignments and parents could be fully informed as to what their children should be accomplishing in the classroom.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Elkhart High School STar Chart Summary
Check out this SlideShare Presentation: Elkhart High School's data from the STar Chart is being presented to show strengths and weaknesses in technology.
Elkhart High School
View more presentations from Greg Herring.
STaR Chart Technology Plan
It is my opinion that the area that should be targeted the most by my campus would be the key area of educator preparation and development. When reviewing the trend in this area, you would think that another area should be choosen. Educator preparation and development declined in the 07-08 school year but improved in the 07-08 school year. Most preparation or development for educators would come from our regional education center which is around 100 miles from our district. Most of the professional development is hindered do to the cost of substitutes, limited travel arrangements, and travel expenses.
The great news is that during our current school year our district has developed a distance learning lab where teachers can receive professional development via live feeds over the internet that will enable our district to utilize distance learning at a minimal cost to the district. This will require the district to have facilitators on site to interact with the participants to ensure support for each professional development.
The trend for this area would be minimal training during in-service or training at the regional service center. Most training from the region center is by teacher request and at a great cost to the district. Some of our training at the region center is mandated by the district. The distance learning lab would enable teachers to receive training at the school and reduce travel expenses.
My recommendation is simple. We should utilize the resources we already have to maximize the opportunity for great professional development. It would be a shame to think that we should only use this for classroom instruction and for student use only. With technology rapidly changing in the classroom, teachers need more today than ever to stay current with the changes and receive enough training that the teacher feels comfortable using technology and allow students to use it as well in the classroom.
The great news is that during our current school year our district has developed a distance learning lab where teachers can receive professional development via live feeds over the internet that will enable our district to utilize distance learning at a minimal cost to the district. This will require the district to have facilitators on site to interact with the participants to ensure support for each professional development.
The trend for this area would be minimal training during in-service or training at the regional service center. Most training from the region center is by teacher request and at a great cost to the district. Some of our training at the region center is mandated by the district. The distance learning lab would enable teachers to receive training at the school and reduce travel expenses.
My recommendation is simple. We should utilize the resources we already have to maximize the opportunity for great professional development. It would be a shame to think that we should only use this for classroom instruction and for student use only. With technology rapidly changing in the classroom, teachers need more today than ever to stay current with the changes and receive enough training that the teacher feels comfortable using technology and allow students to use it as well in the classroom.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Pre-K Technology Applications TEKS Summary
The Pre-K Technology Application TEKS were written to give teachers clear objectives in which students must mastery at some point or another. The outline allows teachers to see what they should be teaching on their grade level. Teacher can follow the TEKS through other grades to see when how their objectives tie in with other grade levels, where objectives are introduced
and where students need to show mastery. Another purpose for the TEKS is to involve families for the readiness and monitoring of student progress in regards to the technology TEKS. Students will learn how technology affects their lives and will be expected to open and navigate programs and be able to master various types of software programs. Students are expected to be able to identify input devices such as a computer mouse, keyboard, sound recorder, touch screen, and CD-Rom. Since the Pre-K program is the first time students are introduced to technology in public education, it is responsible for creating the fundamental foundation by which student will build their knowledge and understand of technology. Student learn how to use basic programs and basic application on the computer. They also learn how to acquire information, problem solve, and communicate using technology.
A spiraling and scaffolding curriculum uses the introduction and application of certain objectivesthroughout several grades. Each time the objective is applied the objective is age and grade level appropriate adding a different level of difficulty to the skill. The scaffolding of the curriculum uses a variety of strategies to support the students learning. The idea is to give the highest level of support and help early and gradually decrease the support and help as the students begin to understand and master the objective. Students in the state of Texas are expected to master many of the Technology TEKS by the 8th grade. It becomes each grade level's job to teach the appropriate grade level objectives spiraling and scaffolding as needed to ensure that the student by the 8th grade have obtained mastery.
and where students need to show mastery. Another purpose for the TEKS is to involve families for the readiness and monitoring of student progress in regards to the technology TEKS. Students will learn how technology affects their lives and will be expected to open and navigate programs and be able to master various types of software programs. Students are expected to be able to identify input devices such as a computer mouse, keyboard, sound recorder, touch screen, and CD-Rom. Since the Pre-K program is the first time students are introduced to technology in public education, it is responsible for creating the fundamental foundation by which student will build their knowledge and understand of technology. Student learn how to use basic programs and basic application on the computer. They also learn how to acquire information, problem solve, and communicate using technology.
A spiraling and scaffolding curriculum uses the introduction and application of certain objectivesthroughout several grades. Each time the objective is applied the objective is age and grade level appropriate adding a different level of difficulty to the skill. The scaffolding of the curriculum uses a variety of strategies to support the students learning. The idea is to give the highest level of support and help early and gradually decrease the support and help as the students begin to understand and master the objective. Students in the state of Texas are expected to master many of the Technology TEKS by the 8th grade. It becomes each grade level's job to teach the appropriate grade level objectives spiraling and scaffolding as needed to ensure that the student by the 8th grade have obtained mastery.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Long-Range Plan Reflection and Summary
As we live, learn, and work in the 21st Century, the same changes that impact the workplace and economy also impacts education. The Texas Long-Range Plan of Technology develops a goal for Texas schools to introduce, implement, and monitor the growth of technology in our schools. It becomes our goal to ensure that all students have 24/7 access to the digital tools, resources, and support needed to educate them for the future. It becomes the educator's job to make sure the the instruction today is relevant and meets the individual instructional needs of our diverse classrooms today. Teachers all across Texas have agreed that technology is needed in the classroom to maximize student engagement, academic achievement, and collaboration and group working skills. Teaching in the 21st Century classroom requires teachers undergo continual professional development to keep current with the changes of technology in the classroom to make sure they are using the latest research-based strategies. The educational leader needs to makes sure that their is an appropriate budget and time to support the professional development of the teachers in their school. The technological infrastructure needed to support the changes in technology will require, 24/7 access, support, and protection to ensure the effective use of the online services. To ensure the long-range technology plan is successful will require support from state, federal and local entities. It will require the proper funding, organization, and leadership to make sure our students receive a first-class education from an effective school in the 21st. Century.
Technology Assessment Surveys
After completing the Technology Application Inventory I find that I am unfamilar with much of the terminology used in technology. I have always looked at myself as a pretty tech. savy person who can navigate through many technical applications educators need to master to incorporate technology in the classroom. I still feel that I have adequate skills to be an educational leader in todays technological movement. I find that with the proper training with programs and equipment I am able to utilize those programs and equipment appropriately as a user. Using the 1st survey I found that my personal ablities allowed me to answer yes more than no in the areas of foundation, information acquisition, and problem solving. The one area that I had an equal amount of no's and yes's was communication. I felt that I was weak in areas such as databases, speadsheets, interdiciplinary multimedia presentations, tracking trends, setting timelines, and the uses of an electronic evaluation tools. Many of the applications I have used and have a basic knowledge of. It has been a long time since I have developed a database and I use spreadsheets everyday, but struggle with formulas and how to assign them to different cells.
The second assessment using the SETDA Building survey recorded data that pertains to our schools use of technology in and out of the school setting. I do believe that our school has made great strides toward improving technology at our school. We have purchased a mobile lab computer cart and equiped it with laptops for teachers to check out and students to use. I have witnessed many classes utilizing the mobile lab and students using and giving presentations using the laptops. This year our district created a distant learning lab that has over 40 computers stations with half of the stations utilizing laptops. We are now able to use the lab for distant learning with a camera and overhead projector to allow interaction between the long-distance instructor and our lab. Our goal this year is to make sure that all teachers have a document camera in their room and receive training on how to use the camera in the classroom. Our campus has requested more smartboards to begin equiping classroom as our budget allows.
Where I think that our school shows a weakness is in the area of student use of technology. We have done a pretty goood job of making it to where teachers can use technology, but our students use needs to improve.
The second assessment using the SETDA Building survey recorded data that pertains to our schools use of technology in and out of the school setting. I do believe that our school has made great strides toward improving technology at our school. We have purchased a mobile lab computer cart and equiped it with laptops for teachers to check out and students to use. I have witnessed many classes utilizing the mobile lab and students using and giving presentations using the laptops. This year our district created a distant learning lab that has over 40 computers stations with half of the stations utilizing laptops. We are now able to use the lab for distant learning with a camera and overhead projector to allow interaction between the long-distance instructor and our lab. Our goal this year is to make sure that all teachers have a document camera in their room and receive training on how to use the camera in the classroom. Our campus has requested more smartboards to begin equiping classroom as our budget allows.
Where I think that our school shows a weakness is in the area of student use of technology. We have done a pretty goood job of making it to where teachers can use technology, but our students use needs to improve.
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