Course Reflection

help me in my day to day life, at school and at home. I have a Blackberry, laptop, navigation system, etc. What more is there? So my goals for this course were to learn about new different tools that I could use that might benefit my personal and professional life. I wanted to learn how to encourage students through the tools they already use or have the brains that are ready to use. What I have discovered through this course is that I use technology only to a certain extent. I know now that I am a digital immigrant. I use technology every day but I am not as savvy as I once considered myself. I can do so much more now with a power point. Being a blogger now has educational implications now. As I created a blog, used the discussion board, read about wiki spaces, Google desk top and scanners, I realized that I need to take more time to learn about devices, programs, and ideas that can make my life a lot easier. Moreover, I need to take what I know and use it to transfer knowledge to my students. I found it so powerful to try some of the lessons I normally did in the classroom, in the computer lab. The students were so engaged and excited, I wondered why I hadn’t thought of the idea sooner.


I envisioned sailing through this course with very little effort. However, I learned a great deal about myself as a technology user, I have new questions about the technology I want to use or acquire, and I feel much more comfortable with blogs and wiki and plan to use them in my current teaching assignment. I plan to create a class blog to keep parents informed on the happenings in my class. Here I can post work, pictures of activities, and keep in contact with the stakeholders in my classroom. Obviously, I have the same concerns as most with blogs, privacy and security issues and teaching the students cyber ethics. Being informed that these dangers exist will make me diligent in teaching students to be safe and providing a safe environment for them to explore. I think I can make a difference using them and by making the blog “private” only users I know and allow may access the blog. The benefits of information sharing and the learning that will take place far outweigh the concerns I have.

A setback I experienced was not having the tools I needed. I only have two student computers so in order to really teach a lesson where students can actively apply learning instead of watching me do, has to be done in the computer lab. As you can imagine, time there is extremely limited. My campus has eight hundred and eighty seven students. All of these students share a lad of thirty computers. I have all this new learning and excitement to sustain it. But I have to wait until Mondays at 2:00 to teach it!

In order to keep my parents up to date with the happenings of my children I keep a blog and post pictures weekly. However, before this course I had only used a blog as a way to share pictures. Being able to create a blog and utilize it to share information has been very valuable to me because I had never thought of using them in this way. Now I see the many possibilities I can use a blog for within my classroom. I was also able to create a PowerPoint during this course. I fall into the trap of doing the same old thing, the same old way. I use PowerPoint at school but I only use a few of the tools and don’t use it to its potential. Through the creation of the PowerPoint, I started to think of the implications for using it as an administrator and using it more effectively in my classroom. I was also forced to use a new version (2007) which I had previously shied away from because I was so used to using the version my school district uses (2003). While I found it difficult, the lesson it taught me was that I shouldn’t shy away, I just need to take the time to experience new tools and try them.

Overall, I am extremely pleased with the learning I have done in this course. While I feel I know less, I actually know more now than when I started. Now I am encouraged to continue learning and try new things. I know that I cannot be the expert at everything. This course has taught me to seek new learning and surround myself with a team that can be my experts. Together, with that team, I will be able to acomplish great things.

Aimee Stanton
EDLD 5352
Action Plan

Role
Description
Level
Superintendant
Provides and uses up-to-date technology for use in classroom, board room and around district
District
Chief Technology Officer and Staff
Provide technology resources, opportunities for training, develop integration strategies, fiscal management of resources
District, Campus
Technology Staff
Provides training for teachers, ensures usability of technology by keeping hardware and software in good working order
Campus
Principal
Provision of funds for purchase and upkeep of materials, development and implementation of short-term and long-term technology goals on campus integration through modeling and evaluation of up-to-date technology usage. Monitor goals are being met through PDAS and informal assessments of teacher performance.
Campus, Classroom
Teacher
Use of technology in class with a focus on integration of the technology TEKS, pursuer professional development opportunities in technology, engage students in technology rich environment while teaching lessons
Campus, Classroom

Professional Development

Objectives:
Showcase campus technology and useful ways to implement it in the classroom
Advise teachers on current copyright laws and cyber ethics.
Provide opportunities for teachers to plan experiences with copyright laws and cyber ethics for students
Empower teachers to use and teach with technology tools in the classroom

In response to Weber’s low score in the area of Teacher Development and Preparation on the StaR Chart, we are planning a day of Professional Development devoted to teacher training in technology. The teachers will rotate through four different 90 minute sessions throughout the day.
In one computer lab, the TIS will present all of the software available on campus. Teachers will practice using the software and be given time to plan with their grade level with a focus on implementation.
In the second computer lab, Our technology aid will give a presentation on using Microsoft Power Point and Excel. This comes in response to a campus wide ‘need’ survey. Teachers responded they would more readily use these programs if they could see value and were taught how to use them.
In the KIVA, teachers will be advised on the latest copyright laws and cyber ethics presented by the librarian. Teachers will be given time to break-out into groups to plan on how to integrate this into lessons in the lab. The fourth sessions.
In my classroom, I will show teachers how to use the Lumens to capture pictures and display them side by side, use the SMART board for instruction, and demonstrate how to use the laptop cart in a lesson. Teachers will also be shown the lessons already created on the global dive and how to change them to suit their needs.



Evaluation
At the end of the day we will gather back together to debrief.
All teacher will be given a survey to fill out. Did you find this training useful (scale of 1 to 5)? What did you learn today that you will use? Do you have any lingering questions?
Teachers will also make some classroom goals to implement some of the learning used today. Goals will be submitted in writing and the principal and assistant principal will look for evidence of growth in the PDAS walk-throughs.
A four week follow-up survey will be conducted. What learnings have you implemented? What challenges have you faced? What would you like to learn more about at our next staff development?
Surveys will be evaluated by the TIS and Principal and used to plan a subsequent professional development.The 2009-2010 STaR Chart with hopefully reflect growth

Weber Elementary

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Weber Elementary

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Week 2 Assignment 2

The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology encompasses four main areas. The one I believe will have the most significant impact on our student population is the area of Educator Preparation and Development. It is critical that educators know how to use an effectively implement technology into the learning day as a way of delivering information and as a way for students to respond with information. The Technology Plan requires beginning teachers to meet certain criteria before continuing their employment. The plan proposes that all teachers graduate from programs that model current technology. It also creates parameters for districts to develop new learning environments that utilize technology. It also ensures that the full integration of the appropriate technology throughout all curriculum and instruction.

From the implementation of this plan in 2006, great strides have been made. My district employs the use of TSDP, Technology Staff Development Plan. This plan serves all teachers as a way to meet the goals of the State’s long range plan. Teachers certify in four different levels by showing competency in all areas of technology. The Technology Facilitator on campus keeps records of who has achieved what level. Within the first 2 years with the district teachers are required to complete all the competencies. The flaw in this method is that teachers are left alone to complete the areas. Personally, it was a mundane but simple task for me. For others, it is a huge, insurmountable undertaking. If I could recommend improvement, I would find ways to support teachers in completing and meeting the state competency through more staff development.

week 1 Assignment 4

The technology TEKS spiral and build as the knowledge and age level of each student progress. The most important TEKS are found at the Pre-K Level. Mastery of these skills will allow these small students to move on to Kindergarten with a firm foundation in technology which will be expanded by the kindergarten through second grade TEKS and the others that follow accordingly. Skills that are essential in Pre K include:
• follows basic oral or visual cues for operating programs successfully.
• listens to and interacts with storybooks and information texts (multimedia encyclopedia) in electronic forms.
• moves and double‐clicks the mouse to interact with software programs.
• uses terminology to describe work on computer. uses voice/sound recording and touch screen devices appropriately.
• inserts and plays CD to listen to songs creates writings and drawings using software.
• uses a variety of software packages with audio, video, and graphics to enhance learning experiences (improving vocabulary; increasing phonological awareness).
• learns new information through interaction with technology
These skills come around for each child year after year with a little more difficulty through the spiraling technology TEKS. Specifically the last one, gaining knowledge from electronic sources, will be a daily necessity for every individual. If these skills are not at least introduced, this four year old is behind in today’s world before he even steps foot in kindergarten classroom.

Week 1 Assignment 3

Texas has rolled out a technology initiative. In response to the diverse and changing landscape of business Texas plans to help schools create a muchneeded shift in technology paradigm. We no longer live in a manufacturing era. We live in an information based era. Therefore our teaching must change in order to make our students competitive with students of other countries. The 21st century learner is a technology savvy individual who relies upon it to enhance every area of his life. This new kind of student REQUIRES instruction that allows them to communicate in a technology-enriched society. The students we teach are familiar with technology and are almost constantly connected to it.Educators must acquire the necessary skills within technology so they can be effective mentors to students who will need those skills in a competitive market place. Professional learning should be implemented in such a way that teachers are able to learn and implement technology in their plan for students. Parameters are in place through SBEC to help teachers acquire professional development.The infrastructure of technology will open doors previously closed, and enhance the speed, quality, and quantity of information exchange between schools, districts, college, communities, and the world. The infrastructure will have equitable access, technological support, standards to support learning, and measure to ensure data is secure and accurate.

Summary of Surveys

Before taking the Technology Applications Inventory I regarded myself as a technology savvy teacher. While most of the survey implicates this point of view there is a significant deficit in the domain of Solving Problems with Technology Tools. After some thought, I have surmised that I become comfortable with certain applications, software, or programs and use them to fulfill my needs. For instance, I have never learned how to efficiently use Microsoft Excel. Moreover, I go to great lengths to avoid its use because of my inability to effectively utilize all of Excel's features.
Next I took the SETDA Teacher survey and tried to answer the questions as honestly as possible. From that survey I have concluded that my students do not use technology on a regular basis for two reasons: my lack of knowhow and the school’s lack of equipment. The first is easily changed because we have an excellent technology facilitator, who is a former teacher, employed on our campus. I have set a goal to meet with her on how to integrate more technology into my teaching for my benefit but also to meet the needs of the students.
Finally I used The Rubric for Administrative Technology and found some of the same gaping holes. As a future administrator, it will be my job to ensure that I not only know how to use technology but that I actually use it. This will benefit my staff, the students, and the stakeholders of the school in which I lead.