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