The outcomes that I had envisioned for this course was to learn the state technology standards, and to learn new ways of incorporating the right type of technology into the classroom and my lessons. I did achieve my outcomes plus way more. Learning the key components of the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology, identifying the standards that guide the use and integration of technology on a campus, and to identify the sills and tools needed to navigate the new information landscape of 21st century schools are only a few of the learning outcomes this class want us to understand. These discussed what each standard was like and different ways to provide guidance to students when doing these standards. The outcomes talk about our society moving to a more technology driven community so it is important that we keep up to date with the new advancements. It really taught me how to incorporate in more in my classroom and school.
A lot of these outcomes that are talked about in this course are still relevant to the work that I do in my school. I need to know how to navigate through certain programs because I am not computer friendly. At schools I have been in before we only went to the computer lab once a semester or less, so this past year I tried going once a six weeks. Slowly but surely the technology is being added in to our lessons and classrooms across the campuses. It was nice to learn about the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology since I did not know how to do a lot of the skills myself according to the survey we did earlier in this class.
I believe the outcome that I did not achieve was to be provided with more resources for integrating the technology standards into my classroom. Right now a lot of the websites and tools on the internet are blocked because of the district restrictions, so it is hard to pull good websites and activities for the students to use. I also did not get to try out any of the examples provided, on a Macintosh computer. Those are the computers we work with at school and they work a lot different from a PC. It would have been nice to have one to go on to wikispace, etc and see if the district allows us to access those sites. It would have been nice to be given some technology examples that represent the outcomes along with the definitions to make sure we a clear understanding of how we should be teaching the concepts.
In my opinion, I was successful in carrying out the course assignments. I was not the first one to set up my blog in my group but the following weeks I was one of the first ones to post. Week three and four of this course were a little confusing at first but once all of my group discussed the different ways to start a powerpoint and other items on the blog it became more comfortable. The only thing that discouraged me from the week 3 and 4 assignments was that we had to try and do some organization and discuss with our group.
In this course I learned that technology is not something that can set you back as a teacher, but it is merely a resource that students and adults can use as a resource to the world. There are many different forms of technology, from cameras and dvds to computers and video games. I learned that technology does not have to be frightening as long as you go into learning it with an open mind and plan to take out what you get from it and teach it to your students. I know now that I can be a leader to some of my colleagues and show them ways to integrate technology into the classroom and show them how it can be time consuming but well reward able. When the new school year begins in a couple of weeks, I am going to plan my lessons more constructively and incorporate at least one big technology project each semester. If I have the chance I will also shows ideas that I have learned through the course of this class.
Learning about blogs and being able to use them in today’s world is very important. This would be a great tool to use in English classes. Students could write a paper. Other students could write their own paper reflecting or commenting on how they feel. This would be a great way to teach students persuasive arguments in their Speech classes also. People have jobs writing blogs on clothes, entertainment, and sports. Also if you have a question you can post it online, and someone will reply.
There are many concerns with blogs in education. When you blog it’s available to anyone online. Anyone can reply. Currently teachers are the only ones that look at students work. Students will have to mature, and not make fun of someone else’s work. Also blogging will be more difficult for students that don’t have a computer at home. Training about blogging and proper use will need to be done in each class.
Blogging could be used to communicate with school stakeholders. Administrators can use blogging to reach the community and keep them updated with the school’s events or past events. This will allow parents to stay involved and know what is going on on campus. Administrators can also keep teachers up to date with meetings and other updates they need to know about. Students can read blogs and know what games or events are happening on campus.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Technology Professional Development Plan
A team needs to be developed so that you will have people from various backgrounds. You need to go to the administration and see who they suggest to be on the Integration of Technology team. The team needs to consist of administrators, department heads, librarians, and other teachers. The next step would be to gather data from student assessments such as: PEIMS, TAKS, Benchmarks, CoGAT, and AEIS data. The team needs to evaluate school’s scores and see what needs to be improved the most. Then those outcomes can be compared to other schools that have different technology on their campus and see if it is benefiting them. The team needs to evaluate and determine what training needs to take place. Training needs to be developed to help meet the needs of the teachers. Programs need to be developed to help teachers get the material across to the students. The main goal to focus on is the students, and improving their knowledge. Reassessment will occur on the next exam the students have to take. Adjustments will be made accordingly where it is needed.
Professional Development- This is for the entire staff to become knowledgeable of different ways to integrate technology. Principals should require a minimum of 6 hours of technology staff development every year. Technology is increasing in schools across Texas and standards need to be assessed. Teachers need to follow the continuous change that is occurring every year and learn how to integrate technology through different subject areas.
Items to address:
1) Staff will look over data from all sources to see what ways technology can be integrated into the classroom to connect learning through core subjects and elective courses.
2) Staff Development days need to be utilized to focus on the needs in the Campus Improvement Plan. There are many free programs that can be great resources to different subject areas and it is the technology staff’s job to get those out to the teachers so that they are utilized.
3) Every staff member should look at how they can relate their subject matter to another subject within the school. How they coorelate with one another or can be used within the same technology resource. For example, when English teachers are going over the Holocaust Unit they can get Math and Business teachers involved in the lessons as well. This shows students that the concepts that are being taught are of importance in everything in life.
4) Every employee should have at least 6 hours of professional development in some kind of technology related course and should have the opportunity to meet with other colleagues to express new technology techniques that they have learned.
5) A great resource for teachers to use throughout the school is a Wiki. The wikispace works as a meeting spot for an online learning community. It lets the community members discuss issues and post new ideas to each other. In the wikispace you can set up many different pages where your online community can edit and navigate through with you. It is a good idea to have something like a wikispace because it lets you get your thoughts together within a group and you can do it at your own time and not have to actually meet all at the same time. It allows people to post their opinions and they may have helpful ideas to what made it successful for their classes.
*How to set up a Wiki and communicate
Go to: http://www.wikispaces.com. This allows teachers to work together and be able to communicate technology ideas for the classroom
6) Another great resource is a Moodle. A Moodle is a way for departments or grade levels to assess student knowledge through technology. Teachers can post quizzes, tests, and resources for students to access. My district has adopted the Moodle this year and teachers are already utilizing it for tests and technology assignments. It works like a normal webpage, so that students can access it at home and can do online assignments as outside of school work. The Moodle is offered free for any employee in Mesquite ISD and can be accessed from the Mesquite ISD website, www.mesquiteisd.org.
Professional Development- This is for the entire staff to become knowledgeable of different ways to integrate technology. Principals should require a minimum of 6 hours of technology staff development every year. Technology is increasing in schools across Texas and standards need to be assessed. Teachers need to follow the continuous change that is occurring every year and learn how to integrate technology through different subject areas.
Items to address:
1) Staff will look over data from all sources to see what ways technology can be integrated into the classroom to connect learning through core subjects and elective courses.
2) Staff Development days need to be utilized to focus on the needs in the Campus Improvement Plan. There are many free programs that can be great resources to different subject areas and it is the technology staff’s job to get those out to the teachers so that they are utilized.
3) Every staff member should look at how they can relate their subject matter to another subject within the school. How they coorelate with one another or can be used within the same technology resource. For example, when English teachers are going over the Holocaust Unit they can get Math and Business teachers involved in the lessons as well. This shows students that the concepts that are being taught are of importance in everything in life.
4) Every employee should have at least 6 hours of professional development in some kind of technology related course and should have the opportunity to meet with other colleagues to express new technology techniques that they have learned.
5) A great resource for teachers to use throughout the school is a Wiki. The wikispace works as a meeting spot for an online learning community. It lets the community members discuss issues and post new ideas to each other. In the wikispace you can set up many different pages where your online community can edit and navigate through with you. It is a good idea to have something like a wikispace because it lets you get your thoughts together within a group and you can do it at your own time and not have to actually meet all at the same time. It allows people to post their opinions and they may have helpful ideas to what made it successful for their classes.
*How to set up a Wiki and communicate
Go to: http://www.wikispaces.com. This allows teachers to work together and be able to communicate technology ideas for the classroom
6) Another great resource is a Moodle. A Moodle is a way for departments or grade levels to assess student knowledge through technology. Teachers can post quizzes, tests, and resources for students to access. My district has adopted the Moodle this year and teachers are already utilizing it for tests and technology assignments. It works like a normal webpage, so that students can access it at home and can do online assignments as outside of school work. The Moodle is offered free for any employee in Mesquite ISD and can be accessed from the Mesquite ISD website, www.mesquiteisd.org.
Technology Action Plan
Action Plan:
The STaR showed that our greatest weakness was Teaching & Learning and Educator Preparation & Development. I would have to agree with this being my school’s weakness. We do not have enough training before the year begins on the technology components and standards that we are expected to teach. It is difficult for us to use the technology if we don’t have the knowledge to do so. I would plan to train teachers in various technology applications so they can use these throughout the year.
Our purpose: To improve to our use of integrating technology into all curriculums at Mesquite High School.
Objective: To develop a curriculum where students can learn to problem solve using technology and be able to connect different subject areas through real life concepts.
Grade level: 9-12
Facilitator's name: Chris Anderson
Community members: All core departments with corresponding elective teachers assigned to departments to be able to discuss findings.
Action Plan: What all administrators, teachers, and students need to address over periods of time.
1) Develop goals for technology- This can be done at the beginning of the year during staff development days. These goals should relate to what the campus goals are for the year and should be stated in the Campus Improvement Plan.
*Each staff member will state a goal and post on the bulletin board during staff development and will give a brief description of the technology goal they hope to achieve.
2) Attention getter- Show student participation and lower discipline problems when students are engaged in lessons where technology is being used to problem solve. Watch short video through Youtube to give teachers an understanding of how technology impacts the classroom.
3) Gather ideas from staff members- To give a few examples of technology lessons that could be included in the integration. Members will give a brief description of their activity that could be included in the new integrated curriculum.
4) Gather ideas from students- Students are usually up to date on the latest technologies that are being offered and if schools really want to assess student’s knowledge and become comfortable with technology. Students can address what ways technology increases their learning and how they actually comprehend certain concepts and retain the information learned through technology.
5) Use data- There are many resources within the district that show school data and where areas of need are. It is important to use data to create focus areas within subjects and find ways they can be integrated. What technology could help these subject areas achieve higher success ratings for the student’s.
6) Evaluation/Reflection- Staff members need to meet monthly to discuss what new technology they have integrated into their classrooms and if they found success using any certain tools.
A good activity to use with the staff is to hand out 4 note cards to each staff member at the end of each semester or six weeks and have them write down on one card what they learned, on another what they think will be successful, what they still need want to know, and on the last card how could they use is this in their classroom.
The STaR showed that our greatest weakness was Teaching & Learning and Educator Preparation & Development. I would have to agree with this being my school’s weakness. We do not have enough training before the year begins on the technology components and standards that we are expected to teach. It is difficult for us to use the technology if we don’t have the knowledge to do so. I would plan to train teachers in various technology applications so they can use these throughout the year.
Our purpose: To improve to our use of integrating technology into all curriculums at Mesquite High School.
Objective: To develop a curriculum where students can learn to problem solve using technology and be able to connect different subject areas through real life concepts.
Grade level: 9-12
Facilitator's name: Chris Anderson
Community members: All core departments with corresponding elective teachers assigned to departments to be able to discuss findings.
Action Plan: What all administrators, teachers, and students need to address over periods of time.
1) Develop goals for technology- This can be done at the beginning of the year during staff development days. These goals should relate to what the campus goals are for the year and should be stated in the Campus Improvement Plan.
*Each staff member will state a goal and post on the bulletin board during staff development and will give a brief description of the technology goal they hope to achieve.
2) Attention getter- Show student participation and lower discipline problems when students are engaged in lessons where technology is being used to problem solve. Watch short video through Youtube to give teachers an understanding of how technology impacts the classroom.
3) Gather ideas from staff members- To give a few examples of technology lessons that could be included in the integration. Members will give a brief description of their activity that could be included in the new integrated curriculum.
4) Gather ideas from students- Students are usually up to date on the latest technologies that are being offered and if schools really want to assess student’s knowledge and become comfortable with technology. Students can address what ways technology increases their learning and how they actually comprehend certain concepts and retain the information learned through technology.
5) Use data- There are many resources within the district that show school data and where areas of need are. It is important to use data to create focus areas within subjects and find ways they can be integrated. What technology could help these subject areas achieve higher success ratings for the student’s.
6) Evaluation/Reflection- Staff members need to meet monthly to discuss what new technology they have integrated into their classrooms and if they found success using any certain tools.
A good activity to use with the staff is to hand out 4 note cards to each staff member at the end of each semester or six weeks and have them write down on one card what they learned, on another what they think will be successful, what they still need want to know, and on the last card how could they use is this in their classroom.
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