Relections on EDLD 5363

I was amazed at our final product as well.  We started the process rather quickly and got  ahead of schedule from the start. We quickly organized and  Brooke immediately had a google doc going for us to use for collaboration.  Patricia started a drop box and  this  was the foundation for communicating effectively. The discussion over a topic was  detailed but we decided on  the teen texting  issue rather quickly. We thought of several different ideas and  combined those ideas from everyone to come up with what I feel is a very effective PSA.

We compiled a list of things that we needed to provide adequate information for our 60 PSA. 60 seconds is such a short amount of time to get in so much information. We  researched statistics, found still pictures on our topic, collected resources from the Internet ,created our own video footage, and started the basic parts of the script to go along with our narration and video shots.

We all did our jobs. I think now looking back that if we had to do it again I would know more of what to expect and provide a little more  information than what we thought we would need.. The weather hindered extra video shots that we wanted to include so I sure learned that you must be prepared for unforseen circumstances and have adequate time for completion of the project.

I also learned that working with a group definitely has its advantages. I would prefer to work on my own usually but I know I could not have done  any better than what this amazing group has done. It seemed like when one person had something going on the others didn’t hesitate to pick up and help where needed. Everyone contributed ideas and thoughts and it was a learning experience to have to depend on others and trust they would do their job.

This course taught me a lot about multimedia and video but also about teamwork and collaboration and delegating. As a future leader of a district or campus, that is an important skill to have. Knowing that the people you work with will do their job builds good relationships.

I was very proud of what we accomplished and I feel that our PSA was everything that we intended it to be from the start. With the planning, revising, editing, and  completion of the project came a sense of relief and appreciation  for a job well done.  Brooke, Holly, Shana, and Patricia were awesome collaborators and their ideas and work ethic  are evidenced by our end product. Thank you ladies.

EDLD 5363 Web Conferences Week 5

Week 5 has been an interesting week. So much to do and so little time! I was a little leary at first of working with a group. I like online classes because I can choose when and how much time to spend without waiting on anyone else. I will have to say the thought of working with a group was a little less than appealing.
Now the good stuff... what a group. I was so impressed with the work ethic and dedication of my group members. We encountered several issues but seemed always ready to resolve them easily. It seemed when life happened for one member of the group others picked up the slack as needed. I had the video portion of the PSA. My first series of video clips turned out good but we decided we needed some additional shots. Mother Nature had other ideas. It rained for five straight days and we couldn't get outside to do the shots we wanted. Next sick children, basketball games, and my job were also getting in the way of my time to work. I realized luckily that we had enough video to use without the extra shots. One thing I learned is to always have more than you think you need in order to get what you want in the editing process. After going through this process with the group and everyone having their roles I decided that we definitely had a better final product than I could have done by myself. As a leader I feel that projects require adequate time in order to deal with issues that might arise and also a lot of understanding on life and and personalities of others.
I have learned that sometimes it is wise to choose and work with a group instead of trying to do it all yourself and to learn to appreciate the value of others. PSA - Texting While Driving

EDLD 5363 Web Conference Week 1

I like the idea of web conferencing however unless you have a recording it sometimes seems a little invalid. Sometimes the chats are irrelevant to the topic and tend to be more about what technical trouble or difficulties the users are experiencing at the time. I think web conferences offer a valuable tool for distance learning and understand the whole point of holding them. I have enjoyed my classes so far at Lamar pertaining to technology and think the professors go above and beyond to provide an experience for the students to learn and integrate as much technology as possible in the short amount of time we have together. The conferences do provide that personal interaction that would be missing otherwise. One issue I myself have with web conferencing is the fact that I live in the country and my Internet provider is not sufficient but I have no other alternative. My upload and download time and amounts are very poor and I have encountered many issues on my end with submitting and posting assignments on YouTube, TeacherTube and sometimes on Lamar Epic. I greatly appreciate technology and look forward to a better experience  in the future. This first week's assignment was on creating a Personal Digital Story. I looked forward to using new software and the experience as far as the creating process was very interesting and enlightening. However, this is when I experienced the terrible upload and download issues. Aside from that it was a very good way to start out this multimedia course.  The Journey

EDLD 5363 Video Editing Software

Evaluation of software:

I don't think video editing gets much simpler than in Microsoft Movie Maker. The menu on the left side of the screen steps the user through capturing (importing) video, editing the movie (adding effects, transitions, titles, and credits), and finishing the movie (saving to a shareable file type). The layout of the screen is friendly, and the timeline and its buttons are easy to use. Movie Maker is perfect for simple video editing. It is easy to edit clips, add music and transitions, and create a video you can share with others. It is an excellent choice for use with students because it steps them through the creation process. With a short tour of the program, most students will be editing in no time. Movie Maker creates files in .wmv format.

By using simple software such as Movie Maker, students could be introduced to a topic or concept until mastered and this would set the foundation to start learning more complex software and trying more complex editing effects. This could impact future learning and interests of students and teachers.

In his article "Video Basics and Production Projects for the Classroom," Garrison (1999) states that "media production engages and excites; it leads to unexpected discoveries, increased self-awareness and esteem, sharpened critical thinking, analytical skills, group work skills, and ability to communicate ideas." I think if students used simple software and explored themselves in an area of their life such as what we did with our personal videos from last week, this would allow them to express themselves and begin to understand technology at the same time. This would be the first step in integration of technology in a seamless way.




Garrison, A. (1999, Winter). Video basics and production projects for the classroom. Center for Media Literacy. Retrieved August 31, 2010, from http://www.medialit.org/reading_room/article3.html

EDLD 5363 My Personal Video

This was a challenge for me. I really don't like talking about myself or recording my own voice for sure. However, I did manage to think about my professional life and see how far I have actually come. I also see that there is still some road left for me to travel. I realized that I was a dedicated and driven student when faced with a challenge. I understand and see that hard work pays off in the end and that education is a gift and privelege that no one can ever take from you once you have received it. I see that I am a person who likes to continue learning and will never be satisfied with what I know but will continue to pursue learning in all types of areas and ways. I love the integration of technology in today's world and am up to the challenge of learning and living daily with it.

Human Resources

Wow ... these past two weeks have been a killer. There is so much to read and refect upon that it is at times overwhelming. Of course it is the summer and things are always a little hectic and crazy this time of year. I have had a difficult time sinking my teeth into this course. Too many distractions of every day life. There is alot of things to consider with human resources from recruiting and retention of teachers, knowledge of school policies and contracts, creating an effective and productive working environment and being able to provide a good code of ethics that will treat parents, teachers, and students fairly. This is only week two, beginning of week three and I hope that the overwhelming feeling will go away with the new knowledge I discover for the remainder of this course. It will be worth the effort in the end.

Reflections of EDLD5301

What is action research you might ask? Well according to Dana (2009) action research is when an administrator or teacher studies his own practices and determines if what he is doing is effective or needs change. This evaluation is analyzed by using self-questioning in order to analyze, develop, and share and becomes a tool for learning and school improvement. This was a new term for me and at first did not seem to be a big deal. However, as I read more and more about it, it made much more sense. Traditional methods of research uses outsiders to collect and analyze data and predict what they think might happen. With action research, all inquiries are done by people with personal interest or involvement in the situation or issue so therefore the outcome means so much more. When the outcome of an issue determines the success of a teacher, administrator, or students the people involved tend to want what will work best for them.

By using things like PLC's and Site Based Committees collaboration with peers becomes much more effective in producing the best school district possible that will meet the needs of the people who care about it. As a teacher, action research will allow me to identify my weak areas and implement a plan for improvement that will make me a better instructor. It will encourage me to question myself when the outcome of certain situations did not have the end result I had in mind. Change is good and with action research, the ability to change with the times in order to address the needs of my students over time will be a much easier and ongoing process. Along with this new concept also came the collaboration of peers through blogs and discussion boards. It is very interesting to see others’ views about things going on in other districts. To see that the concerns and issues that affect my district also affect others has a calming effect knowing that we are not alone. The texts were very informative as well and I have learned a completely new way of researching a project and learning from others instead of only using my personal ideas. Knowing how to question myself has made me become a stronger school leader and eventually a strong administrator. The assignments for this course have given me a good solid foundation on research that will carry through for years to come. Although I enjoyed many aspects of this course, the highlight for me was to develop my action research project. Now that I have decided on my topic and have a plan developed to reach a goal I can’t wait to get started on it and see end result. Developing a vertical alignment with an online component such as Edmodo or Project Share will be a very interesting experience. I am hopeful that the end result will have the desired effect and improve the education or our students. That may be the final statement to be made about this course and any courses in the future. We are enrolled in these courses for a reason and that is to become a better leader and administrator with the end purpose to improve education as we know it for the sake of the children’s lives that we touch. In this constantly changing world we must constantly change and evaluate what we are doing for our students. If we don’t question and make changes as needed the level of instruction will continue to decrease until we are not having any success in our school systems.

Action Research Plan - VA Document with Online Collaboration

PLAN OF ACTION TEMPLATE School Vision:  To seamlessly integrate the use of technology to meet the needs of the K-2 campus for collaboration of teachers in order to impact student performance positively. Goal: The goal of the action research plan is to train teachers in the use of Edmodo in order to aid in the development of a vertical alignment for K-2. This online tool will allow teachers to communicate, share resources, lesson plans, and curriculum and ensure that all TEKS are being addressed. Action Steps Persons Responsible Timeline: Needed Resources Evaluation Meet with teachers and discuss the need for a vertical alignment Kirk Saul Shanda Davis August 2011 K-2 Teachers TEKS Meeting Notes Edmodo Training Shanda Davis Pam Spencer Technology Committee August 2011 – Inservice week Computer Lab with Internet connections Edmodo Training Handouts Teacher Survey Teacher Usage Teacher Surveys on Pre and Post Training Knowledge Curriculum/TEKS Guideline or Scope and Sequence Kirk Saul Shanda Davis Lead Teacher  from  each K-2 Grade Level August – September 2011 K-2 TEKS Curriculum materials available to the district Completion of Scope and Sequence Year at a Glance Document Kirk Saul Shanda Davis Lead Teacher  from  each K-2 Grade Level August- September 2011 K-2 TEKS Curriculum materials available to the district Completion of Year at a Glance Document Content or Curriculum for each TEKS Shanda Davis Lead Teacher  from  each K-2 Grade Level Will be developed for one six weeks at a time prior to the beginning of each six weeks. All TEKS will be addressed by May 2012. K-2 TEKS Curriculum materials available to the district Completed Scope and Sequence Completed Year At A Glance Edmodo Folders for each Grade level with sub-folders for each subject Completion of vertical alignment document showing  what objectives  will be met and what resources will be used to address TEKS. All resources will be compiled into the proper Edmodo folders for access to all K-2 teachers. Collaboration Calendar K-2 Teachers Daily or as needed Edmodo Calendar Usage of calendar showing meeting dates and deadlines for completion of the vertical alignment Grade level meetings and Content Documents K-2 Teachers Prior to each six weeks TEKS Curriculum Materials for all subject areas Scope and Sequence Year at a Glance Grade level teachers will meet and develop what materials and content will be covered for the upcoming six weeks. Supplemental and Primary Resources Library K-2 Teachers When necessary, ongoing Edmodo Folders Internet Access District Curriculum Materials Edmodo Folders containing resources Progress Reports on the Completion of the Campus Vertical Alignment Document Shanda Davis Prior to each six weeks after grade level meetings have determined which TEKS will be covered for each grade level and at year end. Grade level vertical alignment document Meeting with Mr. Saul and completed vertical alignment document. Improvement of Student Performance K-2 Teachers Beginning, Middle, and End of Year Benchmarks or Standardized Tests such as TPRI Standardized Test results Teacher Observation Student Grades End of Year Meeting K-2 Teachers Shanda Davis Kirk Saul May 2012 Completed Vertical Alignment Document Edmodo Folders Teacher Surveys Meeting notes and survey results on the effectiveness of the alignment and usage of Edmodo as the collaboration tool.

Sharing

Well let me just say that a lot of thinking and planning goes into a good research action plan. This has all been such a new experience for me. I know that I have learned a great deal but have so much farther to go. After reading the Dana text, The Travelogue: Sharing your work with others, pp. 135 – 169, I also realized that sharing the results of your research action plan are very critical. With the sharing of this information comes even more research available for others to use. My research action plan is to build a vertical alignment for grades K-2 while integrating an online resource for teacher collaboration. The hope of this plan is to ensure that all TEKS are covered in all subject areas and thus improving student performance. As far as data collection goes, grade level as well as campus meetings will be called throughout the school year. Notes from these meetings will be used to maintain a record of progress being made and what did and didn't work out as planned. I will also use data from standardized tests to show student performance. The main piece of data will be the vertical alignment document itself. This will show the work that has been done and how this document is individualized to meet the needs of my campus based on what materials and resources are available in the district. Other data collection will be in the usage of Edmodo by the teachers and how much the folders are accessed as well as the collabortion calendar. I will also post on my blog regularly the progress that is being made and the ups and downs we encounter along the way. This is indeed a large task to accomplish however since we are breaking it down into manageable chunks by dealing with one six weeks at a time, it doesn't seem so much of an undertaking. The desired end result will be that all of our students are being taught the same information no matter what class they are in. This should result in higher performance and a better education for our students.

Growing Pains

This week has been quite a learning experience for me. As I consider school leadership for my future I must also consider all aspects of it. After reading and learning more about action research I realize how much I need to change my way of thinking. I have already begun to change in the way I analyze and question what needs the campus and district have. It's almost as if I see the end result of what I would like to happen and imagine what do I need to do to get there. After reading about the nine passion in the Dana text, I realize that there are many areas to consider when trying to be a school leader. Also after investigating my own topic for action research it has become obvious to me that planning and organizing as well as knowing where I want to end up play an important part in having an effective plan. It's crazy how after just two courses I am growing professionally. These growing pains have caused me to incorporate ideas and resources into my teaching and plans for next year. Although change is good sometimes it is a little painful. Part of the pain comes from admitting that maybe I haven't been as thorough or thoughtful in some areas of my teaching. I look forward to learning even more and reaching even greater heights in my professional life.

Educational Leaders and Blogs

Blogs are a great new tool that will allow educators the opportunity to post thoughts and ideas about issues and information that they feel are relevant to other educators and stakeholders in and out of their community. Blogs allow professionals to connect and follow other professionals that have some of the same interests and issues. Blogs are simple to use but what they offer can be as complex as needed in passing along valuable information at a moment's notice.

Action Research

What is action research you might ask? Well according to Dana (2009)

it is when an administrator or teacher studies his own practices and determines if what he is doing is effective or needs change. This evaluation is analyzed by using self questioning in order to analyze, develop, and share and becomes a tool for learning and school improvement.

This was a new term for me and at first did not seem to be a big deal. However, as I read more and more about it, it made much more sense. Traditional methods of research uses outsiders to collect and analyze data and predict what they think might happen. With action research, all inquiries are done by people with personal interest or involvement in the situation or issue so therefore the outcome means so much more. When the outcome of an issue determines the success of a teacher, administrator, or students the people involved tend to want what will work best for them.

By using things like PLC's and Site Based Committees collaboration with peers becomes much more effective in producing the best school district possible that will meet the needs of the people who care about it.

As a teacher, action research will allow me to identify my weak areas and implement a plan for improvement that will make me a better instructor. It will encourage me to question myself when the outcome of certain situations did not have the end result I had in mind. Change is good and with action research, the ability to change with the times in order to address the needs of my students over time will be a much easier and ongoing process.

EDLD 5306 Course Reflections

Well, where do I begin? With this being my first online course I didn't have too many preconceived ideas about how this course would work. I did wonder about my timing on enrolling in this course. After paying my first tuition bill, my husband and I decided to make a move this summer and work in another district. My daughter had to undergo knee surgery which took a lot of time away from my so called "free time". I had a full time job teaching, had a husband and two daughters at home... what was I thinking? The answer was simple. I enjoy learning and I love technology. This course was the obvious answer.

I thought I knew a lot about technology already. In the first few weeks , however, I had set up my first wiki, my first blog and attended my first web conference. Wow! I immediately began envisioning how to use these tools in my classroom. I had already learned valuable information and was only in the first course!

Navigation through the course software was another first for me. Anyone who has not gone through an online environment should do so. I did find during the first week that I felt a little overwhelmed with it all. I thought to myself "what have I gotten into" but didn't want to accept defeat. I buckled down and realized after the first week that this was doable. I learned how to navigate more easily, found the cohort page more easily and even enjoyed most of the work.

It was very interesting to meet through the web conferences the other educators in the course. What a tool that will allow you to put names with faces in an online environment. This added a personal touch that could be lost without this option.

I felt a personal satisfaction of knowing that I had achieved something that will help me grown intellectually, professionally and personally. I realized that I have alot of determination to persevere when time or situations tell you to give up. Technology and understanding how it works is truly a gift that has been given to me. I want to continue to learn more and more in this ever changing, fast moving world that we live in. Change is important to me. I would rather step off and take a risk than sit in the same rut day after day. I found that my attitude towards others is usually positive but there is always room for improvement. I also found that I don't know if I am ever truly satisfied with my own work. I always want to do more. Maybe that is why I have high expectations of my own students as well.

This course made me envision what tomorrow's education could look like. It is up to educators to foster the love of change and technology into our school systems and bring a brighter future to our students.

Web Conferencing Experience

I participated in my first web conference last Thursday. It was quite an experience. We did encounter some technical difficulties but where technology is involved that is to be expected. What a valuable tool web conferencing could be in our schools. The ability to see, hear, and chat with others from anywhere in the world is amazing. This give the term "pen pal" a whole new meaning. Can you imagine the power at hand when our students could actually "talk" to another student from a different country if time could be coordinated? Wow! As far as taking online classes, what a way to bring the personal touch to students who might never see the professor or other students face to face. It truly was a good experience that will only get better.

Summary of the NETP Goals

The National Educational Technology Plan consists of five goals. These goals address learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity.

The learning goal stresses that all learners will have experiences in and out of school that are engaging and prepare them to be able to function in today's society. Learners must be prepared for classroom and the job market.

Assessments must be designed to be given during the course of learning instead of after the fact. Assessments given in this fashion will allow time to improve student performance before they move on to another course.

Teachers must move from being isolated to being connected. Typically teachers teach on their own, take professional development that is irrelevant and therefore unproductive. When teachers are connected they have 24/7 access to student data and any tools that will help them professionally grow and instruct.

The infrastructure to support technology must enable students, teachers, and stakeholders access to technology resources needed for any task. If the infrastructure is not in place, the public education system will not achieve the desired effect.

The end result for the technology plan is to improve the learning outcomes of all learners: students and educators. A productive school system that is more efficient with time, money, and staff is the end product desired. To achieve this goal, there must be a commitment to improving in all areas.

Stratford ISD Technology Plan and E-Rate Presentation

Check out this SlideShare Presentation: This presentation briefly provides information about the goals of the SISD tech plan and a brief introduction into E-Rate.

Week 2 ppt e rate and tech plan

View more presentations from davtech11.

District Technology Plan

The goals included the the district technology plan include offering ongoing professional development, updating and maintaining hardware and software, continuing and improving relationships with the community and parents, and maintenance of infracstructure with improvements and needed and can be afforded due to budget.

In the area of professional development, it is planned to be an ongoing process to incorporate online workshops that can be assessed 24/7 and in all subject areas for technology integration. This should enable educators to continue growing in the area of technology integration at their convenience. The technology coordinator and network specialist along with the administrators are responsible for this strategy. Surveys from teachers will be used in order to help decide what professional development should be offered.

The hardware, software, and infrastructure will be constantly monitored and evaluated in order to prevent issues with out of date or expired licenses, computers that need repair, and a network that won't support the traffic of the district. A district must have these items in working order in order for technology to be an effective asset. The network specialist is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of this goal.

Communication with parents, community members, and school district stakeholders is very valuable in a small community such as ours. The school is the center of the community which most events are centered around. Without the ability to communicate, we lose the support needed to ensure up to date information between the district and the concerned stakeholders. We allow this communication by providing parent portals for direct contact with parents and their children's grades and attendance. An up to date website with current and up coming events. Administrators also incorporate their own blogs with daily information pertaining to their campus. Network coordinator, network specialist, and administrators are the responsible parties.

The budget poses issues as far as the needs of the district at times. Adequate funds are available for maintenance and upkeep but monies allocated for future and new additional hardware or software is sometimes not available. With the looming budget cuts in technology, this will prove to be even more of a burden.

With the burden of lack of funds in the future, this makes evaluation of current needs even more of an important factor. With teacher, student, and administrator surveys and needs assessments, the district will be able to focus on what needs to be addressed based on priority.

Technology Assessments

In today's ever changing digital world of education, it is very important to know what our teachers and administrators know about technology and if they are progressing over time. Various states offer evaluations that assess the knowledge of these educators in different areas. In order for technology to be an asset in the education system, educators must be knowledgeable in the most current technologies and continue to change with the times. These assessments ensure the growth professionally of these educators by requiring an annual assessment. If no growth is shown, this should alert administrators that the professional development needs to be addressed. Students should also be assessed. In the state of Texas, educators are responsible for teaching the Technology Application TEKS. These ensure that by 8th grade, students are literate in technology. Assessments for teachers and students provide the information needed to address the areas that are weak within the campus or district and allow the future to be enhanced with the technology available. Without these assessments, school systems would not be able to see if their district or campus was on line with their Technology Plan and would be left behind in the ever changing world of technology.