Monday, May 23, 2011
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.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
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.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)