OK, I am not sure what I just did, but I believe the last time I looked, this link will lead you to my Technology Action Plan. Dr. K has just created a monster. Inserting my first hyperlink into a document that wasn't an email was pretty awesome. My first web conference that I participated in (sort of)....amazing! Adding the navigational icons...priceless!
This makes me proud, too! I uploaded my action plan into a Google Doc and then copied and pasted the URL below. It should take you there. Wow! I am amazing myself!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G5JzP1TaBF9EFujcDMHTlYBij4jI5CnJPJ2m-h6TZ1o/edit?hl=en#
Monday, March 14, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
What Just Happened?!
What Just Happened?!
AKA: My First Web Conference Ever
My first ever web conference was quite interesting. I did a practice run the day before and found the process to be easy. The link and instructions were very clear. I checked my microphone and set up my camera the day of the conference. I logged on fifteen minutes early and was already tenth down on the list. I chose not to be on camera.
It felt like a whirlwind. I would type a response to something that someone else had typed; however, their comment was long gone before I clicked to send my comment. It was almost overwhelming. Dr. Abernathy would address a question over and over because it was asked over and over. There was some good information given; however, I had already done my assignment and submitted it so I felt like Sunday night should have addressed the next week’s lesson more. It did but not as much as I would have liked.
I kind of liked the conference and would have logged onto this week’s, but I wanted to give others the chance since it was required. In the last class, the professor provided a link to a previous conference. I watched that one, and realized that when there were fewer participants, it seemed more effective.
If I had one suggestion, it would be to clarify the intent and limit questions to those about the course and not where people were from. Although I found the personal side interesting, I think it would have made it easier to get assignment questions answered.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The Federal Government Says...EDLD 5352 - Blog #3
There are several goals that are mentioned in the National Educational Technology Plan.
· One is to ensure that all students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it.
However, the one that seems to be the most interesting is that
· “our education system at all levels will redesign processes and structures to take advantage of the power of technology to improve learning outcomes while making more efficient use of time, money, and staff” (Learning, 2010).
In other words, we must make some drastic changes in how we view the school day. For example, schools might look at “organizing education around the demonstration of competence rather than seat time” in order to challenge students daily and promote them early which might cut costs (Learning, 2010).
With the current budget crisis looming, money is not a panacea for all that ails our technological shortcomings. As the report says, “It is clear that we will not reach this goal simply by spending more money on education” (Learning, 2010). And even if we do, past research has shown us that even when the United States has increased its spending per student by more than 70%, little improvement has been seen (Learning, 2010).
Also, learning will change in that the teacher-led lessons will soon be student-led (Learning, 2010). Therefore, the face of professional development will then change along with the school day. “We need to expand our view of teaching to include extended teams of educators” (Learning, 2010). In other words, professional development will take on a new look with teachers collaborating “across time and distance” in order to learn from each other (Learning, 2010). All in all, technology will change the way schools operate in the future, and we must embrace it if our students are going to achieve success within the walls of the classroom and beyond.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology. (2010). Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology. Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf
Because the TEA says so... EDLD 5352 - Blog #2
The most interesting comment in the 2010 Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006 - 2020 came from a student who stated, “every time I go to school I have to power down” (2010). That basically sums up the current level of technological instruction in the state of Texas. Although the past five years have seen vast improvements, students still seem to be ahead of the power curve when it comes to technology. They shift impatiently in their seats as elderly teachers – those of us over 49 – struggle to explain or illustrate a technological procedure. It is almost as if we are teaching shoe tying to eighteen year olds. However, as the summary states, “technology is a tool that can be used to make teaching and learning more efficient and effective” (Progress Report, 2010). Therefore, the schools and its educators must recognize “the need for a consistent, systemic approach to implementing educational technology…” (Progress Report, 2010). The state of Texas now gives us no choice. The State Board of Education must develop a long-range plan for technology. And well it should. If our students are to compete both nationally and internationally, they must be given the tools to technology. Their scope of learning is no longer within the walls of the classroom. If they are to be competitive, their learning has to reach the far corners of the world and be student-led and student-centered. The report clearly describes that learning will be a 24/7 experience and that parents will participate and learn alongside their children (Progress Report, 2010). Educators and school board members must also be ready to improve their technological skills. In conclusion, it will take a village to become technologically literate in order to help our children, who will be the leaders of tomorrow, succeed.
Texas Education Agency. (2010). 2010 Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006 – 2020. (GE11 211 01). Retrieved from www.tea.state.tx.us/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID
Which Administrator Did What? - EDLD 5352 - Blog #1
The area that I will describe is the Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support part of the Texas STaR chart. This area basically deals with leadership and vision, planning, instructional support, communication and collaboration, budget, and leadership and support for online learning. This is a vital part of the STaR chart in that leadership must have a vision for the campus in order for technology to truly move forward on a campus and the learning to become student-centered. However, of all of the key areas, our campus has the lowest overall total in this area. Area trends point to Advanced Tech levels except for ours. We are stagnant. Even a nearby district that has had several challenges with technology ranks higher than our district does in the area of administrative support. There are several reasons for this. First of all, our district has gone through numerous superintendent and campus administrator changes in the last few years. It happens on a campus our size; however, that creates inconsistency because each administrator in charge has his own vision of what creates technological integration. Plus it is difficult to collaborate and encourage buy-in if the leadership continually changes.
The remedy to this problem is easy: leadership consistency. This consistency in key positions allows for the development of technology-rich campus. When collaboration with stakeholders creates a vision, then that one person can make sure that funding and other resources are available to advance that vision or those goals. The leadership of the school can also create a ways to develop instructional methods in the area of technology in order to create student success. With leadership consistency, campus plans can build off of the year before without having to start over. In conclusion, consistency is what our campus needs.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)