The outcomes I envisioned for this course were to learn more about educational technology curriculum, learn about technology plans, learn more about the Educational Technology Leadership program, participate in online discussions, and learn about key topics in educational technology through readings and discussions. I was able to achieve all of those outcomes. We looked at our states curriculum for educational technology and examined each of the standards. We also look at our school and state technology plans. In addition we had numerous readings and discussions on key topics relating to educational technology. All of the outcomes I envisioned aligned with the course outcomes; however they were only a small part of the actual outcomes for the course. Outcomes I did not expect were the personal assessment in week one, creating and using as many Web 2.0 tools as we did, creating a professional vita, and developing and drafting my internship plan. I feel that I was also able to achieve those outcomes as well.
Many of these outcomes are relevant to the work I do in my school. As a high school technology teacher many of the topics directly relate to my curriculum. Topics relating to cyber ethics, online safety, and Web 2.0 tools can be used in my classes as part of the main curriculum, not just weaved in or a supplemental activity. The Web 2.0 tools are also very relevant to what I do. I have not used many of the Web 2.0 tools before. I can now use them to enhance my classes by providing an information site for students, or to allow students to collaborate and participate in discussions. The self assessments helped me to recognize my strengths and realize my weaknesses and focus in on what I need to improve. Evaluation of the school and state technology plans will also help me understand what my school is planning for in the future and what they need to improve upon or implement to reach their goals. It also helped me to determine what is required of the school by the state and allows me to help my district in fulfilling those requirements.
The outcomes that I was not able to achieve were reading all of the articles, attending all of the web conferences, and using my own district and state data for the technology assessment data assignment. Reading all of the articles was difficult, especially in the first couple of weeks. Time was the biggest reason. As the class went along I feel that I was able to manage my time better and find opportunities to read more of the articles. I would typically print out the articles and read them when I had a few free minutes. I was also not able to attend all of the web conferences for a couple of reason. The main reason is my home computer does not have a web camera and the age and processing speed of the computer prevented me from installing one. For the web conferences I did attend I had to borrow a computer with a webcam. Other times I was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts. The last outcome I was not able to achieve was using my own district and state technology assessment data. I was unable to find it after spending a considerable amount of time looking for it. I had to then use a district from Texas, but I would have preferred to have the information from my own school.
In carrying out the course assignments I felt I was successful. I was able to complete all of the required assignments according to the criteria for each. I completed all of the self assessment for the articles and videos. The only assignment that I was not able to find the information I needed was the evaluation of my campus and state technology assessment data. After being unable to find it, I had to choose a distinct from Texas to complete the assignment. While this taught me how to interoperate the data, I would have preferred to complete the assignment using my own school’s data. Another factor in this course was time management. It took the first week or two to adjust to the extra time added to my schedule to accomplish all of the assignments. As the weeks went on it was easier and easier to accommodate the time requirement needed to complete assignments.
From this course I learned a great deal of information. I learned what areas I have strengths in and what areas I need to improve. One area I did not have much experience in was Web 2.0 tools. These are something that I don’t use personally and had never had professional development on how to incorporate them into the classroom. Many of the previous educational technology graduate courses I have taken at other universities did not focus on or incorporate these tools in their courses. It has been several years since I have taken a graduate course and technology changes so rapidly that if you don’t seek professional development in that area you can easily become outdated. I learned that I need to get involve more with and learn more about the many aspects of a school if I want to become a school leader. For most of my teaching career, outside of my teaching duties I was only involved in coaching. I need to participate on and be involved with more of the committees and projects at my school. In all, I feel like I learned more than I anticipated I would. There are many things I learned that will help me become a better teacher and leader.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
EDLD 5306 Week 5 Web Conference - December 13, 2011
The web conference was helpful for several reasons. Professor Borel reviewed the Internship Plan and the Principal Competencies and Skills Chart. I had several questions and concerns about those two items before the web conference. Professor Borel presentation answered most of the question I had, and answers to several other participants’ questions helped answer the other questions I had. She also gave examples for some of the activities. My biggest concern was how specific or descriptive my activities needed to be. After the conference I was able to finish my plan.
In addition to the Internship Plan, Professor Borel explained what information needed to be posted to our wikis and submitted to Tk20. She also noted changes in some of the internship documents and where to locate them.
Overall, the course was a good experience. I learned a great deal that can be used in my classroom and will help me become a better teacher and educational leader.
In addition to the Internship Plan, Professor Borel explained what information needed to be posted to our wikis and submitted to Tk20. She also noted changes in some of the internship documents and where to locate them.
Overall, the course was a good experience. I learned a great deal that can be used in my classroom and will help me become a better teacher and educational leader.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
National Educational Technology Plan
The National Educational Technology plan has five goals. The first goal focuses on learners having engaging and empowering learning experiences. In the second goal technology is used to measure what is important and use assessment data for continues improvement. In the third goal educators will be supported using technology to become more effective teachers. The fourth goal includes assess to comprehensive infrastructure to all students and educators. The final goal will use technology to improve learning while at the same time efficiently using time, money, and staff.
In respect to learning, schools should revise and update curriculum to reflect 21st-century skills. Schools should use technology that embodies proven learning principles. Schools should use technology to reach learners anytime and anywhere. Schools should include ways to enhance STEM(science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)learning.
In respect to teaching, educators should have access to technology-based content, resources, and tools. Educators should use networking technologies to create communities of learning so they might share ideas and information. Technology should be used to provide learners with access to effective online learning opportunities. There should also be greater development of a teaching force skilled in online instruction.
According to the Technology Plan, having teachers experience technology is the best way for them to incorporate it in their class rooms. Schools should also provide examples of best practices and have those resources available to educators. Teachers should also collaborate with each other through various networks.
One concern I had in the plan was online learning. Online learning to my knowledge is not available in my school. Changes need to be made to make this available to students. This would allow students experiences not available in my school.
U.S. Department of Education. (2010). National Education Technology Plan. Retrieved on November 25, 2011 from http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/netp2010.pdf
District Technology Plan
Middle Township School District’s Technology Plan was developed in 2009 and runs from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013. The plan has six main goals and includes accompanying implementation strategies. The district’s goals are as follows:
1. Support and encourage staff development that changes the paradigm of delivery of instruction from the rote transmission of facts to interactive, project-based learning.
2. Expand direct technology support for achieving educational objectives.
3. Expand the use of technology to achieve goals and objectives as outlined in the Core Curriculum Content Standards.
4. Provide, follow, and expand a district-wide plan for efficient purchase and maintenance of equipment.
5. Expand web-based communications and district services throughout the school and community.
6. Provide technology supports for student management and safety.
There are several strategies to accomplish each goal. Strategies for Goal 1 are maintaining up to date training for technology team, yearly professional development opportunities, provide teachers with release time to create technology lesson plans, and provide refresher training for teachers on technology communication tools. Goal 2 strategies include funding for technology technicians and technology teachers in the elementary schools. The strategies for Goal 3 include continued update of curriculum guides, providing teachers with on-going training to expand their integration of technology, offering technology classes at the high school level, and continue to fund district library media centers. Goal 4 strategies include funding for the maintenance of school facilities to enable the integration of technology, maintain a WAN, and annually review the conditions of hardware for planned upgrades. Strategies for Goal 5 include funding for a district wide communication platform that is accessible from home and school, explore the purchase of a platform for student e-mail and online collaboration, and maintain district and school websites. The final goal includes funding to update hardware and software for a district student management system, and purchase equipment necessary to implement the district safety plan.
Professional development opportunities are coordinated by the director of curriculum & instruction and each school principal. Funding appears to be available to ensure staff is kept up to date on new technologies. Administrators will attend technology training annually. Staff professional development is provided through South Jersey Regional Technology center, ETTC/Stockton, ERIC, and NJDOE 21st Century skills workshops.
Telecommunication service, hardware, software and other services are assessed through a needs assessment. First the current status will be determined. Then the educational needs will be determined. Finally, a plan will be made to prioritize the identified needs to meet the district’s goals. There appears to be a sufficient budget to acquire and support the non-discount elements of the plan.
The school district will use an evaluation plan to monitor progress toward their goals. Administrators will be able to access lesson plans to determine if technology is being integrated in the curriculum. Students will be evaluated on the goals and objectives for technology at each curricular level. Curriculum will be continuously examined and aligned to state standards.
Middle Township Public Schools. (2009). Technology Plan: 2010-2013. Retrieved on Nov. 22, 2011 from http://www.middletwp.k12.nj.us/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=JaznPnm5nqM%3d&tabid=327
Technology Assessments
Technology assessments can be valuable for many reasons. First, assessing an educators’ technology leadership knowledge and skills can be helpful. It can be a valuable tool for an educator to know what their strengths and weaknesses are. When an educator can identify a strength they can become mentors in those areas. They can help improve curriculum in those areas. When a weakness is identified an educator can seek professional development in that area. They can seek out others who have strengths in those areas to find ways to improve their weaknesses. They can also join online communities to exchange and share ideas in an effort to improve. For example, if an educator struggles finding ways for students to use technology to collaborate or communicate with groups outside of the school, that teacher can have discussions with other teachers who have had success in that area. They can talk about methods they have used and strategies to make the use of that technology successful in their classroom.
Assessments of student technology skill levels can also be helpful. They can identify students’ strengths and weaknesses. If a class has similar skill levels, a teacher can focus more on a classes’ weaknesses. Also, if the assessment in done before students are scheduled for classes, students can be placed based on their skill levels to allow teachers to meet the needs of the students. If assessment find that a class has a mixed group of skill levels, students can be arranged so that students with different strengths can be grouped together. This will allow students to utilize their strengths while helping their classmates improve their weaknesses. Knowledge of students’ learning styles can also be helpful when creating assignments and projects for a class. Assignments can be tailor made to meet the styles of all of your students.
Technology assessments have more pros than cons. It is helpful to know what you or your students need to improve. However, when we know we need to improve in one area we can easily neglect to maintain our skills in other areas. If an educator had a strength in applications, but a weakness in Web 2.0 tools they could easily fall behind in their strength if all of their development was in the area of Web 2.0 tools. Technology is always changing and advancing and it is important for educators to seek professional development in all areas of technology development not just their weaknesses. What is a strength today may be a weakness tomorrow.
November 17, 2011 Web Conference Summary
The web conference was a valuable experience. Being my first experience, I did not quit know what to expect. It was nice to be able to see and hear someone as they explain and review important information. Sometimes reading something in an e-mail or on a website does not allow you to process the information completely. While I can see the potential technical difficulties of web conferences, such as no camera or microphone issues, the benefits far out way the negatives. It allows a class to meet and hold discussions. It allows someone living in New Jersey attend a university in Texas and have an authentic experience.
The conference also clarified some information for me. It answered some of my questions about the internship and some of the assignments. I also found it helpful to hear other people’s questions. Sometimes others ask questions you never thought of but you find the information useful.
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