I was all excited to finally be starting my master’s program; I had been putting it off for one reason or another for the past three years. I had decided to take the path of Educational Technology Leadership because I love to use technology and in the hopes of getting a more in depth understanding of how to integrate it more effectively into my classroom. I was a little apprehensive about the program being all online but I have quickly come to find that I like it this way. I really didn’t know what to expect out of the first course but was hoping for an introduction to new tools that I could use in the classroom and the ways to use them in the classroom. I also wanted information on how to help the other teachers around me do the same. This course surpassed what I expected from it and I feel that I am much more prepared to try to start integrating technology into the curriculum and helping others around me also. I also was surprised to find out that this course also prepares you for being a principal also if you choose to take the principal certification test.
The information that was taught in this class was information that I had been exposed to before and some that I had never heard of. The Texas Star Chart is something that we are told to complete every year but I really didn’t understand why. I now understand that they take this information and compile it to evaluate a schools performance toward the National Educational Technology Plan. The National Educational Technology Plan and the Texas Long Range Plan were two pieces of information that I was unfamiliar with but now thanks to this course I now understand them and know the importance of implementing them at my school. I was aware that our district had a technology plan but I honestly had never read it, I can no longer say that thanks to this course. This course has taken me further into the technology workings of my school than I think I would ever have thought to go own my on. It has also shown me ways to integrate web 2.0 tools into my classroom.
My only disappoint so far with this course really doesn’t have anything to do with the course. I wanted to be able to implement more of what I was learning while I was learning it in my classroom with my students. I would have like to been able to set up a class blog to be able to communicate with parents and students about upcoming events and deadlines, dates for tests, and post downloadable study guides for tests, but our district has blocked the use of blogs. I also wanted to set up a Technology wiki to post suggestions, websites, and videos to for teachers to be able to access for help in integrating technology into their curriculum and classroom, but time constraints halted me on this one. This project is on my internship plan so this will still get accomplished just not as soon as I had hoped. I am get a going to try to get a meeting with the technology director to see if there is way to set up a blogging site on a infrastructure so that we can use it safely.
When I first saw the syllabus for the course and the first weeks overview and assignment I thought what I have I got myself into, there is no way to get all of this done in a week. I quickly found out that with a lot of hard work, good time management, and a couple of great friends for support that it was possible. Online courses are self-paced and self-monitored so you have to stay motivated, if you ever get behind, with e assignment loads that we had, you put yourself in a real bind. It was great having two friends that were going through the same things you were and knowing that they were just a phone call away. I believe I was successful in meeting all the requirements for all the course assignments and deadlines. The only thing that I don’t feel successful in is APA format; it is going to be the death of me yet. I kept losing points for this even though I referred to the book every time I made a citation.
Overall this course has been a great eye-opener. I learned that I still have a lot to learn about technology and I look forward to learning everything that I can. I also learned that my school district is in need of some serious updates and restructuring to jump onboard of the 21st century educational train. I also found that I believe that I could be a good leader and may seriously consider pursuing my principal certification after this course. I now know that I can accomplish anything that I set my mind to and that I am truly a lifelong learner and I love playing the role of student and educator. Friends and/or a support system are a very important thing to have when trying to accomplish something new or something big. You should never try to tackle things all by yourself. In summary I learned that I am a strong, smart, capable woman that can accomplish great things.
EDLD 5306 ET 8038
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Week 5 - Web Conference - September 20, 2011
This week’s web conference was a little different. First of all it was held on a Tuesday instead of a Wednesday and there were not as many people. Now with that said, I really enjoyed this web conference. Ms. Borel discussed some very useful information that will benefit us in our internship and other classes. We talked about the Tk20 account and the various documents that needed to be uploaded there before this class is over and the documents that would need to be uploaded on an ongoing basis throughout the internship. She also informed us of that the week 5 overview contained our book information for the next class and that we should go ahead and purchase those now. Ms. Borel pointed out that the next class will start on Oct. 3 and that payment for that class should be made by Sept. 26. We were also informed that we would be able to access this classes information through archived documents and that if we needed her help don’t hesitate to email her. This web conference was bittersweet. I am so glad to have one class down and behind me but I sure enjoyed working with Ms. Borel, she sure taught me a lot of useful information. Good luck to all in the Research class.
EDLD 5306 ET 8038
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Week 3 Web conference - September 7, 2011
The web conference on September 7, 2011 was very informative. We had fewer technical problems this week so it made it easier to keep up and follow along. We mainly discussed internship requirements. Ms. Borel informed us that the required hours had increased from 100 hours to 150 hours per component. They are two components that will be required during your internship, field-based activities and course-based embedded assignments. She also pointed out the page numbers in the Internship Handbook where we could find more information on these requirements. Information on these requirements and other important information about the internship could be found on pages 5, 7, and 9. Field-based activities monthly logs can be found on pages 28-38.
There were also questions about how to find the grading details on submitted assignments, Mary Johnson, a cohort member from Lumberton graciously stepped up to direct others in finding this information.
We also had a fellow member, Casey Eubanks, ask if a slide presentation that he had sent out over his schools email explaining a program would count toward his field-based activity hours and Ms. Borel answered yes.
Although these web conferences are optional I believe it is really worth the investment of time to attend, we learn so much each time.
EDLD 5306 ET8038
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
National Educational Technology Plan
The National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) was written in 2010 and was primarily based on the belief that education is the key to our economic success and that our students be competitive in the ever-changing global community. The NETP has two goals to be met by the year 2020: (1) to increase the number of college graduates that hold a 2 or 4 year degree from, the current, 39% to 60% (2) to close the achievement gap so that all students, regardless of race or income, graduate from high school and be prepared to succeed in either college or the workplace.
The National Educational Technology Plan also offers it’s thoughts about education in the 21st century. It states that all students should be offered engaging and powerful learning opportunities. It also states that technology should be accessible by teachers at all times to ensure that they can individualize instruction and be guaranteed access to all resources needed to provide beneficial instruction.
Transformation of the current educational system is what is called for by the National Educational Technology Plan, and it urges the school system at all levels to set goals on expected student outcome, work together to restructure the effectiveness of the system, and monitor the performance of these expectations in an ongoing manner.
The plan calls for teachers to become lifelong learners and to seek out and participate in professional development. This professional development is to be offered in a variety of styles such as the traditional face to face workshops, web conferences, and video-conferencing to make it easier for teachers and school districts to participate. Then and only then will teachers be able to fully integrate what they learn into their classroom lessons to benefit the students.
I believe in theory the plan sounds great but with the recent budget cuts to education it will make it hard to implement these advancements in technology.
The National Educational Technology Plan also offers it’s thoughts about education in the 21st century. It states that all students should be offered engaging and powerful learning opportunities. It also states that technology should be accessible by teachers at all times to ensure that they can individualize instruction and be guaranteed access to all resources needed to provide beneficial instruction.
Transformation of the current educational system is what is called for by the National Educational Technology Plan, and it urges the school system at all levels to set goals on expected student outcome, work together to restructure the effectiveness of the system, and monitor the performance of these expectations in an ongoing manner.
The plan calls for teachers to become lifelong learners and to seek out and participate in professional development. This professional development is to be offered in a variety of styles such as the traditional face to face workshops, web conferences, and video-conferencing to make it easier for teachers and school districts to participate. Then and only then will teachers be able to fully integrate what they learn into their classroom lessons to benefit the students.
I believe in theory the plan sounds great but with the recent budget cuts to education it will make it hard to implement these advancements in technology.
Campus Technology Plan
Westwood ISD has a district technology plan and Westwood Junior High has a campus technology plan that is embedded in the campus improvement plan. I chose to use the campus technology plan to summarize for this assignment. In taking a look at the plan the first thing I noticed was the goal of the plan: The campus will ensure that students remain competitive in society. The objective is to acquire and implement technology for all staff and students. It lists it's selected evaluation measures as purchase orders, mobile computer lab, lesson plans, and student products. The plan is broken down in to 21 strategies/initiatives/actions and each of these numbered items include a timeline and lists persons responsible for these actions.
The latest version of the plan that I could find was for school year 2009-2010. The 21 strategies can basically be broken into three major divisions: Staff development, student achievement, and technology purchases and updates. The staff development goal is a very realistic goal and has an ongoing timeline. This division includes: (1) staff development being offered (2) at least one representative from the campus will attend the annual TCEA conference (3) all teachers will plan lessons that incorporate technology and use technology to differentiate instruction. The student achievement goal goes hand in hand with the previous goal and includes: (1) students will be assessed to prove mastery of Technology Application Skills (2) students will demonstrate integration of technology within the classroom (3) students will use the appropriate software programs and keyboarding skills to facilitate productive communication in writing and art (4) students will be provided with access to technology before, during, and after school. The last division is technology purchases and updates. This division includes (1) purchasing additional classsroom technology such as white boards, elmos, smart boards, etc. (2) ensure that all classrooms and buildings that were previously not connected to the internet be added access.
After reading the technology plan and then noticing what is going on around me it is very obvious that most of these goals have been met and the others are forever ongoing. I can't wait to see the new goals that are put into place and how quickly we will work to meet them.
The latest version of the plan that I could find was for school year 2009-2010. The 21 strategies can basically be broken into three major divisions: Staff development, student achievement, and technology purchases and updates. The staff development goal is a very realistic goal and has an ongoing timeline. This division includes: (1) staff development being offered (2) at least one representative from the campus will attend the annual TCEA conference (3) all teachers will plan lessons that incorporate technology and use technology to differentiate instruction. The student achievement goal goes hand in hand with the previous goal and includes: (1) students will be assessed to prove mastery of Technology Application Skills (2) students will demonstrate integration of technology within the classroom (3) students will use the appropriate software programs and keyboarding skills to facilitate productive communication in writing and art (4) students will be provided with access to technology before, during, and after school. The last division is technology purchases and updates. This division includes (1) purchasing additional classsroom technology such as white boards, elmos, smart boards, etc. (2) ensure that all classrooms and buildings that were previously not connected to the internet be added access.
After reading the technology plan and then noticing what is going on around me it is very obvious that most of these goals have been met and the others are forever ongoing. I can't wait to see the new goals that are put into place and how quickly we will work to meet them.
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