Friday, March 11, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Reflection on Web Conference March 9, 2011 6pm
I just attended the web conference with Cindy Cummings and left still feeling frustrated. There were about 35 students in attendance and most had questions about posting the Week 4 overview now because many of us start Spring Break next week. Cindy said that Dr. Abernathy was working on the overviews and posted them on Mondays. Several students asked about the TK20 and there were many students who did not have a clue about the ILD and LCE. I would have to guess they were brand new students because most of the people in my group have been talking about both for months. I am finding it a bit frustrating that this course has had different directions in different places. This is my 10th class and I have been able to work ahead on my assignments. This has made it easier for me to go on vacations and not get behind. Now I will be on Spring Break, going to Fort Worth for ILD, and I won't be able to get going on week 4 for fear that I am not following directions. I would suggest there be some kind of system for people to ask questions and get answers at future web conferences. I understand that we have this opportunity to collaborate and share ideas, but it would be nice to get our questions answered since we don't have a face to face with our professors with an online course.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
EDLD 5352 Week 2 #3 National Educational Technology Plan
The Obama administration has set two education goals as an urgent priority. The goals are to be achieved by 2020 and are as follows:
1. The number of college students to obtain a 2-year or 4-year degree will reach 60% of the population.
2. The achievement gap will close so that all students no matter of race, income, or background, will graduate from high school and be prepared to succeed in college and in their chosen career.
The focus should be placed on finding cost-effective ways of improving learning as well as increasing graduation rates.
The National Educational Technology Plan is focused on five areas of concern: Learning, Assessment, Teaching, Productivity, and Infrastructure. The current one size fits all education is not working and should be replaced with individualized instruction that uses technology to motivate and inspire students. Current students have grown up with instant internet access, video games, dvd’s, and other multi media technologies. They are comfortable with social networking, blogging, and instant messaging where they share ideas and conversations with people all over the world. We must find ways to incorporate these skills and technology use into the classrooms to keep students motivated and to prepare them for a future in a digital world. However, this move must be balanced by a clear set of content standards that must be taught and mastered at the same time. We need to individualize and differentiate instruction to meet the particular backgrounds and interests of each student.
Improvements need to be made in professional development for teachers in the area of technology. Teachers need to have high speed internet connections in their classrooms and the ability to analaze the various student data to help them individualize classroom instruction. Classrooms need to be connected to other classrooms all over the world to enable the sharing of content, information, and resources. Professional development needs to be ongoing and personalized so that teachers can create content relevant projects as well as gain the support they need to keep up with 21st century learners.
National Educational Technology Plan: Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology.”
http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf
1. The number of college students to obtain a 2-year or 4-year degree will reach 60% of the population.
2. The achievement gap will close so that all students no matter of race, income, or background, will graduate from high school and be prepared to succeed in college and in their chosen career.
The focus should be placed on finding cost-effective ways of improving learning as well as increasing graduation rates.
The National Educational Technology Plan is focused on five areas of concern: Learning, Assessment, Teaching, Productivity, and Infrastructure. The current one size fits all education is not working and should be replaced with individualized instruction that uses technology to motivate and inspire students. Current students have grown up with instant internet access, video games, dvd’s, and other multi media technologies. They are comfortable with social networking, blogging, and instant messaging where they share ideas and conversations with people all over the world. We must find ways to incorporate these skills and technology use into the classrooms to keep students motivated and to prepare them for a future in a digital world. However, this move must be balanced by a clear set of content standards that must be taught and mastered at the same time. We need to individualize and differentiate instruction to meet the particular backgrounds and interests of each student.
Improvements need to be made in professional development for teachers in the area of technology. Teachers need to have high speed internet connections in their classrooms and the ability to analaze the various student data to help them individualize classroom instruction. Classrooms need to be connected to other classrooms all over the world to enable the sharing of content, information, and resources. Professional development needs to be ongoing and personalized so that teachers can create content relevant projects as well as gain the support they need to keep up with 21st century learners.
National Educational Technology Plan: Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology.”
http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf
Texas school technology and readiness chart pp
5325 Week 2 Slideshare Presentation
Texas school technology and readiness chart pp
View more presentations from lgoethe.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
EDLD 5352 Week 2 #2 Progress Report on Long-Range Plan for Technology
The Texas Education Code, Section 32.001, has required the State Board of Education to develop a long-range plan for technology. The Progress Report provides documentation of the States’ progress towards meeting the goals set in the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2008-2020. The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology is composed of four parts: Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administrations, and Instructional Support; and Infrastructure. The goals of the plan are to give students access 24/7 to the digital tools and resources that are tailored to their own individual needs and learning styles. The plan wants to provide parents with a more direct participation in the education of their children as well as access to student information. The plan also works towards providing educators with on demand student information that will help individualize instruction, increase communication and collaboration with parents and the community, and provide 24/7 professional development opportunities.
The Teaching and Learning section shows how technology can impact student achievement by providing the tools and resources for administration, teachers, librarians, and students. The areas of Technology Applications TEKS for Grades K-12 are: Technology Foundations, Information Acquisition, Work in Solving Problems, and Communications. The plan has recommended that TEA continue to support the implementation and revision of TEKS in all of the content areas. The Educator Preparation and Development section focused on educator prep programs, on-line assessments, and distance learning. I feel that I have worked towards this goal as I complete my Lamar Master’s Program online. In the area of Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support, the focus was placed on embracing technology by budgeting and using technology for daily tasks. For the Infrastructure section, focus was placed on a 1:1 ratio of student to computers in the school, secure and accurate data, and on broadband 24/7 connectivity for all users.
I think the Long-Range Plan for Technology looks like a great plan, however, I know that with all of the budget cuts in our district this year, technology will suffer. It is a good thing that our campus has already made progress in creating several computer labs, providing laptops to all teachers, and creating a web conference room for workshops and meetings. I just have to wonder, how far all of the cuts will set us back as a campus and as a district.
Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020
Texas Educational Agency, 2010
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/comm/leg_reports/2008/08pr_to_lrpt.pdf.
The Teaching and Learning section shows how technology can impact student achievement by providing the tools and resources for administration, teachers, librarians, and students. The areas of Technology Applications TEKS for Grades K-12 are: Technology Foundations, Information Acquisition, Work in Solving Problems, and Communications. The plan has recommended that TEA continue to support the implementation and revision of TEKS in all of the content areas. The Educator Preparation and Development section focused on educator prep programs, on-line assessments, and distance learning. I feel that I have worked towards this goal as I complete my Lamar Master’s Program online. In the area of Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support, the focus was placed on embracing technology by budgeting and using technology for daily tasks. For the Infrastructure section, focus was placed on a 1:1 ratio of student to computers in the school, secure and accurate data, and on broadband 24/7 connectivity for all users.
I think the Long-Range Plan for Technology looks like a great plan, however, I know that with all of the budget cuts in our district this year, technology will suffer. It is a good thing that our campus has already made progress in creating several computer labs, providing laptops to all teachers, and creating a web conference room for workshops and meetings. I just have to wonder, how far all of the cuts will set us back as a campus and as a district.
Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020
Texas Educational Agency, 2010
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/comm/leg_reports/2008/08pr_to_lrpt.pdf.
Why I created this Blog
I created this Blog for my Action Research Project. I have been using iPods with my ESL 9th graders this year to determine if the technology helps the students with English language acquisition. We have not had any workshops with the District Coordinator so far this year to learn more about applications. However, I am suppose to attend a meeting this week to go over the data, grades, and applications that we have been using so far this year. I hope to learn about new applications that I will be able to utilize in the classroom to help my students as they progress towards improving their English language acquisition.
EDLD 5253 Week 2 #1 Texas Long Range Plan 2006-2020
EDLD 5352 Week 2 Blog Posting #1
The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020, is composed of four areas. I decided to focus on Educator Preparation and Development. The main points are that all teachers will: graduate from a program that incorporates and models current instructional technology, know how to use technology effectively, establish collaborative and interactive learning environments, and integrate technology throughout all curriculum and instruction. As stated in the report, “Whether teaching and learning are impacted through the use of educational technology is directly related to the experiences that are brought to the classroom.” (p.23) Educators need to be prepared and trained in the use of technology and its importance in the classroom of the 21st century.
The report recommends providing professional development to teachers so they know how to use digital resources, technology tools and online and distance learning. This includes providing development opportunities to help all teachers reach Target Tech level on the STaR Chart.
According to the report, progress in the area of Educator Preparation showed slight gains for Texas educators and librarians. On a state level, there was a 20 percent drop at the Target Tech level.
As for local level progress, our district has made goals to utilize technology 24/7. The district has started a Technology Tuesday program where they have online training in a variety of areas. Some classes available to educators are: iWeb, introduction to Excel, introduction to Pages, Blogs, StudyWiz, and introduction to Word. These courses are delivered throughout the day for teachers to attend via web conference during their conference period or during lunch. We started implementing an iPod Project this year for our ESL students on a secondary level. ESL students are given an iPod to use that has their core textbooks loaded onto it so they have access to their books anywhere. We are given professional development on the new Technology applications we are given to use in the classroom such as StudyWiz and Eduphoria.
Educators of the 21st century are trained in educator preparation programs so that when they exit college they know how to use technology effectively in the teaching-learning process.
Trends in the area of Educator Preparation and Development are the move towards providing professional development for not only new teachers, but also for veteran teachers to ensure that they master SBEC Technology Applications Standards. More and more online programs are becoming available to educators to facilitate life-long learning. Busy teachers are now able to complete courses online to gain additional certifications. Regional Centers are offering courses and workshops online for teachers to gain additional teaching strategies to be used in the classroom. Technology is moving ahead with more and more innovative applications available yearly. The real problem lies with the lack of funding to bring the latest technology to every district and campus. With the budget cuts our district is seeing this year, technology will be taking a backseat for a few years.
My recommendation for improvement would come in the area of more professional development for technology. We seem to have constant additions to technology in our district, but the training sessions are short and often rushed. I feel that there needs to be more training on the individual campus that has smaller groups and the opportunity for teachers to practice the skills and ask questions to help them become masters with the technology. It would be valuable to add training that would show technology uses in the classroom for each individual academic area. If teachers are shown how to expand the technology in their classrooms and in their lesson planning, I feel they will be more willing to use the technology on a daily basis.
Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/technology/EktronAttach/FinalCombinedLRPT2020.pdf
The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020, is composed of four areas. I decided to focus on Educator Preparation and Development. The main points are that all teachers will: graduate from a program that incorporates and models current instructional technology, know how to use technology effectively, establish collaborative and interactive learning environments, and integrate technology throughout all curriculum and instruction. As stated in the report, “Whether teaching and learning are impacted through the use of educational technology is directly related to the experiences that are brought to the classroom.” (p.23) Educators need to be prepared and trained in the use of technology and its importance in the classroom of the 21st century.
The report recommends providing professional development to teachers so they know how to use digital resources, technology tools and online and distance learning. This includes providing development opportunities to help all teachers reach Target Tech level on the STaR Chart.
According to the report, progress in the area of Educator Preparation showed slight gains for Texas educators and librarians. On a state level, there was a 20 percent drop at the Target Tech level.
As for local level progress, our district has made goals to utilize technology 24/7. The district has started a Technology Tuesday program where they have online training in a variety of areas. Some classes available to educators are: iWeb, introduction to Excel, introduction to Pages, Blogs, StudyWiz, and introduction to Word. These courses are delivered throughout the day for teachers to attend via web conference during their conference period or during lunch. We started implementing an iPod Project this year for our ESL students on a secondary level. ESL students are given an iPod to use that has their core textbooks loaded onto it so they have access to their books anywhere. We are given professional development on the new Technology applications we are given to use in the classroom such as StudyWiz and Eduphoria.
Educators of the 21st century are trained in educator preparation programs so that when they exit college they know how to use technology effectively in the teaching-learning process.
Trends in the area of Educator Preparation and Development are the move towards providing professional development for not only new teachers, but also for veteran teachers to ensure that they master SBEC Technology Applications Standards. More and more online programs are becoming available to educators to facilitate life-long learning. Busy teachers are now able to complete courses online to gain additional certifications. Regional Centers are offering courses and workshops online for teachers to gain additional teaching strategies to be used in the classroom. Technology is moving ahead with more and more innovative applications available yearly. The real problem lies with the lack of funding to bring the latest technology to every district and campus. With the budget cuts our district is seeing this year, technology will be taking a backseat for a few years.
My recommendation for improvement would come in the area of more professional development for technology. We seem to have constant additions to technology in our district, but the training sessions are short and often rushed. I feel that there needs to be more training on the individual campus that has smaller groups and the opportunity for teachers to practice the skills and ask questions to help them become masters with the technology. It would be valuable to add training that would show technology uses in the classroom for each individual academic area. If teachers are shown how to expand the technology in their classrooms and in their lesson planning, I feel they will be more willing to use the technology on a daily basis.
Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/technology/EktronAttach/FinalCombinedLRPT2020.pdf
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