As I study the STaR chart results for my campus and compare them to national results I discover that our campus is doing very well with the technology.
Today I am going to focus on the area of Educator Preparation. This area is mostly concerned with providing teachers with not only the software and hardware in the classroom, but the instruction on such equipment so that it can be utilized to its potential. The ability for staff to gain not only knowledge, but confidence in using technology in their classrooms is necessary for improvement in this caption. The vertical alignment of TEKS and the anytime, anywhere use of online resources in the classroom can be daunting so training and preparation is crucial.
Our campus specifically has shown some improvement in this area in the last three years moving from developing technology to the caption of advanced technology. My opinion is that the "target" technology is out of reach for most campuses because such inclusion of technology would almost completely change the landscape of the current classroom. State and National progress shows that we are currently ranked amongst the most technologically proficient campuses.
The trend I notice for our state and country is that our biggest hurdle with technology is the education of the teachers. The only way that our campuses and classrooms will become more technologically savvy is if our teachers acquire the knowledge to make it so.
I foresee that there will be a shift from staff training that focuses on relationships and student behavior to one that is more about technology inclusion in the classroom at all levels of instruction.
One thing I can take from studying the background of the STaR chart and more importantly its purpose I know that I will make a more conscious effort the next time the survey comes around.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Hamilton MS STaR Chart 2009
STaR Chart Response 2009
Hamilton MS STaR Chart 2009
View more presentations from John.
Pre-K TEKS
The TEKS plan for Pre-K students in Texas is a great plan for laying a foundation of technology application for our youngest students. The ability to provide a solid foundation using playful and purpose driven instruction allows for students to begin their journey in technology.
The spiraling curriculum concept whereby information constantly connects itself in relevant ways is a popular concept in education. The ability to use technology to weave through information, software and hardware to enhance ones education allows for multiple opprotunities to master technology skills as they relate to technology TEKS.
The spiraling curriculum concept whereby information constantly connects itself in relevant ways is a popular concept in education. The ability to use technology to weave through information, software and hardware to enhance ones education allows for multiple opprotunities to master technology skills as they relate to technology TEKS.
Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology Summary
The Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology is a plan set to prepare Texas students to be competitive savvy producers in society.
The realization that students, parents, educators and community members can benefit from the inclusion of technology in the classroom is no surprise. The detail of the plan is fairly comprehensive and covers all aspects needed to produce quality producers.
The one aspect of the plan that is possibly most behind is regarding the infrastructure of technology in our schools. I believe that there are too many fiscal roadblocks that prevent our schools from providing the necessary equipment, training and labor dedicated to such a large plan.
This plan should be a great resource to provide guidance for technology integration at my campus. Having the necessary background and timeline will help in my preparation of the students, staff, and community for the incluson of technology in our classrooms.
The realization that students, parents, educators and community members can benefit from the inclusion of technology in the classroom is no surprise. The detail of the plan is fairly comprehensive and covers all aspects needed to produce quality producers.
The one aspect of the plan that is possibly most behind is regarding the infrastructure of technology in our schools. I believe that there are too many fiscal roadblocks that prevent our schools from providing the necessary equipment, training and labor dedicated to such a large plan.
This plan should be a great resource to provide guidance for technology integration at my campus. Having the necessary background and timeline will help in my preparation of the students, staff, and community for the incluson of technology in our classrooms.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Technology Assessments - Week 1
My first weeks posting for Instructional Technology course has me completeting two technology surveys.
The first survey was the Technology Applications Inventory. This survey dealt mostly with my knowledge of software and hardware in and out of the classroom. It appears by this survey that I am fairly knowledgable about the basics of computing and technology. I am also fairly proficient when it comes to acquiring information and knowledge through the use of technology. Solving problems through the use of advanced technological applications would be my weakest area surveyed. I just don't have much experience at higher level use of the software available to us. I consider myself more pedestrian when it comes to creating collaborative software and productivity tools to create products, etc. The final topic surveyed dealt with my communication skills relating to technology. Having some basic skills in creating posters, mass mailings, email newsletters helps me in this surveyed field.
The second survey is the State Educational Technology Directors Assocoiation (SETDA) survey. This survey is most interested in understanding my use of technology in the classroom. How I use it? When I use it? How often I use it? It is fairly clear to me that because of my classroom setting in the band hall, that I am doing a fairly good job of implementing technology, especially with the use of SmartMusic software. If I was in the academic areas of the school (language arts, math, sciences) I am certain that my responses would have been much different as our district is very current and expects its staff to use technolgy to enhance and promote lessons.
Overall I would say that these surveys are good launching points for the academic teacher and their use of technology in the classroom, however i'm not sure that the SETDA survey couldn't be designed to be a bit more content area specific.
The first survey was the Technology Applications Inventory. This survey dealt mostly with my knowledge of software and hardware in and out of the classroom. It appears by this survey that I am fairly knowledgable about the basics of computing and technology. I am also fairly proficient when it comes to acquiring information and knowledge through the use of technology. Solving problems through the use of advanced technological applications would be my weakest area surveyed. I just don't have much experience at higher level use of the software available to us. I consider myself more pedestrian when it comes to creating collaborative software and productivity tools to create products, etc. The final topic surveyed dealt with my communication skills relating to technology. Having some basic skills in creating posters, mass mailings, email newsletters helps me in this surveyed field.
The second survey is the State Educational Technology Directors Assocoiation (SETDA) survey. This survey is most interested in understanding my use of technology in the classroom. How I use it? When I use it? How often I use it? It is fairly clear to me that because of my classroom setting in the band hall, that I am doing a fairly good job of implementing technology, especially with the use of SmartMusic software. If I was in the academic areas of the school (language arts, math, sciences) I am certain that my responses would have been much different as our district is very current and expects its staff to use technolgy to enhance and promote lessons.
Overall I would say that these surveys are good launching points for the academic teacher and their use of technology in the classroom, however i'm not sure that the SETDA survey couldn't be designed to be a bit more content area specific.
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