Reflections

When we started this course I read the syllabus and was excited to be taking a course that I envisioned would make me somewhat more competent in technology. I had visions that I would become a more proficient user of the technology that is around me not only in my home but in the school that I educate children in. So far the most I can say is that I learned how to establish a blog. I do believe that could have been done for a lot less cash than I spent on this course. What I did not think about was the legal and ethical side of the internet and all the technology that is available for communications in today’s world. The courses that taught that aspect of technology in schools was in excess of what I ever imagined it could be. The many aspects of technology and its ramifications and legal issues are far greater and deeper than I had ever thought about. For this, I am thankful that this course was there to help me navigate those possibly dangerous waters.

The knowledge that I gained from learning about the many different types of communication devices and different modes of communication has broadened my perspective. I came into this course not knowing a wiki from a blog and has seen the term RSS used on my computer but had no vague idea what it meant. These different methods of communication have a far reaching potential for school usage. I only wish I knew enough to develop wikis, blogs and RSS’s and then be able to teach my students and professional counterparts how to use them. I think that if we had all these various types of communications possible in our school we would be able to really interest the students in educating themselves. I plan on having discussions with our technology department and my principal to see what the possibilities are for instituting at least some of these communication methods on our campus.

I was not able to learn the nuts and bolts of how to actually develop these types of communication methods. I would have liked more information on the “how to” of setting up the different types of communication methods that were discussed in many of the articles we read. I think that it would have been very useful to a neophyte in the world of technology to have had some knowledge concerning what it takes to set up these systems. If that neophyte (me) had more knowledge he/she would be in a better bargaining position to propose such advances at my school. The knowledge of what it takes to put these systems online would be helpful when I go to talk to the technology department. Without this knowledge I am going to be at their mercy and not going to be able to carry on a competent professional discussion where the techies will at least know that I have some working knowledge of what they do and how they do it.

The course assignments were not overly difficult to carry out. The reason is that most of my time was spent doing work on the discussion board. I saw the relevance of reading the material and then commenting on what was in the readings. That is only to be expected in order to show you the teachers of the course that I had actually read the prescribed readings and had learned from them. The commenting on the readings is good in that it gave me a chance to show that I had actually learned what the writer wanted me to learn about in respect to the subject area of the article. The part of the discussion boar that I felt was not of benefit was the having to comment on comments. I suppose that showed we were collaborating, but I would have rather spent my time learning how to use the material I read rather than discussing and re-discussing it.

This course taught me that I am very new in the field of technology and have so much to learn that I really do not know where to go next. I know that there is much to learn but it is such a daunting amount of information to be learned and put into practice that it is intimidating. I do know that what I have learned in this course is not even enough to scratch the surface of what I need to know in order to be an effective leader in the 21st century. It will be imperative that I continue to build on what I have learned in the few short weeks we had for technology. I have learned that it is past time for me to sit down with my technology personnel and have them start educating me as to what we have, what we need, what we can afford, and what is coming down the road at me.

Blogging appears to be a form of communication that has been and continues to be an overlooked and underutilized tool in education. I can see where having a blog for each of the courses that is taught would be a way of having discourse to a level that in not available in the classroom of today. The classroom of today is still teacher centered and probably will be for the foreseeable future. The utilizing of a blog would allow access to the discussion to those students that seem to sit in the shadows and never contribute because of shyness or any other myriad of reasons. If a blog were available it could be contributed to on a 24/7 basis. This would allow both the teacher and student that might be having an idea at home to put their thought forward and not possibly forget it by the next day. When a blog is set up through the educational system i.e. the district or campus there must be controls as to who is allowed onto that blog and there needs to be control over the content of what is allowed to be posted to the blog. This is necessary in order to be assured of the safety of the students. Before a blog can be started for student access and comment the administration and the parents of the students must be one hundred percent sure that the children will be protected against the possibility of a predator gaining access to the blog and using it to gain access to the students. Blogs that are formulated by the district to inform and receive feedback from the community are a tool that should be pushed and developed to the fullest extent possible. By being able to communicate with the community and allowing a forum for the community to communicate about district issues with each other and with the district would be tool that allows input to a level that districts have never had before. .Some in administration will find this method of coming to a decision on school issues uncomfortable. I believe however that by having a blog that stakeholders can comment to is just another way that districts can receive input and at the same time demonstrate their openness and transparency.

1. Technology Action Plan

District Goal

Each student will be offered the opportunity to obtain knowledge and skills to enhance their individual talents in order to fill their potential to become responsible citizens of the city, state and world.

Objectives

1. All core curriculum and elective areas will have technology applications for TEKS taught and there will be a proficiency rate of 90%.
2. Technology applications and practices will be integrated into the curriculum to increase the rigor of student centered learning.
3. There will be a technology management system implemented to assess the data developed by special populations. This system will disaggregate the information for the purpose of assessment of mastery of the curriculum
4. Ensure access to technology that is modern and reliable. This technology will meet current and future needs.

Needs

1. Increase vertical alignment of technology instruction to support objectives.
2. Evaluate existing technology and modernize system to better utilize facilities.
3. Provide in service training to teachers on methodology of technology usage.
4. Increase infrastructure for more student access to 24/7 internet
5. Evaluate the need for increased technology support.
6. Develop and implement an information management system for instruction,
curriculum and the use of data driven decision making.

Professional Development

1. Training in and implementation of the use of various software.
2. Training in the use of technology in the classroom.
3. Training on creating online information centers.
4. Information on TAKS, benchmarks, and data disaggregation
5. Training on various manipulatives such as whiteboards.
6. Training on ethics and safety while using the internet.




Evaluation

Evaluation will be done through the gathering of data from sources including but not limited to the Campus and District STaR chart, campus and district improvement plans, district technology plans, and the AEIS information documents.

Assessments and monitoring reports that determine the usage of technologies in the core classrooms will be implemented. These documents along with scheduled and unscheduled walk-through evaluations will determine the amount of and effect of the usage of available technologies.

Texas STaR Chart

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Texas STaR Chart

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After taking the two assessments I came to the conclusion that I am very technologically incompetent. There were so many items that the assessments questioned that I had absolutely no idea what they meant. I believe that if this course is to be about learning technology I am in for a large learning curve. I am actually pleased that this may be the case because I feel that I really need to have this knowledge in order to significantly help my students to excell in the quest for educational success. I feel that it is imperative that I become technologically adept so that I am at least as competent as my students. There are time that they have asked me questions concerning how to do something on the computer and I am not able to help them. I would hope that this course will push me and pull me screaming and kicking into the technlogical age. I think that as a leader on my campus I will need to develop the ability to work on computers with a fair degree of competence. If as a leader I have no idea what is being done on my campus with technology i could easily be scammed or duped into costing the campus and district both time and human resources. These assessments were painfully accurate aas to my ignorance of technology. I have now come to the conclusion that it is time to learn something new about how to use a computer every day.