Reflections From EDLD 5306

As I began my Master's program, I was very excited to learn more about technology since I do not have a lot of experience in this area. The main outcome that I envisioned for this course was to learn more technology applications that I could implement into my general education classroom. I wanted to learn how to become more technology savvy. I was able to achieve these outcomes by learning some new technology applications.

 A few things I learned about are; blogs, Wikis, and online videos. I learned how to create and design a blog. I also learned how to paste and edit text on my blog. I feel that this will be beneficial to me because it is something that I can use with my students to engage them in online learning. Another thing I learned was how to create a Wiki. I had never heard about a Wiki before this class. I learned how to create a Wiki and how to make changes to my Wiki. This can be useful to me by allowing my students to collaborate online and thus learn from each other. The next thing I learned was how to create an online video. This was one of the most interesting things I learned; probably because I am a visual learner and enjoy teaching with visuals as well. I believe this application can be a great way for me to have students "publish" their work online. These course outcomes were exactly what I had envisioned. I have not implemented the new technology applications I have learned in my classroom yet, but hopefully, I will be able to in the near future.

The more I think about what I have learned, the more relevant I realize these applications are to my work as a 4th grade general education teacher. I can apply the three technology applications that I have learned to my Math, Spelling, Science, and Social Studies lessons that I already have and teach. The new things that I have learned will be helpful to me now because I can start making my classroom a better technological environment as I implement my new findings into my class lessons. They will also be helpful to me in the future as I learn more about technology because I will be able to add more to what I already know and expand my knowledge about technology. This will make me better at improving my technology use and make me a better teacher for today's 21st Century learners.

Throughout this course, I was able to achieve all of the outcomes that I had for myself. Considering that my main goal was to learn new technology to use in my classroom, I know that I accomplished that. As an educator, I want to keep up with what students are interested in and be able to challenge them as well. I believe I will be able to do that by using the things I have learned from this course. I am extremely excited to implement the new technology that I have gained an understanding about.

As I look back at the past five weeks, I believe that I was able to successfully achieve these outcomes because the assignment directions were stated in a way that was easy to follow. I also had help from my professor, through web conferences. I received assistance from my instructional assistant through questions and answers via email and I attained help from my colleagues by questions and answers on the discussion board. All of these, helped to make me a successful student.

Each week I was successful in carrying out all of the course assignments. However, there is one main challenge that I faced. I had to get an extension on my week two assignment. This was because I could not get a copy of our school technology plan. At my campus, the only person who can access the technology plan is our technology administrator that works at the administration office. I contacted him to get the information I needed but did not receive the school technology plan until the Monday after my assignment was due. When I knew that I was not going to be able to complete my assignment in time, I contacted my course professor and she allowed me three more days to complete my assignment. This was an answer to prayer! I was able to complete my assignment on Tuesday, one day before it was due. I was successful at carrying out all of the tasks for the week two assignment; it just took me a few extra days. I learned from this experience to always ask well in advance for any and all information that I may need for my assignments.

During this course, I feel that I learned a great deal of information. I keep conveying this information to others that ask me about my schooling. I feel that I have been somewhat of a sponge just soaking in all this new information. One thing I learned about myself is that I am not implementing enough technology into my class lessons. I realize that this is partly due to the fact that I do not have a large variety of technology instruments to use at my campus, but I need to learn to make what I do have useful. As a 21st Century educator, I should be implementing more technology into my class lessons because, my students are digital learners. I will be able to do this by implementing the things I have learned from this course into my classroom instruction. Since I have not had a lot of experience with technology leadership, I feel that I need to improve these skills as well. I will be able to do this by collaborating with the principal and computer teacher at my campus during my Internship.

Though I know the next 18 months may be full of rigor, I feel that my attitudes about technology are great. I am eager to learn about Educational Technology and how to implement more technology into my classroom. I also have the motivation to make it happen.

My 2nd Web Conference!!

On November 17, 2011, I had my second web conference. In this conference, Professor Borel went over things in greater detail than the previous web conference. We discussed the GRE requirements. I am relieved that I do not have to take this test! (YAY) Professor Borel also spoke about our Internship requirements, web conferences, and accreditation of the school. Next, Professor Borel went into detail about TK20, which will be an electronic portfolio that is active for 7 years. (I think this is a great way to keep all of my professional documents together). We then went over our assignment due dates, as well as, learned about our degree plan, and how we will have a Master’s Degree in as little as 18 months (WOW)! This web conference allowed me to see a brief plan of what I will be doing for the next 18 months. I am very excited about earning my Master’s Degree in Educational Technology. I find technology interesting and a wonderful resource for my students.

My First Web Conference Ever!

On November 16, 2011, I had my first web conference. I had never had an experience like this one. When I logged onto my conference, I wasn't sure of what to do. I then noticed the different buttons I could click such as open mic or mute mic. This allowed me to be heard when speaking to others in my class. I was also able to communicate with the people in my class by typing a message. I found this very intriguing since I had never done anything like this before. As we began the web conference, many people introduced themselves by telling who they were, where they taught at, and a few things about themselves. Next, Professor Borel gave us some basic information about the class. She informed us of the textbooks we would be using, the TK20 Account that we needed to purchase, weekly overviews, our courseware, class website, and when our first assignment was due. Afterwards, I logged off my computer and thought about the experience I had just had. Overall, I found this experience very unique and informational.

Iowa Park CISD Technology Plan

School Technology Plan Power ...

More PowerPoint presentations from Alicia

National Education Technology Plan

            The National Educational Technology Plan is formed to revamp American education through being clear about outcomes, redesigning for effectiveness, efficiency, and flexibility, observing and measuring performances, and being responsible for the results along the way.

The National Educational Technology Plan is driven by two goals:

•           To raise the proportion of college graduates from 41 to 60 percent

•           To close the achievement gap so that high school students are ready for college when they graduate.

There are 5 essential areas that the National Educational Technology Plan presents for learning with technology. When used correctly, these 5 essentials will help reach the 2 main goals of the American Educational Technology Plan. They are as follows:

•           Learning: Engage and Empower- This portion of the plan says that all students should be engaged with learning in and out of school. That students should be at the center of their own learning and that they should be prepared to be participants in our networked society.

•           Assessment: Measure What Matters- This states that we should assess what matters and then use the data that we gain to help improve education.

•           Teaching: Prepare and Connect- Educators will be supported by technology that connects them to resources and experiences that will make them become more efficient teachers.

•           Infrastructure: Access and Enable-  This will give access for all students and educators to infrastructure for learning.

•           Productivity: Redesign and Transform- This will improve learning outcomes by redesigning processes and using the power of technology. It will save time, money, and staff.

            To make this plan productive, we need to start implementing these essentials now. We need to collaborate at a local and state level to create and authorize new formative and summative technology-based assessment resources. These assessments should incorporate simulations, collaboration environments, virtual worlds, and games. The main goal is to use technology as a resource for teaching and for learning to improve education. This means that professional development will have to be implemented continuously. Technology is constantly changing. Therefore, to keep up with the new technology, teachers will need to be involved in professional development to learn all the new technology to implement into their lessons. If teachers are as up to date as possible, then the 2 main goals, to raise college graduates and to have students ready for college when they graduate high school, that this plan is driven by, can be made possible.

National Education Technology Plan Executive Summary. (2010). Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology [1-24]. Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010

School Technology Plan

The technology plan for Iowa Park Consolidated Independent School District implements a vision for technology throughout the district that will identify the strategies to enable the use of advanced technology.

The plan contains 4 goals and accompanying strategies designed to improve academic achievement. For the purpose of this summary, I am going to focus on the goals and strategies that are relevant to my Campus, Bradford Elementary. They are as follows:

Goal 1: The teaching and learning process will prepare students to function adequately in a technology-centered world by creating a student-centered learning environment where technology is seamlessly integrated into instruction and is used to improve student academic achievement and to expand course offerings.

Objective 1.1: All students will be provided instruction by the Technology Application TEKS.

• Strategy 1.1.1: Expand time in the schedule for all K-5th grade students to receive training in technology applications in both computer lab and regular classroom setting

Objective1.2: Distance learning and online digital resources will be utilized so that students will have access to courses and enrichment opportunities beyond campus boundaries.

• Strategy 1.2.2: Continue to offer electronic field trips.
• Strategy 1.2.3: Students will continue to use digital resources.

Goal 2: IPCISD will design and deliver systematic professional development to ensure all teachers meet SBEC's Technology Application Standards for all beginning educators.

Objective 2.1: All IPCISD staff will receive training on the effective integration of technology.

• Strategy 2.1.1: All new staff members will be trained on district-wide applications.
• Strategy 2.1.2: All staff will receive training and support on how to post to the website.
• Strategy 2.1.3: Staff will be provided technology professional development opportunities.
• Strategy 2.1.4: IPCISD will provide professional development for teachers on online resources.
• Strategy 2.1.5: Instructional staff members will continue to receive professional development on how to integrate technology into their instruction.

Goal 3: IPCISD will use technology to increase operational efficiency, to communicate effectively with all stakeholders, and provide a support system to ensure the function of the districts technology infrastructure.

Objective 3.1: IPCISD will use technology to provide community access to school information and resources.

• Strategy 3.1.1: Publish information to parents and community members on how to access IPCISD's online school accountability information.
• Strategy 3.1.2: Maintain up to date district website which includes district information, links to TEA, and other educational sites.
• Strategy 3.1.3: Collect e-mail address of parents to facilitate an open communication link between school and home.
• Strategy 3.1.4: Continue online grade book program.
• Strategy 3.1.5: Notification concerning events, parental involvement opportunities, and continued learning opportunities will be posted on the website including but not limited to adult literacy training, ESL training opportunities, etc.

Goal 4: All campuses will have the telecommunications infrastructure and the technology tools necessary to facilitate good communication, instruction, and other services.

Objective 4.1: Classrooms will have adequate access to available technologies.

• Strategy 4.1.1: Continue to refresh cycle so that computers are replaced at minimum every six years and purchase additional computers as funds become available.
• Strategy 4.1.2: Continue to add technology that enhances classroom instruction.
• Strategy 4.1.3: Continue to maintain software licenses for all workstations and to expand software offerings that supplement classroom instruction.

Objective 4.2: All students and staff will have available the necessary technological infrastructure to successfully integrate technology into all areas and to optimize the learning environment.

• Strategy 4.2.1: Maintain telecommunications infrastructure to support instructional needs
• Strategy 4.2.2: IPCISD will continually upgrade the LAN network infrastructure.
• Strategy 4.2.3: Employ appropriate personnel to manage IPCISD network and provide support to workstations and other technologies.
• Strategy 4.2.4: Replace servers and switches on an eight year rotational basis.

Professional Development:

The professional development opportunities available to Bradford Elementary are available through classes at Region 9 Education Service Center located in Wichita Falls, Texas about 15 minutes away from our campus. The Director of Technology at Region 9, our campus technology director and support technician are in charge of coordinating professional development opportunities. At this time, professional development is 100% funded through the year 2012 and the time for it is available, since we do our professional development classes in the summer time when school is not in session. Resources for this type of professional development are available at Region 9 as well.

Telecommunications/Hardware/Software/Other Services:

When it comes to telecommunications, hardware, software, and other services, all staff and students currently have access to the internet through a direct connection to the District Network. Bradford Elementary has a networked online card catalog in the library as well as automated checkout. Also, there is 1 networked computer lab with a full-time teaching assistant. All services are assessed and kept up to date by the district technology director and the support technician. As of right now, the technology plan is 100% funded through the year 2012.

Evaluation Process:
The evaluation process of the technology plan is taken care of by the Technology Plan Committee. It is an ongoing process that is evaluated each year. The intention of the technology evaluation process is to make sure that technology is impacting the learning process. The STaR Chart results from each campus aid in the evaluation process by showing progress toward meeting the goals of the Long Range Plan for Technology. After the evaluation, a report is given to the Superintendent and the Board of Trustees.

Iowa Park Cons ISD. (2010-2013). Technology Plan [1-16]. Retrieved from https://www.sedl.org/cgi-bin/mysql/eplan/eplan.cgi?l=reportoption_composite&editplani...

How Much Value is there in Assessing Technology Skills of Educators?

           According to my personal beliefs, I believe that assessing technology leadership knowledge and skills is highly valuable and important. This is due to my thinking pattern that it is always better to improve when possible. As I took the Keirsey Temperament, Multiple Intelligence Inventory,  LoTi Digital-Age Survey, and several other technology assessments last week, I learned so much about myself. I learned my areas of technology that need improvement, such as implementing more technology into my lessons, as well as my areas that I am advanced in, such as basic operations of the computer. These assessments really helped show me how to improve and be more productive in my career. I think that assessing the knowledge and skills of student technology is also quite valuable, because it will show me what I need to help students work on to be more successful. For me, one of the most valuable things in education is that I am able to help my students develop the skills they need to achieve their goals.
           A couple of things to consider when using technology assessments are the pros and cons of the assessments. One pro of technology assessments are that they show the skills that need improvement, and hence give guidance  in improving education, whether it be the teacher or the student. On the other hand, a con is that some of the questions on assessments do not directly apply to each person or campus in particular. For instance, on the LoTi Digital-Age Survey that I took last week some of the questions did not apply directly to my content area or my campus. This could lead to inadequate feedback.
           In my opinion, technology assessments help show us the parts of technology that we can improve which will lead to technological advances being made; and there is value in that.