Columbus Junior High
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Sunday, November 29, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Week 2, Assignment 2: Educator Preparation and Development
Educator Preparation and Development basically means that since educators will be held accountable in effectively educating the 21st Century learner in technology and other information-rich material, they need to be prepared and have an understanding of the technology that is used and available for classroom use. Some of the guidelines that are addressed in this area are professional development experiences, models of professional development, capabilities of educators, and access to professional development. We have a responsibility to our students and stakeholders to prepare students through the use of technology and for the use of technology. We have teachers that are taking advantage of opportunities to better themselves in field of technology.
Currently, colleges/universities are making it a point of having students that are going into education take preparation courses in the use of technology in the classroom. It is imperative that they are able to meet the technology standards set before them. They are also making it a point to show students how technology relates to the other core subjects. Current teachers are also being provided opportunities to attend staff development sessions on the uses of technology. Teachers are encouraged to collaborate with other teachers in the use of technology in the classroom. My district is making it a point to have more smart boards and clicker units used in the classroom. Also they are having teachers who have experience with those and other technological units to put together some inservices/professional development sessions. Nationally I believe that schools are making it a point to include technology at any and all levels. In order for that to take place it is important that the educators are being prepared.
Currently I do not have any national data, but as I look over my campus, district, and state data, it appears that we all fit under the Developing Technology label. I have checked with some of my fellow teachers and many of them usually use their technology simply for administrative reasons and maybe some power point presentations. We are in desparate need for funding to increase our availability of technology in our schools. School districts seem to struggle with their budgets. We are also lacking in professional development.
We need to make changes when it comes to technology. It needs to be affordable so that we can make it readily available to our students and teachers. Teachers must be afforded the opportunities to attend professional development for technology and then to be able to collaborate with their peers after the professional development. People must model what has been learned. It would be helpful to have our educators meet with company representatives in order to gain a better understanding of the technology the each company creates for teachers. Finally teachers shoud also be encouraged to take online professional development. If we are too be held accountable for the use of technology, then we must take the proper steps to prepare our educators.
Currently, colleges/universities are making it a point of having students that are going into education take preparation courses in the use of technology in the classroom. It is imperative that they are able to meet the technology standards set before them. They are also making it a point to show students how technology relates to the other core subjects. Current teachers are also being provided opportunities to attend staff development sessions on the uses of technology. Teachers are encouraged to collaborate with other teachers in the use of technology in the classroom. My district is making it a point to have more smart boards and clicker units used in the classroom. Also they are having teachers who have experience with those and other technological units to put together some inservices/professional development sessions. Nationally I believe that schools are making it a point to include technology at any and all levels. In order for that to take place it is important that the educators are being prepared.
Currently I do not have any national data, but as I look over my campus, district, and state data, it appears that we all fit under the Developing Technology label. I have checked with some of my fellow teachers and many of them usually use their technology simply for administrative reasons and maybe some power point presentations. We are in desparate need for funding to increase our availability of technology in our schools. School districts seem to struggle with their budgets. We are also lacking in professional development.
We need to make changes when it comes to technology. It needs to be affordable so that we can make it readily available to our students and teachers. Teachers must be afforded the opportunities to attend professional development for technology and then to be able to collaborate with their peers after the professional development. People must model what has been learned. It would be helpful to have our educators meet with company representatives in order to gain a better understanding of the technology the each company creates for teachers. Finally teachers shoud also be encouraged to take online professional development. If we are too be held accountable for the use of technology, then we must take the proper steps to prepare our educators.
Summary of Pre-K Technology Applications TEKS
The Pre-K TEKS establishes a simple foundation for which our children are to learn and grow. Future TEKS will grow and develop from these simple TEKS that are developed for our Pre-K students. We begin with a scaffolding curriculum with the teacher introducing the different technology skills to their students. Most students might be unaware of the tasks being addressed by their teachers. Some of the simple tasks that we wish for our Pre-K students to address are listening and interacting to electronic storybooks, moving and double-clicking the mouse to interact with software, inserting and playing a CD to listen to the music, and writing and drawing using software.
A spiraling curriculum is a curriculum that builds on prior knowledge. Our district and the state aids in the building of a spiraling curriculum in order to meet the TEKS at specific grade levels. I have a 10-year-old daughter who is displaying some expertise in technology. She easily gets on the computer and creates documents. She is also able to download appropriate material and music. She likes to use clip art and create many different pictures. My 5 -year-old son is starting to show signs of some technology literacy. I am amazed with their level of technology literacy.
As I looked over the 3rd - 5th grade Technology TEKS, I noticed some similarities with the 6th - 8th grade TEKS. At both levels they are to us technology terminology that is appropriate to task and demonstrate acceptable use of the computer. Both grade level TEKS share in the use of acquiring information using Boolean search engines. There were also multiple opportunities shared in the Solving Problems and Communication areas to master knowledge and skills on both set of TEKS. I feel that it is wonderful that we reinforce material over periods of time. We must continuously to instruct our students on new material while still requiring to utilize their previous knowledge.
A spiraling curriculum is a curriculum that builds on prior knowledge. Our district and the state aids in the building of a spiraling curriculum in order to meet the TEKS at specific grade levels. I have a 10-year-old daughter who is displaying some expertise in technology. She easily gets on the computer and creates documents. She is also able to download appropriate material and music. She likes to use clip art and create many different pictures. My 5 -year-old son is starting to show signs of some technology literacy. I am amazed with their level of technology literacy.
As I looked over the 3rd - 5th grade Technology TEKS, I noticed some similarities with the 6th - 8th grade TEKS. At both levels they are to us technology terminology that is appropriate to task and demonstrate acceptable use of the computer. Both grade level TEKS share in the use of acquiring information using Boolean search engines. There were also multiple opportunities shared in the Solving Problems and Communication areas to master knowledge and skills on both set of TEKS. I feel that it is wonderful that we reinforce material over periods of time. We must continuously to instruct our students on new material while still requiring to utilize their previous knowledge.
Analysis of the Long-Range Plan
Even though this document was long I did enjoy reading through it. I learned some new ideas and about the goals created for technology. There were portions within different areas that seemed to reaffirm my exact thoughts pertaining to technology, teachers, students, and all stakeholders. I felt that the highlighted areas that we responded to are truly vital to one another as well as to itself. The expectations in Phase I were truly well thought out and necessary for us to build a successful generation of technologically-sound students. I was aware of our changing society, but was not truly aware of the vastness of our current and future changes. I remember how when I was a student we were pretty much taught with the idea that "what is good for some is good for all." I feel that I struggle when it comes to meeting the needs of my students. I agree that increased technology will make it easier for teachers to meet the needs of our students and make the learning process more personal. Technology is readily available, but not to all. We, educators and stakeholders, need to find a way to make it available to all of our students. The problem most of all face is funding. Why are we making something that can be so beneficial and necessary so difficult to obtain? When it comes to educators I don't feel as though it isn't that we don't want to change, but how are we going to make the change possible. Not only is funding an issue, but we also need some preparation and more professional development. I feel that we are behind in our professional development and that we need to push both government and our districts to help us out. Time, money, and instruction is very important to the success of technology in our schools. Please don't get me wrong, I know that our administrators are working hard to help implement technology. It is necessary for our channels of communication be open so that everyone is on the same page. I really enjoyed reading the section on infrastructure. That section reaffirmed my belief that without a working system there will be no success.
This document provided me with information and guidelines to help me become more aware of the need for technology. It has provided me with a guideline and understanding on how we need to address our wants and needs for technology. I am going to become more active in following our growth in technology. I plan on meeting with the technology personnel in our district and other administrators to learn more about my district's current status in the field of technology. I feel that it won't be long before technology becomes one of the core subjects.
This document provided me with information and guidelines to help me become more aware of the need for technology. It has provided me with a guideline and understanding on how we need to address our wants and needs for technology. I am going to become more active in following our growth in technology. I plan on meeting with the technology personnel in our district and other administrators to learn more about my district's current status in the field of technology. I feel that it won't be long before technology becomes one of the core subjects.
Technology Assessments
I will be honest with you. I was having some difficulty filling out the second assessment. When it comes to technology I feel as though I am a "fish out of water." My responses to the surveys pretty much backed up my feelings about competence in the field of technology. My concern over technology is that I really don't use it that much. I have a smart board in my classroom, but the overhead projector is placed in the spot which is not beneficial for use. I try to use it once in awhile and I understand the basics of its use, but I feel as though I do not have the time to go in depth with its uses. I can perform the basic skills on the computer; such as, spreadsheets, word documents, downloading material from both websites and cds, and emails. I utilize the textbook power point presentation for my class. What I have listed pretty much sums up my strengths when it comes to technology.
As I went through the inventory I noticed that my scores were lower in the communication and solving problems with technology tools. I may not have answered the questions correctly, but at this moment I am not sure. I will say that my confidence in what I do know and what I don't know about those two sections is not high. I know that it will help me to take some courses or attend some workshops on utilizing graphics. I also know that it is imperative that I acquaint myself with the TEKS that are set up for my current grade level.
I took a deeper look over the SETDA Teacher Survey and I will be honest with in stating that my district is in need of more technology. I asked my campus technologist about the various types of technology on our campus. It was simply put to me that she takes care of the hardware, but does not actually push for the ordering of our technology. Also our district does not have the funding to go out and purchase extra technological devices. I was somewhat disappointed to hear that statement. If I were the campus administrator I would push for the need for more technology. I have noticed that there are many of our teachers who are obtaining more technological devices, but they are strictly for teacher use in their teaching. What are we doing for the students? I believe our tech course is an elective. We have two computer labs, but those computers are combined on the same server as our elementary and high school campuses. Therefore, when we are using the computers, the server is slow. Also there are no additional computers in our classrooms. We have one computer per classroom for the teachers, but no extra ones for our students. I would find several teachers who would be interested in writing grants so that we can obtain more technological devices. We are expected to keep our students up-to-date with technology, but we are unable to provide them the equipment. I would also attempt to find ways that teachers would have time to plan lessons using technology. Patience and time is necessary to put together valuable lessons, especially about technology.
As I went through the inventory I noticed that my scores were lower in the communication and solving problems with technology tools. I may not have answered the questions correctly, but at this moment I am not sure. I will say that my confidence in what I do know and what I don't know about those two sections is not high. I know that it will help me to take some courses or attend some workshops on utilizing graphics. I also know that it is imperative that I acquaint myself with the TEKS that are set up for my current grade level.
I took a deeper look over the SETDA Teacher Survey and I will be honest with in stating that my district is in need of more technology. I asked my campus technologist about the various types of technology on our campus. It was simply put to me that she takes care of the hardware, but does not actually push for the ordering of our technology. Also our district does not have the funding to go out and purchase extra technological devices. I was somewhat disappointed to hear that statement. If I were the campus administrator I would push for the need for more technology. I have noticed that there are many of our teachers who are obtaining more technological devices, but they are strictly for teacher use in their teaching. What are we doing for the students? I believe our tech course is an elective. We have two computer labs, but those computers are combined on the same server as our elementary and high school campuses. Therefore, when we are using the computers, the server is slow. Also there are no additional computers in our classrooms. We have one computer per classroom for the teachers, but no extra ones for our students. I would find several teachers who would be interested in writing grants so that we can obtain more technological devices. We are expected to keep our students up-to-date with technology, but we are unable to provide them the equipment. I would also attempt to find ways that teachers would have time to plan lessons using technology. Patience and time is necessary to put together valuable lessons, especially about technology.
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