Wednesday, March 2, 2011
National Educational Technology Plan
After reading the National Education Technology Plan and Obama's goals for education, I feel that education will be making a necessary change to meet the needs of students of the 21st century. Obama's goals include raising the college and high school graduation rates, and closing the achievement gaps in demographics among students. In order to meet these goals, the plan suggests changes in the classroom and in student learning. The educational system will need to be changed to include clearn outcomes, collaborative redesigned processes that are more effective, efficient, and flexible, a better way to monitor and meausre performance, and an higher standard for accountablity. A study mentioned in the plan states that children aged 8-18 spend 53 hours a week using media for entertainment. It is the challenge in education to find a way to make the media they use educational. Students learning will be changed so that students use technology to create their own learning environments giving them a sense of ownership. Classrooms must change to meet the needs and connect technology learning within the classroom as these are the needs of the 21st century learner. Learning taking place at school must be altered to be more student centered and to meet individual and diverse needs of each student. Assessments will need to be changed to reflect this style and instead of pen and paper bubbling, students will show that they master necessary skills through other outlets. Teaching must be innovative, creative, and continuously changing to meet the needs of each student. Teachers must learn to take more flexible approaches and connect learning to the needs of each student. In order for teachers to master the current trends in technology, professional development will be necessary in a way that is collaborative and frequent allowing for teachers to have support and become familiar. Such examples will include in person workshops as well as online classes. If these changes are made, I do feel that education can make giant leaps into meeting the ever changing needs of our students. In reflection, I realize how much technology has improved since I was in grade school. Now students as young as 2nd grade have cell phones. It only makes sense that the needs of schools change to meet the current demands and I feel that this educational plan has covered a lot of the worries of educators as well as parents.
Reflection of Web Conference
Tonight I was on the web conference and I found it to be very helpful. A lot of questions that I had were answered as well as some questions I didn't realize that I had. I like that it was required because I probably wouldn't have had the courage to do a web conference otherwise. I don't have a webcam or a microphone on my mini laptop so I felt a little intimidated, but it was a great tool to have for online classes.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Progress Report
I reviewed the Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020. I found that the results were what I have been noticing in my own classroom and district in the past few years, that technology use in the classroom is increasing and rightfully so. The Progress Report stated its goals: digital tools to be available to parents and students and teachers 24/7, to produce students that can thrive in the 21st century workforce, and that parents could be more active participants in their children's education. The Progress Report also states the current trend in students finding their own information using technology and that educators must be aware of that in order to help them find the best content and use the resources correctly.
The results show that in most areas improvment is clearly shown. In the areas of teaching and learning, the percentange of people classified as developing tech to advanced tech has changed. Advanced tech is starting to become the norm which means that teachers and students are using more technology within their classrooms.
The progress report also shows an increazse in the number of teachers that are in higher levels of implementation of technology within classsrooms. This is great news because based on the state's needs and a few years of implementation, these results show that the state is right on track for making the changes needed in the best interest of the 21st century learner.
The results show that in most areas improvment is clearly shown. In the areas of teaching and learning, the percentange of people classified as developing tech to advanced tech has changed. Advanced tech is starting to become the norm which means that teachers and students are using more technology within their classrooms.
The progress report also shows an increazse in the number of teachers that are in higher levels of implementation of technology within classsrooms. This is great news because based on the state's needs and a few years of implementation, these results show that the state is right on track for making the changes needed in the best interest of the 21st century learner.
Texas Long Range Plan for Technology
The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology is a plan that include several topics in order to fully describe. The plan has a vision that by 2020 the students, parents, educators, and community members/board memebers will have successfully implemented the changes. There are three phases for the Long Range plan. Phase I is from 2006-2010. Phase II is from 2011-2015, and phase III is from 2016-2020. As I read over the Long Range Plan for Technology, I realized the great need for this plan. Technology is increasing daily, and today's students have different needs than the students of a few years ago. Change is needed to help students have the education needed for a new breed of jobs that may not even be created yet. These 21st century learners will not benefit from a lecture type of classroom style. Teachers and educators must be familiar with the new types of technologies so that they can give students the education they need. New types of staff development and priorities on campuses are needed to make these changes. Involvement from the administration and all stakeholders must be implemented in order to make Vision 2020 a reality.
At our school, there has been a recent push on technology staff development. There is a technology person whose job is to go to each campus monthly to introduce new websites, programs, and any other educational technology to teachers. She is also there to answer any questions and to meet in small groups to show the teachers how to use the software. I feel these staff developments have helped teachers overcome their fear of technology, and some that may not have tried new programs are starting to use them frequently within their classrooms. Districts will need to move to this type of staff development, not only to get the information out to teachers, but to make them feel comfortable in using new technology.
At our school, there has been a recent push on technology staff development. There is a technology person whose job is to go to each campus monthly to introduce new websites, programs, and any other educational technology to teachers. She is also there to answer any questions and to meet in small groups to show the teachers how to use the software. I feel these staff developments have helped teachers overcome their fear of technology, and some that may not have tried new programs are starting to use them frequently within their classrooms. Districts will need to move to this type of staff development, not only to get the information out to teachers, but to make them feel comfortable in using new technology.
Monday, August 9, 2010
A Final Reflection
This class has taught me so much about how to implement action research and what it's all about. I really liked learning about the importance of reflection and I am going to make it a regular part of my daily schedule. I also liked making a blog and understanding how beneficial it is to follow other educational blogs to compare my strategies with others. I plan on continuing to blog and find other blogs that relate to my field to follow weekly. Another thing I learned was the number of ways to collaborate with others more efficeintly and I will use that in my action research project such as conducting surveys electronically, interviews, conduct group meetings to gather as much information on a subject as possible. All of these things will help me in furthering my research project this year.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Revised plan
1. Outcome- Evaluate the surveys to see what the teachers thought was the best thing about previous program and make a spreadsheet of previous year’s test results
1. Activity- Complete a survey about the previous reading programs pros and cons
1. Resources- Survey completed by last year’s first grade teachers1. Responsibility- 1st grade teachers, Sarah Graham
1. Time Line- August 2010 before the first day of school
1. Benchmarks/Assessments- TPRI results, benchmark results, Level one test results from the previous year
2. Outcome- Discuss what makes a successful reading program. Answer any questions about the focus group and new program
2. Activity- Have a meeting with a focus group
2. Resources- List of pros/cons from last year’s reading program
2. Responsibility- 1st grade teachers, Sarah Graham, Leah Russell
2. Time Line- August 2010 before the first day of school
2. Benchmarks/ Assessments- n/a
3. Outcome- Evaluate the success in students reading from previous year to current year. Note complaints or concerns or benefits of new program compared to previous program.
3. Activity- Complete a second survey with teachers about new reading program
3. Resources- Survey
3. Responsibility- 1st grade teachers, Sarah Graham
3. Time Line- December 2010
3. Benchmarks/ Assessments- previous/current year’s TPRI results, benchmark results, DRA reading levels
4. Outcome- Evaluate the success in student’s scores, compare to previous year’s scores. Note any concerns or benefits of new program noted in the survey.
4. Activity- Complete an end of the year survey with teachers about the new reading program4. Resources- Survey
4. Responsibility- 1st grade teachers, Sarah Graham4. Time Line- April 2011
4. Benchmarks/ Assessments- previous year’s TPRI results, benchmark results, DRA reading levels and current year’s results
5. Outcome- Use reflection to think of any other items that have not been addressed, come to a overall conclusion about the program.
5. Activity- Self reflect about the results from the new reading program.
5. Resources- Lesson plans, assessments
5. Responsibility- Sarah Graham
5. Time Line- June 20115. Benchmarks/ Assessments- Current and previous year’s TRPI results, benchmark results, DRA reading levels
6. Outcome- Compare the survey and overall reading scores to see if improvement was made with the implementation of the new reading program. Brainstorm new ways to solve concerns about new program to make it more successful next year.
6. Activity- Share results of the year long comparison and survey results with the principal.
6. Resources- Survey results, self reflection notes6. Responsibility- Sarah Graham, Leah Russell- principal
6. Time Line- June 2011
6. Benchmarks/ Assessments- current and previous year’s TRPI results, DRA scores, benchmark scores, Level 1 scores
1. Activity- Complete a survey about the previous reading programs pros and cons
1. Resources- Survey completed by last year’s first grade teachers1. Responsibility- 1st grade teachers, Sarah Graham
1. Time Line- August 2010 before the first day of school
1. Benchmarks/Assessments- TPRI results, benchmark results, Level one test results from the previous year
2. Outcome- Discuss what makes a successful reading program. Answer any questions about the focus group and new program
2. Activity- Have a meeting with a focus group
2. Resources- List of pros/cons from last year’s reading program
2. Responsibility- 1st grade teachers, Sarah Graham, Leah Russell
2. Time Line- August 2010 before the first day of school
2. Benchmarks/ Assessments- n/a
3. Outcome- Evaluate the success in students reading from previous year to current year. Note complaints or concerns or benefits of new program compared to previous program.
3. Activity- Complete a second survey with teachers about new reading program
3. Resources- Survey
3. Responsibility- 1st grade teachers, Sarah Graham
3. Time Line- December 2010
3. Benchmarks/ Assessments- previous/current year’s TPRI results, benchmark results, DRA reading levels
4. Outcome- Evaluate the success in student’s scores, compare to previous year’s scores. Note any concerns or benefits of new program noted in the survey.
4. Activity- Complete an end of the year survey with teachers about the new reading program4. Resources- Survey
4. Responsibility- 1st grade teachers, Sarah Graham4. Time Line- April 2011
4. Benchmarks/ Assessments- previous year’s TPRI results, benchmark results, DRA reading levels and current year’s results
5. Outcome- Use reflection to think of any other items that have not been addressed, come to a overall conclusion about the program.
5. Activity- Self reflect about the results from the new reading program.
5. Resources- Lesson plans, assessments
5. Responsibility- Sarah Graham
5. Time Line- June 20115. Benchmarks/ Assessments- Current and previous year’s TRPI results, benchmark results, DRA reading levels
6. Outcome- Compare the survey and overall reading scores to see if improvement was made with the implementation of the new reading program. Brainstorm new ways to solve concerns about new program to make it more successful next year.
6. Activity- Share results of the year long comparison and survey results with the principal.
6. Resources- Survey results, self reflection notes6. Responsibility- Sarah Graham, Leah Russell- principal
6. Time Line- June 2011
6. Benchmarks/ Assessments- current and previous year’s TRPI results, DRA scores, benchmark scores, Level 1 scores
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)