The Lamar web conference provided some insight into new technology tools. I had never even heard of many of the programs mentioned! Prezi?? Glogster?? Huh? I am defintiely going to research them!
It was also interesting to know that there are several school districts that allow access to YouTube! My district certainly does not allow it. I have never logged in to teachertube.com, but am going to look into it also. Cindy Cummings stated that there is a Web 2.0 book available. Since I am new to that as well, I am going to order it.
I am still confused about the ILD and LCE. The chat moves rapidly and it was difficult to read, listen, and type while still trying to comprehend what was said and typed. I am going to need to read the script as soon as it is available!
It is good to know that there are several other grad students who still have the same questions as I have. Hopefully, we are on the right track and have not missed anything we were supposed to do! Oh, well, 'til next time!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Texas STaR Chart
This presentation is a summary of the Texas STaR Chart results for Lamar Elementary for the 2006 - 2009 school years.
S ta r chart
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National Educational Technology Plan
The National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) has two goals in mind: raise the proportion of college graduates from 39% to 60% holding a 2 to 4 year degree; and close the achievement gap so ALL students graduate from high school ready for college and career success. To accomplish these goals, we must meet the technology needs that are constantly changing. Technology has become an interdependent part of our everyday lives and we must act now in order to decrease the number of high school drop outs. The NETP has created a technology model consisting of five areas: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity.
One of the suggestions for becoming closer to our goals is effective professional development. Teachers are expected to implement technology in the classroom, but do not receive high quality training. I completely agree with increasing the time and quality of professional development. The majority of training is done in a half-day workshop that leaves us with more questions than answers. If we expect the students to learn more and be more successful, our instruction should be more effective. That can be accomplished with better professional development.
Another suggestion is that learning be more relevant to daily experiences and realities. Well, the reality is that technology is dominating our lives. No longer are the simple lecture and textbook as effective as they used to be. We must change what and how we teach. We need to engage and motivate the learners and that can be done through the implementation of technology.
The goals can be achieved providing the plan's recommendations, educator and student compliance, and sufficient equipment needs are met. Without this, technology will advance without us and the future of education will be bleak. I am certain, however, that the desire and intention are strong and success is near.
Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology. March 5, 2010. Office of Educational Technology. U.S. Department of Education.
One of the suggestions for becoming closer to our goals is effective professional development. Teachers are expected to implement technology in the classroom, but do not receive high quality training. I completely agree with increasing the time and quality of professional development. The majority of training is done in a half-day workshop that leaves us with more questions than answers. If we expect the students to learn more and be more successful, our instruction should be more effective. That can be accomplished with better professional development.
Another suggestion is that learning be more relevant to daily experiences and realities. Well, the reality is that technology is dominating our lives. No longer are the simple lecture and textbook as effective as they used to be. We must change what and how we teach. We need to engage and motivate the learners and that can be done through the implementation of technology.
The goals can be achieved providing the plan's recommendations, educator and student compliance, and sufficient equipment needs are met. Without this, technology will advance without us and the future of education will be bleak. I am certain, however, that the desire and intention are strong and success is near.
Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology. March 5, 2010. Office of Educational Technology. U.S. Department of Education.
Texas' Long Range Plan for Technology (LRPT)
The Texas LRPT is a plan for increasing and improving technology in the classroom and provides a progress report for the implemented programs: Texas Technology Immersion Pilot (TIP) and the Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN). Its findings are based on the results of those programs, the STaR Chart, surveys of students of various grade levels and parents and educators.
With the TIP, students have "direct, ongoing accessto teaching both within and beyond the walls of the classroom and allows each teacher the opportunity to address individual student needs." (Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 (LRPT, 2008). The purpose of this program was to evaluate the effectiveness of technology immersion. The immersion of technology in the participating schools resulted in positive results for all. Students effects include increased self-esteem, responsibility, and motivation, to name a few. All resulted in increased academic achievement.
The TxVSN program was created in the hopes of achieving those same gains. Research shows that online learning provides the interactive, collaborative, and self-paced learning environment that helps students gain skills needed to succeed in the workforce and higher education. The TxVSN is a supplemental program that works in partnership with school districts and provides online courses Texas public and charter schools in the hopes of achieving that success and meeting technological needs.
The STaR Chart reveals that the use of technology has increased in the four categories: Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support; and Infrastructure for Technology. More professional development and technological equipment is being offered to educators to increase student interest and achievement in the classroom. Administrators are encouraging more technical support and implementation to meet those needs and reach desired goals.
With all of the technological advances in the world today, it is imperative that schools keep in pace with the numerous changes. The Long Range Plan is an excellent way to monitor and ensure implementation of, efficiency in, and success in those advances.
Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006 - 2020. (2008) Texas Education Agency. Austin, TX.
With the TIP, students have "direct, ongoing accessto teaching both within and beyond the walls of the classroom and allows each teacher the opportunity to address individual student needs." (Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 (LRPT, 2008). The purpose of this program was to evaluate the effectiveness of technology immersion. The immersion of technology in the participating schools resulted in positive results for all. Students effects include increased self-esteem, responsibility, and motivation, to name a few. All resulted in increased academic achievement.
The TxVSN program was created in the hopes of achieving those same gains. Research shows that online learning provides the interactive, collaborative, and self-paced learning environment that helps students gain skills needed to succeed in the workforce and higher education. The TxVSN is a supplemental program that works in partnership with school districts and provides online courses Texas public and charter schools in the hopes of achieving that success and meeting technological needs.
The STaR Chart reveals that the use of technology has increased in the four categories: Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support; and Infrastructure for Technology. More professional development and technological equipment is being offered to educators to increase student interest and achievement in the classroom. Administrators are encouraging more technical support and implementation to meet those needs and reach desired goals.
With all of the technological advances in the world today, it is imperative that schools keep in pace with the numerous changes. The Long Range Plan is an excellent way to monitor and ensure implementation of, efficiency in, and success in those advances.
Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006 - 2020. (2008) Texas Education Agency. Austin, TX.
Teaching and Learning
"Teaching and Learning" in Technology
Based on a survey of my campus, the Texas STAR Chart indicates that my campus has been in the "developing" stage of the Teaching and Learning" category for the last few years. It is unfortunate that we have not advanced, but I suppose it is better than regressing.
Being an educator at that campus for 6 years, I know that the reason for the lack of progress in that category is due to the teaching veterans. They are the teachers who have been in the field for 20+ years. When you go into their classrooms, they either do not have the technology or do not use the technological resources they have. This is not to imply that all veteran teachers are reluctant to change with the times. I am simply stating what I have observed at my campus.
We ALL have our particular teaching methods and are, at times, reluctant to alter them and/or implement new methods. BUT, we do what we have to do in order to achieve our goals. My campus' veterans have not made any efforts to implement the new technology that the majority of newer teachers are currently using. This is not entirely their fault.
A few years ago, when white boards, cameras, etc., were introduced, teachers were given the option of attending training in order to receive new digital resources. New teachers (3 of us) attended. A few months later, a few more were trained. Since then, all newer teachers have the equipment, while the "old school" teachers continue with their preferred methods. Had the district mandated the professional development, our campus would be in a higher STAR Chart category and the students would be more familiar and successful in using new technology.
Based on a survey of my campus, the Texas STAR Chart indicates that my campus has been in the "developing" stage of the Teaching and Learning" category for the last few years. It is unfortunate that we have not advanced, but I suppose it is better than regressing.
Being an educator at that campus for 6 years, I know that the reason for the lack of progress in that category is due to the teaching veterans. They are the teachers who have been in the field for 20+ years. When you go into their classrooms, they either do not have the technology or do not use the technological resources they have. This is not to imply that all veteran teachers are reluctant to change with the times. I am simply stating what I have observed at my campus.
We ALL have our particular teaching methods and are, at times, reluctant to alter them and/or implement new methods. BUT, we do what we have to do in order to achieve our goals. My campus' veterans have not made any efforts to implement the new technology that the majority of newer teachers are currently using. This is not entirely their fault.
A few years ago, when white boards, cameras, etc., were introduced, teachers were given the option of attending training in order to receive new digital resources. New teachers (3 of us) attended. A few months later, a few more were trained. Since then, all newer teachers have the equipment, while the "old school" teachers continue with their preferred methods. Had the district mandated the professional development, our campus would be in a higher STAR Chart category and the students would be more familiar and successful in using new technology.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
RtI Progess
Well, so far, the 3rd grade teachers and I have been implementing RtI for 6 months now. We have seen a few gains. There are a couple of students who just are not able to progress. One of the students whose progess was stagnant was referred for Special Education testing. He was tested and, yes, he qualified. The other student will be tested for Special Education this coming week. Others who are in the intervention program continue to struggle, but have made a little progress.
I think that the RtI program is successful. It showed us who may have learning disabilities, attention problems, etc. We still have a few more months to go, but I am confident that we will implement this again next year and be just, if not more, successful.
I think that the RtI program is successful. It showed us who may have learning disabilities, attention problems, etc. We still have a few more months to go, but I am confident that we will implement this again next year and be just, if not more, successful.
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