On July 20, 2010, at about 8:00pm, I attended a web conference meeting. The meeting was conducted using “Adobe Acrobat Pro Meeting.”; and it was facilitated by Dr. Daryl Borel.
Even though I have been in a similar conference using this type of technology before, this was the first time I actually understood how the Web Conference technology works. I was able to broadcast my camera to all attendees, and I saw other participants’ cameras also. The only problem I had was that I was not able to successfully operate my microphone. Hopefully, I will correct this by the time of the next web conference.
The conference was very informative. Dr. Borel went through the internship process. Many questions were asked by several participants about the internship, and Dr. Borel answered many of these questions.
I believe this is a good way of conducting meetings. I will suggest we conduct more web conference like this throughout this course. It was amazing having meeting with people in different places all at once. This is technology working at its best.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
National Educational Technology Plan
The National Educational Technology Plan set five goals with recommendations for the federal government, states, and other stakeholders. The goals of the plan are:
1.0 Learning
All learners will have engaging and empowering learning experiences both in and outside of school that prepare them to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and ethical participants in our globally networked society (Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology, 2010, p.xii).
2.0 Assessment
Our education system at all levels will leverage the power of technology to measure what matters and use assessment data for continuos improvement (p. xii).
3.0 Teaching
Professionnal educators will be supported individually and in teams by technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise, and learning experiences that enable and inspire more effective teaching for all learners (p. xiii).
4.0 Infrastructure
All students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it (p.xiii).
5.0 Productivity
Our education system at all levels will redesign processes and structures to take advantage of the power of technology to improve learning outcomes while making more efficient use of time, money, and staff ((Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology, 2010, p.xiv).
In achieving the goal of learning, the plan recommends adoption of standards and learning objectives across all content areas that reflects 21st century technology practice.. It further stresses that standards must reflect online collaboration tools. The plans further recommends that learning resources that use technology; exploit the flexibilty and power of technology; use advances in the learning sciences and technology to enhance STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learing should be adopted (p.9).
On the goal of teaching, the plan describes today’ s teaching as practiced in isolation. It expresses concern that may educators do not have enough interaction with other colleagues or expertise. It further expresses that there is little or no professional development training opportunities given to educators. The plan states further that our education system often do not give teachers the tools needed to effectively do their job. There is lack of support for educators, according to the plan, with latest technology. To correct some of these concerns , the plan recommends the following actions: Design, develop, and adopt technology-based content, resources, and online learning communities; provide pre-service and in-service educators with preparation and professional learning experiences powered by technology; use technology to provide access to the most effective teaching and learning resources; develop a teaching force skilled in onlie instruction (p.39).
On professional development for educators, the plan describes that educators should be given opportunity for on-going profession development and training. According to the plan, all institutions that are charged with preparing educators should provide technology-supported learning activities that fosters the use of technology (p.44).
I agree completely with the National Eductional Technology Plan. The one area that stuck in my mind while reading this plan is when the plan descibes that we expect educators to effectively use technology in their teaching but we do not give them the tools to do it. This is a big statement that registered well in my head because I have seen this happened in some campuses. Some principals or administrators want teachers to teach with technology but there are no provision to accomplish it. The excuse I hear from these administrators is that there is no fund to buy or acquire the necessary technology tools needed to carry out this very important goal. We as educator technology leader must do a better job of convincing these administrators that it is important for educators to have the tools needed to effective teach our students with technology in this 21st century learning age.
Source: http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf
1.0 Learning
All learners will have engaging and empowering learning experiences both in and outside of school that prepare them to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and ethical participants in our globally networked society (Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology, 2010, p.xii).
2.0 Assessment
Our education system at all levels will leverage the power of technology to measure what matters and use assessment data for continuos improvement (p. xii).
3.0 Teaching
Professionnal educators will be supported individually and in teams by technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise, and learning experiences that enable and inspire more effective teaching for all learners (p. xiii).
4.0 Infrastructure
All students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it (p.xiii).
5.0 Productivity
Our education system at all levels will redesign processes and structures to take advantage of the power of technology to improve learning outcomes while making more efficient use of time, money, and staff ((Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology, 2010, p.xiv).
In achieving the goal of learning, the plan recommends adoption of standards and learning objectives across all content areas that reflects 21st century technology practice.. It further stresses that standards must reflect online collaboration tools. The plans further recommends that learning resources that use technology; exploit the flexibilty and power of technology; use advances in the learning sciences and technology to enhance STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learing should be adopted (p.9).
On the goal of teaching, the plan describes today’ s teaching as practiced in isolation. It expresses concern that may educators do not have enough interaction with other colleagues or expertise. It further expresses that there is little or no professional development training opportunities given to educators. The plan states further that our education system often do not give teachers the tools needed to effectively do their job. There is lack of support for educators, according to the plan, with latest technology. To correct some of these concerns , the plan recommends the following actions: Design, develop, and adopt technology-based content, resources, and online learning communities; provide pre-service and in-service educators with preparation and professional learning experiences powered by technology; use technology to provide access to the most effective teaching and learning resources; develop a teaching force skilled in onlie instruction (p.39).
On professional development for educators, the plan describes that educators should be given opportunity for on-going profession development and training. According to the plan, all institutions that are charged with preparing educators should provide technology-supported learning activities that fosters the use of technology (p.44).
I agree completely with the National Eductional Technology Plan. The one area that stuck in my mind while reading this plan is when the plan descibes that we expect educators to effectively use technology in their teaching but we do not give them the tools to do it. This is a big statement that registered well in my head because I have seen this happened in some campuses. Some principals or administrators want teachers to teach with technology but there are no provision to accomplish it. The excuse I hear from these administrators is that there is no fund to buy or acquire the necessary technology tools needed to carry out this very important goal. We as educator technology leader must do a better job of convincing these administrators that it is important for educators to have the tools needed to effective teach our students with technology in this 21st century learning age.
Source: http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf
Sunday, July 18, 2010
District Technology Plan
Houston Independent School District has five strategic goals which are: increase student achievement; increase management efficiency; improve public support and confidence in schools; create a positive district culture; provide facilities-to-standard program.
In devising the technology plan, the district conducted interviews and gathered comments and recommendations from a full range of district staff.
The district Long-Range Strategic Plan for Technology 2006-2011 covers a five-year time frame:
Year 1: February 2006 to June 2007
Year 2: July 2007 to June 2008
Year 3: July 2008 to June 2009
Year 4: July 2009 to June 2010
Year 5: July 2010 to June 2011
The District Professional Development Strategy
The District Technology and Information System department (TIS) is in charge of providing professional development opportunity to all staff. The district needs to support users of data in their implementation and use of technology. This task is delegated to “Help Desk,” which is a branch of TIS. Help Desk is expanded to provide broader support for technology implementations use. For example, when a teacher, principal or other staff needs has a question related to technology, the Help Desk will be able to provide answers for them.
The district also has in place what is called “E-train.” E-train is an online training system which allows teachers and other staff to browse through the list of scheduled professional development trainings. Staff can choose the desired training they would like to attend and schedule for it online. Most of the trainings listed are provided free of charge. The school principal will provide funds to attend the ones that are not free.
The district constantly assesses telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services to ensure improved student learning by upgrading and replacing hardware, software, and other network components that are becoming dysfunctional. The district implements a technology refresh process to replace or upgrade aging components as necessary.
The district is decentralized. This means every school is allocated a budget to make any necessary technology purchase or upgrade to cover the no-discount element of the plan.
The district evaluates the goals of this plan by examining it every two or three years in order to keep them relevant. The plan is revised constantly to keep up with emerging technologies.
In devising the technology plan, the district conducted interviews and gathered comments and recommendations from a full range of district staff.
The district Long-Range Strategic Plan for Technology 2006-2011 covers a five-year time frame:
Year 1: February 2006 to June 2007
Year 2: July 2007 to June 2008
Year 3: July 2008 to June 2009
Year 4: July 2009 to June 2010
Year 5: July 2010 to June 2011
The District Professional Development Strategy
The District Technology and Information System department (TIS) is in charge of providing professional development opportunity to all staff. The district needs to support users of data in their implementation and use of technology. This task is delegated to “Help Desk,” which is a branch of TIS. Help Desk is expanded to provide broader support for technology implementations use. For example, when a teacher, principal or other staff needs has a question related to technology, the Help Desk will be able to provide answers for them.
The district also has in place what is called “E-train.” E-train is an online training system which allows teachers and other staff to browse through the list of scheduled professional development trainings. Staff can choose the desired training they would like to attend and schedule for it online. Most of the trainings listed are provided free of charge. The school principal will provide funds to attend the ones that are not free.
The district constantly assesses telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services to ensure improved student learning by upgrading and replacing hardware, software, and other network components that are becoming dysfunctional. The district implements a technology refresh process to replace or upgrade aging components as necessary.
The district is decentralized. This means every school is allocated a budget to make any necessary technology purchase or upgrade to cover the no-discount element of the plan.
The district evaluates the goals of this plan by examining it every two or three years in order to keep them relevant. The plan is revised constantly to keep up with emerging technologies.
Value of Assessing Educational Technology Leadership
Value of accessing both the educators’ technology leadership knowledge and the student technology knowledge and skill
In order for school districts, campuses, and educators to effectively assess their integration of technology into the curriculum, the state of Texas education agency developed the Texas School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart. The STaR Chart is an online tool to assist campuses and individual teacher on how well they are integrating technology into the curriculum.
The Texas School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart is composed of three parts:
Part 1: Texas Campus STaR Chart:
The Texas Campus STaR Chart can be used for technology planning, budgeting, and evaluation of technology projects. All campuses that request a state funding of technology must complete the Texas Campus STaR Chart.
Part 2: Texas Public STaR Chart:
The Texas Public STaR Chart allows stakeholders to view what campuses are doing to effectively integrate technology across curriculum. Stakeholders can view this information online across the state.
Part 3: Texas Teacher STaR Chart:
This is an online tool that allows individual teacher across the state to access their technology knowledge and skill and how they are helping students become technology literate for the 21st century learning.
My Intake
I believe the state of Texas has done a good job of designing these tools for educators to assess their level of technology knowledge and skill. The Teacher STaR Chart is divided into four areas: Early Tech; Developing Tech; Advance Tech; Target Tech. This is important for educators to know if their level of technology is in the lowest area, which is Early Tech, or if it is in the highest area, which is Advance Tech.
As the technologist specialist on my campus, I am the person that is in charge of making sure that all teachers on my campus take the survey. Many of the teachers on my campus express to me that they don’t even know what they are supposed to be doing in regard to integrating technology until after they went through the Texas Teacher STaR Chart. And some of them tell me that they don’t know if a particular activity can be considered to be a technology activity. For example, in the Early Tech part of Teacher STaR Chart where it says: “Teacher uses technology to complete tasks such as gradebook and attendance; e-mail; produce documents; manage curriculum and administrative tasks; and present electronic information to students.” Some teachers say they have no idea that using email or entering grades into gradebook software is consider being technology literate. So this shows that the Teacher STaR Chart has made many teachers be aware of areas of technology they are using effectively and the areas they may need to work on. Some teachers say that they were not aware that students must master technology skill by the end of 8th grade. This is another benefit of teachers using this tool to assess their technology knowledge.
The only concern I have with the survey is that, it may be difficulty to get honest and accurate response from some teachers. Some teachers that do not want to be bothered with more work may just check any response just to be done with the survey. Doing this may not give accurate account of where the teacher is in regards to utilizing technology in the classroom.
Source: TEXAS STAR CHART (http://starchart.esc12.net/docs/TxTSC.pdf)
In order for school districts, campuses, and educators to effectively assess their integration of technology into the curriculum, the state of Texas education agency developed the Texas School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart. The STaR Chart is an online tool to assist campuses and individual teacher on how well they are integrating technology into the curriculum.
The Texas School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart is composed of three parts:
Part 1: Texas Campus STaR Chart:
The Texas Campus STaR Chart can be used for technology planning, budgeting, and evaluation of technology projects. All campuses that request a state funding of technology must complete the Texas Campus STaR Chart.
Part 2: Texas Public STaR Chart:
The Texas Public STaR Chart allows stakeholders to view what campuses are doing to effectively integrate technology across curriculum. Stakeholders can view this information online across the state.
Part 3: Texas Teacher STaR Chart:
This is an online tool that allows individual teacher across the state to access their technology knowledge and skill and how they are helping students become technology literate for the 21st century learning.
My Intake
I believe the state of Texas has done a good job of designing these tools for educators to assess their level of technology knowledge and skill. The Teacher STaR Chart is divided into four areas: Early Tech; Developing Tech; Advance Tech; Target Tech. This is important for educators to know if their level of technology is in the lowest area, which is Early Tech, or if it is in the highest area, which is Advance Tech.
As the technologist specialist on my campus, I am the person that is in charge of making sure that all teachers on my campus take the survey. Many of the teachers on my campus express to me that they don’t even know what they are supposed to be doing in regard to integrating technology until after they went through the Texas Teacher STaR Chart. And some of them tell me that they don’t know if a particular activity can be considered to be a technology activity. For example, in the Early Tech part of Teacher STaR Chart where it says: “Teacher uses technology to complete tasks such as gradebook and attendance; e-mail; produce documents; manage curriculum and administrative tasks; and present electronic information to students.” Some teachers say they have no idea that using email or entering grades into gradebook software is consider being technology literate. So this shows that the Teacher STaR Chart has made many teachers be aware of areas of technology they are using effectively and the areas they may need to work on. Some teachers say that they were not aware that students must master technology skill by the end of 8th grade. This is another benefit of teachers using this tool to assess their technology knowledge.
The only concern I have with the survey is that, it may be difficulty to get honest and accurate response from some teachers. Some teachers that do not want to be bothered with more work may just check any response just to be done with the survey. Doing this may not give accurate account of where the teacher is in regards to utilizing technology in the classroom.
Source: TEXAS STAR CHART (http://starchart.esc12.net/docs/TxTSC.pdf)
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