Sunday, March 20, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Web Conference Post
I just finished my first web conference ever! Wow, talk about confusing. I was lost for the first 15 minutes or so. It was very difficult to keep up with all of the information flowing across the bottom of the screen. I believe if there were not so many people involved in this conference, it would have been very beneficial. I can definitely see the positive side of web conferencing. It would be very beneficial to communicate and share information with a few people at a time. I can definitely see myself taking part in more web conferences when I become an administrator. In this day and age of high gas prices, school districts could save a great deal of money on travel and time by using web conferences to communicate information. Thanks for the introduction to this form of technology. I will be a better administrator and communicator with this knowledge.
National Educational Technology Plan Review
The release of the National Educational Technology Plan by the U.S. Department of Education entitled "Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology", was a very interesting read. The goals of the plan were very simple and consisted of 5 recommendations for states and districts to follow in various areas of education.
The area's I would like to touch on are the area's of learning and teaching. Under the area of Learning, the goal is that all learners will have engaged and empowering experiences both in school and outside the walls of the school. These experiences should allow the students to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and have ethical participation in our global network society. All of the goals were basically saying to use technology to enhance the learning of the students. Teachers need to have the ability to integrate technological advancements to improve student learning not only at the school but at home or anywhere. The biggest suggestion was to use the advancements in technology to improve and develop learning, as well as evaluate learning in science, technology, engineering, and math.
The area of Teaching was also very interesting. The goal talked about educators being supported by technology that will connect the teachers to data, content, and resources to provide better teaching for our students. I have to agree with several things said in the plan. Most teachers still work alone and do not use the available resources that are out there. Too many teachers are set in their ways and do not use the available technology to improve their instruction methods and materials. Giving teachers the opportunity to collaborate on a professional social network is a great idea for teachers to share ideas and improve teacher learning. Also, continual staff development over technology is an integral part of the plan. Showing teachers ways to collaborate while using technology is a great way to improve student learning. The biggest challenge in the plan is getting the experienced teachers to buy into the technology issues. Most older teachers are intimidated by today's technology.
Source "Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology, Draft National Educational Technology Plan 2010"
http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf
The area's I would like to touch on are the area's of learning and teaching. Under the area of Learning, the goal is that all learners will have engaged and empowering experiences both in school and outside the walls of the school. These experiences should allow the students to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and have ethical participation in our global network society. All of the goals were basically saying to use technology to enhance the learning of the students. Teachers need to have the ability to integrate technological advancements to improve student learning not only at the school but at home or anywhere. The biggest suggestion was to use the advancements in technology to improve and develop learning, as well as evaluate learning in science, technology, engineering, and math.
The area of Teaching was also very interesting. The goal talked about educators being supported by technology that will connect the teachers to data, content, and resources to provide better teaching for our students. I have to agree with several things said in the plan. Most teachers still work alone and do not use the available resources that are out there. Too many teachers are set in their ways and do not use the available technology to improve their instruction methods and materials. Giving teachers the opportunity to collaborate on a professional social network is a great idea for teachers to share ideas and improve teacher learning. Also, continual staff development over technology is an integral part of the plan. Showing teachers ways to collaborate while using technology is a great way to improve student learning. The biggest challenge in the plan is getting the experienced teachers to buy into the technology issues. Most older teachers are intimidated by today's technology.
Source "Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology, Draft National Educational Technology Plan 2010"
http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 Review
The Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020, was a very interesting read. All of the information in the plan points in the direction that the state of Texas is working its way from a level of Early or Developing Technology state to a level of more Advanced Technology. Although there were very few schools reporting a level of Target Technology, we are headed in the right direction. 25% of all campuses in the state of Texas are at the Advanced Tech level in the area of Teaching and Learning. In the area of Technology Applications, we are also moving to the area of Advanced Technology. 75 % of the schools are at a Developing stage according to the STaR chart, but it has increased almost 5% over the past few years. I know at my school, we have been on the same trend for the last several years. We have several technology days throughout the year to give teachers the opportunity to improve on their personal skills and we even have a technology conference at our school every summer. We are given the opportunity to pick from several workshops that are held throughout the district. Our staff gets to pick from a list the workshops they feel best fits their needs to improve themselves. My personal feeling is that by the time we reach the year 2020, the final year of the plan, that almost every campus in the state of Texas will be at a level of Target Tech.
I also enjoyed reading about the various programs that are being explored because of grants, and used at the different school districts across the state. These programs gave me several ideas to bring back to my administrative team in my district. Many of these schools are making the most of their opportunities to increase technology and reach more students by giving them more opportunities to use technological tools.
Source "Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020" availible at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/
I also enjoyed reading about the various programs that are being explored because of grants, and used at the different school districts across the state. These programs gave me several ideas to bring back to my administrative team in my district. Many of these schools are making the most of their opportunities to increase technology and reach more students by giving them more opportunities to use technological tools.
Source "Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020" availible at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/
Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 Review
After reading the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020, I have decided to write about the Teaching and Learning aspect of the plan. The Vision of the plan is to make sure that all students are actively engaged in their learning process. We are responsible for giving our students these opportunities at home and in their communities as well as at school. I totally agree with this vision and agree that our students must be afforded the opportunity to learn and given the opportunity to use technology in that learning on every level. It also states in the plan that "educational technology equalizes the learning environment" for our students. I also agree with this statement because it should not matter where you live or what part of this great state you live in, technology allows all of our students to help educate themselves about any and everything they want to learn about. All of our students should be allowed to have access to the world's technology stage and be able to experience all it has to offer.
There were a couple of recommendations to the Texas Education Agency that caught my eye and I would like to write about one of those. "Encourage and support the continued development of innovative programs and technical standards designed to increase access to online learning tools and content for all learners, including those with disabilities". The mention of persons with disabilities is one aspect that I have never really thought about. We have special needs children that could greatly benefit from technology tools and it would greatly improve their abilities to function in the school setting better.
The plan went on to make recommendations to the State Board for Educator Certification, Regional Education Service Centers, Local Education Agencies, Texas Higher Education, to Parents, Communities,and the Private Sector. Most of the suggestions are directly associated with improving student learning and teacher learning through the use of technology. They all have to do with finding ways to promote education and student opportunities through the implementation of technological tools.
As far as progress is concerned, locally, we have made great strides to follow the plan. The use and purchases of technological equipment has gone way up in the past few years. We are continually upgrading our computers and the ability for our students to access the technology upgrades. According to the reading, our state is just above the national average in almost every catagory of technological improvements. Our state plan is serving us well and we continue to improve our state wide technological advancements. One recommendation that I have is for our state to helping out more with our advancements. They keep mandating we do this and that, but they never have a stable plan to fully finance the needs to get the job done fully.
All information was taken from Long-Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020, A Report to the 80th Legislature from the Texas Education Agency
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/technology/etac
There were a couple of recommendations to the Texas Education Agency that caught my eye and I would like to write about one of those. "Encourage and support the continued development of innovative programs and technical standards designed to increase access to online learning tools and content for all learners, including those with disabilities". The mention of persons with disabilities is one aspect that I have never really thought about. We have special needs children that could greatly benefit from technology tools and it would greatly improve their abilities to function in the school setting better.
The plan went on to make recommendations to the State Board for Educator Certification, Regional Education Service Centers, Local Education Agencies, Texas Higher Education, to Parents, Communities,and the Private Sector. Most of the suggestions are directly associated with improving student learning and teacher learning through the use of technology. They all have to do with finding ways to promote education and student opportunities through the implementation of technological tools.
As far as progress is concerned, locally, we have made great strides to follow the plan. The use and purchases of technological equipment has gone way up in the past few years. We are continually upgrading our computers and the ability for our students to access the technology upgrades. According to the reading, our state is just above the national average in almost every catagory of technological improvements. Our state plan is serving us well and we continue to improve our state wide technological advancements. One recommendation that I have is for our state to helping out more with our advancements. They keep mandating we do this and that, but they never have a stable plan to fully finance the needs to get the job done fully.
All information was taken from Long-Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020, A Report to the 80th Legislature from the Texas Education Agency
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/technology/etac
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