ACTION PLAN LINK
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kfJYiCEwl3tUqhILJGjNL1zZFw8hKrILCa83qjd-YjM/edit?hl=en#
Friday, March 18, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
TEXAS STaR CHART SLIDE PRESENTATION
https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dg7q2fj5_0dqxm34c3&autoStart=true
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Week 2 - Blog Posting #3 - U.S. Department of Education Nat'l Educational Technology Plan
Executive Summary
The National Educational Technology Plan calls for the application of advanced technologies used in our personal, daily, and professional lives, to the education system, to improve student learning, accelerate practices, and to use data and information for ongoing improvement.
There are five goals that make recommendations for states, districts, the federal government, and other stakeholders. The goals address five essential components of learning powered by technology. They are: Learning, Assessment, Teaching, Infrastructure, and Productivity.
In regards to teaching and learning, teachers must connect with other teachers, students, and parents to build new competencies and expertise. In the K-12 setting, some of the goals are for teachers to learn to utilize open source learning management systems which already are widely used in universities, educators learning to manage multiple dimensions of curricular instruction such as data, content, online courses, and tutorials to name a few, and supporting educators individually and in teams with learning experiences that can empower and inspire them to provide more effective teaching for all learners.
Some of the plan's goals as they relate to professional development and training are that educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it, and making learning opportunities available to learners, educators, and administrators regardless of their location, the time of day,or the type of access devices. It supports unlimited access to information, and the creation of content and access to people and participation in online learning communities.
As it relates to any issues or concerns that I may have noticed, there weren't any that I could detect outright, but may have been able too had this assignment had a two week window for publication, instead of only one, coupled with the tediousness and volume of what was required for week 2's extensive assignment, again, finding such issues or concerns in my opinion would be rather difficult!
The National Educational Technology Plan calls for the application of advanced technologies used in our personal, daily, and professional lives, to the education system, to improve student learning, accelerate practices, and to use data and information for ongoing improvement.
There are five goals that make recommendations for states, districts, the federal government, and other stakeholders. The goals address five essential components of learning powered by technology. They are: Learning, Assessment, Teaching, Infrastructure, and Productivity.
In regards to teaching and learning, teachers must connect with other teachers, students, and parents to build new competencies and expertise. In the K-12 setting, some of the goals are for teachers to learn to utilize open source learning management systems which already are widely used in universities, educators learning to manage multiple dimensions of curricular instruction such as data, content, online courses, and tutorials to name a few, and supporting educators individually and in teams with learning experiences that can empower and inspire them to provide more effective teaching for all learners.
Some of the plan's goals as they relate to professional development and training are that educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it, and making learning opportunities available to learners, educators, and administrators regardless of their location, the time of day,or the type of access devices. It supports unlimited access to information, and the creation of content and access to people and participation in online learning communities.
As it relates to any issues or concerns that I may have noticed, there weren't any that I could detect outright, but may have been able too had this assignment had a two week window for publication, instead of only one, coupled with the tediousness and volume of what was required for week 2's extensive assignment, again, finding such issues or concerns in my opinion would be rather difficult!
Week 2 - Blog Posting #2 - Progress Report on the TX Long-Range Plan for Technology
The TX Long-Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020 Progress Report, was created to provide support and proof, that 21st century technological skills are needed for our children to compete and succeed in a global society. Teachers will play an important role in bringing this vision to fruition. Stakeholders must embrace new technologies. Handheld devices, laptops, phones, and iPods are common technological wonders. Teachers must be provided with ongoing professional development in order to feel comfortable incorporating technology and therefore impact and effect new, innovative and competitive learning strategies and techniques.
The report shows graphic charts and stark differences, as to how children in grades K-12 utilize technology in general, -vs- how they use technology to complete school work. In 2007, approximately 56% of mothers (primarily) indicated that they were average tech users, 37% stated that they were advanced tech users, and 7% rated themselves as beginners, and 89% of households overall, had a home computer with DSL or cable access. The survey conducted by Net Day Speak Up in 2007, indicated that these numbers are similarto national trends. It is important to school districts that our stakeholders be familiar and comfortable with advanced technology, which are ways in which we educators may seek to communicate with them. I personally text, talk with, and email my parents regularly!
The report also goes on to explain that public and school libraries will continue to play a critical role, because they increase students and community members (parents) potential and ability to fully participate now and in the future in the economic, social, and educational opportunities of TX, the nation, and world! Texas leads the nation in the area of school district technology planning, though you'd be hard pressed to convince me of this first hand because at the resource poor school in which I work within the state's largest school district, modern, high tech, technological advances are hardpressed to find as opposed to other schools within the very same district, but in more desirable or higher income areas!
I was also unaware until reading this blog, that Title II, Part D of the NCLB Act combines several previous technology programs into a single state educational technology program. The goals of this program include improving student academic achievement through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools; assisting students in crossing the digital divide by ensuring that every student is computer literate by the time they complete grade 8, and encouraging the effective integration of technology resources and systems with teacheer training and curriculum development.
The report closes out by addressing how the different regions of TX addresses for four areas of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology: Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development, Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support, and Infrastructure.
The report shows graphic charts and stark differences, as to how children in grades K-12 utilize technology in general, -vs- how they use technology to complete school work. In 2007, approximately 56% of mothers (primarily) indicated that they were average tech users, 37% stated that they were advanced tech users, and 7% rated themselves as beginners, and 89% of households overall, had a home computer with DSL or cable access. The survey conducted by Net Day Speak Up in 2007, indicated that these numbers are similarto national trends. It is important to school districts that our stakeholders be familiar and comfortable with advanced technology, which are ways in which we educators may seek to communicate with them. I personally text, talk with, and email my parents regularly!
The report also goes on to explain that public and school libraries will continue to play a critical role, because they increase students and community members (parents) potential and ability to fully participate now and in the future in the economic, social, and educational opportunities of TX, the nation, and world! Texas leads the nation in the area of school district technology planning, though you'd be hard pressed to convince me of this first hand because at the resource poor school in which I work within the state's largest school district, modern, high tech, technological advances are hardpressed to find as opposed to other schools within the very same district, but in more desirable or higher income areas!
I was also unaware until reading this blog, that Title II, Part D of the NCLB Act combines several previous technology programs into a single state educational technology program. The goals of this program include improving student academic achievement through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools; assisting students in crossing the digital divide by ensuring that every student is computer literate by the time they complete grade 8, and encouraging the effective integration of technology resources and systems with teacheer training and curriculum development.
The report closes out by addressing how the different regions of TX addresses for four areas of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology: Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development, Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support, and Infrastructure.
Week 2 - Blog Posting #1 - Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support
The Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support is an important aspect in the STaR chart and Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology. The goal in this area is to offer online learning through staff development and also to be used as a resource in the campus improvement plan to aide in the increase of weak areas and weak student demographics.
Statewide, the area of Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support in 2006-07 had the largest percentage of schools classified as Developing Tech. At the school level, we were also developing. Our school in particular, was going through tough times the year in question. We were academically unacceptable, had TEA state officials in our school practically everyday, and our principal was unorganized and failing at her administrative duties to say the least!
In 2007-08, in the area of Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support, at the state level, we had experienced the largest percent of its schools in the area of Developing Tech. However, the percentage of schools in this area had also decreased by 5.9%, while Advanced Tech had increased by 6.6%. There was evidence that the trend in this area is for more and more schools to move towards Advanced Tech. On our campus the year in question, we were classified as Advanced Tech though I don't understand how! Our principal had been removed from her position in the middle of the year, we had an district interim team managing the school from December until March and then finally, we had a new principal to step in and end the school year. It's strange to me that our school's classification went up, while our leadership and administrative team was in the midst of being dissolved!
For 2008-09, I was unable to locate the state level information on the STaR chart website. However our school dropped back down to the Developing Tech classification.
Statewide, the area of Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support in 2006-07 had the largest percentage of schools classified as Developing Tech. At the school level, we were also developing. Our school in particular, was going through tough times the year in question. We were academically unacceptable, had TEA state officials in our school practically everyday, and our principal was unorganized and failing at her administrative duties to say the least!
In 2007-08, in the area of Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support, at the state level, we had experienced the largest percent of its schools in the area of Developing Tech. However, the percentage of schools in this area had also decreased by 5.9%, while Advanced Tech had increased by 6.6%. There was evidence that the trend in this area is for more and more schools to move towards Advanced Tech. On our campus the year in question, we were classified as Advanced Tech though I don't understand how! Our principal had been removed from her position in the middle of the year, we had an district interim team managing the school from December until March and then finally, we had a new principal to step in and end the school year. It's strange to me that our school's classification went up, while our leadership and administrative team was in the midst of being dissolved!
For 2008-09, I was unable to locate the state level information on the STaR chart website. However our school dropped back down to the Developing Tech classification.
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