Saturday, March 19, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Changing the Paradigm in Education
In case you have missed this one, it is a great clip that challenges your thinking! Enjoy and feel free to post your thoughts.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Web Conferencing in Education
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a web conference through my grad program. The experience served two purposes. One, to allow students to experience web conferencing as a possible tool to be used in instruction, and two, to allow students to have a forum for asking clarifying questions about assignments. Since my program is an online program, it is rare to have the opportunity to get clarifying information real time. For me, the greatest benefit was in hearing the comments and questions posed by other participants. You forget just how much you learn from your peers when they are no longer part of the daily learning environment.
Prior to this experience, I had attended conferences via web casting, but the communication was only one way. I feel that web conferencing allows a true discussion to happen when distance or time might be an issue. In thinking about using this tool, I would consider using it to collaborate with colleagues over the summer or winter breaks, to offer Q and A sessions to students in the weeks/days prior to a project being due or an exam, to create a forum for students who may be home bound or at an alternative placement campus to gain clarification about the curriculum, or even to create a forum for a network of teachers across the district to collaborate about an upcoming unit.
I recently shared my experience with a group of forward thinking teachers, hoping to begin a dialog about the possible uses with students. They raised many concerns, such as scheduling issues, lack of computer access, availability of webcams, and simply a fear of the unknown. I feel that it will be important to allow the teachers to experience the practice before raising the question of using the tool with students.
I felt that the web conference was beneficial to my learning and would serve as a great tool as we begin looking at instructional practices to meet the needs of our 21st Century Learners.
The experience led me to research the open source conferencing tools that are available. I found several blogs that discuss web conferencing tools, and I thought I would share them here. The information allows you to compare each tool and make an informed decision based on what each has to offer and the experiences of others.
http://open-tube.com/7-free-web-conferencing-tools
http://www.distance-educator.com/blog/vanessahaakenson/?p=44
http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/page5975.cfm
I hope that I will be able to work with the Instructional Technology Specialist and principal to identify a future faculty meeting where we can use web conferencing as the forum. This would allow everyone to gain the knowledge first hand, through experience.
Prior to this experience, I had attended conferences via web casting, but the communication was only one way. I feel that web conferencing allows a true discussion to happen when distance or time might be an issue. In thinking about using this tool, I would consider using it to collaborate with colleagues over the summer or winter breaks, to offer Q and A sessions to students in the weeks/days prior to a project being due or an exam, to create a forum for students who may be home bound or at an alternative placement campus to gain clarification about the curriculum, or even to create a forum for a network of teachers across the district to collaborate about an upcoming unit.
I recently shared my experience with a group of forward thinking teachers, hoping to begin a dialog about the possible uses with students. They raised many concerns, such as scheduling issues, lack of computer access, availability of webcams, and simply a fear of the unknown. I feel that it will be important to allow the teachers to experience the practice before raising the question of using the tool with students.
I felt that the web conference was beneficial to my learning and would serve as a great tool as we begin looking at instructional practices to meet the needs of our 21st Century Learners.
The experience led me to research the open source conferencing tools that are available. I found several blogs that discuss web conferencing tools, and I thought I would share them here. The information allows you to compare each tool and make an informed decision based on what each has to offer and the experiences of others.
http://open-tube.com/7-free-web-conferencing-tools
http://www.distance-educator.com/blog/vanessahaakenson/?p=44
http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/page5975.cfm
I hope that I will be able to work with the Instructional Technology Specialist and principal to identify a future faculty meeting where we can use web conferencing as the forum. This would allow everyone to gain the knowledge first hand, through experience.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Leading School Improvement with Technology
To meet the needs of the 21st century learner, Texas has created a plan for integrating technology in schools. The plan includes the vision and mission of 21st century education, a timeline of events, and the key areas that must be addressed for improvement plans to be implemented. The Texas Teacher STaR Chart has been developed around the four key areas of the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020: Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support; and Infrastructure for Technology. The Texas Teacher STaR Chart is designed to help teachers, campuses, and districts determine their progress toward meeting the goals of the Long-Range Plan for Technology, as well as meeting the goals of their district.
As an inspiring school administrator, I feel that the area of Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support is instrumental in paving the way for school improvement to take place. Vision building, administrator commitment, and skilled leadership play pivotal roles in successful implementation of the plan. Campus leaders must model the effective use of technology, articulate clear expectations for their staff, provide time for professional development, and make budgetary decisions that support campus technology needs.
Based on a report created by TEA, the following key findings were noted.
• Analyses of the relationships between average student and school characteristics and average Scale Scores show that the percentages of limited English proficient, economically disadvantaged, and Hispanic students at a campus were negatively associated with the TechLiteracy Scale score at a statistically significant level.
• In contrast, the percentage of White students at a campus was significantly and positively associated with eighth graders Scale Score. Findings for African American students were neutral.
• Results suggest that many disadvantaged students need stronger school supports for their mastery of technology knowledge and skills. The technology-related experiences of White students and more economically advantaged students outside of school may help to explain differences in performance.
It is important that campus and district leaders analyze these trends to respond to the specific needs of student groups.
In the area of Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support, my campus and district are trending with the state. While I have been unable to locate specific data on national trends in this area, there is evidence that supports that administrators and educational leaders across the nation are being trained to use and support technology in education, both in higher education programs and through state and district initiatives.
What are your thoughts on the roles and responsibilities of the 21st Century school leader?
Resources:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5082&menu_id=2147483665, Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 (Adopted by the State Board of Education November 2006)
http://starchart.esc12.net/default.html
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5082&menu_id=2147483665, 2010 Progress on the Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020
As an inspiring school administrator, I feel that the area of Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support is instrumental in paving the way for school improvement to take place. Vision building, administrator commitment, and skilled leadership play pivotal roles in successful implementation of the plan. Campus leaders must model the effective use of technology, articulate clear expectations for their staff, provide time for professional development, and make budgetary decisions that support campus technology needs.
Based on a report created by TEA, the following key findings were noted.
• Analyses of the relationships between average student and school characteristics and average Scale Scores show that the percentages of limited English proficient, economically disadvantaged, and Hispanic students at a campus were negatively associated with the TechLiteracy Scale score at a statistically significant level.
• In contrast, the percentage of White students at a campus was significantly and positively associated with eighth graders Scale Score. Findings for African American students were neutral.
• Results suggest that many disadvantaged students need stronger school supports for their mastery of technology knowledge and skills. The technology-related experiences of White students and more economically advantaged students outside of school may help to explain differences in performance.
It is important that campus and district leaders analyze these trends to respond to the specific needs of student groups.
In the area of Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support, my campus and district are trending with the state. While I have been unable to locate specific data on national trends in this area, there is evidence that supports that administrators and educational leaders across the nation are being trained to use and support technology in education, both in higher education programs and through state and district initiatives.
What are your thoughts on the roles and responsibilities of the 21st Century school leader?
Resources:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5082&menu_id=2147483665, Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 (Adopted by the State Board of Education November 2006)
http://starchart.esc12.net/default.html
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5082&menu_id=2147483665, 2010 Progress on the Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020
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