Web Conference March 24, 11:30

I'm not sure what happened at around 12:00pm, but the web-conference froze up and kicked me out. Prior to this happening, I extremely enjoyed getting to see and chat with the other students. I haven't used this type of technology yet to communicate with friends, family, and students, but I can see its worth. I also discovered that I wasn't exactly sure what Web 2.0 tools were. Now I do. Using these types of blogs and gaining input as well as giving input can be an invaluable tool. Rather than being able to collaborate or develop teaching strategies with two or three people, these web 2.0 tools allow for an unlimited number of participants to collaborate together to develop teaching strategies with technology in mind for reaching, teaching, enticing, and improving the learning of our students, "The Digital Natives"!

Technology Action Plan

Action Plan
Mission/Goal Statement.
The mission of the Clear Creek Independent School District, a diverse community unified by a spirit of exploration and excellence, is to develop students who will lead the way to the future by educating and equipping them with the skills necessary to excel in the 21st century through a system characterized by meaningful community relationships and a comprehensive curriculum facilitated by a highly qualified team committed to Courage, Collaboration, Innovation, and Self-Direction.

Action Steps(s): Teachers, grades 9-12, will attend a half-day professional development session:

Teachers will be grouped by grade levels and assigned a senior student to help develop the naviance software for college preparation.

The Dean of Instruction will present the results of the PEIMS Evaluation and Identify needs for technology influence and the assistance that can be provided for the teachers.

Department heads will identify individual TEKS and invite suggestions and implementation techniques (student activities) for each one from the teachers in that group.

After Collaborative sessions/discussions are complete, the leaders of each group will present the ideas and suggestions to the entire audience so that all teachers can comment or critique on improvements for the suggested actions.


The Coordinator of Instructional Technology will publish the information on the district’s network to be available to every educator, which will provide opportunities for last minute suggestions and comments prior to implementation.

Person(s) Responsible:
Michele Staley,
Kim Brewer,
Vickie McCarthy, Marcette Kilgore, Department Heads from each department

Timeline:
July and August prior to the (2011-2012) school Year

Needed Resources:
· Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills – Technology Applications
· Clear Creek ISD Technology Plan
· Campus Improvement Plans
· Clear Creek ISD District Improvement Plan
· Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020

Evaluation:
· Evaluate the STaR Chart results.
· Require every student and teacher to participate in the NetDay survey, and make a strong recommendation for parental participation.
· Require teachers to maintain a log of activities used, and the results of those activities, to be turned in after each semester.
· Instructional Technology Coordinator will compile, review and report to the Campus Principals, Directors, and Superintendant on the results of the teachers’ logs.

Clear Book's STaR Chart

http://www.slideshare.net/coachergrier/s-ta-r-chart-presentation1

Blog Post #3

According to the National plan for Educational Technology: Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology, we must make education individualized and personalized for each and every student through the technological resources we possess.  In order to do this, we as teachers must endure many different professional developments on technology use within the classroom and how it relates to the subject area being taught.  We must then collaborate with each other to induce new and innovative ideas of instructional strategies for our classrooms to meet the demanding needs of our 21st Century learners.  As a district, we must provide these opportunities to our teachers and support them through their successes and failures.  We must promote and reward those who are trying and meeting the needs of technology use and instruction.  The district must also provide students with 24/7 access to their classes and learning.  The students and teachers can then collaborate together to develop lessons and learning that will fit the individual needs of each student.  Every student likes to create their own personal space and identity.  Each teacher and district should support that effort, which will make learning and teaching individualized and personalized for each and every student.

Blog Post #2

The long range plan for Texas students and technology is to provide them with 24/7 access to their classes and instruction.  The only possible way for this to take place is through virtual schooling.  Districts can supply every student with a laptop and still not meet the needs for this plan.  Districts must mandate what the teachers are doing and how technology will be used within the educational setting in order for students to achieve at higher levels using technology.  Technology has advanced over the past four years.  We are at a stronghold of Developing status.  We must eventually break through this barrier and advanced to the target goal area.  The few advances that have been made, such as the TxVSN, Texas Virtual School Network, has drastically increased in popularity and use.  I am a certified instructor with this organization as well.  We are offering students the opportunity to take classes at their leisure and on their time.  We are offering an instructional plan that is based on self-exploration and discovery.  Which is a very exciting aspect to learning.  In the traditional school classroom, students must gain access to a computer, settle down, get focused and be limited to a time space.  In the Virtual classroom, the student will be able to log in and spend as much time as wished to work, explore and learn.

Many things have changed!

Blog Post #1 In response to the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020:  From the inception of this plan to now, it appears as though Texas has made minimal progress toward reaching the goals listed.  Very few schools have been able to supply 24/7 access to laptops and technological resources for their students.  Texas has been participating on a "Steadily Developing" format for its technology within the schools.  I feel the primary reason for the sluggish development is the funding received by the state.  The state and/or the government could step up and disburse funds to rapidly increase the stature of the technological development of Texas.  Everyone wants to speak of recession and its effects on education and the family, but it is all created by the states and governments.  These two superior entities are the ones who developed and pushed these technology plans into schools and districts, should be the ones to primarily fund the advancement of technology use within.  It is easy to create surveys and questionnaires to see where different campus's and districts stand, but it is very difficult to fund the advancement.  All schools should be on  the tear to advance technology for their students.  All schools should want to help create the greatest and newest minds for our future.  However, we are held back by funding.  If the funds are available, teachers and schools are extremely willing to step out on the limb and teach outside of the box. 

I have discovered that action research is the process of organizing a plan of action and then evaluating it.  The evaluation of this plan  should involve data, surveys, knowledge and time!  Action research provides the staff and those directly involved to provide an interior source for the administrator to evaluate the strategies used for the improvement of learning for all, (administrators, staff and students).  Using information gained from these inside sources will also provide the buy-in or collaboration of the staff to be centered for the school's vision.  This information may alert an administrator to the needs of technology for the staff to reach students.  It may also alert him/her to the technological needs of the students.  It may even raise a red flag as to the what technological needs the administrator may have.  Technological needs are only an example, the information gained from an inside source, (the school's community), can lead to revision of curriculum, structure of classes, addition of courses, addition of support groups, etc. 

However, if sources or information used to look into issues are from people or other organizations who are not directly involved in the schools' community, then the information is not real, but virtual.  Therefore, the people directly involved in the schools' community know what is best for their campus, which provides the administrator with knowledge of what is best for him/her, their staff, and the students learning.

Educational leaders can use these blogs as a means to gain feedback from students, teachers, and parents.  It can be used as a discussion board for gaining or giving information about the happenings of the school.