Objective 1: Increase professional staff’s ability to identify, prioritize, and incorporate the Technology Application(TA) TEKS within core content area learning objectives
Activity Responsible Parties Evidence
Present Technology Application (TA) TEKS and STaR chart data to campus staff Diana Sultenfuss
Margarita Stacy
Maureen Ortiz Agenda and Sign in log of campus staff
Collaborate with the Office of Curriculum and Instruction in the planning of the CIC monthly meeting--to include technology resources--that supports teachers’ use of the TA TEKS in core content areas. CICs will turn around and provide staff training on technology resources such as Data Director, Edusoft, Agile Mind, iData Portal, etc. Derrick Thomas
Carol Williams
Nicole Armand
Claude Ascolese, (Technology Integration Coordinator/Trainer-Instructional)
Maureen Ortiz Agenda and sign in logs
Core content teachers
lesson plans with technology incorporated
Student work samples
CIC and Administrator Learning Walks and observations
Continue to assist educators in the use of learner-centered projects with technology-infused activities that promote student higher-order thinking strategies. This can include younger (newer) teachers modeling for veteran teachers on how to use and integrate technology into instruction. CICs
Claude Ascolese
Diana Sultenfuss
Interactive White Board External Trainer Core content teachers
lesson plans with technology incorporated
ELA and SS teachers incorporate the Interactive White Board during instruction
Increased use of TI Navigator system in math classes
Student work samples
Teacher self reports
CIC and Administrator Learning Walks and observations
TAKS, AYP, AEIS data
Objective 2: Students will increasingly use technology for problem-solving in the learning environment to include online access.
Provide ongoing PD in DI through local trainers, book studies, or ASCD conferences. Teachers will differentiate instruction with technology so as to better address multiple learning styles and the needs of students. Maureen Ortiz
Eva Airhart
Core content teachers Increase hours on Agile Mind, Voyager Reading, Voyager Math, Partners Program, and TI Math Forward online software
Create a study group (teacher PLC) that will create and evaluate student research projects. Students will complete research projects that incorporate the use of electronic tools for research purposes and productivity tools in the creating of the final product to include a presentation to classmates Mary Holm
Maureen Ortiz
Core content teachers Library Sign up calendar for classes to conduct research to include lab time.
Use of netbook cart for wireless laptop access for research.
Final student research projects reviewed by committee for evaluation and modifications for future projects requirements.
Survey current students on their current experience with technology at home and school including attitude and usage. This will help us identify where students are in their experience with technology. Could use Project Tomorrow’s surveys if school joins and creates an account. Maureen Ortiz
Content teachers to review surveys
Diana Sultenfuss Completed student surveys Committee review of the data and develop recommendations based on the data
Purchase a computer laptop cart for each core content area that students can use to access the web wirelessly. Provide training to teachers on the acceptable use policies and student behavior expectations when using the cart. Diana Sultenfuss
Campus Leadership Team
Lemelle Taylor Purchase order completed and laptop carts with operational computers loaded with appropriate software delivered to campus.
External and internal trainers provide agenda and sign-in logs of attendees.
Objective 3: Explore available and emerging technologies to enable students to become lifelong learners and creators, as well as be prepared for the workforce.
Activity Responsible Party Evidence
Key staff participate in Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN) approved professional learning opportunities that results in enhanced awareness of teaching and learning in an online environment. Mr. Amun
Diana Sultenfuss Attendance certificates
Trained staff make presentations to campus staff to include agendas, training materials, and sign-in logs
Create a PLC to explore the resources on Texas Project Share (Epsilen) Maureen Ortiz
Content teachers Resources and activities are shared with other staff members through formal channels such as staff meetings, staff development days, and informal channels and are incorporated in lesson plans.
Self-reports
Learning walks and observations.
Explore emerging technologies through PLCs in order to prepare students for learning environments that scaffold students' learning beyond the classroom walls. Maureen Ortiz
Diana Sultenfuss
Eva Airhart
Content teachers Math teachers increase hours spent on TI Navigator system
Learning Walks and observations
Teachers sign up and attend virtually or face to face technology instruction
Provide training at staff meetings to include the power of Web 2.0 tools. Continue implementation of Web 2.0 tools that prepare students for creating collaboratively and communicating online. Margarita Stacy
Diana Sultenfuss Creating of classroom blogs, moodles, and wikis
Objective 4: Provide a safe and secure computing environment
Share the Children's Internet Protection Act, Internet Safety rules with students and staff. Marcos Zorola
Miguel Guhlin
Diana Sultenfuss Student Handbook
Board-adopted Administrative Procedures
CyberSafety Web Site and Revised Acceptable Use Policies
Provide curriculum and/or resources--for teachers, students, and parents--that fosters digital citizenship, modeling safe computing and district expectations as outlined in the Acceptable Use Policies. Marcos Zorola
Miguel Guhlin
Diana Sultenfuss CyberSafety Curriculum - http://saisdcybersafety.pbworks.com
Evidence of Collaboration with NetSmartz and CyberSmart curriculum providers
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Executive Summary of The National Educational Technology Plan
The National Educational Technology Plan dedicates a section to discussing teaching and learning and a section to professional development. The Plan states that the “challenge for our education system is to leverage the learning sciences and modern technology to create engaging, relevant, and personalized learning experiences for all learners that mirror students’ daily lives and the reality of their futures.” (p. vi). The goal of the National Educational Technology Plan Technical Working Group in the area of teaching and learning is for professional educators to be “supported individually and in teams by technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise, and learning experiences that can empower and inspire them to provide more effective teaching for all learners.” (p. 39) The working group recognizes that today’s teaching is practiced in isolation and the PD provided is fragmented with little opportunity to integrate learning into practice. There is little incentive for educators to improve or time to implement new learning. The working group recommends a “connected teaching model” to replace isolation. Educators must be fully connected 24/7/365 to data, tools, and resources. When connected, educators are expected to provide relevant learning experiences for students. Professional learning should no longer be fragmented but instead connected and continuous. Face-to-face PD can be blended with online follow up, support, and collaboration. One of the barriers is that current educators may not feel comfortable with using technology as professionals in other industries. This technology gap has a direct impact on curriculum development. This is why colleges of education, professional learning providers, and school districts must take on the responsibility to introduce and expect educators to participate in connected learning. “Professional learning should support and develop educators’ identities as fluent users of advanced technology, creative and collaborative problem solvers, and adaptive, socially aware experts throughout their careers.” (p. 44) Online learning communities break down the barriers of isolation that educators operate in now. Educators can collaborate with peers around the world.
“A highly instrumented classroom is a place where technology-based systems provide educators with real-time insight into how every student is thinking that, when combined with analytic tools, helps educators make better decisions about how to adapt instruction to students’ needs.” (p. 41) At my school, we are implementing the TI Navigator system which does exactly this. It is a student response system in real-time and teachers can evaluate students’ responses and modify instruction on the spot to address students’ gaps in understanding. I believe our school is on the right track but I also know that if this learning is not fully supported with internal and external coaches, we will not be able to sustain this technology and its benefits through time. Our leaders recognize the benefits but they must also continue to provide the funding and support for long-term success.
“A highly instrumented classroom is a place where technology-based systems provide educators with real-time insight into how every student is thinking that, when combined with analytic tools, helps educators make better decisions about how to adapt instruction to students’ needs.” (p. 41) At my school, we are implementing the TI Navigator system which does exactly this. It is a student response system in real-time and teachers can evaluate students’ responses and modify instruction on the spot to address students’ gaps in understanding. I believe our school is on the right track but I also know that if this learning is not fully supported with internal and external coaches, we will not be able to sustain this technology and its benefits through time. Our leaders recognize the benefits but they must also continue to provide the funding and support for long-term success.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Teaching and Learning in the Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020
In recent years, we have seen the trend of companies "struggling with securing the intellectual talent required for growth in an economy that thrives on intellectual labor." (p. 5) We have moved from an “industrial, manufacturing era to an information-based economy” that is global in nature. This report emphasizes our need to make Texas students competitive in this emerging global economy and clarifies the role of teaching and learning in this endeavor. Technology is all around us and impacts Texans everyday. Learners need a customized approach that includes a “multitude of learning resources, digital content, and multimedia resources in a variety of learning environments.” (p. 7) Today’s learners are constant communicators through personal and portable technologies. Because they are technology-savvy, we should expect them to connect with digital content frequently and seamlessly in their learning experiences.
Texas must educate a diverse population that meets the needs of all students. Educational technology helps “equalize the learning environment” for all students since it allows 24/7/365 access to online instructional resources from anywhere. Technology provides “multiple avenues for building knowledge and skills.” (p. 17) The Plan’s goal for learners includes access to relevant technologies, tools, resources and services for individualized instruction 24/7, using information and communication technologies to collaborate, construct knowledge and provide solutions to real-world problems and situations, using research-based strategies, communicating effectively in a variety of formats for diverse audiences.
As to be expected, there are challenges that impact Teaching and Learning. First, there needs to be work aligning appropriate technology with curriculum for a seamless integration with content and second, educators need training and time exploring best practices in educational technology.
My recommendations include the following: continue to include courses such as these for new teachers and teachers in graduate school such as ourselves to inform us of the expectations in technology, continue pushing on leaders to provide high-quality technology availability for each student on demand with on-going effective teacher training, and hire local technology/content coaches to support teachers in the classroom with the integration of technology.
Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5082&menu_id=2147483665
Texas must educate a diverse population that meets the needs of all students. Educational technology helps “equalize the learning environment” for all students since it allows 24/7/365 access to online instructional resources from anywhere. Technology provides “multiple avenues for building knowledge and skills.” (p. 17) The Plan’s goal for learners includes access to relevant technologies, tools, resources and services for individualized instruction 24/7, using information and communication technologies to collaborate, construct knowledge and provide solutions to real-world problems and situations, using research-based strategies, communicating effectively in a variety of formats for diverse audiences.
As to be expected, there are challenges that impact Teaching and Learning. First, there needs to be work aligning appropriate technology with curriculum for a seamless integration with content and second, educators need training and time exploring best practices in educational technology.
My recommendations include the following: continue to include courses such as these for new teachers and teachers in graduate school such as ourselves to inform us of the expectations in technology, continue pushing on leaders to provide high-quality technology availability for each student on demand with on-going effective teacher training, and hire local technology/content coaches to support teachers in the classroom with the integration of technology.
Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5082&menu_id=2147483665
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Reflections on 2010 Progress Report on teh Long-Range Plan for Technolgy 2006-2020
I read through the 2010 Progress Report on the Long Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020 and learned about many programs initiated by schools, ESCs, and TEA that I had no idea existed before now. Some examples include Technology Immersion Pilot (TIP) schools. TIP provided wireless mobile computing devices to each students with the access to software and other online resources. TIP has given schools a "rich understanding of web-based resources that are at their fingertips. Trained teachers have the confidence to use tools and strategies for learning that leverages the best technology can offer in support of student excellence and achievement." (p. 26) I also learned about the K-12 Databases. The purpose of the online databases is to provide 24/7 equitable access to students, educators, and parents across the state to a "comprehensive collection of full text periodicals, biographies, primary source documents, essays, almanacs, reference books, pamphlets, newspapers, transcripts, photos, maps through user-friendly, grade-level interfaces." (p. 71) One of the programs I have heard about before is Project Share. I was first introduced to it during an MSTAR trainer of trainers PD I attended last Spring. "It is a collection of Web 2.0 tools and applications that provides high quality professional development and an interactive and engaging learning environment."(p. 81) Close to a quarter million teacher accounts has already been created. With Project Share, teachers can collaborate with teachers across Texas and around the globe and showcase teacher and students accomplishments. It's an innovative approach to learning in the 21st Century. A fourth program I learned about was Just in Time Online Tutoring. Each student in the program had an unlimited number of online tutoring sessions for the duration of the pilot. The students could log on anonymously and connect with a live tutor. There were incentives provided to encourage students to use the resource and an ongoing marketing campaign. Student response was "overwhelmingly positive." They used the resource "extensively" and "were extremely comfortable with the entire experience." (p. 74) These are just a few examples of the many technology initiatives going on around the state.
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