Education Technology Concepts

I was very excited to start the Educational Technology Program but I was really unsure what to expect. The first class, Concepts of Educational Technology, I really only expected to talk and learn about some of the ways that teachers can use technology in the classroom. When I say some of the ways, I expected to do a lot of reading and learning of the terminology of the technology world. My perceptions of what I was going to learn were a bit different from what I expected, which was great but I though I would maybe get a little more of the technical side. I learned technology terminology but more from an educators point of view. The articles that I read really helped me look at educational technology in a new way. Up into this point I was all about finding ways to incorporate technology in a lesson. The class had a hand on approach to introduce technology in the classroom and I felt that this provided a better outlook on how I can use the tools in the classroom better than reading activities in a book. The coursework activities far exceeded what I expected to learn at the beginning of this program.

The material I learned in class helped me put into perspective what I should be asking my students to do. I know that I can improve in all areas but I feel with time I will improve. I have gained enough knowledge to feel comfortable allowing my students to explore blogs and wiki in a classroom setting. I am not currently in a classroom setting but I feel that I am prepared to integrate technology within the classroom where the student will definably benefit and learn. I will be researching some websites to find blogs and social networking that will allow monitoring of post. I know that there is so much out there that my future student and I can benefit from and taking this technology class has really open up my eyes to the possibilities of an engaging technology infused classroom.

          I really look back and wonder how I was able to complete some of my assignments. I have not gotten my wiki to look like I would like but I am working on improving the appearance. Time is definitely the main factor for my lack of fully creating and structuring my wiki and blog. I know that although my wiki and blog name was a little generic time absolutely paid a factor in creating them. I really hate that I could devote the time I would like to improving and really just focusing on developing my work. Time is not lost! Although I did get everything like I would have liked, I am going to continue on and improve as I go along. The hands on activity in completing the task were well worth the time. This is only the first class and I have so much more to learn I am sure that the end result will be more than I have imagined.

      I was successful in carrying out all but two of my assignments. Now that I look back theses assignments did not include a lot of information but I have been so overwhelmed with other issues that they took away from the time that I needed to complete the assignments. I will still complete the assignments but I had to prioritize what was more important at the time and my family matters more. I really want to complete the program in a timely manner but having to attend to family is my priority at this time. Upon starting the program I was ready for a lot of assignments but I was not prepared for an internship. I really wish I had found out more before starting. I know at this time since I am not in a school and often work long hour that competing an internship at a campus or other site is not an option. I would like to network with some of the schools near my home but again timing is a factor.

            All in all I will say that the course was a success for me. I learned how to use tool through Google. I learned how I can set up my own blog and I also learned how to create a wiki. The wiki tool was something that I was introduced to about two years ago but I was never able to figure out how to actually complete one myself. The course also helps me to classify why students today seem so different from when I was a student. The digital natives have a total different way of learning that I plan on infusing myself into the culture so that I can ensure that my students are learning lessons for lifelong learning. I know that my technology skills are not at the top of the scale but I am capable of teaching, monitoring and accessing student using technology. At times it was stressful trying to work and complete assignments but I so happy that I have started the process that I can wait till June 2013 when I can look forward to helping others utilize educational technology.

Web Conference

I attended an online web conference on April 20, 2011.  This was a new experience for me.  I have taken online classes before but I never actually participated via webcam in an online forum.  

The web conference was set up to discuss the details of the required internship, answer question and issues. Although this was a required web conference, it was one that I would have not missed.  Upon research of the program I was unaware of an internship and never would have though the planning would start in the first class.  I had to get those details because in the first few weeks of the class, noticed that I maybe the only person that is not in a current teaching position.  During the web conference we were told to set up a site mentor (i.e. someone at our school) and that the program allow you to take not one but two of the TEXES exam.  Well one exam I do not qualify for because I am not in a classroom but I would still like to take it if I could at a later date.  Well I have addressed that issue as well as what I should do since I am not at a site.  Unfortunately, I will get that information at a later time. At the web conference, we were able to listen to the internship requirements, look at a power point and ask questions all at the same time. Awesome! 

All in all, I enjoyed attending the web conference because it allowed me to put faces with names.  I must say the conference was a success and technology was definitely on our side.

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More PowerPoint presentations from LaToya

The Plan

Education is important to the success of this county.  We are constantly changing and the way our students learn has changed tremendously.   Technology plays a great deal in this change and because of this the Department of Education has released a draft of the National Educational Technology Plan.  “The Plan” as I call it has goals in which we can aspire to, to ensure that as these changes are happening we are preparing our students to success.

 The Obama administration is the driving force for the technology goals.  One of the goals is to raise the amount of the nation’s population of college graduates from 39% to 60%.  The goal is aligned with President Barack Obama address to Congress, February 24^th, 2009 “By 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.” (Obama, 2009)   The second goal is to close the achievement gap so that all students who graduate can succeed in the future.  According to the National Center for Education Statistics, “Enrollment rates are unequal: 69% of qualified Whites…58% of comparable Latino and 56% of African American graduates” (National Center for Education Statistics, 2007), actually enter 2 year or four year colleges.  The Plan involves actions to not only raise those percentages but make them equal across the board.

The Plan is focused on not just addressing the issue of students entering college but setting a foundation for all students (K-12) to have the ability to progress throughout school into their college years. The Plan says we can make this happen by focusing on five areas: Learning, Assessment, Teaching, Infrastructure and Productivity.  We can change our standards and learning objective to include technology in different domains to engage and empower learners.  We can constantly assess, revise and research technology to find creative innovative ways to ensure improvement. The way we teach can be changed if educators work as a team and allow the student to become the center of the learning environment.  We would also need to address the infrastructure by ensuring that all educators and students have access to technology in and outside the classroom and ensure that students are making progress thought out there school years.  I find that this plan does work towards changing the way that educators teach in the 21^st century.  If we align teaching the way students learn then it is bound to be a success.  Check out the full plan at http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf

HISD Technology Goals

This year marks the fifth year in HISD Long-Range Strategic Plan for Technology. Was the plan a fail or a success?

HISD goals were to: increase student achievement, increase management efficiency, improve public support and confidence in school, create a positive district culture and provide facilities to standard program.  HISD put a lot of thought into how they could best make this plan work for students and teachers alike.  They even went as far as to ask the teachers what they felt was needed.  I know asking the person that does the work is a stretch but that’s who else would know best.  (Go figure!)  Teachers weighed in and I think that this just may have helped this plan succeed. Teachers asked for more technical support and data management.  The strategy was to increase the help desk function and at time have trained personnel on campus to assist with tech issues and system updates.  They asked for a unified system that allows data exchange.  They responded by working on obtaining software that would allow effective collaboration of student record and eliminate repeat work.  After looking over the plan I can see that goals are met and can’t wait to see what other improvements that will be made. 

Unfortunately, I am not able to access information about the professional development available with the district but after speaking with several HISD employees I have learned that there are professional development opportunities available on the HISD employee portal.  I would really like to see what the plans are for HISD in the coming years.  With the budget cuts and the teacher layoffs how much of the technology budget will be affected?

Educator and Student Knowledge and Skills

Technology is all around us and weather we are tech savvy or not, just face it, we all use technology.  Many think that just typing a paper or checking your email make you capable of teaching others how to use technology.   I think that it is extremely important for educators to have the knowledge and skill to operate the material they will be allowing the student to use.  I am not saying this to say that a teacher must be an expert but they should have a working knowledge to know how to best use the technology to enhance the students learning. 

I find that it is important to find out what knowledge and skills a student has before starting a project.  Many times we underestimate a student’s knowledge of technology because as the teacher we are here to teach them.  This a huge mistake because as teachers we are also learners and learning can come from anywhere even a first grader showing us how to use a tool on the new software program.  

This is where I find technology assessments useful.  They help you to understand the skill and training in an area. This can help the person self assess what they feel that are okay, good or proficient at.  In every way I advocate for using assessments to determine the level of help that is needed.  Now having the time to compete a detailed assessment can cause a problem.  When assessments are used you are getting what the person perceives to be their level of skill.  If a student was asked if they knew how to use the computer there response may be “yes” but if that same students was asked if they knew how to use the page stroll, shortcut, email, word or excel.  You would get a better understanding of what they are capable of doing. 

I think that when ever we are working with technology it is important to know the level of the person you are working with educator or student.