The Merkel ISD Technology Plan outlines several goals:
1. Integrate technology into all learning areas and make it accessible to all students and faculty. Teachers will serve as facilitators, mentors, and co-learners with students, and will be supported as they integrate technology in all aspects of teaching and communicating on a weekly basis.
2. Provide on-going, long term support, both in financing and through training. On-line resources will be available in addition to on-site help and support. District and campus administrators will recognize and identify exemplary use of technology for maximum learning and teaching.
3. Provide the necessary infrastructure and technological resource. District personnel will work collaboratively to develop a superintendent supported and board-approved technology plan. Resources, including budget money will be available for on-going costs. District and campus support personnel will be in place, and new technology is on a schedule to be installed, with a district technology member that will assist in locating new resources for funding, such as technology grants.
4. Incorporate new and innovative technologies on an on-going basis. The district will begin with internet access to all learning areas, and new and innovative technologies will be installed and maintained on an on-going basis. Obsolete technology will be replaced on a scheduled basis.
While these goals are lofty for a small district (5 campuses; 1200 students), they are ambitious and are willing to appropriate needed funds to assure that technology is used for student achievement. They have included strategies that will be the vehicle for integrating technology into effective teaching and administrative duties.
Merkel ISD conducted a comprehensive inventory of their existing telecommunications, computer, and networking facilities prior to creating their technology plan.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Technology Plan for Merkel ISD
I chose to outline the plan for Merkel ISD, as I had no access to Abilene ISD yet. Merkel is approximately 20 miles west of Abilene, and I have friends that work there, and nieces who have attended.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Thursday Night Web Conference Overview
I was late for class. I hate that feeling. I had to ask for access. Once the door was opened, I fumbled with trying to operate the camera, the sound. I was disruptive, and want never for that to happen again. It's that nightmare-before-the-first-day-of-school-feeling.
Regardless, I learned some operational things that can only be learned from just doing it, which really parallels the same issues we all struggle with in the classroom with students. Just them get in and do it - learning happens this way.
So I am very glad to know that the conference link is waiting in the Important Announcements link (although it says not found, I am hoping it will be resolved soon).
I liked the personal connections that can be made during these conferences, and the real-time answers that can be given. Combining conferences with the flexibility of an online program, makes an ideal way to complete the degree plan.
The conference was also useful in that it outlined the intern plan and gave some helpful tips and requirements information. While this information is available elsewhere, hearing it spoken and explained is a needed addition. Again, looking forward to accessing the uploaded link to revisit.
I am looking forward to attended other conferences that are not required, in hopes they are just as useful.
Regardless, I learned some operational things that can only be learned from just doing it, which really parallels the same issues we all struggle with in the classroom with students. Just them get in and do it - learning happens this way.
So I am very glad to know that the conference link is waiting in the Important Announcements link (although it says not found, I am hoping it will be resolved soon).
I liked the personal connections that can be made during these conferences, and the real-time answers that can be given. Combining conferences with the flexibility of an online program, makes an ideal way to complete the degree plan.
The conference was also useful in that it outlined the intern plan and gave some helpful tips and requirements information. While this information is available elsewhere, hearing it spoken and explained is a needed addition. Again, looking forward to accessing the uploaded link to revisit.
I am looking forward to attended other conferences that are not required, in hopes they are just as useful.
National Technology Plan
At every level, there is always a "reform plan," and it is no different in the area of educational technology. At the national level, the focus is on empowering learners to be motivated and inspired, regardless of hindrances, in order to achieve.
At all levels, we realize that we are preparing students for readiness in a world that is changing every day - and this "readiness" has to equip them with skills for jobs that don't even exist yet. The challenges for our educational system are complex; however, the use of technology to drive instruction and derive data is imperative if we hope to reach the urgent priorities issued under the Obama administration, that by 2020,
At all levels, we realize that we are preparing students for readiness in a world that is changing every day - and this "readiness" has to equip them with skills for jobs that don't even exist yet. The challenges for our educational system are complex; however, the use of technology to drive instruction and derive data is imperative if we hope to reach the urgent priorities issued under the Obama administration, that by 2020,
• We will raise the proportion of college graduates from where it now stands [39%] so that 60% of our population holds a 2-year or 4-year degree.
• We will close the achievement gap so that all students – regardless of race, income, or neighborhood – graduate from high school ready to succeed in college and careers. (p.5)
This plan outlines that learning should derive from core set of standards being taught, but achievement will happen only after we motivate engage learners by allowing what impassions them to drive how we support and instruct them. The goals of learning enlists strategies that will affect students in and out of the classroom- Using technology to apply to all learners anytime, any place.
Effective teaching happens when we are connected and collaborate. I believe that when we model this to our students, we show them how to develop their own learning communities. Staff development opportunities have so expanded, that is can (and should) be on-going and need-specific, even customizable.
The goals of teaching employ methods to allow access to technology for a variety of resources. Teaching methods should be supported by resources that allow for collaboration and effective best practices to be utilized.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Technology Assessment
Through the Texas STaR Chart assessment, valuable information is collected in several areas in order to evaluate the progress of movement toward technology proficiencies.
This is needed in order to plan and manage a budget for future implementation and training, to assess the infrastructure, and to evaluate the effectiveness of current practices. Assessment in the classroom is used to drive instruction; likewise, assessment within the use of technology is important in order to drive its usefulness and effectiveness.
If no formal assessment were in place, it would be easy to very subjectively deduce that technology was being used to a "high degree," simply because teachers felt that to be based on the use of email, new computers, and possibly an Elmo. However, by using a formal assessment, such as the Texas STaR Chart, subjectively is taken away by having criteria applied and grouped by indicators.
These indicators can then supply a rating, giving districts specific targeted areas. Breaking the behaviors and trends into groups allows us to target needs that give specific details about. All this guides us towards making the mark in the long range plans.
Problems exist within the methods we employ, however. I distinctly remember a time I filled out a Texas STaR Chart. Many of the questions were not applicable - but I had to select an option. Also, many people know that funding is attached; and when this happens, many people do not answer honestly. Moreover, many people simply complete the chart to check it of the list of things to do.
http://starchart.esc12.net/docs/TxCSC.pdf
This is needed in order to plan and manage a budget for future implementation and training, to assess the infrastructure, and to evaluate the effectiveness of current practices. Assessment in the classroom is used to drive instruction; likewise, assessment within the use of technology is important in order to drive its usefulness and effectiveness.
If no formal assessment were in place, it would be easy to very subjectively deduce that technology was being used to a "high degree," simply because teachers felt that to be based on the use of email, new computers, and possibly an Elmo. However, by using a formal assessment, such as the Texas STaR Chart, subjectively is taken away by having criteria applied and grouped by indicators.
These indicators can then supply a rating, giving districts specific targeted areas. Breaking the behaviors and trends into groups allows us to target needs that give specific details about. All this guides us towards making the mark in the long range plans.
Problems exist within the methods we employ, however. I distinctly remember a time I filled out a Texas STaR Chart. Many of the questions were not applicable - but I had to select an option. Also, many people know that funding is attached; and when this happens, many people do not answer honestly. Moreover, many people simply complete the chart to check it of the list of things to do.
http://starchart.esc12.net/docs/TxCSC.pdf
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