Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Web Conferencing
I attended my first web conference today. I was extremely nervous about getting on because I know that the numbers trying to get on are crazy. I am unsure of why I was so apprehensive of participating in the web conference. Luckily, I was able to log in and get in. Although we didn't have sound or video, I believe that a web conference can be a valuable tool for education. During the web conference, we were able to voice concerns, questions, or even comments. It was extremely informational chatting with others that were experiencing the same issues as I was. This can be of great importance in the educational world and on my journey to getting my masters. I was able to get questions answered about ILD training and the most beneficial way to complete it. It is great to collaborate with other educators live and have issues addressed. I felt that I did not get the full experience of a web conference due to technical difficulties though. This would have been an interesting thing to experience since I have a web cam.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Reflecting on the Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology
With the rapid growth of technology, we as educators must keep up with the changing times. We must research and prepare ourselves in order to use technology to capture the attention and give ownership to the students that we come in contact with everyday. In order to do this, we must keep updated on the progress and effectiveness of the Long Range Plan.
After reading through and looking closely at the progress report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020, I realize that positive results have been reached with teaching and learning in respect to technology. This report is required for the state of Texas to submit annually on their progress with technology. By reading the report, it is shown that the newly developed program has had commendable results as well. All four areas are targeted on the report. To me, it is amazing that technology occurs so quickly and that it has changed the overall education of our students and their lives. Thanks to technology students have been able to have more ownership over their learning. When you look around, you see so many resources available to them that can accomplish so much. Their resources are unlimited in comparison of the resources that were just once available only 10 years ago.
According to the report, we see that having technology allows students to become self-directed learners. They are able to access all sorts of information and knowledge to develop their own action plans. Technology has become something we could never live without now. Can anyone really imagine a world without it? Because of technology, teaching and learning has gained so much ground and become more productive. We, as teachers, are able to be more involved in their learning. According to the report, grants and programs focus on technology literacy and integration, which is a key factor if wanting to impact students across the state. In this area, the state currently shows schools moving toward Developing to Advanced. Only a few schools would rate themselves as Target tech.
An enormous push in professional development has been made when we speak of preparing educators. This means that educators can then meet the needs of their students by having them involved if they as the educator are prepared to use technology. Educators now have to meet higher standards and be prepared to teach with the use of technology to further their students learning and educational goals. Teachers are needing to become more prepared to keep up with the advancements and make sure their students are utilizing technology as well. This is one area that teachers need to stay on top of or technology will leave them far behind.
It seems as though with leadership, administration, and instructional support, there is a great demand of involvement. Administrators must be committed to the advancements in all areas. They must take a stand and push forward with technology as well. The importance of the necessary tools and resources for administrators, librarians, and students being provided for our 21 century classrooms is also shown in the report. School districts are continually working on increasing the use of technology in the classroom is shown.
On a last note, educators must make sure to uphold the Technology plan in order to take our students to new levels. If not, America will fall far behind.
After reading through and looking closely at the progress report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020, I realize that positive results have been reached with teaching and learning in respect to technology. This report is required for the state of Texas to submit annually on their progress with technology. By reading the report, it is shown that the newly developed program has had commendable results as well. All four areas are targeted on the report. To me, it is amazing that technology occurs so quickly and that it has changed the overall education of our students and their lives. Thanks to technology students have been able to have more ownership over their learning. When you look around, you see so many resources available to them that can accomplish so much. Their resources are unlimited in comparison of the resources that were just once available only 10 years ago.
According to the report, we see that having technology allows students to become self-directed learners. They are able to access all sorts of information and knowledge to develop their own action plans. Technology has become something we could never live without now. Can anyone really imagine a world without it? Because of technology, teaching and learning has gained so much ground and become more productive. We, as teachers, are able to be more involved in their learning. According to the report, grants and programs focus on technology literacy and integration, which is a key factor if wanting to impact students across the state. In this area, the state currently shows schools moving toward Developing to Advanced. Only a few schools would rate themselves as Target tech.
An enormous push in professional development has been made when we speak of preparing educators. This means that educators can then meet the needs of their students by having them involved if they as the educator are prepared to use technology. Educators now have to meet higher standards and be prepared to teach with the use of technology to further their students learning and educational goals. Teachers are needing to become more prepared to keep up with the advancements and make sure their students are utilizing technology as well. This is one area that teachers need to stay on top of or technology will leave them far behind.
It seems as though with leadership, administration, and instructional support, there is a great demand of involvement. Administrators must be committed to the advancements in all areas. They must take a stand and push forward with technology as well. The importance of the necessary tools and resources for administrators, librarians, and students being provided for our 21 century classrooms is also shown in the report. School districts are continually working on increasing the use of technology in the classroom is shown.
On a last note, educators must make sure to uphold the Technology plan in order to take our students to new levels. If not, America will fall far behind.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology
The U.S Department of Education released a draft of the "National Educational Technology Plan: Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology". This plan helps to layout exactly how technologies in different areas can help mold American education into what it needs to be by 2020.
Education has become an urgent priority that is driven by raising the proportion of college graduates from 39% to 60% of our population and closing the gap from all students no matter what situation can graduate from high school and succeed in college or a career. The education plan recognizes that in order to do this, we must urge the educational system to be clear about the outcomes sought, work together to redesign areas for effectiveness, efficiency, and flexibility, to continually monitor and measure performance, and definitely hold ourselves accountable for progress and results throughout the whole process. It encourages us to use technology to help provide and engage students in productive, educational, and powerful learning experiences.
When speaking of learning, the plan wants us to focus on what and how we teach in order to match what they need to know. The power of technology does not want learning to be the same for everyone, but molded and personalized per the individual. By having the power of technology, we are able to go beyond the ordinary in terms of learning. We are able to dig deeper and find out more than just what a textbook says. This prepares students to become expert learners that are responsible for their own learning as well. In terms of teaching, technology is making teachers available 24/7. They are able to build expert teams of teachers that enable connected teaching.
With connected teaching, educators are able to build online learning communities that may have fellow educators, students and their peers, and various teachers or learners. Technology is advancing us toward building the connected teaching and learning community. Through this plan, it is hoped that ineffective professional development will be replaced by professional learning that has people working together, focused, and continuous. This would promote more collaboration among teachers and learners. Training and preparation needs to be set and acted upon now so that educators are ready for this change.
When looking through, I found that the goals were very extensive, but the way to inform and prepare educators and students alike seemed a little lacking. I find that with technology getting people up to speed is the difficult part. A lot of adults seem to have a block when it comes to learning technology. With students and kids, it comes a lot more naturally. They seem to adapt much quicker and easier. Whereas adults resist change. I believe pushing all toward this technology initiative would definitely be beneficial for all involved. Students want to be involved in their learning. What better way for this to happen through technology. We as educators must learn and work to become more familiar with technology. Incorporating technology into our classroom is a must and must become a priority or as a nation, we will fall far behind in the fast-paced technological world.
Texas Long Range Plan for Technology
Four areas make up the vision for the Texas Long Range Plan. Encouraging the use of non-traditional instruction is found in the Teaching and Learning section. This section it talks about how learners should have access to different technology for that individual instruction daily. This information should also be used to communicate and collaborate with other students and teachers. Encouraging students to use research strategies to improve their own academic achievement can also be found in this area.
Distance learning would definitely be an area of progress in this area of the plan. This would create the ability for students to attend different schools. This would mean that where they live or the school size or status would have no bearing on it. There is no limitations to resources involved in distance learning. This allows students the opportunity to provide their students with things like dual credits, advanced placement classes, and other courses that might be required for graduation. Teachers are provided with many different techniques to teach curriculum and allows for those greater levels of interest, inquiry, and even creativity by integrating this technology in. By having this plan in place, it sets parameters and guidelines for technology curriculum and instruction. Students are able to learn more about a topic or subject that is taught in the classroom.
In this section, at my campus we have been in the developing section for 3 consecutive years. We do, on my campus, offer the appropriate technology and staff developments to help the teachers include technology in their classrooms. I believe that in order for my campus to improve our rating, we must use the technology and incorporate what we are learning in them daily. By doing this, our students' learning and technology understanding would increase dramatically. It would be helpful to have more support on campus for questions and concerns when dealing with the technology. I believe that many teachers would benefit from this.
Distance learning would definitely be an area of progress in this area of the plan. This would create the ability for students to attend different schools. This would mean that where they live or the school size or status would have no bearing on it. There is no limitations to resources involved in distance learning. This allows students the opportunity to provide their students with things like dual credits, advanced placement classes, and other courses that might be required for graduation. Teachers are provided with many different techniques to teach curriculum and allows for those greater levels of interest, inquiry, and even creativity by integrating this technology in. By having this plan in place, it sets parameters and guidelines for technology curriculum and instruction. Students are able to learn more about a topic or subject that is taught in the classroom.
In this section, at my campus we have been in the developing section for 3 consecutive years. We do, on my campus, offer the appropriate technology and staff developments to help the teachers include technology in their classrooms. I believe that in order for my campus to improve our rating, we must use the technology and incorporate what we are learning in them daily. By doing this, our students' learning and technology understanding would increase dramatically. It would be helpful to have more support on campus for questions and concerns when dealing with the technology. I believe that many teachers would benefit from this.
Friday, August 6, 2010
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