Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
TEACHING AND LEARNING
The Texas Education Agency has provided all teachers, campuses and districts a tool to evaluate progress in Technology as a response to how graduates in the United States are fairing with other graduates across the globe. The STaR Chart gives teachers, campuses, districts, and the state another accountability measurement to gauge and monitor progress.
I feel that the Teaching and Learning part of the STaR Chart is most important. Once teachers have been given the proper education on technology then it is their duty to use what they've learned to teach students the TEKS of Tech Apps. Students must be exposed to online learning and given the opportunity to engage in meaningful content area connections with the use of research engines.
After reading a story, using an interactive reading blog discussing different aspects of the book or creating a "book club" online is meaningful learning and engages students.
More than half of teachers at campuses across the state of Texas are considered to be "Early Tech" when it comes to Teaching and Learning. That means that almost NO technology applications are used to teach students in content areas.
NETS notes how administrators "play a pivotal role" in making sure that teachers and students are actively engaged in meaningful learning with the use of technology. If we basically follow the Technology TEKS and integrate them on a daily basis, then I believe we would do a world of good to these students who are our future doctors, astronauts, presidents, and military leaders.
I feel that the Teaching and Learning part of the STaR Chart is most important. Once teachers have been given the proper education on technology then it is their duty to use what they've learned to teach students the TEKS of Tech Apps. Students must be exposed to online learning and given the opportunity to engage in meaningful content area connections with the use of research engines.
After reading a story, using an interactive reading blog discussing different aspects of the book or creating a "book club" online is meaningful learning and engages students.
More than half of teachers at campuses across the state of Texas are considered to be "Early Tech" when it comes to Teaching and Learning. That means that almost NO technology applications are used to teach students in content areas.
NETS notes how administrators "play a pivotal role" in making sure that teachers and students are actively engaged in meaningful learning with the use of technology. If we basically follow the Technology TEKS and integrate them on a daily basis, then I believe we would do a world of good to these students who are our future doctors, astronauts, presidents, and military leaders.
Pre-K Technology Applications TEKS
In the early stages of development for reading, math, and writing, we teach students that print is a way of communicating. We teach students that a number represents something, a group, or picture. In writing, we begin by teaching children how to properly hold a pencil. We also teach them that print moves from left to right and top to bottom. Why? It's because we are laying the first brick, not of a home, but of a large skyscraper.
For technology, at the early-childhood level, it is absolutely necessary to scaffold instruction when it comes to technology. I know that at my school, many children have never even seen or touched a computer before their very first day in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten.
Teaching students terminology, how to hold a mouse and what a keyboard is is extremely important. They need to understand that a monitor is not a TV like one of my students asked one day. Based on our demographics and how the number of disadvantaged children is increasing, we need to lay a very solid foundation for each and every following grade level.
Starting with baby steps and building on each layer of bricks will make learning and teaching not only enjoyable, but successful for both teacher and students.
A student must be able to know what a program looks like, what an icon is, what "double-click" and "right-click" means in second grade. They must be able to first explore as a three or four-year old what all the parts are to a computer first and the proper holding and care of such hardware.
For technology, at the early-childhood level, it is absolutely necessary to scaffold instruction when it comes to technology. I know that at my school, many children have never even seen or touched a computer before their very first day in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten.
Teaching students terminology, how to hold a mouse and what a keyboard is is extremely important. They need to understand that a monitor is not a TV like one of my students asked one day. Based on our demographics and how the number of disadvantaged children is increasing, we need to lay a very solid foundation for each and every following grade level.
Starting with baby steps and building on each layer of bricks will make learning and teaching not only enjoyable, but successful for both teacher and students.
A student must be able to know what a program looks like, what an icon is, what "double-click" and "right-click" means in second grade. They must be able to first explore as a three or four-year old what all the parts are to a computer first and the proper holding and care of such hardware.
Long-Range Plan
As an educational administrator on campus, I feel integrating technolgy in every subject is a must. I would first begin by providing staff development to teachers and teacher assistants. This staff development would begin with general information about technology as a whole. Using STaR Chart would illustrate our campus' need to have more technology in the classroom. Our school has excellent resources thanks to our administrators that have allocated resources to get us ceiling mounted projectors, interwrite pads for teachers, document cameras, and laptops.
This is a great start, but students need to take hold of their learning. Students are eager and willing to use Ipods and handhelds to complete assignments. They want to make movies and blogs like we do, but they don't have the knowledge. Our students are just waiting to be exposed to something new and exciting. The only way to get this knowledge to them is by empowering teachers and making them technologically aware through staff development.
I would try my best to obtain funds for providing incentives for teachers, such as a set of webcams, microphones or mp3 players that stream video. Once teachers take ownership, then I feel it would be easier for them to teach their students.
Probably the most difficult task is going to have to be getting past all the "but"s and "that won't work." I figure that as long as I "wow" them then maybe they'll be excited.
This is a great start, but students need to take hold of their learning. Students are eager and willing to use Ipods and handhelds to complete assignments. They want to make movies and blogs like we do, but they don't have the knowledge. Our students are just waiting to be exposed to something new and exciting. The only way to get this knowledge to them is by empowering teachers and making them technologically aware through staff development.
I would try my best to obtain funds for providing incentives for teachers, such as a set of webcams, microphones or mp3 players that stream video. Once teachers take ownership, then I feel it would be easier for them to teach their students.
Probably the most difficult task is going to have to be getting past all the "but"s and "that won't work." I figure that as long as I "wow" them then maybe they'll be excited.
Reflecting on Technology
In week one's assessments, I can truly say that I'm not completely "out of the loop" when it comes to technology, but I have so much to learn and overcome. The fear of the unknown and not wanting to jump in and take risks is most difficult. I may hear teachers at my school make negative comments about technology and I wonder how I am going to tackle situations in which people do not want (or will not) take the time to learn new technology or software? Software as easy as PowerPoint and Excel are ta bu in some classrooms and really is so disappointing to me, but I understand and hope to prove that anyone can and will be technologically savvy.
My strengths as an administrator would include the ability to take-on endeavours with hard work and ease. I may not know all there is to know, but I am willing to learn. Learning technology is difficult for some, but I hope that when staff works with me that they'll feel excited and willing to learn more about technology. Staff will feel encouraged and motivated to learn because of the support that I will offer.
On the other hand, I feel that as an administrator I may have be very patient and tolerant as a teacher because everyone has a different learning style. There are no two people alike. And like children, adults have to take small steps in order to overcome large obstacles, especially those having to do with technology.
The online survey proved to be most revealing in my technological capabilities and is so beneficial to me because now I know what I need to work on and what professional development workshops I'll be attending.
My strengths as an administrator would include the ability to take-on endeavours with hard work and ease. I may not know all there is to know, but I am willing to learn. Learning technology is difficult for some, but I hope that when staff works with me that they'll feel excited and willing to learn more about technology. Staff will feel encouraged and motivated to learn because of the support that I will offer.
On the other hand, I feel that as an administrator I may have be very patient and tolerant as a teacher because everyone has a different learning style. There are no two people alike. And like children, adults have to take small steps in order to overcome large obstacles, especially those having to do with technology.
The online survey proved to be most revealing in my technological capabilities and is so beneficial to me because now I know what I need to work on and what professional development workshops I'll be attending.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)