Professor Borel hosted this week’s conference. For some reason I was able to join with my name but as a guest. Prof. Borel acknowledged this and referred to me by name so other participants would know who I was.
We discussed the assignments for Week 4 and received clarification on all parts. I asked some questions about the resume which were answered. Then we discussed the Week 5 assignment which is to complete our draft plan. It was explained that this is just a draft and open for changes and modifications as we move through the internship. It was helpful to understand that by having some kind of plan in place, completing the associated tasks would be easier.
In general, this was by far the easiest conference yet. Connections were good and the flow was much better than past conferences.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Summary Texas LRP-Educator Prep
The Vision 2020 Long Range Plan for Technology replaced earlier versions of the Texas Long Range technology plan. As the new plan was being adopted the Texas Department of Education issued a progress report for accomplishments from 2005 – 2006. In the report the key areas of development are discussed. Texas expects and encourages its educators to be prepared, therefore the LRP high quality educator preparation and development are considered critical and preparing educators to incorporate curriculum rich in technology is a priority.
The Texas Campus STaR chart is a data gathering and report tool used by the state to gauge progress and make recommendations. In 2006 less than 3% of campuses were considered Early Tech and in need of expanded opportunities to provide educators with technology learning. Approximately 63% of campuses reporting were in the Developing Tech stage of technology preparation and acknowledged that most technology use for administrative purposes. The remaining 31% of campuses fell in the Advanced Tech or Target Tech area of development.
Professional development for educators provides them with the knowledge and tools to change the ‘standard’ approach to learning. The Vision 2020 LRP encourages educators to find new ways to deliver curriculum but it is also mindful that educators need additional resources to help them learn, plan, develop and deliver learning opportunities to Texas students. To help meet this goal the Vision 2020 LRP is encouraging district and local administrators to implement opportunities for educators to have access to 24/7 learning opportunities. One program is the Technology Application Teacher Network. This web-based project provides teachers with resources to implementing the Technology Applications TEKS and addressing the goals outlined for technology literacy in No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
In my regional area, Region XIII, Educator Preparation and Development is on-going. In particular professional development opportunities are being offered both at the service center and through online opportunities for certification. Technology integration training is provided for gifted and talented instruction, ESL, Literacy, Math, Science and Social Studies via Region XIII institutes.
In the local area of Liberty Hill there are also on-going initiatives to advance the role of technology for educators. In the past year a new web-page provider gave teachers an opportunity to use technology as an interactive communication tool. Additional training is now needed to help teachers learn and use the Web 2.0 tools available through the web-page platform. Additional opportunities to collaborate with colleagues to develop technology rich lessons are also needed.
Sources
Texas Long Range Plan Progress Reports
Educator Preparation and Development http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/technology/lrpt/EdPrepPRLRPT06.pdf
Education Service Centers
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/technology/lrpt/ESCPRLRPT06.pdf
The Texas Campus STaR chart is a data gathering and report tool used by the state to gauge progress and make recommendations. In 2006 less than 3% of campuses were considered Early Tech and in need of expanded opportunities to provide educators with technology learning. Approximately 63% of campuses reporting were in the Developing Tech stage of technology preparation and acknowledged that most technology use for administrative purposes. The remaining 31% of campuses fell in the Advanced Tech or Target Tech area of development.
Professional development for educators provides them with the knowledge and tools to change the ‘standard’ approach to learning. The Vision 2020 LRP encourages educators to find new ways to deliver curriculum but it is also mindful that educators need additional resources to help them learn, plan, develop and deliver learning opportunities to Texas students. To help meet this goal the Vision 2020 LRP is encouraging district and local administrators to implement opportunities for educators to have access to 24/7 learning opportunities. One program is the Technology Application Teacher Network. This web-based project provides teachers with resources to implementing the Technology Applications TEKS and addressing the goals outlined for technology literacy in No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
In my regional area, Region XIII, Educator Preparation and Development is on-going. In particular professional development opportunities are being offered both at the service center and through online opportunities for certification. Technology integration training is provided for gifted and talented instruction, ESL, Literacy, Math, Science and Social Studies via Region XIII institutes.
In the local area of Liberty Hill there are also on-going initiatives to advance the role of technology for educators. In the past year a new web-page provider gave teachers an opportunity to use technology as an interactive communication tool. Additional training is now needed to help teachers learn and use the Web 2.0 tools available through the web-page platform. Additional opportunities to collaborate with colleagues to develop technology rich lessons are also needed.
Sources
Texas Long Range Plan Progress Reports
Educator Preparation and Development http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/technology/lrpt/EdPrepPRLRPT06.pdf
Education Service Centers
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/technology/lrpt/ESCPRLRPT06.pdf
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Vision 2020 Progress Report
The first progress report for the Vision 2020, the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, was released in 2008 and represented an evaluation of progress for a 2 year period. The report focuses on two legislatively mandated programs that were introduced during the 2 year timeframe. The programs are the Technology Immersion Pilot (TIP) and the Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN).
TIP is a pilot program to provide each student and teacher with a wireless mobile computer, software, online resources and appropriate learning to help improve student achievement. The learning environment could now be expanded beyond the regular day. The pilot objectives are comprehensive. During the 2 year pilot data was collected from pilot schools, those we full immersion, those that started as controls and were moved to immersion and schools that remained as control models. The results included the following for those teachers and students participating as immersion schools:
Technology proficiency has grown
Teachers interacted more with colleagues
Students with computers experienced slightly more demanding work
Increased use of technology
Fewer disciplinary actions
Improvement to TAKS scores
TxVSN is a statewide course resource for Texas public and open enrollment charter schools. TxVSN is also provided state approved educators, professional development opprotunites to participate as facilitators. The courses are taught by a highly certified teacher as determined by Texas certification. The courses and related assessments are to be delivered through a virtual classroom to students across the State of Texas. In September 2008 registration for courses began. A data survey in October provided the following input:
· Student academic needs were accelerated
· Participation in advanced course work including Algebra, English and several foreign languages
The course offerings are still in review and scheduled for implementation in the future.
The State of Texas is committed to the implementation of a Technology Applications curriculum that is aggressive and meets the state goals of Vision 2020 and the national goals for NCLB.
Source:
Progress Report for the Long-Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020, Texas Department of Education, December 2008
Week 2 Web Cast - June 1 & 3
In Weel 2 of the Masters of Tech Course EDLE 5306 A web cast was held on June 1 and again on June 3. I attended both so I could meet and see both profesors. The primary topic was to explin and ask questions about the internship. I appreicated the more ' personal' overview of the plan. In addition, questions were asked about the current and upcoming assignements. It was helpful to hear my own questions being voiced so I didn't feel so 'on my own' As a result of the webcast I feel a little surer of my direction and having met both professor feel much more comfortable sending questions or in the case of Professor Borel just calling.
The web cast, in general, will be a very helpful tool once we all become accustomed to using the tool. Unfortunately, the technical aspect is difficult especially when we all have different types of equipment that does affect the video and audio transmissions. Is was helpful in the June 3rd web cast for Professor Abernathy to make the initial presentation and then open up screens to see the other particpants in the web cast. This allowed us to see each other as we voice questions and even brought in the human element as pets were introduced.
The web cast, in general, will be a very helpful tool once we all become accustomed to using the tool. Unfortunately, the technical aspect is difficult especially when we all have different types of equipment that does affect the video and audio transmissions. Is was helpful in the June 3rd web cast for Professor Abernathy to make the initial presentation and then open up screens to see the other particpants in the web cast. This allowed us to see each other as we voice questions and even brought in the human element as pets were introduced.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
National Technology Plan 2010
The National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) released by the U.S. Department of Education is a plan proposed that will move education in a direction to address the needs and expectations of 21st Century learners. The NETP proposed a model for learning that emphasizes the use of technology in all facets of teaching and learning. The plan suggests and gives recommendations in five essential areas: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. The plan also proposes broad changes to programs that should be funded and coordinated at a national level. The plan is driven and inspired by President Barack Obama in his address to Congress in February 2009,
“By 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.” (Obama, 2009)
The Plan proposes goals and recommendations that can help states, districts, and other important stakeholders plan for integration of technology that will facilitate increased productivity for all learners. The goals include:
Learning
The plan suggests that state-of-the art technology be used to facilitate learning which will enable, encourage, and motivate all students to achieve. The plan subscribes that technology will provide personalized education that can differentiate for all learners.
Assessment
The plan sets expectations gather data that can be used for more effective measurement of strength and weaknesses of student performance so that continuous improvement can be made in order to administer a contiguous program to all students.
Teaching
The plan suggests that by using technology educators will be able to enhance their ability to deliver relative and current information to their students by work together in collaborative teams. These teams should be connected locally but also globally in order to offer 24/7 access to data, tools and resources to help them teach the more diverse learners of the 21st century.
Infrastructure
There is support for comprehensive infrastructure to provide 24/7 access. The infrastructure acknowledges not only the equipment and hardware resources but also the people to support an uninterrupted flow of teaching and learning.
Productivity
The plan recommends that education like business enterprises needs to be focused on the budgetary constraints that allow effective productivity while being fiscally responsible.
“By 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.” (Obama, 2009)
The Plan proposes goals and recommendations that can help states, districts, and other important stakeholders plan for integration of technology that will facilitate increased productivity for all learners. The goals include:
Learning
The plan suggests that state-of-the art technology be used to facilitate learning which will enable, encourage, and motivate all students to achieve. The plan subscribes that technology will provide personalized education that can differentiate for all learners.
Assessment
The plan sets expectations gather data that can be used for more effective measurement of strength and weaknesses of student performance so that continuous improvement can be made in order to administer a contiguous program to all students.
Teaching
The plan suggests that by using technology educators will be able to enhance their ability to deliver relative and current information to their students by work together in collaborative teams. These teams should be connected locally but also globally in order to offer 24/7 access to data, tools and resources to help them teach the more diverse learners of the 21st century.
Infrastructure
There is support for comprehensive infrastructure to provide 24/7 access. The infrastructure acknowledges not only the equipment and hardware resources but also the people to support an uninterrupted flow of teaching and learning.
Productivity
The plan recommends that education like business enterprises needs to be focused on the budgetary constraints that allow effective productivity while being fiscally responsible.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Week One Conference
Thursday May 27th 8:00 PM
I joined the first web conference with the help of the Professor Borel and my husband. The web conference was my first using video and sound. We had a lot of technical difficulties which Prof. Borel attempted to address but by 9 PM we had accomplished very little and I left with lots of questions. Hope the next one goes better.
I joined the first web conference with the help of the Professor Borel and my husband. The web conference was my first using video and sound. We had a lot of technical difficulties which Prof. Borel attempted to address but by 9 PM we had accomplished very little and I left with lots of questions. Hope the next one goes better.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
