Flow chart
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Saturday, March 19, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Texas STarChart Presentation
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Texas STarChart Presentation
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Saturday, March 5, 2011
National Educational Technology Plan
In March of 2010 the U.S. Department of Education produced a draft outlining a plan which would set forth technology goals for state and local educational agencies to aspire toward. The draft set forth two key goals: increase the rate of students gaining a college degree from 39% to 60%, and close achievement gaps among student sub-populations. In order to achieve these goals, schools must stay in stride with the latest technalogical tools available. These tools can offer students more powerful and engaging learning opportunities. The draft include many pertinant recommendations for educational agencies. These included recommendations in areas such as teaching, learning, and professional development.
There is no doubt that all students have their own unique and individual learning styles. These styles are a result of many genetic, as well as learned factors. The 2010 draft calls for educators to use technology to more properly accomadate each students' learning style. Technology can be used to help students master many subject areas. Regradless of the subject, all students must become experts in competencies such as critical thinking, complex problem solving, and collaboration. Technology may be the best vehicle to help the 21st century student to accomplish these end.
In order for schools to effectively incorporate technology into their schools, teachers must beleive in, be trained in, and be competant in, the latest technologies, and there benefits in the classroom. The 21st century classroom, and the 21st century student will soon evolve into a place that many teachers will struggle to understand. Therefore, teacher training must evolve to fulfill these needs. Teacher training must be collaborative, coherent, and continuous. The training should stress conectivity, ad provide teachers with effective learning and teaching resources.
There is no doubt that all students have their own unique and individual learning styles. These styles are a result of many genetic, as well as learned factors. The 2010 draft calls for educators to use technology to more properly accomadate each students' learning style. Technology can be used to help students master many subject areas. Regradless of the subject, all students must become experts in competencies such as critical thinking, complex problem solving, and collaboration. Technology may be the best vehicle to help the 21st century student to accomplish these end.
In order for schools to effectively incorporate technology into their schools, teachers must beleive in, be trained in, and be competant in, the latest technologies, and there benefits in the classroom. The 21st century classroom, and the 21st century student will soon evolve into a place that many teachers will struggle to understand. Therefore, teacher training must evolve to fulfill these needs. Teacher training must be collaborative, coherent, and continuous. The training should stress conectivity, ad provide teachers with effective learning and teaching resources.
Long Range Technology Plan
The Star Chart began collecting information on technology related issues in schools starting in 2006. The STAR CHART focuses on four areas. They include: Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration and instructional support; and Infrastructure for Technology. Each of these areas are symbiotic to one another. They all must be in working order for an increase in technology usage to improve. In this blog I would like to explain at greater length reults and trends for our campus (Godley High School), in relation to the area of Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support.
This area of the Star Chart has 6 areas of focus: Leadership and Vision, Planning, Instructional Support, Communication and Collaboration, Budget, Leadership and Support for online Learning. The Star Chart places each district's responses into a Rubric to determine each campus' and district's competencies for the 6 areas. Our particular campus has shown a steady increase in our competencies for each of the 6 areas. Godley High currently functions in the "target area" in 4 of the 6 areas of focus. The two lowest areas are in the budget, and support for on-line learning focus areas.
There is no doubt that districts across the state, and nation, for that matter, will be tightening at the waist band in the coming years. Therefore, efforts for improvement should be attempted using existing resources, or derive from low cost solutions. I would suggest that our district should bolster existing relationships with local 2 and 4 year colleges, as well as other agencies, to increase students access to online college (dual credit) and high school (for credit) courses.
This area of the Star Chart has 6 areas of focus: Leadership and Vision, Planning, Instructional Support, Communication and Collaboration, Budget, Leadership and Support for online Learning. The Star Chart places each district's responses into a Rubric to determine each campus' and district's competencies for the 6 areas. Our particular campus has shown a steady increase in our competencies for each of the 6 areas. Godley High currently functions in the "target area" in 4 of the 6 areas of focus. The two lowest areas are in the budget, and support for on-line learning focus areas.
There is no doubt that districts across the state, and nation, for that matter, will be tightening at the waist band in the coming years. Therefore, efforts for improvement should be attempted using existing resources, or derive from low cost solutions. I would suggest that our district should bolster existing relationships with local 2 and 4 year colleges, as well as other agencies, to increase students access to online college (dual credit) and high school (for credit) courses.
Friday, July 16, 2010
This week in EDLD 5301 we were introduced to Action Research. I have been a little weary of the "Research" class due to my lack of experience with research in general. The Dana text has been very helpful in alleviating some of my misunderstandings regarding research. As I read the Dana text I realized that Action Research is very much like the Scientific Method that I taught for years in the science classroom. The connection to a systematic approach put my mind at ease. I always seem to feel more comfortable with processes that have outlined steps. The steps as I see them are: Pose a question, research the question (gather information), analyze information (data), develop a plan of action for change (form a conclusion), implement the change.
Another subject that we were required to become familiar with this week was the need for professional reflection. I read pages 104-107 in the School Leader Intership text and really liked the correlation the authors make between reflection and becoming an expert in a given field. The authors point out that experts not only must contain specific knowledge in a given area, they must also be able to use reflection to guide them in their actions. The Dana text explains that good reflective practice allows leaders to be deliberate and proactive as they carry out their day to day duties. The Dana text also compares alloting weekly time for reflection to that of exercise. You may not always feel you have enough time to do either, but you must make time on a weekly basis.
Another subject that we were required to become familiar with this week was the need for professional reflection. I read pages 104-107 in the School Leader Intership text and really liked the correlation the authors make between reflection and becoming an expert in a given field. The authors point out that experts not only must contain specific knowledge in a given area, they must also be able to use reflection to guide them in their actions. The Dana text explains that good reflective practice allows leaders to be deliberate and proactive as they carry out their day to day duties. The Dana text also compares alloting weekly time for reflection to that of exercise. You may not always feel you have enough time to do either, but you must make time on a weekly basis.
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