The Texas Star Chart was developed by TEA so as to provide schools with feedback about their technology ratings of their campuses and districts compared to other schools in the state. The purpose of the Star Chart is to show how schools are aligned with the long range plan for technology. The Star Chart has four areas:
- Teaching & Learning
- Educator Preparation
- Administration & Support and
- Infrastructure
I checked out the ratings for Eagle Mt Elementary. This school is similar in demographics to my current campus. Plus, many of our students came from this school. My campus is new – last year was our first year to be open. Consequently, we do not have data from three years ago so show any trends or progression in the Star Chart.
I find it interesting that the rating for Educator Preparation has declined ever so slightly each year. This trend was mirrored by other schools in the state as well. Perhaps the growth of technology has not been matched by training of educators. Maybe teachers just feel inept. Maybe teachers feel out of their league. Maybe some of them have the mindset of, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” I have heard some people in our district lament their inability to do anything on the computer. They fight progress tooth and nail!
Why? One might ask. I think it goes back to self confidence. People who are secure with themselves and not worried about making mistakes embrace new technology and are willing to try new innovations. However, I have observed that people who have only one area of expertise, do not enjoy stepping outside of their realm. They do not feel comfortable trying things that they might not be successful at, so it is much easier to just not try in the first place. Maybe it is that they are just past the age of learning anything that may be difficult for them. Of course, this goes against our district vision of promoting “life-long learning.” I think that it is very easy for teachers to say those words, but maybe not so easy to live them.
Until we, as educators, can learn to “walk the walk” of using, implementing, and embracing technology, our students will never achieve their true potential in our fast growing global world of technology.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The Stars R Bigger N Brighter ...
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The Stars R Bigger N Brighter ...
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Saturday, November 28, 2009
TEKS for TECH
Learning about technology begins in the pre-k years. It is amazing that these little ones are able to do what they do! They begin with general intro into the workings of a computer but before the end of the year they must be able to "use a variety of software packages with audio, video and graphics to enhance learning experiences." [Do they even know what enhance means???] This is one of the "problem solving" TEKS that is spiraled throughout all grade levels and just expands as the student gets older and builds more skills. Each grade level has this in their curriculum.
Grades 3-5 have activities in each of the four areas of focus for technology: foundation, information acquisition, solving problems, and communcation. The student in these grades shows that they can open files, save files and use the software to make their projects bigger and better. First they must sign an 'acceptable use policy' that lists proper procedures, legalities and ethical standards for basic computer use in the classroom. Next they build their foundational skills and show basic computing skills. After they learn that, they must also learn how to use search engines and do online research. However, just being able to find material is not all that they do. They must learn to evalaute this material for validity. They must learn how to cite what they find. And then, they must learn how to put it all together so that it is pleasing to the eye! Nobody wants to view an ugly powerpoint! Dress it up! Add some sound and some graphics! Students learn how to do this and each year they add a few more details to their skills.
Grades 3-5 have activities in each of the four areas of focus for technology: foundation, information acquisition, solving problems, and communcation. The student in these grades shows that they can open files, save files and use the software to make their projects bigger and better. First they must sign an 'acceptable use policy' that lists proper procedures, legalities and ethical standards for basic computer use in the classroom. Next they build their foundational skills and show basic computing skills. After they learn that, they must also learn how to use search engines and do online research. However, just being able to find material is not all that they do. They must learn to evalaute this material for validity. They must learn how to cite what they find. And then, they must learn how to put it all together so that it is pleasing to the eye! Nobody wants to view an ugly powerpoint! Dress it up! Add some sound and some graphics! Students learn how to do this and each year they add a few more details to their skills.
Vision 2020
Texas has created Vision 2020 as the goal for all of our schools. The plan enumerates how to bring our schools as well as our students into the 21st Century. Every facet of technology is taken into account and discussed. How to implement, what to implement, how to reach students, when to teach specific skills and how our districts should be able to collaborate and communicate is in the plan. The plan goes hand in hand with NCLB. We want to prepare our students to be able to communicate globally and knowledgeably with others in the work force. Our future depends on us making that leap today. We have to keep up with all the new innovations that are being introduced to our children on a daily basis. We have students who are so tech savvy that they can show adults how to work many digital tools! This is our audience. This is our future.
I was glad to see that the committee who worked on the plan will continue to monitor progress and perhaps revise as needed. Our world is ever-changing. So must our teaching be as well. The opportunities are endless - if we take advantage of them. Linking to universities in other countries, talking to other students across the globe, or just observing and then collaborating is the way of the future. We must embrace technology and not just talk about it, but bring into our classes. We need to utilize interactive white boards in classes and demonstrations. We have to allow our students to podcast. We must step up and bring new innovations into the real world that we all live in so that our students feel comfortable and inspired.
I was glad to see that the committee who worked on the plan will continue to monitor progress and perhaps revise as needed. Our world is ever-changing. So must our teaching be as well. The opportunities are endless - if we take advantage of them. Linking to universities in other countries, talking to other students across the globe, or just observing and then collaborating is the way of the future. We must embrace technology and not just talk about it, but bring into our classes. We need to utilize interactive white boards in classes and demonstrations. We have to allow our students to podcast. We must step up and bring new innovations into the real world that we all live in so that our students feel comfortable and inspired.
Who Me???
It seems that after conducting the surveys, I realize that I may be tech savvy in many areas, but there is always room for improvement. I try to go to inservices about things that I haven't tried. This past summer I went to a blogging training as well as one on podcasting. I am sorry to say that this is first blog that I have created. I do need to add some new innovations to my webpage. I think that I just need a little more practice. I love to add cool tools to my stuff. I am all about work product. So - after this class I'm sure that my webpage will include even more neat things!
Survey Says ....
The 21st Century is upon us! Not only in real life, but in the class room as well. As an educator, I feel that I have a duty to be up with the times so as to be able to communicate with my students in a language that they speak and understand. I embrace technology and the ease that it provides in my life! I love it!!
The Tech Skills Assessment survey was really easy and I was confident that I knew most of the skills that were included in the survey. I feel very comfortable with my computer and have my own web page on our school's website. I totally embrace technology! I can't wait until the day that we just walk into a store and scan our finger tip to pay! Yes, I am a fan of the sci-fi movies and shows. I love watching what people think our future will look like! It just seems to make life so much easier.
When I was scrambling for information for our second survey, I was appalled that it was so hard to find someone who might even know the answers. As you can imagine, our school does seem to be lacking in certain areas. The biggest area that we aren't tracking is how technology is impacting student performance. The only area that might conceivably do that is if a student is in a TAKS tutorial class (that is on the computer) and they are assessed before the program and then regularly as they engage in the program. Perhaps I am just not in the loop of knowledge but I don't know that we do that at my campus. Our students are being taught how to use the computer as far as word processing and editing. They learn how to create presentations and how to edit, upload and fine tune them. Before they engage in using the computers, students are taught about ethical and legal issues of using information from the Internet. I am fortunate to work in a new building [last year was our first year to be open] so we have new computers, digital cameras, and Elmo's in every room. Teachers are using these resources as well as allowing students to utilize them in their assignments. I think the availability of computers is helping teachers communicate with parents more frequently. Also, our district has a parent connection so that parents can check student grades on a daily basis. The only problem that I have found with this application is when teachers don't post grades on at least a weekly basis [which is a district guideline, btw].
Our district uses presentations for just about every meeting that we have whether at the district or campus level. Most of the schools in our district seem to have the same level of technology on their campuses.
The Tech Skills Assessment survey was really easy and I was confident that I knew most of the skills that were included in the survey. I feel very comfortable with my computer and have my own web page on our school's website. I totally embrace technology! I can't wait until the day that we just walk into a store and scan our finger tip to pay! Yes, I am a fan of the sci-fi movies and shows. I love watching what people think our future will look like! It just seems to make life so much easier.
When I was scrambling for information for our second survey, I was appalled that it was so hard to find someone who might even know the answers. As you can imagine, our school does seem to be lacking in certain areas. The biggest area that we aren't tracking is how technology is impacting student performance. The only area that might conceivably do that is if a student is in a TAKS tutorial class (that is on the computer) and they are assessed before the program and then regularly as they engage in the program. Perhaps I am just not in the loop of knowledge but I don't know that we do that at my campus. Our students are being taught how to use the computer as far as word processing and editing. They learn how to create presentations and how to edit, upload and fine tune them. Before they engage in using the computers, students are taught about ethical and legal issues of using information from the Internet. I am fortunate to work in a new building [last year was our first year to be open] so we have new computers, digital cameras, and Elmo's in every room. Teachers are using these resources as well as allowing students to utilize them in their assignments. I think the availability of computers is helping teachers communicate with parents more frequently. Also, our district has a parent connection so that parents can check student grades on a daily basis. The only problem that I have found with this application is when teachers don't post grades on at least a weekly basis [which is a district guideline, btw].
Our district uses presentations for just about every meeting that we have whether at the district or campus level. Most of the schools in our district seem to have the same level of technology on their campuses.
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