Below is my presentation regarding the Texas Campus STaR Chart and Pine Tree High School.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
STaR Chart (Week 2)
The Texas Campus STaR Chart was created to help school districts around Texas create and/or update, as well as conceptualize their vision of technology. In order for us to ensure improvements in teaching and learning within the classrooms, educators must assure that the knowledge and skills gained in the classroom are compatible to live and work in the 21st Century.
The STaR chart is comprised of four key areas that districts’ should focus on, and I believe that one of these areas is vital to a district’s success. Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support area focuses on the “process of integrating technology in schools, in itself, promotes school reform.” Without administrators and technological support leading teachers to make changes and alterations within technology to their teaching techniques; success cannot be guaranteed to our students.
Districts around the state of Texas are making technological progress, however I do not believe this is occurring at a pace that is necessary. As funds are becoming more readily available, administrators and support staff must implement new instructional support for teachers. Technological advances are constantly being made, and there is no way for individual teachers to keep up with the changes on their own. Districts must provide constant professional development of advances for their teachers. These professional developments sessions should occur, at the least, semi-annually.
As an educator, and future administrator, I understand the urgency and importance that weighs on our students’ future. We must incorporate the latest and greatest technological tools and techniques into our instructional routines to make certain our students will be able to live and work in the 21st Century.
The STaR chart is comprised of four key areas that districts’ should focus on, and I believe that one of these areas is vital to a district’s success. Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support area focuses on the “process of integrating technology in schools, in itself, promotes school reform.” Without administrators and technological support leading teachers to make changes and alterations within technology to their teaching techniques; success cannot be guaranteed to our students.
Districts around the state of Texas are making technological progress, however I do not believe this is occurring at a pace that is necessary. As funds are becoming more readily available, administrators and support staff must implement new instructional support for teachers. Technological advances are constantly being made, and there is no way for individual teachers to keep up with the changes on their own. Districts must provide constant professional development of advances for their teachers. These professional developments sessions should occur, at the least, semi-annually.
As an educator, and future administrator, I understand the urgency and importance that weighs on our students’ future. We must incorporate the latest and greatest technological tools and techniques into our instructional routines to make certain our students will be able to live and work in the 21st Century.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Prekindergarten TEKS
There are ten domains within the prekindergarten TEKS. Those include: social and emotional development, language and communication, emergent literacy reading and writing, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts, physical development and technology. These TEKS domains allow the young students to build on their cognitive and metacognitive skills. The PRE-K students must be able to learn how to understand their body, movements, and emotions in order to become a future learner. They must also learn how to communicate and understand direction. Without these basic knowledge principles, the students future learning skills may be at a low level.
A spiraling curriculum allows for basic information to repeated and revisited over and over again. The TEKS objective, "Child demonstrates basic understanding of following classroom routines." This TEK is repeated through out multiple domains to ensure the student learns the importance of classroom routines. This spiraling technique TEK appears for multiple years so that the students learn this basic principle for their future.
A spiraling curriculum allows for basic information to repeated and revisited over and over again. The TEKS objective, "Child demonstrates basic understanding of following classroom routines." This TEK is repeated through out multiple domains to ensure the student learns the importance of classroom routines. This spiraling technique TEK appears for multiple years so that the students learn this basic principle for their future.
"Long-Range Plan" summary and action plan for me
Vision 2020-Students, parents, educators, and community and school board members can use effective technology to improve the education system. Whether it is to better prepare for the students future, increase awareness of students achievement, individualize students instruction or increased educational decision making processes.
Defining the Need for Change - Growth in technology has changed every aspect of business, government, society and life. These changes will constantly create need for greater knowledge in using technology to better our students' education.
Introducing the 21st Century Learner - Today's students have been using large amounts of technology since a young age. They are technology-savvy and desire to be technologically inclined.
Teacher Voices - Teachers like and need technology use in the classroom. Most said that it was a necessary agent in providing an engaging lesson for their students. Teachers expressed their need for fast, wireless Internet access with professional development time for learning new technologies.
Teaching and Learning - Texas' population is very diverse, and does not allow us for a "one size fits all approach." We must ensure that there are technology opportunities in all facets of their life, to ensure that we are able to stimulate and initiate their learning processes.
Educator and Preparation Development - Teachers must participate in professional learning to gain knowledge and skills and classroom strategies. Teachers need to be aware of new technology and strategies to transform teaching and learning in the classroom.
Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support - Technology leaders, administration and teachers play a key role in ensuring technology is widely used within their schools. Our ultimate goal as teachers and administrators is to ensure that our students are ready for their future. Our students' future plans involve the workforce. We must prepare our students for the technological applications that they will use in their future jobs.
Infrastructure for Technology - In order to ensure that all schools are educating their students equally, we must create high speed connectivity among schools, colleges, and other institutions. This is viable in creating an equitable access to all learners. All districts must have an infrastructure that is safe, secure, current and reliable to make certain success for all students.
Study of Needs - After conducting surveys, findings resulted that need to be addressed immediately to continue to prepare student to learn and work in the 21st Century. Funding needs to be provided to expand the technology infrastructure, persistent leadership in regards to technology, data measurement of technological progress, telecommunications discounts, and software interoperability.
My Action Plan - After becoming familiar with the Long-Range Plan, I need to incorporate as must technology as possible into my classroom and lesson plans. My students need to be prepared for their future, and deserve equal amount of access to technology. I am going to try and encourage administrators to educate all teachers about the Long-Range Plan for technology. I am sure many teachers are unaware of the goals for 2020. If they are unaware, this puts our students at a disadvantage compared to others in different districts.
Defining the Need for Change - Growth in technology has changed every aspect of business, government, society and life. These changes will constantly create need for greater knowledge in using technology to better our students' education.
Introducing the 21st Century Learner - Today's students have been using large amounts of technology since a young age. They are technology-savvy and desire to be technologically inclined.
Teacher Voices - Teachers like and need technology use in the classroom. Most said that it was a necessary agent in providing an engaging lesson for their students. Teachers expressed their need for fast, wireless Internet access with professional development time for learning new technologies.
Teaching and Learning - Texas' population is very diverse, and does not allow us for a "one size fits all approach." We must ensure that there are technology opportunities in all facets of their life, to ensure that we are able to stimulate and initiate their learning processes.
Educator and Preparation Development - Teachers must participate in professional learning to gain knowledge and skills and classroom strategies. Teachers need to be aware of new technology and strategies to transform teaching and learning in the classroom.
Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support - Technology leaders, administration and teachers play a key role in ensuring technology is widely used within their schools. Our ultimate goal as teachers and administrators is to ensure that our students are ready for their future. Our students' future plans involve the workforce. We must prepare our students for the technological applications that they will use in their future jobs.
Infrastructure for Technology - In order to ensure that all schools are educating their students equally, we must create high speed connectivity among schools, colleges, and other institutions. This is viable in creating an equitable access to all learners. All districts must have an infrastructure that is safe, secure, current and reliable to make certain success for all students.
Study of Needs - After conducting surveys, findings resulted that need to be addressed immediately to continue to prepare student to learn and work in the 21st Century. Funding needs to be provided to expand the technology infrastructure, persistent leadership in regards to technology, data measurement of technological progress, telecommunications discounts, and software interoperability.
My Action Plan - After becoming familiar with the Long-Range Plan, I need to incorporate as must technology as possible into my classroom and lesson plans. My students need to be prepared for their future, and deserve equal amount of access to technology. I am going to try and encourage administrators to educate all teachers about the Long-Range Plan for technology. I am sure many teachers are unaware of the goals for 2020. If they are unaware, this puts our students at a disadvantage compared to others in different districts.
Technology Surveys
After completing the two surveys, “Technology Applications Inventory” and the “SETDA Teacher Survey,” I realize that my school and I are lacking in use of technology. I thought that I was more aware of technology than I actually was.
While taking the “Technology Applications Inventory” survey, I began to discover new terminology that I had never heard before. I took a computer course in college, but I dare to say it was outdated as well. I lacked knowledge in many of the “Foundation” and “Information Acquisition Domains.” I knew a lot more information in the “Solving Problems with Technology Tools” and “Communication Domains.” Communication was my strongest domain, I feel that this might be because I was an Advertising and Public Relations major in college able to use graphics, create presentations, use a variety of layouts, use different fonts, sizes of fonts as well as which type goes together best for readability.
The second survey, “SETDA Teacher Survey,” focused more on my school and the steps we are taking to use technology to better educate our students. My school lacks in many of the areas being addressed. I find this very upsetting, because we are their last resource before they go “into the real world!” I was not able to answer any of the data collection questions regarding technology impacting students with a “yes.” I was able to answer personal technology assessment questions with a “yes.” I think it is very important to incorporate technology in your classroom as much as possible. Students’ brains revolve around technology, so I must be able to ensure that I can capture their attention with technology.
Overall, I need to become more informed on certain technological terms, as well as attend professional development regarding new technology. I should also urge my school to increase awareness of the relationship between technology and student success.
While taking the “Technology Applications Inventory” survey, I began to discover new terminology that I had never heard before. I took a computer course in college, but I dare to say it was outdated as well. I lacked knowledge in many of the “Foundation” and “Information Acquisition Domains.” I knew a lot more information in the “Solving Problems with Technology Tools” and “Communication Domains.” Communication was my strongest domain, I feel that this might be because I was an Advertising and Public Relations major in college able to use graphics, create presentations, use a variety of layouts, use different fonts, sizes of fonts as well as which type goes together best for readability.
The second survey, “SETDA Teacher Survey,” focused more on my school and the steps we are taking to use technology to better educate our students. My school lacks in many of the areas being addressed. I find this very upsetting, because we are their last resource before they go “into the real world!” I was not able to answer any of the data collection questions regarding technology impacting students with a “yes.” I was able to answer personal technology assessment questions with a “yes.” I think it is very important to incorporate technology in your classroom as much as possible. Students’ brains revolve around technology, so I must be able to ensure that I can capture their attention with technology.
Overall, I need to become more informed on certain technological terms, as well as attend professional development regarding new technology. I should also urge my school to increase awareness of the relationship between technology and student success.
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