Instructional Leadership Web Conference Reflection Post Week 5

This is one of the few web conferences I have attended since entering this program. While not able to attend the web conference on the day it was held due to job responsibilities, I was able to view the transcripts and find out what was discussed. I always find the web conferences helpful. It provides us with a connection with other students in the program as well as a connection with our professors. The web conference I looked into was the one held on Saturday February 18th. I heard a lot about TK20 from other students that made me feel like I wasn't the only one who needed clarification. TK20 has been the hardest aspect of this program for me to get a handle on and I know I have a lot of posting in the TK20 program I need to complete. As always, I walked away from the conference with more knowledge and clarification and will look to attend web conferences in the future.

Week 4 Assignment

Technology Action Plan:

Name	Job Title	Job Description
LuAnn Hughes	District Technology Head	LuAnn is the district technology coordinator.
John Griner	Software Programs Leader	John is in charge of providing technical support for new software.
	Instructional Assistants	Are specialists who move between campuses to trouble shoot.
	Technology Liaison	Each campus has one to help handle technology problems before they go to the district level.
	Teachers	Use technology in the classroom on a daily basis.
	Campus Principals	Mrs. Gayle monitors the technology incorporation of each teacher by using the districts lesson planning software.

After talking to several members of the foundations team the consensus seemed to be that most teachers could use more training on the technology we currently have available. Many teachers wanted to know how to use shortcuts in programs within Microsoft Office, and become more proficient at using all of the features in programs so they can make efficient and effective use of them as a classroom tool.

At this point in time teachers on my campus are expected to engage in professional development focusing on technology during the summer on their own time. These hours can later be used for exchange days during the school year. However, there is not a staff development day that focuses on technology implementation for the campus. This is something that needs to be fixed as in recent years the trend has been technology savvy teachers going to more workshops on technology and those who are reluctant to integrate technology avoiding them.

I recommend the following professional development plan for our campus.

August 2012- Campus staff development day. Spend the entire day learning and relearning basic computer programs such as the Microsoft office suite. Have teachers break into to groups to discuss tips and tricks for using the technology better and how to integrate it into the classroom. Have the groups demonstrate best practices to the entire staff. Also, at this meeting have the campus technology liaison explain other programs that are available to the staff to use. This could include the electronic quiz machines, portable smart board, and online resources such as MAPS 101.

Continuing through out the school year 2012-2013 – use the PLCs to address further technology issues. Each PLC meets once a week, use one week of the month to increase professional development in the area of technology. Have the district liaisons, or campus technology assistant work with the other teachers to show new ways of using technology.

People responsible for this plan are Mrs. Gayle the principal, Mr. Cain the assistant principal, Karen Jackson the campus technology liaison, and central office technology personnel as needed.

For Bonham to measure its use of technology as a viable classroom tool I would propose that two things happen. First, the data walks include a technology use check box just like they do for note taking, student engagement and other areas of teaching. As our district currently uses data walks as a means of gathering information by popping into a teacher’s room for a few minutes once a week; it is a tool that teachers are already familiar with and it would be easy for administration to look to see if technology is being used. The second method to monitor is lesson plans in conjunction with computer lab usage sign up. If teachers are planning to use technology and bringing their classes to the computer labs to use it for learning then it will be easy to show on the lab usage calendar that shows which teachers have been in which lab on which day.

Week 2 Assignment Part 4

http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/11360368

Please click on the link above to take you to my presentation.

Opinion on Texas Long Range Technology Planning

As students fail to be able to read, write, do math, and communicate at the appropriate level, drop out rates are at an all time, failures on standardized test are rising, and fewer students are actually ready for college course the state is concerned with there use of computers. Great, this is what every teacher has been waiting on. Not the idea that students will finally be held accountable for missing work, their own learning, their behavior, their progression as a person, no we are waiting on the state to have plan for technology development that sees 10 years into the future. How about instead of worrying about the Teaching and learning of technology we return to simply teaching and making sure students learn? Many of my students tell me that one thing or another in school is useless because in the real world a computer does it for them. If I were able to make a recommendation to the state on technology planning for the future it would be to teach students how to be students first rather than insisting on entertaining students who already have attention span issues.