Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wk 2 Web Conference - Lamar Univ EDLD 5306
We just completed the 2nd web conference for my first Grad class. There were a bunch of good questions asked and the Professor gave a lot of great information on the upcoming assignments and the structure of the entire program. The degree is a series of 5-wk classes and completes in 18 months. Along with the very quick classes, we are also going to be doing an Internship over those 18 months. OVERWHELMED does not fully describe what I am feeling now. Luckily I have the support of a loving family and I am truly interested in the degree program.
Technology Assessments - Wk 2 Assignment
Technology Assessments - Wk 2 Assignment
In the world of Education, we are always trying new ways of reaching the students and preparing them for the world they will enter when they leave us. As most people understand, education has recognized the need to integrate all forms of technology into the classroom and to teach our students to be successful "digital citizens."
Unfortunately education is often way behind the curve when it comes to technology. So we are trying to scramble and get up to date on many things. But, we don't have an open checkbook to buy every new technology that hits the market. There are strings attached to all the expenditures, for good reasons. One of the strings is that the educators and students are assessed on how technologically literate we are. This makes sense, right? What is the point of buying new equipment if the teacher won't know how to turn it on? You don't give a monkey an iPhone and expect great results. In Texas, we use STaR Charts for assessing teachers. According to the Texas Education Agency, the Texas School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart is "an online resource tool for self-assessment of your campus’ and district’s efforts to effectively integrate technology across the curriculum. This rubric serves as the standard for assessing technology preparedness in Texas K-12 schools" (Texas Education Agency [TEA], 2006). In this assessment, teachers rate themselves and their campus' on a scale of 1-4, 1 representing the lowest rating of Early Tech and 4 representing the highest rating of Target Tech.
I feel that assessing the teachers is a valuable tool to determine the effectiveness and readiness of the teachers with regards to their technology prowess. However, I think the system Texas uses is slightly flawed. Since the teacher rate themselves, I don't think we get a completely accurate rating. I say this, because I feel that most teachers are intimidated by technology and often underrate their own abilities. I have seen many examples of teachers that swear they don't know how to use technology, but will then successfully lead a class using several pieces of equipment and software without a single hiccup. In their mind they rate themselves low, but in actuality their skills far exceed their perceptions. I also feel that, since many people are intimidated by technology, they have not figured out that many "NEW" things are actually just re-badged versions of old stuff. We are rolling out Google Docs at school and many people are just fascinated with the name.....GOOOOOOOOGGGLLLEEEE DOOOOOCCCCSSS......(*can't you just hear that in full Dolby Digital Surround Sound at the movie theater*). When I explain to them that it is just an online version of Microsoft Office Products with some new, albeit amazing, features, they say "oh, well that doesn't sound too hard." So, a subjective assessment based on a person's view of their technological abilities may not be the best method. However, I do not know a better method. As we improve the teachers abilities, and they become better at truly rating their skills, this assessment will move closer to being a true reading of the teachers and campus. Until then, I think it may be the best method we have.
Texas Education Agency [TEA], 2006 - Texas Campus STaR Chart - http://starchart.epsilen.com/docs/TxCSC.pdf
In the world of Education, we are always trying new ways of reaching the students and preparing them for the world they will enter when they leave us. As most people understand, education has recognized the need to integrate all forms of technology into the classroom and to teach our students to be successful "digital citizens."
Unfortunately education is often way behind the curve when it comes to technology. So we are trying to scramble and get up to date on many things. But, we don't have an open checkbook to buy every new technology that hits the market. There are strings attached to all the expenditures, for good reasons. One of the strings is that the educators and students are assessed on how technologically literate we are. This makes sense, right? What is the point of buying new equipment if the teacher won't know how to turn it on? You don't give a monkey an iPhone and expect great results. In Texas, we use STaR Charts for assessing teachers. According to the Texas Education Agency, the Texas School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart is "an online resource tool for self-assessment of your campus’ and district’s efforts to effectively integrate technology across the curriculum. This rubric serves as the standard for assessing technology preparedness in Texas K-12 schools" (Texas Education Agency [TEA], 2006). In this assessment, teachers rate themselves and their campus' on a scale of 1-4, 1 representing the lowest rating of Early Tech and 4 representing the highest rating of Target Tech.
I feel that assessing the teachers is a valuable tool to determine the effectiveness and readiness of the teachers with regards to their technology prowess. However, I think the system Texas uses is slightly flawed. Since the teacher rate themselves, I don't think we get a completely accurate rating. I say this, because I feel that most teachers are intimidated by technology and often underrate their own abilities. I have seen many examples of teachers that swear they don't know how to use technology, but will then successfully lead a class using several pieces of equipment and software without a single hiccup. In their mind they rate themselves low, but in actuality their skills far exceed their perceptions. I also feel that, since many people are intimidated by technology, they have not figured out that many "NEW" things are actually just re-badged versions of old stuff. We are rolling out Google Docs at school and many people are just fascinated with the name.....GOOOOOOOOGGGLLLEEEE DOOOOOCCCCSSS......(*can't you just hear that in full Dolby Digital Surround Sound at the movie theater*). When I explain to them that it is just an online version of Microsoft Office Products with some new, albeit amazing, features, they say "oh, well that doesn't sound too hard." So, a subjective assessment based on a person's view of their technological abilities may not be the best method. However, I do not know a better method. As we improve the teachers abilities, and they become better at truly rating their skills, this assessment will move closer to being a true reading of the teachers and campus. Until then, I think it may be the best method we have.
Texas Education Agency [TEA], 2006 - Texas Campus STaR Chart - http://starchart.epsilen.com/docs/TxCSC.pdf
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Wk 1 Web Conference - Lamar Univ EDLD 5306
We had our first web conference last week on 8-23-2011. It was interesting to say the least. Watching the webcams of the other participants was fun and finding out that we have a big mix of classmates from Teachers to Firemen, and from locations in Texas to India.
The web conference, or webinar as my wife called it, started off a little shaky. We had to figure out the basics of operating our mic's and headphones. Once everybody learned to shut off their mic when they aren't talking, things went much better. I did notice that the people using headsets were much easier to hear. Unfortunately this made us look like telemarketers.
All in all it was a good time and I look forward to the next one.
The web conference, or webinar as my wife called it, started off a little shaky. We had to figure out the basics of operating our mic's and headphones. Once everybody learned to shut off their mic when they aren't talking, things went much better. I did notice that the people using headsets were much easier to hear. Unfortunately this made us look like telemarketers.
All in all it was a good time and I look forward to the next one.
Intro
I am Mr. Waits. I teach currently teach Algebra 1 in the DFW, TX area. I am also enrolled in Grad School through Lamar Univ. Many of my assignments will require blog posts, and this will be the place for them. This blog may eventually transition into something else. I guess we will see.
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