Texas StarChart PowerPoint
View more presentations from Misti Sanders.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Technology Stars!!
Check out this SlideShare Presentation: A PowerPoint about the Texas StarChart and the progress Lorena Elemtantary is making toward the Texas Long Range Technology Plan.
A Key to Technology in the Classroom: Educator Preparation and Development
The Texas Star (School Technology and Readiness) Chart is a self assessment tool that is aligned with the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020. The StarChart assesses four different domains, including Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development, Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support, and Infrastructure for Technology. Each of these areas is important to create an environment for students that is effective in a technology world.
I will focus on the area of Educator Preparation and Development because I believe this is where the basis starts for technology in the classroom. This area focuses on professional development for the teachers in order to regain their passion for teaching, acquire new skills, and understand how to integrate technology in their classroom. The adequate amount of time, resources, and models for this area is crucial.
The data shows that my school is slowly increasing and working its way up in the categories. The state and national data are also showing a slow increase in this area. In the state of Texas in 2007-2008, the number of Early Tech has dropped to only 5.4%. This shows a slow but steady increase of the years. The data also shows that Educator Preparation is the overall weakest area state and nationally. Locally, it is close to the bottom but is not the weakest.
I truly feel that this is the area that needs the most attention overall. In order for the expectations of the teachers to be so high in technology, they need to be trained in all of the areas. Where the data puts us as a state and nation shows that the majority of our technology professional development ranges from 9-18 hours a year and is in a large group session. I believe that a few large group sessions are important but overall it needs to be small group instruction that is specifically designed for the needs of the teachers at the time. The teachers are much more willing to use this in their classroom when they know exactly how and when to use it and feel confident in what they are doing. Preparing teachers is such an important part of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology and many of the other areas will come into place once teachers are equipped with the knowledge and feel confident to teach with technology.
I will focus on the area of Educator Preparation and Development because I believe this is where the basis starts for technology in the classroom. This area focuses on professional development for the teachers in order to regain their passion for teaching, acquire new skills, and understand how to integrate technology in their classroom. The adequate amount of time, resources, and models for this area is crucial.
The data shows that my school is slowly increasing and working its way up in the categories. The state and national data are also showing a slow increase in this area. In the state of Texas in 2007-2008, the number of Early Tech has dropped to only 5.4%. This shows a slow but steady increase of the years. The data also shows that Educator Preparation is the overall weakest area state and nationally. Locally, it is close to the bottom but is not the weakest.
I truly feel that this is the area that needs the most attention overall. In order for the expectations of the teachers to be so high in technology, they need to be trained in all of the areas. Where the data puts us as a state and nation shows that the majority of our technology professional development ranges from 9-18 hours a year and is in a large group session. I believe that a few large group sessions are important but overall it needs to be small group instruction that is specifically designed for the needs of the teachers at the time. The teachers are much more willing to use this in their classroom when they know exactly how and when to use it and feel confident in what they are doing. Preparing teachers is such an important part of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology and many of the other areas will come into place once teachers are equipped with the knowledge and feel confident to teach with technology.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Technology TEKS
The Pre-K TEKS lay a foundation for the rest of the TEKS. In Pre-K, the students are introduced to computers and to the basic terms of the computer. During this time they are taught how to start, use, and exit programs that are age appropriate. The more access to the computer at this age, the more comfortable they begin to feel with technology at an early age.
The K-12 Technology TEKS build upon this foundation. In Kindergarten they build upon the foundations by introducing more terms and more operations on the computer. They also have them develop a product. Each step up in the TEKS builds upon what the students have mastered in the previous years. The scaffolding is very apparent as you move up in the grades. One example is within the foundation strand when the student moves from being able to start and exit programs in Pre-K to advancing all the way to making selections of programs and making sure they are compatible. Although it builds upon that foundation from the previous year, the student still has the opportunity to meet that objective due to the spiraling format of the TEKS.
In my school we have a computer class that the students attend every other day for thirty minutes and in this class is where they work on the Technology TEKS. I think this is a great idea because there is not enough time in our day to include each of these TEKS. However, I do think it is necessary for the classroom teachers to be aware of these TEKS and carry them over into our core curriculum to make them more meaningful and not just isolated.
The K-12 Technology TEKS build upon this foundation. In Kindergarten they build upon the foundations by introducing more terms and more operations on the computer. They also have them develop a product. Each step up in the TEKS builds upon what the students have mastered in the previous years. The scaffolding is very apparent as you move up in the grades. One example is within the foundation strand when the student moves from being able to start and exit programs in Pre-K to advancing all the way to making selections of programs and making sure they are compatible. Although it builds upon that foundation from the previous year, the student still has the opportunity to meet that objective due to the spiraling format of the TEKS.
In my school we have a computer class that the students attend every other day for thirty minutes and in this class is where they work on the Technology TEKS. I think this is a great idea because there is not enough time in our day to include each of these TEKS. However, I do think it is necessary for the classroom teachers to be aware of these TEKS and carry them over into our core curriculum to make them more meaningful and not just isolated.
My thoughts on the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology (2006-2020)
It was very interesting reading the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology 2006-2010. I had no idea this has been in the works for three years already! It is interesting to me that something this big, that could have such an impact on our daily lives, is not very well known.
Overall, I agree with the message that the Long-Range Plan is presenting. I think that is it critical that we are preparing the students for their future and their future is definitely going to involve technology in some way. I also agree that students learn differently than in the past. These students that we are teaching right now have so much more that goes on and are used to such a fast paced life. These students need more hands-on activities and technology to keep their focus.
As an instructional leader, I think it is necessary to be a model of technology. In meetings and staff development it is important to model these things that the teachers need to be using in the classroom. I would also need to provide the teachers with time and resources to attend staff development and training, but also a follow up in order to be sure the teachers are mastering what they have learned. It is also necessary for the teachers to have time to plan and figure out how to integrate technology into their everyday curriculum plans.
I do have a problem with how much they plan on implementing by the year 2020. Since this plan has been created, the nation’s economy has taken a turn for the worse. The schools are not getting the extra funding that was expected in this plan. I really think the biggest challenge will be funding this plan. My district had a TRE election at the beginning of this month and the community voted against it. This means that the district will be making huge budget cuts in all areas. This will have to include some part of technology. There is no way that my district can put $50 or more per student per year just on technology when we are not able to keep teachers and support staff due to funding. I think this is a great idea but things are going to have to change and the state will have to come up with more funding to make this vision possible.
Overall, I agree with the message that the Long-Range Plan is presenting. I think that is it critical that we are preparing the students for their future and their future is definitely going to involve technology in some way. I also agree that students learn differently than in the past. These students that we are teaching right now have so much more that goes on and are used to such a fast paced life. These students need more hands-on activities and technology to keep their focus.
As an instructional leader, I think it is necessary to be a model of technology. In meetings and staff development it is important to model these things that the teachers need to be using in the classroom. I would also need to provide the teachers with time and resources to attend staff development and training, but also a follow up in order to be sure the teachers are mastering what they have learned. It is also necessary for the teachers to have time to plan and figure out how to integrate technology into their everyday curriculum plans.
I do have a problem with how much they plan on implementing by the year 2020. Since this plan has been created, the nation’s economy has taken a turn for the worse. The schools are not getting the extra funding that was expected in this plan. I really think the biggest challenge will be funding this plan. My district had a TRE election at the beginning of this month and the community voted against it. This means that the district will be making huge budget cuts in all areas. This will have to include some part of technology. There is no way that my district can put $50 or more per student per year just on technology when we are not able to keep teachers and support staff due to funding. I think this is a great idea but things are going to have to change and the state will have to come up with more funding to make this vision possible.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Reflection on Technology Assessments
As I began taking the Technology Applications Inventory I realized how much I actually teach myself with technology. I have the type of personality that if I do not understand something, I am going to figure it out. Almost everything I know about technology has been a 'seek and find' or 'trial and error' type of learning. I have spent many hours on the computer working to figure something out. I am the “go to” person on our campus if they have a technology question. Many times I have no idea what the answer is but I work until I figure it out.
I have said all of this because when I was taking the inventory I had to say no to several questions just because I did not know what the technical term meant. My weakness appears to be in foundations and I think this attributes to my lack of knowledge in the terms. My strength is in communication. I am constantly preparing presentations, newsletters, and videos for my class or the school so I have become fluent in this area.
The SETDA teacher survey was more focused on the school than the teacher when compared to the Technology Assessments Inventory. This survey showed that my school and district is doing what we can with the amount of funding provided. The main area of concern that I noticed from this survey is the lack of research and collecting data through technology. This is an important part that we are missing because it can show what areas we need to improve on to help all of our students be successful.
I have said all of this because when I was taking the inventory I had to say no to several questions just because I did not know what the technical term meant. My weakness appears to be in foundations and I think this attributes to my lack of knowledge in the terms. My strength is in communication. I am constantly preparing presentations, newsletters, and videos for my class or the school so I have become fluent in this area.
The SETDA teacher survey was more focused on the school than the teacher when compared to the Technology Assessments Inventory. This survey showed that my school and district is doing what we can with the amount of funding provided. The main area of concern that I noticed from this survey is the lack of research and collecting data through technology. This is an important part that we are missing because it can show what areas we need to improve on to help all of our students be successful.
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