Texas S Ta R Chart Pwrpt
View more presentations from Rachael Wolf.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Why Texas STaR Chart is important to you!!!
Explanation and results of Sealy High School's STaR Chart findings from 2006-2009
EDLD 5352 Week 2 Assignment - Part 2 (Using a Blog)
Educator Preparation and Development
As a teacher in the 21st century, we must effectively be prepared for the digital natives that enter our classrooms. We should be able to teach and learn in an information rich technology world. This requires adaptation to an environment many of us are not accustomed to. Texas faces the task of creating and preparing studnets for a future where they thirve, rather than survive, in a fast paced technological society. This becomes a monumental task for districts as they prepare veteran and novice teachers to implement these skills for the youth.
Currently my district seems to be moving in the right direction, but the progress is too slow. Things seem to be fairly stagnant, but hopefully with the hiring of a new Technology Director, advances will be seen. This director seems to be more open-minded and willing to step out of the box for education. Our director realizes that education is changing, and kids are coming from multisensory worlds and are fearless when technology is involved. She is also willing to teach us, or get us the training or tools we need to introduce a technology rich environment into the classroom curriculum. This entails providing staff development and hand on approaches to educating all teachers.
In our state and nation the trends are again to push a technology rich education. NCLB is a driving factor in this area; however, many districts struggle with finding the funds. We experience this in our campus, and we understand how many times we must accept what we have and wait for something better the next year. Unfortunnately, by that time, there is even better and greater technology available. Technology trends are a rapidly changing arena that educators struggle to physically and financially stay abreast.
Administrators and Technology leaders must be willing to sacrifice other areas of the budget to create a welcoming, nurturing attitude for technology. We must aggressively encourage veteran teachers and actively engage the novice teachers to create the enticing digital climate students need to motivate themselves in a learner-centered educational setting. The support of all stakeholders will be essential to Texas and the United States moving into a leadership role for technology.
As a teacher in the 21st century, we must effectively be prepared for the digital natives that enter our classrooms. We should be able to teach and learn in an information rich technology world. This requires adaptation to an environment many of us are not accustomed to. Texas faces the task of creating and preparing studnets for a future where they thirve, rather than survive, in a fast paced technological society. This becomes a monumental task for districts as they prepare veteran and novice teachers to implement these skills for the youth.
Currently my district seems to be moving in the right direction, but the progress is too slow. Things seem to be fairly stagnant, but hopefully with the hiring of a new Technology Director, advances will be seen. This director seems to be more open-minded and willing to step out of the box for education. Our director realizes that education is changing, and kids are coming from multisensory worlds and are fearless when technology is involved. She is also willing to teach us, or get us the training or tools we need to introduce a technology rich environment into the classroom curriculum. This entails providing staff development and hand on approaches to educating all teachers.
In our state and nation the trends are again to push a technology rich education. NCLB is a driving factor in this area; however, many districts struggle with finding the funds. We experience this in our campus, and we understand how many times we must accept what we have and wait for something better the next year. Unfortunnately, by that time, there is even better and greater technology available. Technology trends are a rapidly changing arena that educators struggle to physically and financially stay abreast.
Administrators and Technology leaders must be willing to sacrifice other areas of the budget to create a welcoming, nurturing attitude for technology. We must aggressively encourage veteran teachers and actively engage the novice teachers to create the enticing digital climate students need to motivate themselves in a learner-centered educational setting. The support of all stakeholders will be essential to Texas and the United States moving into a leadership role for technology.
Monday, November 16, 2009
EDLD 5352 Week 1 Assignment - Part 4
The Pre-K Technology application TEKS are essential to the creation of a technologically sound learner. They pave the road to boundless opportunities for the children of tomorrow. For some students this is their first experience with a computer or any type of technology; however, for many it is just another day in the life of a digital native.
These TEKS give children the exposure to a wide array of educational software programs that enhance other educational objectives. This is also the place where many students gain the proper knowledge of technology vocabulary and electronic devices. The school provides the outlet for a better education through the use of voice and sound equipment. Through submersion into technology, students become less inhibited and are better able to relay ideas and information through word processing programs available to them. This increases their desire for more information which they are able to retrieve via various websites.
The Pre-K Technology TEKS create the basic knowledge and increase learner-centered education. Without these foundational skills, studnts are denied the best possible high tech educaiton that will lead them into the digital world of today. These students must have the comfort level and no fear of technology to survive the ever-changing, fast paced society that continues to shrink.
A spiraling or scaffolding curriculum is one in which students may not be ready to learn the specifics of a topic, but they are essentially ready to learn. By giving them multiple exposures to a wide variety of ideas, they are afer time, able to close in on the narrower topics. This is made very clear through the technology TEKS. Students do not completely understand how or why a computer works; however, they are very capable of using one to meet their educational needs. More specifically, students should "demonstrate proficiency in the use of a variety of input devices such as keyboard, scanner, voice/sound recorder, mouse, touch screen, or digital video by appropriately incorporated such components into the produce", "demonstrate knowledge and appropriate use of operating systems, software application, and communication and networking components", and "discuss copyright laws/issues and model ethical acquisition and use of digital information, citing sources using established methods". These TEKS are found repeatedly throughout various high school technology courses. By this repetitious exposure, students are gaining a more in depth knowledge of the technological world we live in.
These TEKS give children the exposure to a wide array of educational software programs that enhance other educational objectives. This is also the place where many students gain the proper knowledge of technology vocabulary and electronic devices. The school provides the outlet for a better education through the use of voice and sound equipment. Through submersion into technology, students become less inhibited and are better able to relay ideas and information through word processing programs available to them. This increases their desire for more information which they are able to retrieve via various websites.
The Pre-K Technology TEKS create the basic knowledge and increase learner-centered education. Without these foundational skills, studnts are denied the best possible high tech educaiton that will lead them into the digital world of today. These students must have the comfort level and no fear of technology to survive the ever-changing, fast paced society that continues to shrink.
A spiraling or scaffolding curriculum is one in which students may not be ready to learn the specifics of a topic, but they are essentially ready to learn. By giving them multiple exposures to a wide variety of ideas, they are afer time, able to close in on the narrower topics. This is made very clear through the technology TEKS. Students do not completely understand how or why a computer works; however, they are very capable of using one to meet their educational needs. More specifically, students should "demonstrate proficiency in the use of a variety of input devices such as keyboard, scanner, voice/sound recorder, mouse, touch screen, or digital video by appropriately incorporated such components into the produce", "demonstrate knowledge and appropriate use of operating systems, software application, and communication and networking components", and "discuss copyright laws/issues and model ethical acquisition and use of digital information, citing sources using established methods". These TEKS are found repeatedly throughout various high school technology courses. By this repetitious exposure, students are gaining a more in depth knowledge of the technological world we live in.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
EDLD 5352 Week 1 Assignment - Part 3
I have discovered that the state of Texas has developed a long-range plan to create an environment that is rich in technology for students. Teachers must be allowed time and training in technology to create the high quality benefits for students to learn. Technology is continuously changing and all educators as well as students must be adapting to the information-based economy of the world. With the world closing in as technology costs decrease, technology becomes more portable and economical for everyone. Therefore, we must accommodate our multi-sensory learners as they enter our schools. Teachers in turn must be given the greatest opportunities for developing in these areas that are flooding our classrooms from the outside elecronic world. This means that schools must be supportive and adaptive to a teacher's need for training. Once the LEA gains insight to teacher and student needs, they will be more effective in producing long-range plans for themselves. This will lead to greater technology within the campus walls on a daily basis. The collaboration of TEA and the LEA will create the most positive effect on the use of the state. With the support of TEA and the monitoring through the STaR charts the state creates accountability for all campuses to demonstrate the ways teachers can effectively perfect their own technology skills. This also creates an emphasis on districts to maintain high technology standards and to ensure funds are always available. However, plans will always need adjusting as technology and time change. This knowledge has helped me see the great importance of the school district's technology department. They must continuously adapt and monitor funds, as well as have the ability to implement new innovative advancements. I have gained an appreciation of their importance in the education of students. However, I wish they were more responsive towards educating teachers in areas that would direclty benefit classroom instruction.
EDLD 5352 Week 1 Assignment - Part 2
Technology..........Well, I just discovered that I am farther behind on the technology highway than I thought. I never thought of myself as "computer savvy", but now I know I have more to learn than I originally anticipated. These surveys were very enlightening for me and my views of my school district. I tend to have some fears when it comes to attempting various programs on my computer. I have always felt very comfortable when using word processing programs, but feel some reluctance with some programs, such as Excel for spreadsheets. Over the past few months I have worked at gaining more knowledge in these areas, such as Excel and Powerpoint. The better I am at navigating through these programs, the more apt I am to use them on a regular basis in my classroom. I have realized through these surveys how much more rapidly I could learn these and other applications if my district would encourage more technology through staff development on technology. "Just getting by" is not acceptable for my students so why should it be acceptable for me? I can now understand the expectations of my school district when it comes to technology but I am very concerned for my district. I know they want me to use technology in the classroom; however, I would love to see more staff development within our district for better proficiency in these programs. This would also create a better understanding of how to incorporate these things into my lessons. I would also like to have a better insight on how to create more opportunities for underprivileged students in the technology area of their education.
Strengths/Weaknesses
strengths - ready to learn, do try to use as much technology as possible in my classroom, encourage students to do computer research and projects
weaknesses - not very knowledgeable on these programs, do not understand all the technology "lingo"
Assessments:
These assessments have opened my mind as to the areas that I must address in my own education. The way these assessments were broken down made you look at the various aspects of the educational system. Things became clearer in the way technology is addressed from the state level to the LEAs. The surveys have definitely made me desire the knowledge to become more technology savvy.
I agree with these assessments because they are a way to ensure that all students receive the greatest opportunities in a fast-paced technological society. Students in Texas must be prepared for life in a rapidly changing world, and with the use of these assessments, schools can maintain a check on themselves. We must be watchful of the students in order to to create productive members of society that we need them to become. Therefore, we as teachers must stay knowledgeable in every area that we expect the students to become proficient.
Strengths/Weaknesses
strengths - ready to learn, do try to use as much technology as possible in my classroom, encourage students to do computer research and projects
weaknesses - not very knowledgeable on these programs, do not understand all the technology "lingo"
Assessments:
These assessments have opened my mind as to the areas that I must address in my own education. The way these assessments were broken down made you look at the various aspects of the educational system. Things became clearer in the way technology is addressed from the state level to the LEAs. The surveys have definitely made me desire the knowledge to become more technology savvy.
I agree with these assessments because they are a way to ensure that all students receive the greatest opportunities in a fast-paced technological society. Students in Texas must be prepared for life in a rapidly changing world, and with the use of these assessments, schools can maintain a check on themselves. We must be watchful of the students in order to to create productive members of society that we need them to become. Therefore, we as teachers must stay knowledgeable in every area that we expect the students to become proficient.
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