As an administrator, I would ask myself the following questions to guide technology integration:
1. Is the school equipped to handle the additional technology? Technology is a wonderful thing, and needs to be used whenever possible...but if your school doesn't have the infrastructure to support the technology, it simply cannot be used. As you've already read, I went two years in my portable with no wireless Internet and a jungle of cords circulating my walls. When I moved into the school building, I noticed that I had three outlets in my room. Two of them were in a corner, one on a wall. Of course I wanted to reconfigure my room arrangement to fit the need of my students and instruction, so I ended up having to buy a 50 foot extension cord and running it through the ceiling, dropping it down in the center of the room so that it could support my projector, Elmo, and laptop. In older buildings, outlets are few and far between and technology needs power in order to work!
2. Do we have appropriate on-going professional development scheduled to train teachers to use the new technology? In order to use new technology, you must know how to operate it! When integrating technology, it is imperative that on-going professional development is scheduled so that teachers can learn how to use the technology. If the teachers aren't trained, chances are the new technology will collect dust in a closet somewhere.
3. Do we have someone that can help us troubleshoot problems? Technology is wonderful when it works, and not so great when it doesn't. It is important to have someone in the school that is knowledge about the new technology so that they can help teachers troubleshoot problems. As an administrator, I would be sure to attend trainings and do research on the new technology so that I could help answer questions and troubleshoot problems, too.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
#9- Student Choice- Honey Boo Boo
I can admit it. I am an Honey Boo Boo addict. From the first time I saw Alana on Toddlers and Tiaras I've been hooked. When the camera crew is laughing so hard that you can hear the giggles while they are filming, you know you've found gold and TLC took full advantage of exploiting the whole family.
You can think what you want about June, Sugar Bear, and the rest of the crazy family. They are definitely not the perfect parents, and allow their children to do things that make my skin crawl, but you can't say that they don't love their girls and don't spend time with them, because it is evident that they do.
Sometimes I wonder what Alana would be like as a student in my class. I've been impressed with her math skills at 6 years old. While helping her mom at Piggly Wiggly with her extreme couponing, she could quickly add money in her head. Some of my third graders can't do that. She could also figure out how many her mom could purchase of each item, impressive once again. In another episode she wrote "Welcome Home Kaitlin" with sidewalk chalk. She had neat handwriting and spelled the words correctly. She is crazy and loud, but I think she would be a hoot to laugh at all day long.
In the words of Mama June "you ride with the flow, and when its over you get off and start your next adventure." I know I can't wait until the new season to see what kinds of crazy adventures they encounter next.
You can think what you want about June, Sugar Bear, and the rest of the crazy family. They are definitely not the perfect parents, and allow their children to do things that make my skin crawl, but you can't say that they don't love their girls and don't spend time with them, because it is evident that they do.
Sometimes I wonder what Alana would be like as a student in my class. I've been impressed with her math skills at 6 years old. While helping her mom at Piggly Wiggly with her extreme couponing, she could quickly add money in her head. Some of my third graders can't do that. She could also figure out how many her mom could purchase of each item, impressive once again. In another episode she wrote "Welcome Home Kaitlin" with sidewalk chalk. She had neat handwriting and spelled the words correctly. She is crazy and loud, but I think she would be a hoot to laugh at all day long.
In the words of Mama June "you ride with the flow, and when its over you get off and start your next adventure." I know I can't wait until the new season to see what kinds of crazy adventures they encounter next.
#8- How Technology Can Affect the Learning Process
Technology is an integral part of the learning process and can be integrated at each stage. Using technology to present a lesson can address reaching the students with a variety of different learning styles. Visual learners can see the information, while auditory learners can hear the information being presented. Kinesthetic learners can be reached through using iPads and interactive elements to Smartboard presentations.
Videos and simulations can show students elements that otherwise they would never be able to see. For example, last week I taught about solubility. I found a video on YouTube that showed a grain of sugar dissolving in water. The students could see what happens when you dissolve sugar and water on an heightened level. The use of technology allowed this to happen.
Students can also use technology to master skills. Math facts can be one of the hardest things to learn, but is one of the most important concepts that students need to master to be successful. With computer programs and iPad applications, students can practice the facts using technology that they enjoy using.
Technology can also be used to show mastery. Student Response Systems are an excellent way to assess students and see what they need extra help mastering. The SRS gives immediate feedback to the students and the teacher and the students love them because they feel like they are playing a game. Students can also be assesses on mastery by creating a project using a piece of technology. The teacher will be able to see whether or not the concept is assessed, but they will also get the opportunity to teach the students to use a new piece of technology.
Videos and simulations can show students elements that otherwise they would never be able to see. For example, last week I taught about solubility. I found a video on YouTube that showed a grain of sugar dissolving in water. The students could see what happens when you dissolve sugar and water on an heightened level. The use of technology allowed this to happen.
Students can also use technology to master skills. Math facts can be one of the hardest things to learn, but is one of the most important concepts that students need to master to be successful. With computer programs and iPad applications, students can practice the facts using technology that they enjoy using.
Technology can also be used to show mastery. Student Response Systems are an excellent way to assess students and see what they need extra help mastering. The SRS gives immediate feedback to the students and the teacher and the students love them because they feel like they are playing a game. Students can also be assesses on mastery by creating a project using a piece of technology. The teacher will be able to see whether or not the concept is assessed, but they will also get the opportunity to teach the students to use a new piece of technology.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
#7- Student Choice- Portable Problems
I can never remember a time in my life when I didn't want to be a teacher. I dreamed of the day that I would be given my own group of students and my very own classroom. Each time I observed a classroom while pursuing my undergraduate degree, I took pictures of things that I loved and wanted to do in my own classroom. I couldn't wait for the day that my name would be outside a big wooden door.
I graduated college in May and had a teaching job by the first week of June. Each day I paced the floors, waiting for my classroom to be ready for me to set up and decorate. I was driving myself crazy waiting for my own set of keys to the door that opened to my teaching career.
Finally, the day came. My principal told me that I would be in a portable. I was fine with it-- I was so happy that I had a job, I would've taught in the hallway or the cafeteria if I had to. She warned me that it needed a little work, but I was beaming --how bad could it be? I walked through the school, outside the back door, and saw it. Apparently, it was a hand-me-down portable from a high school in the district, and it looked like they had treated it a little rough. Holes spanned the outside of the building, I wondered, did someone get shot in here? Mud puddled at the steps. But still, I was optimistic. Slowly I opened the door..and immediately tears streamed down my face. Tiles were missing all over the floor. The walls had huge holes. Dirt splattered the floor and the walls. I tried to get myself together so that I could measure my windows and formulate a plan to turn this place around. This was not how I imagined my first classroom to be.
Fortunately, our wonderful janitors worked for a week fixing my new home. They put up wood paneling, replaced the tiles, and cleaned all the dirt. My dad and mom helped me unload all of the shelves and storage supplies I bought for my classroom. Dad bought a load of gravel and made a walkway of large stones so that the kids wouldn't track mud in my room. Grandmother made me curtains and helped me scrub my student's desks clean. It took several weeks, and a lot of help, but I finally had a room I was proud to call mine.
Being in a portable does have its perks. You can control your own thermostat. I always enjoyed propping my door open on pretty days for some fresh air. The portable comes with no storage, so you can set it up any way you like.
I paid my dues- my portable got struck by lightening and I didn't have Internet at all for over a month. I could never pick up wireless Internet, so Ethernet cords were run all the way around the sides of the room. After a hard rain, the roof leaked....on to my new desktop computer. It ruined it. A family of cats decided to take up residence in the insulation underneath my portable. One day, two of my students came in holding a new kitten. It peed on me...twice.
After two years in my portable, I got to move inside the building. I inherited a room, like my portable, that had immense potential. With some fresh wall paint, a new room arrangement, and pretty decor, it is a room I absolutely LOVE, and that my kids love too.
I graduated college in May and had a teaching job by the first week of June. Each day I paced the floors, waiting for my classroom to be ready for me to set up and decorate. I was driving myself crazy waiting for my own set of keys to the door that opened to my teaching career.
Finally, the day came. My principal told me that I would be in a portable. I was fine with it-- I was so happy that I had a job, I would've taught in the hallway or the cafeteria if I had to. She warned me that it needed a little work, but I was beaming --how bad could it be? I walked through the school, outside the back door, and saw it. Apparently, it was a hand-me-down portable from a high school in the district, and it looked like they had treated it a little rough. Holes spanned the outside of the building, I wondered, did someone get shot in here? Mud puddled at the steps. But still, I was optimistic. Slowly I opened the door..and immediately tears streamed down my face. Tiles were missing all over the floor. The walls had huge holes. Dirt splattered the floor and the walls. I tried to get myself together so that I could measure my windows and formulate a plan to turn this place around. This was not how I imagined my first classroom to be.
Fortunately, our wonderful janitors worked for a week fixing my new home. They put up wood paneling, replaced the tiles, and cleaned all the dirt. My dad and mom helped me unload all of the shelves and storage supplies I bought for my classroom. Dad bought a load of gravel and made a walkway of large stones so that the kids wouldn't track mud in my room. Grandmother made me curtains and helped me scrub my student's desks clean. It took several weeks, and a lot of help, but I finally had a room I was proud to call mine.
Being in a portable does have its perks. You can control your own thermostat. I always enjoyed propping my door open on pretty days for some fresh air. The portable comes with no storage, so you can set it up any way you like.
I paid my dues- my portable got struck by lightening and I didn't have Internet at all for over a month. I could never pick up wireless Internet, so Ethernet cords were run all the way around the sides of the room. After a hard rain, the roof leaked....on to my new desktop computer. It ruined it. A family of cats decided to take up residence in the insulation underneath my portable. One day, two of my students came in holding a new kitten. It peed on me...twice.
After two years in my portable, I got to move inside the building. I inherited a room, like my portable, that had immense potential. With some fresh wall paint, a new room arrangement, and pretty decor, it is a room I absolutely LOVE, and that my kids love too.
#6- How Can Technology Innovations Be Sustained in Schools?
Technology is a constantly changing entity that is essential in the school setting to reach today's learners. I feel that the best way to sustain technology in our schools is to provide continuing professional development in combination with monitoring from technology coaches and administrators.
After technology is acquired at the school, it is important that professional development is administered on that piece of technology. If the teachers do not know how to use the technology, it will be kept in a closet to collect dust. The professional development should be easy to follow, provide teachers time to practice with their device, and be ongoing. It is simply not enough to have one session on a technology tool, several sessions are needed throughout the duration that the technology is being used to ensure that everyone knows how to use the technology and are using the technology. At our school, we have Technology Tuesday. Once a month, the Technology Committee provides professional development on different technological tools. This helps teachers stay up to date, provides them with a time to ask questions, and teaches them new ways to use the technology they have.
In a perfect world, each school would have a technology coach. This person would help teachers troubleshoot problems with the technology and also plan lessons with the teachers integrating the technology. The technology coach could also teach model lessons in the classrooms so that the teachers could see the technology in action. Along with the administration, the technology coach could perform walk throughs looking for technology use.
On going professional development, technology coaches, and walk throughs from administration all are things that could help a school sustain technology innovations.
After technology is acquired at the school, it is important that professional development is administered on that piece of technology. If the teachers do not know how to use the technology, it will be kept in a closet to collect dust. The professional development should be easy to follow, provide teachers time to practice with their device, and be ongoing. It is simply not enough to have one session on a technology tool, several sessions are needed throughout the duration that the technology is being used to ensure that everyone knows how to use the technology and are using the technology. At our school, we have Technology Tuesday. Once a month, the Technology Committee provides professional development on different technological tools. This helps teachers stay up to date, provides them with a time to ask questions, and teaches them new ways to use the technology they have.
In a perfect world, each school would have a technology coach. This person would help teachers troubleshoot problems with the technology and also plan lessons with the teachers integrating the technology. The technology coach could also teach model lessons in the classrooms so that the teachers could see the technology in action. Along with the administration, the technology coach could perform walk throughs looking for technology use.
On going professional development, technology coaches, and walk throughs from administration all are things that could help a school sustain technology innovations.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
#5- Student Choice- I Like Big Cokes and I Cannot Lie...
With all of the problems in our country today- poverty, unemployment, the mortgage crisis, a recession, it's amusing to me that the Mayor of New York City decided to place a ban on the sale of super sized drinks. Since when is it OK for the government to tell restaurants that the drinks they sell must be 16 ounces or smaller? Yes too many of us are overweight. Yes sugary drinks are bad for our health. I am in no way saying that our country does not have a serious problem with obesity, but my problem with this ban is that the government is telling citizens of New York City what they can and cannot buy and they should have the freedom to choose. I've never been to New York. Do they allow people to have free refills like they do in the south? If so, 16 ounces will quickly turn into 32 ounces. I'm pretty sure refills defeat the purpose of the 16 ounce cups.
Isn't it MY decision what I put into MY body? If you're going to ban sugary drinks please go ahead and ban cigarettes. Aren't they worse for your health? Drinking a sugary drink only affects MY body, where smoking a cigarette effects all of those around the smoker and their bodies. I guess the money the government makes from taxes off of the cigarettes outweighs their health risks.
I don't know about you, but I love a Route 44 Sonic Diet Coke. There's just something about that Sonic ice. If someone told me I couldn't buy one, I'd be fighting mad. I'm a teacher. I talk all day. On the weekends, I'm horse from all the shaping of young minds. Don't tell me I can't find some relief from a 20 ounce drink to soothe my tender throat so that by Monday I'll be ready to teach again. Isn't it my basic right to go to a restaurant and buy whatever size drink I want without someone else telling me I can't? What can I say? I like big drinks and I cannot lie.
This new ruling is just one more reason why I'm glad I live in Sweet Home Alabama. We may be #4 on the list of most obese states, but we have the freedom to make our own drink choices, at least for now. Let's hope that our country doesn't slide down the slippery slope of more regulations on our basic freedoms.
Isn't it MY decision what I put into MY body? If you're going to ban sugary drinks please go ahead and ban cigarettes. Aren't they worse for your health? Drinking a sugary drink only affects MY body, where smoking a cigarette effects all of those around the smoker and their bodies. I guess the money the government makes from taxes off of the cigarettes outweighs their health risks.
I don't know about you, but I love a Route 44 Sonic Diet Coke. There's just something about that Sonic ice. If someone told me I couldn't buy one, I'd be fighting mad. I'm a teacher. I talk all day. On the weekends, I'm horse from all the shaping of young minds. Don't tell me I can't find some relief from a 20 ounce drink to soothe my tender throat so that by Monday I'll be ready to teach again. Isn't it my basic right to go to a restaurant and buy whatever size drink I want without someone else telling me I can't? What can I say? I like big drinks and I cannot lie.
This new ruling is just one more reason why I'm glad I live in Sweet Home Alabama. We may be #4 on the list of most obese states, but we have the freedom to make our own drink choices, at least for now. Let's hope that our country doesn't slide down the slippery slope of more regulations on our basic freedoms.
#4~ Technology in My Classroom
I've pretty much realized in my 3 years and 2 months of teaching that students seem to be WAYYYY more engaged when a screen, remote, or video type game is being used during instruction. Kids learn differently than they used to, and its up to us as their teachers to change what we do to reach them.
I use a lot of technology in my classroom. Smartboards, Student Response Systems, and iPads are used when possible. Smartboards, when used correctly, are a wonderful tool that can reach a variety of different types of learners. They present information as well as allow for interactive elements that cannot be used with other presentation software. According to Homes (see citation below) Glover, Miller, Averis, and Door conducted a study examining fifty lessons using an interactive wipe board. Of those fifty lessons, 28% were teacher centered, 30% were considered interactive, but on a basic level, and 42% were using the interactive capabilities to their full potential. By examining this data, it should be noted that fewer than half of the teachers studied were not using the technology including interactive elements to their full potential. If interactive features are not used in the presentations, the interactive wipe board has been compared to an updated chalkboard of sorts, simply another clear area in the classroom to project information on. My goal is always to teach a lesson using many different learning styles and the Smartboard allows for that if it is used how it is intended to be used.
Want to make taking a quiz the most exciting thing ever? Easy! Type up the quiz using Student Response System Software. Not only do the kids LOVE and BEG to use the SRS, I like the fact that I don't have to grade the quiz, and the kids and the teacher get immediate feedback. At the conclusion of the quiz, I always go back through each question with my students and we discuss the answers together. If a large number of students answer the question correctly, then I know I can move on. If a large number of students miss a question, I know I need to reteach the concept. And I love the fact that my classroom erupts in cheers when they see that 100% of them answered the question correctly.
Technology also makes it easier for me to help my students build background knowledge and understand difficult concepts. Videos, simulations, virtual field trips, models, songs, and others make so many hard concepts easier to understand. Some days I don't know what I would do without Annie and Moby from Brain Pop Jr. and their easy to understand videos.
Technology is a wonderful thing! :)
I use a lot of technology in my classroom. Smartboards, Student Response Systems, and iPads are used when possible. Smartboards, when used correctly, are a wonderful tool that can reach a variety of different types of learners. They present information as well as allow for interactive elements that cannot be used with other presentation software. According to Homes (see citation below) Glover, Miller, Averis, and Door conducted a study examining fifty lessons using an interactive wipe board. Of those fifty lessons, 28% were teacher centered, 30% were considered interactive, but on a basic level, and 42% were using the interactive capabilities to their full potential. By examining this data, it should be noted that fewer than half of the teachers studied were not using the technology including interactive elements to their full potential. If interactive features are not used in the presentations, the interactive wipe board has been compared to an updated chalkboard of sorts, simply another clear area in the classroom to project information on. My goal is always to teach a lesson using many different learning styles and the Smartboard allows for that if it is used how it is intended to be used.
Want to make taking a quiz the most exciting thing ever? Easy! Type up the quiz using Student Response System Software. Not only do the kids LOVE and BEG to use the SRS, I like the fact that I don't have to grade the quiz, and the kids and the teacher get immediate feedback. At the conclusion of the quiz, I always go back through each question with my students and we discuss the answers together. If a large number of students answer the question correctly, then I know I can move on. If a large number of students miss a question, I know I need to reteach the concept. And I love the fact that my classroom erupts in cheers when they see that 100% of them answered the question correctly.
Technology also makes it easier for me to help my students build background knowledge and understand difficult concepts. Videos, simulations, virtual field trips, models, songs, and others make so many hard concepts easier to understand. Some days I don't know what I would do without Annie and Moby from Brain Pop Jr. and their easy to understand videos.
Technology is a wonderful thing! :)
Holmes, K. (2009). Planning to teach with digital tools: introducing the interactive wipeboard to pre-service secondary mathematics teachers. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 25(3), 351-365.
#3- Student Choice- The 90s
I recently saw a pin on Pinterest that said "am I the only one that when someone says 10 years ago, I think about 90s instead of 2002?" No, pin writer, you are not the only one. I ALWAYS think that 10 years ago we were still living the good life in the 90s, with boy bands, Pogs, Lisa Frank supplies, Full House, instant messenger, Oregon Trail, inflatable furniture, slap bracelets, Beanie Babies, and the Spice Girls. 
It is amazing to me how different our world is now than what it was in the 90s. Just this week I had to explain to my third graders what a phone booth was because many of them had never seen one before. Let's hope I never have to explain the point of a beeper. It is crazy to think that my 3rd graders weren't alive when September 11th happened. One of them actually acted shocked the other day when I told them I could swim and said "WHAT Miss Powers people went swimming in the 80s?" How old do these kids think I am? I feel old at 25, but seriously, not THAT old. It almost makes me sad that this generation is missing out on becoming expert note passers. At least before cell phones and texting we took the time to write out before instead of b4.
I miss the 90s. I miss my Bunny Surprise and my Easy Bake Oven. I miss watching Clueless and the fact that my Yak Bak said "whatever" and "you go girl." I miss signing Backstreet Boys on the playground with my 5th grade classmates. I miss collecting my 50 States pogs and thinking it was the best day ever when you got to play Oregon Trail and Gizmos and Gadgets in the computer lab. I even miss AIM and every one's dumb screen names (mine was Annabug12 ahaha). Mom says I have the "Peter Pan Syndrome" and that I never want to grow up. I think it's a good thing. 
For now, I'll laugh as trends of the 90s appear again. My boys at school are starting to bring Pokemon cards and now with the success of One Direction, boy bands are sure to come back. I'll listen to Journey 93.3 and belt out Spice Girls and N'SYNC in the car, I'll watch my seasons of Boys Meets World and Saved by the Bell and I'll be sure to never grow out of the things that made life in the 90s fun.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Post 2: Why Do I Want to be an Administrator?
Why do I want to be an administrator? That is a loaded question. For now, I am happy being a third grade teacher. I think learning about being an instructional leader, however, will help me be a better teacher because I can begin to understand why our administrators make the choices that they do and it will help me become a better teacher leader. I feel that I need several more years of experience in the classroom before I will be ready to manage a school.
I know that I have potential to be a great in a leadership position outside of the classroom. I am interested in school improvement as well, and I feel that this desire to improve our schools and the leadership potential I feel I possess, is the basis for my decision to be an administrator. If the opportunity presents itself, I know that I will have obtained the skills I need to manage a productive and happy school.
I know that I have potential to be a great in a leadership position outside of the classroom. I am interested in school improvement as well, and I feel that this desire to improve our schools and the leadership potential I feel I possess, is the basis for my decision to be an administrator. If the opportunity presents itself, I know that I will have obtained the skills I need to manage a productive and happy school.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Picture. Day. Yuck.
Tomorrow is picture day. As a child I dreaded picture day. My outfit was wrong, my hair was flat, a pimple appeared. As a teacher, I feel the same way, and I always have the pleasure of taking make up pictures.
Here's an original poem about it to the tune of "Oh Christmas Tree" by me!
Oh picture day, oh picture day
Why are you so horrible?
Oh picture day, oh picture day
My face looks like a gerbil.
After high school I thought I was done
But now, it seems I've just begun.
Oh picture day, oh picture day......
You make me DREAD tomorrow.
Here's an original poem about it to the tune of "Oh Christmas Tree" by me!
Oh picture day, oh picture day
Why are you so horrible?
Oh picture day, oh picture day
My face looks like a gerbil.
After high school I thought I was done
But now, it seems I've just begun.
Oh picture day, oh picture day......
You make me DREAD tomorrow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
