Junior High - Monica Guerrero

1. How do your proposed strategies (Week 8 Step 6) meet the required standards as your Week 6 Step 4 stated?

My proposed strategies in Week 8, Step 6 were all formed based on the standards I stated in Week 6, step 4. Those standards were developed based on the needs of the campus. The needs of the campus were found through surveys, school data, and interviewing key district technology personnel. After assessing the needs, I reviewed specific standards to make sure I developed strategies based on the required National Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Teachers. “ISTE's NETS for Teachers (NETS•T) are the standards for evaluating the skills and knowledge educators need to teach, work, and learn in an increasingly connected global and digital society.” (ISTE Nets for Teachers, 2011.) the Texas StaR chart, and the state’s long range plan for technology. “Its purpose is to assist all classroom teachers in assessing needs and setting goals for the use of technology in the classroom to support student achievement.” (Texas Star Chart, 2006) Those needs were then broken into three groups: technology, management, and funding.

2. Review the reading materials in Technology domain to propose using other standards which are not adopted by your studied school. Explain why those new standards should be considered for your studied school.

The technology facilitator standards are not standards currently adopted by my school district. I’ve recently become very familiar with them, and I think they are important standards for all of our technology facilitators to meet. They provide an outline for facilitators to follow. “Schools today must meet the growing need for highly qualified educational technologists. Superintendents, principals, and cabinet-level policy makers need guidance as they create and define jobs. Educators must prepare themselves by increasing their skills and competencies.” (Williamson, 2009)

My school  has adopted and follows the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for each grade and subject area. However, I think it would be beneficial if all subject areas, not just technology classes, used the Technology Applications TEKS in their classrooms. These TEKS are designed to be implemented in any subject area. As the standards state, “Districts have the flexibility of offering technology applications(computer literacy) in a variety of settings, including a specific class or integrated into other subject areas.” (Texas Education Agency)  I feel like the more these TEKS are taught, we will see student achievement increase.

References

ISTE Nets for Teachers. 2011. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers.aspx

Texas Education Agency. Chapter 126. Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology

Applications Retrieved from http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/ch126.html#s12611

Texas Star Chart. 2006. Retrieved from http://starchart.epsilen.com/docs/TxTSC.pdf

Williamson, J. 2009. ISTE’s Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards. Retrievedfrom

http://www.iste.org/images/excerpts/TLPREP-excerpt.pdf

charter, k-12

1.    How do your proposed strategies (Week 8 Step 6) meet the required standards as your Week 6 Step 4 stated?

In Step 4, I indicated that the teachers at my school were Early Tech on the STaR chart, by my best estimate. (TEA, 2006) Even though the STaR chart is required for ISDs and charter schools alike, my charter school has not used the STaR chart.

From the surveys, I believe that some of the teachers are more advanced than that, but they do not have adequate resources to let them use their technology skills and know how in the classroom.

To advance beyond "Early Tech," the district will need to provide the physical resources necessary (digital projectors, more computers, presentation software, etc.) At the moment, the teachers on my campus would not benefit from technology training because they would be waiting on equipment to use what they have learned. Once the district is able to buy more technology resources for the classrooms, or have a computer lab with more than 8 computers, teachers would benefit from technology training. Teachers will need to be trained on incorporating technology into the classroom in a beneficial way.

The proposed strategies from Step 6 will ensure that teachers have the resources to move beyond Early Tech.

2.     Review the reading materials in Technology domain to propose using other standards which are not adopted by your studied school. Explain why those new standards should be considered for your studied school.

With the current resources, teachers are not able to meet the following ISTE NETS for Teachers indicators: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity, Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments, Model Digital-Age Work and Learning, Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility.

1.    “Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.

a. Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness

b. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources

c. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes

d. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments

2. Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS·S.

a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity

b. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress

c. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources

d. Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching

3. Model Digital Age Work and Learning

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society.

a. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations

b. Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation

c. Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats

d. Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning

Effective teachers model and apply the NETS·S as they design, implement, and assess learning experiences to engage students and improve learning; enrich professional practice; and provide positive models for students, colleagues, and the community. All teachers should meet the following standards and performance indicators.

4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices.

a. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources

b. Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources

c. Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information

d. Develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital age communication and collaboration tools” (ISTE, 2008)

Teachers at my charter school do not have the resources needed to accomplish the ISTE NETS. This must change for the benefit of the students. In the past, my charter school has been very old-fashioned, and very paper-and-pencil oriented. In order to truly prepare our students for life beyond high school (whether that is college or the work place), we need to be educating them with technology, and educating them on how to use technology effectively.

References:

ISTE (2008). ISTE NETS for Teachers Retrieved March 31, 2012, from: http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS-T_Standards.sflb.ashx

Texas Education Agency (2006). Texas Star Chart. Retrieved March 31, 2012 from: http://starchart.epsilen.com/docs/TxTSC.pdf

Junior High- Cara Moreland

1. How do your proposed strategies (Week 8 Step 6) meet the required standards as your Week 6 Step 4 stated?

Strategies for funding.

Without the funding, teachers are not able to meet the needs of students using technology, without the funding the teachers will have no technology to utilize in their instruction. The only way that the NETS for Teachers can be met, is if there is some kind of funding for the technology department. The standards that having funding will allow the school to meet are under the strategies.

Strategies from previous week:
1. Navasota ISD does have money alloted through the IMA funding, however, this is a cut from previous years and NISD must be creative on spending and where to get the funding (Gonzalez, 2012). The district does employee a grant writer for the entire district, one way to increase funding is for the technology department to become familiar with the TEA grant opportunities (http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=2147487920&menu_id=951), they can do this by checking the calendar regularly and discussing this with the grant writer (TEA Grant Resources, 2012).

2. Another way to help with funding is to encourage teachers to write grants through the NISD Education Foundation. All teachers who have been trained, any teacher can attend training, can write a grant (Russell, 2012). Teachers need to be encouraged on writing grant and offered the opportunity to have someone assist them. The technology department can set-up a time after school to allow teachers to come and receive assistance on writing their grant. This would encourage more teachers to write grants.

3. E-Rate is obviously one strategy for funding at NJHS, the Director of Technology and Communication is the one that deals with the e-rate services for the district. E-Rate is a “program to provide schools and libraries affordable access to advanced telecommunications services. This program provides discounts ranging from 20% to 90% on Telecommunications Services, Internet Access, Internal Connections, and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections to eligible schools and libraries” (TPESC).

4. Last year the school district developed a Program Standards Committee who spent time coming up with a rubric to evaluate programs bought to use in the district; the group consisted of administrators from all departments (technology, curriculum, special education, and assessment) and two teachers from each campus (Moreland, 2012). The district can save money by evaluating the programs they already have to see if they are actually being utilized for their purpose, if not cutting the funding and utilizing it in a way that is more beneficial for teachers and students. Also evaluating the programs before being bought.

STANDARDS:
2. Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress

c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.

d. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching.

(ISTE 2008)

Strategies for management plans.

Strategy:
1. One of the goals is that teachers will be able to troubleshoot. To meet this goal, the technology department will have to offer professional development for teachers on troubleshooting and set-up individual training as needed.

These strategies is would meet the following standards; allowing teachers to demonstrate fluency and resolve conflicts when they are able to fix simple technology problems.

Standard:
NETS for Teachers
3 a. “demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.”
(ISTE, 2008)

Technology Application Standard:
2.7s resolve information conflicts and validate information by accessing,
researching, and comparing data from multiple sources

(Texas State Board for Educator Certification, 2003)

Strategies:
2. Professional development will be offered twice a month for each campus during the teachers conference time or after school. One of these trainings a month will be on troubleshooting problems. The professional development will need to be focused so that it allows the teachers to be able to meet the standards set by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) NETs for Teachers. These can be found at the following website: http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008.aspx

Offering teachers professional development allows them to eventually become experts at using their technology with proficiency, if they practice and use what is taught. These strategies meet standards that require teachers to use technology.

3. Hire a second Technology Integration Specialist to assist with professional development. Due to funding this person might have to be hired as part-time or someone who teaches in the district and can do this after school (given a stipend). Eventually this would be a full time position, but to begin with it may need to start off part-time.

These strategies also meet the standards listed below. Without a second Technology Integration Specialist, teachers will not all have the opportunity to have the one-on-one time they need with the specialist, and all of the trainings each month would not be possible.

Standards:
Technology Application Standards:
Standard I. All teachers use technology-related terms, concepts, data input strategies, and ethical practices to make informed decisions about current technologies and their applications.

Standard II. All teachers identify task requirements, apply search strategies, and use current technology to efficiently acquire, analyze, and evaluate a variety of electronic information.

Standard III. All teachers use task-appropriate tools to synthesize knowledge, create and modify solutions, and evaluate results in a way that supports the work of individuals and groups in problem-solving situations.

Standard IV. All teachers communicate information in different formats and for diverse audiences.

Standard V. All teachers know how to plan, organize, deliver, and evaluate instruction for all students that incorporates the effective use of current technology for teaching and integrating the Technology Applications Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) into the curriculum.
(Texas State Board for Educator Certification, 2003)



2. Review the reading materials in Technology domain to propose using other standards which are not adopted by your studied school. Explain why those new standards should be considered for your studied school.

After a discussion with the district's Technology Integration Specialist, I feel that the district and school need to implement the Technology Facilitation Standards. These are not standards they use or are very familiar with. At the beginning of the standards it states “[e]ducational technology facilitators demonstrate an in-depth understanding of technology operations and concepts” (Technology Facilitation Standards), this gives the technology department a beginning of who should be hired and on their team, someone who has an in-depth understanding or is willing to learn. As a district each campus has a Technology Campus Specialist and the district has a technology team at the Administration office. I feel that using these standards would help the technology department have standards that they can use to hold themselves accountable and set expectations. I feel by no means that each person should have to meet each standard every year, but as a team, they could document what standards are being met and what standards they will be focusing on for the year.

References:

Gonzalez, R. NISD, NISD Director of Technology and Communication, Personal Communication, February 3, 2012.

ISTE (2007). NETS for Students. Retrieved from
http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students/nets-student-standards-2007.aspx

ISTE (2008). NETS for Teachers. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008.aspx

Moreland, J. NISD. NISD Technology Instructional Specialist. Personal Communication February 24, 2012.

Russell, J. NISD, Navasota Junior High School Principal, Personal Communication, March 8, 2012.
TPESC. E-Rate Support Center: What is E-Rate? Retrieved from http://tpesc.esc12.net/erate/default.html

TEA Grant Resources (2012). TEA Grant Resources. Retrieved from http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=2147487920&menu_id=951

TEA. Texas Planning e-Rate Support Center. Retrieved from http://tpesc.esc12.net/eplan/default.html

Technology Faciliation Standards. (2010). Retrieved from www.iste.org

Texas State Board for Educator Certification. (2003). Technology Application Standards. Retrieved from http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/sbeconline/standtest/standards/techapp.pdf

BISD, Lori Dudley

Discussion STEP 7:

1.       How do your proposed strategies (Week 8 Step 6) meet the required standards as your Week 6
           Step 4 stated?
        
          As the strategies were broken down into the following sections: Technology, Funding, and
          Management, each noted the needs assessment, with evidence to prove the need has been
          met. The use of assessment under management is most efficient due to PEIMS and observation
          along with self-assessments. However, the use of technology will vary per teacher per campus
          along with the ability. Funding is still the largest issue within BISD although the strategies are
          stated the money may or may not be available to implement the required outcome. The Long-Term
          Plan allows for schools to section out the funding meeting the need if and when available. When
          funding or equipment is not available the first year the goal will be moved down to another year.
          The alignment in comparison of the two blogs display a gap due to question wording that will need
          to be addressed during the final draft to align the strategies vs standards. Within my blog the
          formation of the objectives need to further include the strategies as research suggested in
          Week 8, Step 6.  PEIMS is a vital tool along with DMAC, RSCCC
          as far as management is concerned. E-Rate depicts the funding and technology distribution,
          which is a factor unavailable in the creation of this plan – only the research can be used as
          a directional tool.

      
          The required readings highlighted several aspects of a school that as I teacher I did not even
          know existed.By attending the technology committee meeting at BISD I became aware of the
          needs and budget issues. Technology is the way of the future and BISD is continuously working
          to meet the needs of both teacher and student. By creating a goal, strategies are needed to
          implement and carry out the desired out come. As I stated in the previous weeks the goals,
          objectives, and strategies needed outline the formation of my district
          technology plan, piece by piece connecting the total need assessment.

          Goals state the need
          Strategies state the process of meeting the need
          Objectives break down the steps to meeting each need on an individual basis
          Standards outline the requirements.

          As a small rural school the strategies and standards are within reaching distance with time and
          funding.Teachers are willing as the district moves to education the future generation.
        

                       (Utecht, J., n.d)

        

2.      Review the reading materials in Technology domain to propose using other standards which are not

         adopted by your studied school. Explain why those new standards should be considered for your

         studied school.

         Several aspects of technology are not utilized by BISD that would be beneficial to improving
         student performance and knowledge district wide. After review several of the Technology based
         reading assignment I found the follow standards that are not part of our technology plan but
         should be:

         “Digital authoring tools for creating multimedia projects and online communities for sharing them

          with the world offer students outlets for social and emotional connections with educators, peers,

         communities, and the world at large” (ED.Gov, n.d)

v  Expand opportunities for educators to have access to technology-based content, resources, and tools where and when they need them.

BISD is limited on the use of technology but the equipment that is available will enable teachers to inspire a change
in their teaching abilities to engage and promote effective rigorous learning opportunities for all students. Along
with this opportunity continuous training must occur throughout the year Also BISD must

                rethink the use of technology and expand the resources and tools available to teachers.

v  Leverage social networking technologies and platforms to create communities of practice that provide career-long personal learning opportunities for educators within and across schools, pre-service preparation and in-service educational institutions, and professional organizations.

Currently social networking is strictly prohibited at BISD for teachers and students. As a growing district
social networking could provide teachers will an addition learning tool in their own professional development.
The Online communities that are available can allow teachers to take online courses and share experiences with
other teachers and colleagues.

v  Use technology to provide all learners with online access to effective teaching and better learning opportunities and options in places where they are not otherwise available and in blended (online and offline) learning environments.

“Many education institutions, particularly those serving the most vulnerable students and those in rural areas, lack educators with competencies in reaching students with special needs and educators with content knowledge and expertise in specialized areas, including STEM” (ED. Gov, n.d). When student have access to subject content lessons online after school hours they have the ability to review and reflect on their learning experience. Through my website I have tutorial sites available, skill builders, content based games and worksheet that allow students to strengthen their understanding, however there are not many teachers in our district that provide their students this opportunity.

v  Provide pre-service and in-service educators with professional learning experiences powered by technology to increase their digital literacy and enable them to create compelling assignments for students that improve learning, assessment, and instructional practices.

“Just as technology helps us engage and motivate students to learn, technology should be used in the preparation and ongoing learning of educators to engage and motivate them in what and how they teach. This will require synthesizing core principles and adopting best practices for the use of technology in preparing educators. Technology also should be an integral component of teaching methods courses,
and field experiences rather than treated as a discrete skill distinct from pedagogical application”
 (ED. Gov, n.d).

Reference:

              Ed.Gov. (n.d) Teaching: prepare and connect. U.S department of education. Retrieved (2012, March 29)

              from http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010/teaching-prepare-and-connect
               
             

              Utecht, J. (n.d) Planning for the 21^st century technologies in schools. Creative commons

              attribution-non commercial-share alike 3.0 license. Retrieved (2012, March 30) from  

              http://www.thethinkingstick.com/files/planning-for-21st-century-technologies.pdf

    

Coulon High School

1.  How do your proposed strategies (Week 8 Step 6) meet the required standards as your Week 6 Step 4 stated?

I considered the following references when planning my school’s technology plan: SBEC standards for new teachers which are also recommended by TEA. I reviewed the results of my school’s STaR Chart results to devise a starting point for my school’s teachers and staff. I conducted a brief survey to a sample of teachers in order to measure teachers thoughts regarding the technology available at the school. Consequently, I also reviewed my district’s technology plan and devised my plan as a result of the items contained in all the aforementioned methods. My strategies meet the required state technology standards and recommendations for all teachers as follows:

First, in order to plan and implement any plan a committee dedicated to that process is needed at my school. In my plan I suggest that a Technology Committee be created and fully functional prior to attempting to execute the plan (BISD, 2010). As outlined in the Long Range Plan for Technology (TEA, 2006) I also stated that an Instructional Technology Specialist be placed at the school in order to assist teachers with implementing the plan with campus teachers. In order to see the plan through management of it is crucial and I proposed it be done in conjunction with the Technology committee, department heads and the administrative staff, PTA or at least one parent from each grade level and interested community business owners. The plan also includes methods for obtaining funding to assist in purchasing needed items or services to implement it. By applying for grants, private donations, conducting fundraisers, the campus will hopefully insure its success toward creating an up-to-date technology enriched environment.

2.  Review the reading materials in Technology domain to propose using other standards which are not adopted by your studied school. Explain why those new standards should be considered for your studied school.

The ISTE NETS standards that should be addressed are:

2. Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:
a. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of
digital environments and media.

b. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of
media and formats.

c. develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other
cultures.

d. contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems.

5 Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
   5a Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of     
        technology to improve student learning

  5d Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and
       of their school and community.

These standards coincide with the Long Range Plan for Technology (TEA, 2006) and should be included because my campus is the only Fine arts and Technology Magnet School in the district, our students need to be engaged in meaningful technology infused activities as an effort to live up to the true implications of our school’s name.


References:
Beaumont ISD, (2010). Beaumont ISD Technology Plan.

ISTE NETS, (20). ISTE NETS for Students Retrieved March 30, 2012, from: http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students/nets-student-standards-2007.aspx

ISTE NETS, (2008. ISTE NETS for Teachers Retrieved March 30, 2012, from: http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS-T_Standards.sflb.ashx

Texas Education Agency, (2010). 2010 Progress Report on the Long Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020. Retrieved February 25, 2012 from: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=2147494561&libID=2147494558