Elementary - Donzella Manuel Week 10

Design the Formative Evaluation of Technology Plan

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

The following is my updated strategies.

Strategies for Funding:

• Use State, Federal and Private grant funds to hire Technology Resource Teacher (TRT).
• Use school budget to fund technology professional development.
• The Technology Specialist will do the grant writing to on-going technology trainings and to pay for a new TRT.

Strategies for Management:

• Hire TRT to assist elementary teachers to integrate technology into the curriculum.
• The district's Master Technology Trainer will perform technology professional development.
• The Master Technology Trainer will also provide online professional development through powerpoint presentations, videos, podcast, etc.

According to the School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart, AISD elementary teachers are at the "Early Tech" level of teaching and learning. Most teachers use technology for basic skills with little or no connections with Technology Applications TEKS.  
My proposed strategies for hiring a TRT to assist teachers to effectively integrate technology into the curriculum, teachers attending on-going technology professional development, and online trainings with videos, podcast, and powerpoints presentations regarding technology will help teachers and staff meet the the required Nets for Teachers (2008).

The TRT's will help teachers meet the following Nets for Teachers:
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
2. Design and Devleop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

The teachers will help the students meet the following Nets for Students:
1. Creativity and Innovation
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making

Technology Professional Development will help teachers meet the follow Nets for Teachers: 

4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

According to the SBEC Technology Applications Standards, AISD elementary teachers meet
Standard IV. All teachers communicate information in different formats and for diverse audiences. The teachers use online games, diagrams and videos, powerpoints lessons, and read books and view worksheets with the class via the document camera/smartboard.

With the proposed strategies the elementary teachers of AISD will be able to meet the SBEC Technology Applications Standards I. - III. and Standard V.  

SBEC Technology Applications Standards VI.-XI. does not apply at the elementary level. 

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.

There is one main standard that AISD elementary schools has not adopted and I am not sure as to why the district has restricted the elementary schools from participating in virtual communication. There are great benefits of virtual communication within the classroom. Students can interchange thought, opinions, cultures etc. It support individual learning and contribute to the learning of other students, develop cultural understanding and global awareness. There are dangers associated with online communication such as instant messaging and avatars but within the classroom environment the teacher monitors the virtual communications of each student.
SBEC Technology Applications 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.
• 3.11s participate in electronic communities as a learner, initiator, and contributor;
• 3.12s complete tasks using technological collaboration such as sharing information through on-line communications;
• 3.13s use groupware, collaborative software, and productivity tools to create products;

ISTE Nets for Students
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 product original works or solve problems.

 STaR Chart. (2006). Texas Star Chart. Retrieved February 19, 2012, from http://starchart.epsilen.com/docs/TxCSC.pdt

ISTE Nets for Teachers. (2008). Retrieved March 3, 2012, from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008.pdf

ISTE Nets for Students. (2007). Retrieved March 3, 2012, from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students/nets-for-students-2007.pdf

Texas State Board of Education Certification (SBEC). (2000). Technology Applications Standards. Retrieved  from http://www.sbec.state.tx.us