William M Anderson E-Rate/STaR Chart Slide Show Presentation

William m anderson elementary school e rate s ta-r chart summaryd

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EDLD 5306 Blog Posting #3 – National Educational Technology Plan

The National Educational Technology Plan was released by the U.S. department of Education in November 2010. The plan is comprised of five goals: Learning, Assessment, Teaching, Infrastructure, and Productivity.

The plan provides a detailed model that paints a picture of what learning should look like. It emphasizes that students should be learning inside and outside of the confines of the classroom, and that technology should be used to provide students with learning experiences that are relevant and reflect the reality of their daily lives. Technology empowers students to take control of their own learning, while educators are to provide activities that meet individual goals, needs, and interests using a variety of technology tools. 

The plan states that educators are to practice connected teaching.  Connected teaching means 24/7 access to information regarding student learning.  Educators are connected to their students, to professional resources, and to analytical tools that provide insight into student learning.  As students engage in self-directed learning, educators are to become the facilitators and collaborators for their learning. Educators are expected to be involved in professional social networks that support their own learning as they attempt to enrich and strength their technological knowledge and expertise. Teachers should be given opportunities to participate in online courses and to help, collaborate, design and develop resources with other educators.

Budget funding is probably the greatest obstacle to this plan. The infrastructure of the school district will have to ensure 24/7 access for all of its students in order for the connected teaching goal to be successful. Our school buildings will need to be remodeled and updated to provide students with the latest advancements in technology equipment.  School districts will need to provide educators with extensive professional development that ensures students are being provided with individualized and differentiated instruction.

EDLD 5306 Blog Posting #2 – District Technology Plan

The Dallas ISD Technology Plan 

The Instructional Technology (IT) department of Dallas ISD managed the Title II, Part D,

Enhancing Education through Technology grant is one of the main initiatives awarded by the U.S. Department of Education for the 2009-10 school years. The grant provides funds to the district to facilitate improvements in the use and integration of technology as a part of educational delivery strategies employed by the district. The IT department applied the funding to four major program areas within the district: • Technology Integration Initiative is based on a three-year cycle where each Learning Community administrator identified the particular campuses to participate. The campuses are allocated points based on student enrollment to be spent by choosing from a menu of technology packages allowing campuses to choose the technology that best met their needs. For each technology package chosen teachers were required to attend training.• District-wide Technology Initiatives such as Dallas ISD Online a Blackboard Academic Suite software  geared to host district-specific online training applications for teachers. • Technology Fair provides a variety of workshops that targets key curriculum areas. Such as technology in: ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies and provides hands-on workshops and presentations gives teachers an opportunity to interact with their peers and learn new strategies and techniques on how to successfully integrate technology in their classrooms. • Services to Private Schools In connection with No Child Left Behind, Dallas ISD provide technical services to area private schools.

Each of these programs is carefully integrated as part of the district wide plan to prepare both teachers and students to embrace and integrate technology in the school, workplace and home. The District Technology Plan has evolved in to four interconnected educational goals. Each goal provides a solution to a specific area that, when combined, creates an environment where student achievement becomes the primary goal. The four goals are: 1) Academic, 2) Business Systems, 3) Infrastructure, and 4) Equitable Access.

Funded through Title II, Part D, Enhancing Education through Technology Education Program Budget $836,000 yearly.

Contact Ph.D. Tabiri Tabasuri 

EDLD 5306 Blog Posting #1 – Technology Assessments

As Technology develops in the 21st century digital era and world communications continues to change and evolve, there is urgency and requirements to ensure schools are assisting students become technology proficient. Developing initiatives to monitor educators' technology leadership knowledge and skills, districts and campuses can have an idea to diagnose and determine the skill level and implement solutions to meet this need. Texas assesses these skills and knowledge by using the State Technology and Readiness (STaR) chart. By using this assessment tool, campuses are evaluated in the following categories:

Key Area I Teaching and Learning: This category measures how technology is being used and implemented. Key Area II Educator Preparation & Development: Rates teachers based on their knowledge of technology and reviews continued professional development in regards to technology. Key Area III Leadership, Administration & Instructional Support: Targets administrators and leaders by rating what is being done to support educators and students in reaching their technology needs and goals. Budgeting is also part of this category. Key Area IV Infrastructure & Technology: This category reviews current equipment that is available on campus for students to use and helps determine if there is an adequate amount for each student, of equipment, school infrastructure up to date and what software and internet connections are available for student usage.

When different districts and campuses review and address each area they are able to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses and address each campus' needs to ensure student success is achieved. Effective assessment tools are a vital part of communicating with key decision makers, faculty and stakeholders what technology and professional development are needed.

EDLD 5306 Web Conference Week 2 - November 17, 2011

My First web conference

                                                 

I placed reminders about the web conference every where. It was so funny each time a looked around I will see one of my yellow sticky notes. I didn’t want to missed it or been late. When I arrived home and started making sure everything was working properly. I don’t consider my self a Technology virtuoso but I can figure my way around it. To my amazement the software used for the web conference adobe connects was very user friendly. Before the conference I was wondering how challenging the program will be but after been able to see my fellow classmates for the very first time (some look nervous like me and some look confident and at ease). I came to the conclusion that I am not alone in this journey and this is a necessary step I need to take in my professional life.

Professor Borel started the conference on time greeting the class and reminding us that she was going to press on to be able to cover everything she had on her agenda.  She covered the different requirements of the Masters program and stated critical components such as the internship, field base experiences and assignments and offered to answer any questions at the end. The conference went by pretty quickly and when it war over after getting all that information in to my system I felt overwhelmed.

As an Educator I understand the importance of the use of technology in the classroom for student learning and that we are in a very important time and place in history where you need to be technology savvy if you want your students to be successful.