Saturday, December 14, 2013
11 - 3 Module Project: QR Code Poster
Attached is my QR Code Poster. My QR Poster is located on my Module 11 Wikispace.
11 - 1 Module: Reflection
Reflect upon the need to be constantly updating and perfecting the technology integration craft. Be sure to include enduring understandings gained from this course. Use specific examples to illustrate. Compare and contrast your response to those of your classmates. This is a reflection and connections should be made from your past 10 weeks of learning.
As I have completed this course I have expanded my knowledge and understanding of how to better integrate technology into my own classroom. I have learned additional skills and resources that I will be ale to integrate into my own classroom that can provide unique and engaging learning opportunities for my students. I have also expanded my knowledge and comprehension of how to conduct and create a teacher training and professional development experience. Within my district, the administration and teachers have asked for my input or guidance towards creating a professional development experience. I feel I have gained skills, knowledge and resources due to this class that would help me guide and create a beneficial professional development learning experience.
I was also able to gain a better understanding of the NETS teacher and administrator standards. As a computer teacher, my focus has always been to ensure that students were fulfilling the NETS students standards; however, within my district focusing on the teacher and administrator standards has not been focused on. After completing this course, I could comfortably explain why my district needs to assess and guide teachers and administrators towards fulfilling these standards. Simply having our students proficient in the NETS standards is not enough. Teachers and administrators need to demonstrate their particular NETs skills has well to continue to teach digital fluency and comprehension.
As I have completed this course I have expanded my knowledge and understanding of how to better integrate technology into my own classroom. I have learned additional skills and resources that I will be ale to integrate into my own classroom that can provide unique and engaging learning opportunities for my students. I have also expanded my knowledge and comprehension of how to conduct and create a teacher training and professional development experience. Within my district, the administration and teachers have asked for my input or guidance towards creating a professional development experience. I feel I have gained skills, knowledge and resources due to this class that would help me guide and create a beneficial professional development learning experience.
I was also able to gain a better understanding of the NETS teacher and administrator standards. As a computer teacher, my focus has always been to ensure that students were fulfilling the NETS students standards; however, within my district focusing on the teacher and administrator standards has not been focused on. After completing this course, I could comfortably explain why my district needs to assess and guide teachers and administrators towards fulfilling these standards. Simply having our students proficient in the NETS standards is not enough. Teachers and administrators need to demonstrate their particular NETs skills has well to continue to teach digital fluency and comprehension.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
10 - 1 Discussion: Measuring NETS Competencies
Review NETS-T and NETS-A. In your original post, describe how we will know if teachers and administrators are meeting these competencies. At the end of your post, pose one hypothetical situation in which one or more of these groups may be working toward one of the NETS. Be sure to provide enough context so that your classmates can respond to the hypothetical with potential methods for measuring the competency or competencies. Respond to your classmates' hypotheticals with potential methods for measuring NETS.
To hold teachers and administrators to the NETS-T and NETS-A standards is challenging for any school or district. To formally assess teachers and administrators on these standards, a formal evaluation and procedure would have to be in place. This would also require a school or district to implement a formal procedure, and designate someone to evaluate the designated administrator or teacher. Some districts may find it easier to informally evaluate the teachers and administration, or to only evaluate a few teachers and administrators to gauge the progress of the district by only evaluating a portion. Each implementation and procedure for how to assess the NETS-T and NETS-A should vary depending on the district, the districts need and resources they have available.
At the beginning stages of evaluating the NETS standards for teachers and administrators the district should take an inventory of the standards that they are currently meeting, and discuss how the district can meet the remaining standards in the future. At this time, creating a committee may be the most successful option to create, evaluate and discuss how the district can complete and evaluate the NETS-T and NETS-A standards. A committee, made up of administration, staff, a school board member and possibility a parent representative, should than assess how the remaining standards will be met. The district should set goals on how to meet the standards, and also when the district hopes to fulfill the expectation. Using a SMART Goals planning process may allow the committee to outline their goals, expectations and a reasonable time frame. The committee should keep in mind that setting realistic goals that can be accomplished to the best of their ability is better for the district than setting unrealistic goals that cannot be fulfilled. A committee should also be responsible for creating rubrics that teachers can use to self assess their progress.
A less formal procedure than completing teacher and administrative evaluations, could be to have teachers and administration complete surveys on their progress. This would allow administrators to informally access how they are meeting the standards, and what they are doing within their classroom. Another option could be to require or give teachers the options to include some or all of these standards within their professional development plan. A district goal could be to complete and master all of these standards, thus requiring teachers to implement some or all of these standards into their professional practice and their development goals. Adding these goals into their professional development plan would also require teachers to provide examples of how they are completing these standards and obtain additional training in how to better meet these standards. This would allow administrators opportunities to provide training, which is also one of their standards (http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/nets-a-standards.pdf?sfvrsn=2).
To hold teachers and administrators to the NETS-T and NETS-A standards is challenging for any school or district. To formally assess teachers and administrators on these standards, a formal evaluation and procedure would have to be in place. This would also require a school or district to implement a formal procedure, and designate someone to evaluate the designated administrator or teacher. Some districts may find it easier to informally evaluate the teachers and administration, or to only evaluate a few teachers and administrators to gauge the progress of the district by only evaluating a portion. Each implementation and procedure for how to assess the NETS-T and NETS-A should vary depending on the district, the districts need and resources they have available.
At the beginning stages of evaluating the NETS standards for teachers and administrators the district should take an inventory of the standards that they are currently meeting, and discuss how the district can meet the remaining standards in the future. At this time, creating a committee may be the most successful option to create, evaluate and discuss how the district can complete and evaluate the NETS-T and NETS-A standards. A committee, made up of administration, staff, a school board member and possibility a parent representative, should than assess how the remaining standards will be met. The district should set goals on how to meet the standards, and also when the district hopes to fulfill the expectation. Using a SMART Goals planning process may allow the committee to outline their goals, expectations and a reasonable time frame. The committee should keep in mind that setting realistic goals that can be accomplished to the best of their ability is better for the district than setting unrealistic goals that cannot be fulfilled. A committee should also be responsible for creating rubrics that teachers can use to self assess their progress.
A less formal procedure than completing teacher and administrative evaluations, could be to have teachers and administration complete surveys on their progress. This would allow administrators to informally access how they are meeting the standards, and what they are doing within their classroom. Another option could be to require or give teachers the options to include some or all of these standards within their professional development plan. A district goal could be to complete and master all of these standards, thus requiring teachers to implement some or all of these standards into their professional practice and their development goals. Adding these goals into their professional development plan would also require teachers to provide examples of how they are completing these standards and obtain additional training in how to better meet these standards. This would allow administrators opportunities to provide training, which is also one of their standards (http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/nets-a-standards.pdf?sfvrsn=2).
Hypothetical Situation
On Professional Development days the technology department and school administrator should work together to create professional development activities that focus on helping teachers better implement technology into their classroom. Providing teachers with learning opportunities on how to use technology can help teachers become more comfortable when using technology. If teachers are not comfortable using technology outside of the classroom, they are going to be less likely to use technology within the classroom.
A great opportunity for helping teachers become more comfortable using technology could be to provide teachers with Google training. This is especially beneficial if the school has interest or goals towards becoming a Google School. Teachers can use resources they learn about Google to create and enhance lessons. Google can be used to create presentations, spreadsheets, websites, discussions and much more. The advantage of using Google is that multiple resources have a similar look and layout. Buttons and menu bars are also familiar, thus allowing teachers to become more comfortable with one interface.
For those teachers who may already be familiar with particular resources, administrator should work on providing advanced workshop options. This would allow teachers to enhance their knowledge, thus their classroom resources and learning opportunities. Additional resources could include providing training on Diigo, Virtual Museums and Field Trips, Glogster, Edmodo, Flubaroo, or other web 2.0 tools that can enhance a variety of content areas. Also working with teachers to create Digital Portfolios for professional development could provide an additional learning opportunity.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
9 – 2 Discussion: Sample Virtual Course
9 – 2 Discussion: Sample Virtual
Course
Try
a sample course or see a demonstration of how the materials are delivered to
students through either VHS
or VLACS.
Preview the course selections for your state and an adjoining state. As you are
navigating, consider the following: What are the policies for the virtual
school regarding accepting students from other states? Do the virtual schools
work with local schools? Can students be part-time students? In your initial
post, share your thoughts on how you could use these schools for supplemental
education and for providing extended learning opportunities for students. Use
specific examples to illustrate. Compare and contrast your proposals with those
of your classmates. Be sure to use logic and evidence to critique and defend.
The virtual learning environment that I
looked into was VHS, The Virtual High School. This school has partnership and
agreements with specific schools in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and
other schools throughout the country. VHS has a partnership with certain
schools that offer the courses, and guarantee student credits. The partnership
agreement is made up large and small schools, regardless of their location.
Schools that can participate can range from public, charter, independent and
faith-based schools; as well as, home based and international. Schools that do not participate in the
partnership agreement can allow students to take courses and the school is able
to determine credit recovery and eligibility. Students who are currently
enrolled in a school within the partnership agreement schools can take courses
at no extra charge as part of the schools annual membership. For individual
students seeking to take a course, the cost is $450 per course.
Students do not have the option of
enrolling in VHS fulltime. VHS credit is issued and determined by member
schools, not by VHS. The institution offers courses, which are used to
supplement learning at another institution; charter, public, private, homeschool
etc. VHS does not have the ability to issue diplomas. The maximum number of
courses that students can take per term is three classes (http://thevhscollaborative.org/resources/faq#how_many_vhs_courses_can_a_student_enroll_in_per_semester).
Special circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis, and exceptions
can be allowed.
All teachers chosen to teach VHS courses must
meet specific qualifications and complete online training. The purpose of
online training is to qualify and educate teachers to teach in a global
classroom. Teachers must be aware of their student population, which has the
potential to be anywhere in the United States or any age. Training and
requirements also specify that students must understand and know how to use 21st
century skills. Teachers must know and understand the materials and Web 2.0
tools that are used to assist in educating students, and communicating with
students. All courses are preconfigured and created to meet VHS standards and
requirements. Courses that are available range from Academic Writing, Advanced
English Literature Honors, Algebra II, American Popular Music, Anatomy and
Physiology,
AP Computer Science and more
(https://my.vhslearning.org/PublicStudentCourseList.aspx?program=Middle%20School).
Course topics include anything from Computer Science, to Calculus, and diverse
foreign language courses, offering all course options that a diverse large high
school would be capable of offering.
References
Pape, L. (2010). Blended teaching
and learning. The Education Digest, 76(2), 22-27. Retrieved from
http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/763161014?accountid=3783
9 – 1 Discussion: Educational Value of Virtual Schools
9 – 1 Discussion: Educational
Value of Virtual Schools
After
reviewing the materials in the Module Resources folder, present a viewpoint on
the educational value of virtual schools. From a pedagogical perspective, is
there anything inherently flawed or advantageous to virtual learning? Why or
why not? Provide specific examples to illustrate. Compare and contrast your
views with those of your classmates. Be sure to use logic and evidence to
critique and defend.
Virtual classrooms and schools
can cause an endless debate between teachers, students, administrators,
parents, and even politicians. The idea of a virtual school may seem flawless
in theory, however, if implemented poorly significant money, time and education
can be wasted. Most people involved of affected have thoughts or opinions on
benefits and disadvantages of a virtual school. The debate for or against
virtual schools can be difficult because each student has a unique learning
style, academic, social, emotion and physical needs. Regardless of an
individuals view on virtual schools or classes, there will most likely always
be an exception, situation or scenario that causes an individual to question
their viewpoint.
Virtual schools are largely
beneficial for schools to offer to students to supplement or enhance the
schools current course offerings. Many schools do not have the funds, time, or
teachers to offer an expansive variety of classes. Incorporating a virtual
school into a traditional school, can allow a school to reach the academic
needs of all students. This environment would allow struggling students the
opportunity to learn at their own pace, or retake a course at a time when the
school is not offering it. This can also allow schools to offer students
advanced classes the school does not have the ability to offer. An advantage of
offering online classes while at a traditional school is that schools can
arrange for their physical teachers to help and assist students who may need
additional assistance with the online material.
Virtual schools can also be
appealing to students who may require complex schedules, or have scheduling
issues (http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/docview/1237824338).
Virtual schools often take a more relaxed approach pertaining to the time
during a day that students have to be active within the classroom, or the
location that a student needs to be. This could be appealing for students who
may not physically be able to get to a school. This could apply to a student
with a medical condition, or limitations that would cause a student to miss
school for an extended period of time.
A major debate about virtual
schools is what age group these schools should be targeted toward. Although a
high school student or some middle school students may be able to navigate an
online course, this does not mean younger elementary, or any elementary aged
student has the computer knowledge to operate an online course. There is also
reason to debate if this learning style would be the most beneficial for young
students who are newly being introduced to skills, concepts, theories and
ideas.
A disadvantage of using a
virtual classroom instead of a traditional brick and mortar schools is virtual
learning opportunities only apply to students with the existing technology and
resources. All students enrolled in these courses or schools must have access
to a computer, as well as, have Internet access. If a student does not have
these resources, the course requirements cannot be completed. If a student were
taking an online course will attending a traditional school, the school could
help provide technology and course requirements.
From a financial point of
view, the cost to run and attend a virtual school is appealing. There is no
overhead costs for actually having a physical classroom, that requires heat and
maintenance to upkeep. This can allow a school or educational institution to
use funds for additional virtual resources, or the most recent versions of
textbooks and course materials.
A virtual learning environment
depends upon the student’s academic, emotional and physical needs. As in a
traditional classroom, each student’s learning styles can vastly affect the student’s
success and progress within the classroom. Allowing students to utilize their
skills and knowledge in a classroom that best fits their needs and preferences
is the most important goal in education. As educators, administrators, teachers
and parents the common educational goal is helping students to be successful
within whatever learning environment best fits their educational preferences
and learning styles.
References
Moe, T., Cuban, L., & Chubb, J.
(2009). Virtual schools. Education Next, 9(1) Retrieved from
http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1237824338?accountid=3783
Peterson, P. E. (2009). Virtual
school succeeds. Education Next, 9(3) Retrieved from
http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1237824353?accountid=3783
Sunday, November 17, 2013
8 – 1 Discussion Debriefing: Class Wiki
8 – 1 Discussion Debriefing: Class
Wiki
In
this week's class wiki, you had to collaborate with your classmates to present the
benefits of both sides of the library debate.
Regardless
of the type of library that a school uses, a virtual library, or a traditional
library, the main goals of the library should still be to help prepare and
enhance student learning for the 21st century. A library should act
as the center of the school; place where students can go to gain additional
knowledge, as well as, skills and resources to better their life, academic
comprehension and understanding.
Using
a virtual library allows students to be prepared and capable of 21st
century researching and learning expectations. Although students will not have
the opportunity to learn to utilize books in a tangible sense, students still
have the ability to familiarize themselves with books through the use of
electronic books and e-readers. When using virtual books, students are still
able to see the connection between the different formats, while being able to
alter the appearance of the resource. Using a virtual library also allows
students to use library space to increase collaboration, and use librarians to
their full potential. Teaching students to gather books and physically search
for information is becoming outdated; therefore, using a librarian to teach
students how to research and use databases is a greater skill for today’s
learners.
The
disadvantage of using a virtual library is the lack of access for all students.
Although a virtual library can be accessed remotely from the classroom, home or
even on a student’s cell phone, this is not a benefit if students’ do not have
Internet access or any electronic devices. By making the choice to become a
virtual library, schools need to access and evaluate how to provide all
students with equal access. This could be extending school library hours, working
with the local public library to make sure their staff can support and assist
or loaning students electronic devices to use within the classroom or while at
home.
When
deciding if a school should switch to a virtual library the most important
aspect to analyze would be the schools existing resources, and funds could
support a virtual library. The advantages to implement a virtual library can
outweigh the advantages of a traditional library, depending upon each school
and their district. Some schools may not have the funds to support electronic
devices, or the time, money and manpower to scan in existing resources. To
switch to a virtual library may decrease costs in the long run, however, during
the initial implementation process a lot of time, money and effort would be
used. The focus of any school library should be to increase student learning by
helping teach students and teachers skills and resources to better enforce
student comprehension.
8
– 3: Module Project
Prezi
URL: http://prezi.com/talihgxrltng/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
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