Course Reflections

1.            What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned?

I was not sure what would come of this class prior to starting.  The information provided at the beginning of the course was very encouraging. I am able to understand better how it is that the students that we are getting in our C&T department are better prepare than in previous years. Through the readings, I was able to relate what my department is going through.  I now understand how the federal and state laws have pushed my department and district forward in technology.  The cooperative attitude during the course of other students and the use of web conferences was a great benefit.  The material that is brought up in these conferences makes me wonder why more students did not attend unless they were viewing the recordings. I am looking forward to my future course for several reasons: vital information of technological use of equipment available, opportunities to pass information on to students and teachers and my masters.

2.            To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not?

As the school year is about to start, I will be able to answer the question that has come up in last few years “How is it possible that the kids are so far ahead in Office Suite”. I can now address this question by explaining that the law requires the students to be able to work with this software.  I will be able to use my principal by asking him for a platform to promote the use of technology in two instances.  The creating of workshops to introduce teachers to technology that is currently available but not being used by the majority of our teachers and prepare them to have an open mind for the technology that is in the pipeline for education. The creation of blogs and wiki’s for student interaction with teachers in the same course in order to get different forms of teaching instead of just those assigned to them.

3.            What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?

I have been out of the education system as a student for a long time. It has been an ordeal to get back in gear and even thought I work with deadlines all the time this has been an experience with scheduling.  Especially starting during summer, I had plans that had to be adjusted to create the work for this course.  I have learned to adjust my time to fit my family, my work and my college course.  The lack of scheduling is one thing that I have gotten into concerning class. I understand that the deadlines in this type of courses are harder to adjust so I need to adjust in setting my priorities for the next year and half. My contribution to the cohort could have been more.  Participation in conferences was what added the most to my course work. I look forward to continue successfully  towards my masters.

4.            Were you successful in carrying out the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you?

I was successful in completing the majority of the course assignments.  I was not able to get the books in hand until the third week so some of the information discussed was unfamiliar.  Based on the conversation, I was able to put the information together so when the book did finally come everything fell into place.  There was one that I was not able to complete because of family issues that came up unexpectedly. I had to change the book I was going to read because I was not able to find it at the local library but I was able to find one on the list that was available and I did the report on that book. The samples that were provided helped in getting the light turned on in my brain. I did the readings but the first week I took a short cut in getting to the readings until I noticed that the time was being allocated to only one reading instead of to all that I had read.

5.            What did you learn from this course…about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes?

I have a better insight into what the district is doing to get both our teachers as well as both students and parents into the modern world with technological access. In the classroom I have been exposed to many forms of software that will be used in my classroom with the permission of my principal. I will expose my co-workers to the educational software out there and what is available already which they are not using.  Most EIKI have the capabilities to record presentation both visual and audio without any extra cost.  I have tried to keep up as much as possible with technology by attending TCEA conference and reading as much as possible on this theme. I try to attend workshops that are innovative and not just an excuse to get out of the classroom.  I am constantly keeping up with ways to certify students in different soft wares so that students can use these in future job interviews to give them and edge on competition.

Web Conference August 9, 2011

The conferences covered the final week and how to finish up the internship plan and the plans for the next class.  Some samples of activities were brought up.  Taking care of evaluation and thoughts of the class.

web conference August 4, 2011

The discussion was on Curriculum and internship plan.

Week Two Web Conference

The Web Conference was very informative as to what is expected from the participants.  The discussion concerning the scheduling of the courses for this cohort and expectations of completion.  There was also the pleasant surprise for a few of the class participants concerning the GRE and how it is no longer require with certain caveats.  Many a smile could be seen on the screen.  The discussion of choices of mentors for the internship period also concerns about books and Tk20 and their purpose was discussed. Information concerning having taken previous class and if they would need to retake and changes of majors and what person or department handled it.  Overall very informative and well manage both the visual and the chat section very good multitasking.

Week Three Web Conference

The conference provided more information on what could be accomplished as far as certifications once the program is completed.  Use of time concerning material that needed to be read and assignment that need to be completed.  Shortening the time dedicated to each project.  Changes in the program concerning hours that needed to be earned over the 18 months.

National Educational Technology Plan

National Educational Technology Plan

The summary breaks down to: Learning: Engage and Empower finding out and getting people to use the technology they have around them to learn and not just to look up information or latest news on celebrities.  Inform them about other uses of this technology in the education of themselves and their children.

In assessments, the use of technology for evaluating the performance of the users both teachers and students will help keep better records in order to evaluate positive or negative changes cause by implementation of technology.

Allowing access to technology to educators allows them go start using technology to create curriculum and give them the opportunity to share with coworkers.  Be able to work on school projects at any time because of the current access.

The wise use of money to improve technology infrastructure in school districts comes with responsibilities use of the most current proven technology.  The purchasing of technology so that your district can be the first one to have it creates again responsibility to insure that it is going to be use for at least a few years.   Keeping in mind that yes there are upgrades but over did the new technology improve the education situation for both the teacher and the student.

I feel that all the plans follow the same trend of thought towards technology implementation but the execution at the state and sometimes at the district level leaves a lot to be desired.  Prioritizing athletic event financial requirements over technological requirements leaves a lot to look forward to as far as change in perspective of both community and educational leaders.

powerpoint presentation

<div style="width:425px" id="__ss_8679854"> <strong style="display:block;margin:12px 0 4px"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/jorgevhogs83/technology-three-year-plan" title="Technology three year plan" target="_blank">Technology three year plan</a></strong> <iframe src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/8679854" width="425" height="355" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="padding:5px 0 12px"> View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/" target="_blank">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/jorgevhogs83" target="_blank">jorgevhogs83</a> </div> </div>

District Technology Plan

Goals and objectives developed are aligned with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and the Universal Services (E-Rate) Technology Planning Requirements. Strategies developed are aligned with the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology in the areas of Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development, Administration and SupportServices, and Infrastructure for Technology. Ms. Salomé Acevedo, Staff Development Coordinator sacevedo@lfcisd.net 956-254-5018, is in charge of staff development at present.  Staff development is set at $95,500 for the coming school year more than enough at a district this size.  Monitoring of community access as well as student access also the documentation of support by district technical support is used to see if the plan is moving forward. Yes, there is enough monies budgeted for non-discount element.  The areas that have been cut in this year’s budget are in the New Equipment and Replacement area by 400 thousand.  Some of the evaluation forms are staff surveys twice a year.  Informal interviews by committee representatives. Integration of training into the classroom by using technology in lesson planning is important.  Monitoring community access to technology resources.  Yearly inventory of technology assets.  Support and maintenance of technology documentation of support provided.

Technology Assessments

I come with a business background, of over 20 years in different disciplines and a military background.  I have spent the last 7 year observing at the district, state and federal level the use of committees and assessments of students and educators to fix what is considered a major problem.  The major problem is performance of both educators and students in general with some exceptions.  The assessments that I took did not tell me anything new that my business and military assessments had not revealed to me before.  What all current and prior assessments have done is made me aware of what I need to work on to be successful in my endeavors.  The person being assessed needs to willing first of all to admit not being perfect and second the desire to change for the sake of a successful career. Millions of dollars are spent at different levels and then the reports are ignored due to budget restraints.  The need for smaller classes has been a fact for many years and the need to have a smaller teacher student ratio has been document for years.  In the business world you have as many supervisors as needed to complete the job properly because the assessments that have been done in the past dictate the amount of people required but when it comes to teaching there are never enough teachers to keep the ratio down.   There are thousands of certified teachers that taught less than three years before they gave up.  The learning curve is wasted on a huge number of administrators.  Some administrators say “they have to pay their due with the rough classes in their first years” is counterproductive and prone to having teachers change careers. Some have learned from exit assessments others have not.  Assessments are opinions based on previous results but if the information is not used for growth then it is just a waste of time and money.

Week One Conference View

The Web Conference was very interesting, well conducted and supplied a lot of information considering it was the first one for this group.  It is interesting to see so many people involved and comfortable with the technology.  It was interesting that we have a student that is actually in another country and time zone by half a day.  Look forward to the required one next week.