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.