Someone sent me an email with some funny cartoons, and this was part of the email. I thought I'd post this as it relates to technology. I thought it was funny. I do not know the original source for the picture.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Blog Post #1- Church and Technology
Someone sent me an email with some funny cartoons, and this was part of the email. I thought I'd post this as it relates to technology. I thought it was funny. I do not know the original source for the picture.
Podcast with Graphics
After a recent trip to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, I made this podcast about the Ironman Triathlon. I could not figure out how to edit the sound quality, so that is something I still need to learn, but I thought I did pretty well with the narration and timing of the graphics.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
School or District Improvements
Blog: School or District Improvements
Our district in currently seeking to improve the ability to show growth in high-achieving students. When students are performing at a low level and intervention occurs, it is much easier to see growth and progress in their achievements than it is if the students are already high performing. Since the new trend may well be to reward districts based on individual student growth, this has moved from the back burner to the front burner.One way they are attempting to show individual growth over the school year is through the use of MAP testing. The test is administered in the beginning of the year and then again at the end of the year, and scores are compared. The test is a computerized, self-adjusting test, meaning that as the number of correct answers a student gets, the harder and higher level the questions become. Subsequently, if the student begins answering incorrectly, the questions become easier. This way, a 6th grader who may be reading at an 8th grade level, is still challenged and assessed at the level that is currently appropriate for that particular student.
One of the strengths of MAP testing is that it helps educators understand exactly where their students are performing on an individual basis and can aid in tiering lessons to be sure that instruction is optimal for all of the students. Lessons can be differentiated easily into at least three tiers using this system. The current problem for our district is that our students are already performing at a very high level and capping out the ability of the test to assess their level of understanding. In other words, a majority of our students are already in the highest tier, so showing growth will still be a challenge.
Future assessment will need to show growth in each individual student. Our district focuses a lot on technology so I can see the feasibility of using e-portfolios in the future. I chose to take these technology classes because of this focus on technology. I need to be able to keep up with the advances in technology use in education and right now I am seriously behind. Our chapter readings have gotten me very excited to start implementing some of these ideas in my own classroom. I'd like to see how the use of techniques like PBL, blogging and e-portfolios can help my students achieve their potential and to become lifelong learners as well.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Managing Assessments
One thing that my school introduced this year was the use of a program called Aware. This is an online file cabinet where I can add notes on classroom behavior, test scores, look up previous tests scores (TAKS), or enter information about tutorials. All of the administrators are able to log on and view any information anyone has entered on a particular student or group of students.
We have an online grade book that we use as well. I appreciate the ease of calculating grades, entering assignments, and the ability the parents have to access the grades online. This saves a lot of time that could be spent emailing or phoning parents regarding grades. I can email specific parents in blind copy emails all at the same time. For example, I will send an email to all parents on the day a project is assigned that includes due dates for specific parts of the project. This eliminates the "I didn't know there was a project due" syndrome. Another frequent use of the email function is notifying parents that their student may have performed unsatisfactorily on a test. I can write one email that is sent to all of those parents which saves me a lot of time.
One drawback of the online grade book is that parents often do not read the key at the bottom of the pager which tells them what specific markers are. For example, if a box is blank, it means the assignment has been assigned, but not graded. Many parents think this means that the assignment wasn't turned in even though the key clearly says that a missing assignment is marked with an "m."
One other drawback is that there is no place to write original comments. There is a list of standard comments, but often I want to say more to my parents and the grade book has no option for that.
We have an online grade book that we use as well. I appreciate the ease of calculating grades, entering assignments, and the ability the parents have to access the grades online. This saves a lot of time that could be spent emailing or phoning parents regarding grades. I can email specific parents in blind copy emails all at the same time. For example, I will send an email to all parents on the day a project is assigned that includes due dates for specific parts of the project. This eliminates the "I didn't know there was a project due" syndrome. Another frequent use of the email function is notifying parents that their student may have performed unsatisfactorily on a test. I can write one email that is sent to all of those parents which saves me a lot of time.
One drawback of the online grade book is that parents often do not read the key at the bottom of the pager which tells them what specific markers are. For example, if a box is blank, it means the assignment has been assigned, but not graded. Many parents think this means that the assignment wasn't turned in even though the key clearly says that a missing assignment is marked with an "m."
One other drawback is that there is no place to write original comments. There is a list of standard comments, but often I want to say more to my parents and the grade book has no option for that.
Blog Post #2- Blackberry Picking
I want to practice adding pictures and videos to my blog, so this is just a practice run to see if I can add a picture and video that I took last week when I went blackberry picking with some friends.
Audio File
This was one of the most frustrating assignments I have done. It took me several hours to figure out how to open this file in Audacity. As it is, I didn't edit it at all as I thought it sounded fine. Now I am attempting to link the audio file to my blog. So wish me luck.
So here, I've created a video that incorporates the audio clip, because I couldn't figure out any other way to link it to my blog. I have a lot to learn.
So here, I've created a video that incorporates the audio clip, because I couldn't figure out any other way to link it to my blog. I have a lot to learn.
Audio and Animation
I am getting ready to try my hand at the audio. The animation took some time for me to do, but I think that's because I wanted to try something new. I still haven't perfected my animation to exactly how I want it, but I have used PowerPoint a number of times and feel like I have a good handle on that aspect of the assignment.
The next part will be more of a challenge. I've added music before, but I'd like to narrate my animation. I do not have a microphone, so I am going to record my voice using my iPhone, and them email the recording to myself. (to be completely honest, that was my son's suggestion) Hopefully this will work. I think it would be helpful to make these short animations to explain what is happening in some of the cycles I have to teach. I usually draw each cycle as I explain it, but if I could have the cycles already drawn and animated, it might be less distracting for the students rather than waiting for me to draw something first and then explain. I can see how this would keep my kids more focused.
The next part will be more of a challenge. I've added music before, but I'd like to narrate my animation. I do not have a microphone, so I am going to record my voice using my iPhone, and them email the recording to myself. (to be completely honest, that was my son's suggestion) Hopefully this will work. I think it would be helpful to make these short animations to explain what is happening in some of the cycles I have to teach. I usually draw each cycle as I explain it, but if I could have the cycles already drawn and animated, it might be less distracting for the students rather than waiting for me to draw something first and then explain. I can see how this would keep my kids more focused.
District Data Strategies
I tend to compartmentalize my duties as a teacher and district security is not one duty I spend my time thinking about because we have two technology gurus in the building who are in charge of things like this. Each teacher has his/her own computer in the classroom and can save things to the C drive of their particular computers, though the district would prefer that we save things to the H drive on the main district server as it is more secure. The only way to access the H drive is to provide a specific user name and password to get into the system. If there are items on the C drive, anyone can access them by using that specific computer and therefore it's not as secure.
All students and teachers have their own user names and passwords to log into district computers. In the past, the students were assigned student IDs to use as their passwords, however for the first time this year, students have the ability to change their passwords. This is a good thing from a security standpoint, but I find that each time students change their passwords, they forget to write down the new password, and then can't remember how to log in when the time comes.
We are increasingly going paperless at our school and storing more documents on the computer or specific web sites to which our district subscribes. This is helpful because I am able to access student records without having to remember where I put a particular folder. It will always be in the same place.
Our district is moving away from using the social security number as identification and has given each teacher an employee number. I think this is a good thing and will help avoid identity theft.
Teachers have specific drives that have been set aside for different purposes. We have drives for video storage, flip chart storage and personal storage.
My main challenge is remembering all of the different passwords for all of the different web sites and subscriptions. Many of these are assigned by the administrators, and teachers do not get to choose their passwords. This avoids anyone from guessing what the passwords can be, but can be hard to remember all of the different codes. I have a password protected application on my iPhone that I have recently started storing all of my different passwords, but it would be great to only have to keep up with one.
Each teacher has a web page that is accessible to anyone who wants to view it. I post student pictures and student work on my web page, so I must be very careful to remove names from work and word captions carefully. My district in is the process of password protecting all of the web pages, so this is something that I soon won't have to worry about as much.
In the past year, we have had students hack into our system twice, so I know the district is carefully revamping our security protocols. While we want to be on the cutting edge of technology and offer our students access to all the Internet has to offer, at the same time, they are working to keep student records safe and private documents private. We have a Deep Nine subscription that blocks questionable sites from being accessed at school.
Many of the problems I see happening is due to Operator Ignorance. You hear all the time, do not open an email if you're not sure whom it is from, and yet we still have teachers that fall for it all the time. We had three viruses attack the system this year because teachers did not heed the aforementioned warning. Sometimes I get frustrated by the lack of common sense in some teachers. I don't feel I know enough about data management to really make feasible recommendations. I leave that to the experts and do what I'm told.
If you're still reading this, good for you. If you're not, I don't blame you!
All students and teachers have their own user names and passwords to log into district computers. In the past, the students were assigned student IDs to use as their passwords, however for the first time this year, students have the ability to change their passwords. This is a good thing from a security standpoint, but I find that each time students change their passwords, they forget to write down the new password, and then can't remember how to log in when the time comes.
We are increasingly going paperless at our school and storing more documents on the computer or specific web sites to which our district subscribes. This is helpful because I am able to access student records without having to remember where I put a particular folder. It will always be in the same place.
Our district is moving away from using the social security number as identification and has given each teacher an employee number. I think this is a good thing and will help avoid identity theft.
Teachers have specific drives that have been set aside for different purposes. We have drives for video storage, flip chart storage and personal storage.
My main challenge is remembering all of the different passwords for all of the different web sites and subscriptions. Many of these are assigned by the administrators, and teachers do not get to choose their passwords. This avoids anyone from guessing what the passwords can be, but can be hard to remember all of the different codes. I have a password protected application on my iPhone that I have recently started storing all of my different passwords, but it would be great to only have to keep up with one.
Each teacher has a web page that is accessible to anyone who wants to view it. I post student pictures and student work on my web page, so I must be very careful to remove names from work and word captions carefully. My district in is the process of password protecting all of the web pages, so this is something that I soon won't have to worry about as much.
In the past year, we have had students hack into our system twice, so I know the district is carefully revamping our security protocols. While we want to be on the cutting edge of technology and offer our students access to all the Internet has to offer, at the same time, they are working to keep student records safe and private documents private. We have a Deep Nine subscription that blocks questionable sites from being accessed at school.
Many of the problems I see happening is due to Operator Ignorance. You hear all the time, do not open an email if you're not sure whom it is from, and yet we still have teachers that fall for it all the time. We had three viruses attack the system this year because teachers did not heed the aforementioned warning. Sometimes I get frustrated by the lack of common sense in some teachers. I don't feel I know enough about data management to really make feasible recommendations. I leave that to the experts and do what I'm told.
If you're still reading this, good for you. If you're not, I don't blame you!
Lesson Accelerators
As with all technology, there is the good, the bad and the ugly, and today I feel the UGLY! I am so frustrated. I joined Atomic Learning, and I have tried all sorts of different ways to access the material I'm supposed to be reviewing/learning for my two technology classes this summer, however, either the links aren't working, or I'm denied access to the material. For example, I clicked on the link to show me the list of all the lesson accelerators found on Atomic Learning, and lo and behold, the link is no good. Got an error message.
I moved onto Module 3 and accessed the tutorials for Searching the Web. Sad thing, I could only watch the first two tutorials. All others have denied access. I need more than a "try and see if you like Atomic Learning" subscription, since my subscription doesn't appear to allow me access to the very material I am supposed to be learning. Is anyone else experiencing this frustration?
I moved onto Module 3 and accessed the tutorials for Searching the Web. Sad thing, I could only watch the first two tutorials. All others have denied access. I need more than a "try and see if you like Atomic Learning" subscription, since my subscription doesn't appear to allow me access to the very material I am supposed to be learning. Is anyone else experiencing this frustration?
Monday, June 14, 2010
The Beef on Assessments
I teach only science to 5th graders. In the late fall, the students take a science benchmark test which is the most recent released TAKS test.This is the only benchmark we give in science, though I am under the impression that every subject area has a benchmark test.
Currently our school does not use portfolios. I could easily implement this in my classroom though, since I do not let the students throw anything away. At the end of each unit, I have the students clean out their folders. We make folders out of manila paper, and I keep these stored all year until open house. At open house, the parents have at lease 4 units of work that they can look through to see what we have been doing in science.
Project-based learning is beginning to happen more each year in the science department. One of the most favorite activities we do in my class is during our unit on electricity. The students demonstrate their knowledge of circuits, batteries, and wires by building houses and wiring them with lights and switches. This project takes about three weeks to complete. A few days before winter break we set up all of the houses in the hall, make street signs and have a complete town. Then we send out invitations to parents to come to our "Parade of Homes." Some children do commercial places like stores and movie theaters while others make residential homes.
Part of the reason I am taking this class is to learn how to use technology to assess. I occasionally use activotes but I use these more for review than to actually assess their learning. I look forward to learning different ways I can assess students using technology.
Our school subscribes to learning.com and this is the only curriculum I know if that our school has to teach students about technology. The administrators broke down all of the learning strands and assigned them to the different core classes. I found that this year, no one on my team directly taught any of the kids their assigned technology strands. I plan to implement this in my lessons in the upcoming year since my team is reluctant to embrace technology. At 45, I am the youngest on my team and the most willing to try new things.
A personal goal I have is to rewrite the major unit tests that my department gives. When I started teaching here 4 years ago, I was handed the curriculum, and being the new kid on the block, I questioned nothing and did what I was told. Each year my department does a fabulous job of tweaking the curriculum to dispose of ineffective lessons and adding new lessons and ideas, but we've never changed the tests. As the years have passed, and as I have learned more through my masters program, I can better understand just how poorly these tests are written.
I'd like to recreate these tests and add more performance assessments to the curriculum.
A second goal is to see my school make better use of the MAP testing that we spend so much time on. The program can only be effective if we utilize the information we obtain from it. I'd like to have more time to review the results, see where my students are, and create differentiated lesson plans for my students so that I can be a more effective teacher.
My third goal is to learn more about how I can integrate technology into my classroom on a more consistent basis and to learn how to use technology for assessment. I love using technology, but I do not have a creative bone in my body when it comes to integrating into my lessons and assessments.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Welcome to Summer School!!
You've probably stumbled across this blog because you're involved in the MTT program at SMU! I hope you enjoy it. More later...
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