EDLD 5301, Week 4 Reflection

Week 4 was the week to learn about new decision making processes. This week we read about the following: Force Field Analysis, Delphi Method, Nominal Group Technique, and the CARE model. Next, I read the responses to my Action Research Plan on the discussion board and the blog. Also, this was the week to meet with Mr. Johnnie Thornton, my site supervisor. We were unable to meet face to face, so we communicated via phone and email. I made revision to the Action Research Plan based on these communications, the readings, and the blog responses. Finally, I published my revised Action Research Plan to my blog.

EDLD 5301, Week 3 Reflections

Ok, so I was so overwhelmed with the actual design of the Action Research Plan that I forgot to blog about what I learned in week 3. My product has been posted to my blog. During week 3, our assignment was to choose what area we were going to research. Next,I read how to design the Action Research Plan. Finally, I designed the Action Research Plan and published on my blog.

Revised Action Research Plan

Action Research Plan

EDLD 5301, Week 2 Reflections

     This weeks activities focused on action research topics.  Examples were viewed through interviews and the text, Leading with passion and knowledge: the principal as action researcher by Nancy Dana.

     Considering the information given in the three interviews, I have learned that action research can be used in most situations.  It does not have to be a campus wide or district wide research study, but can be applied to most classroom settings to enable teachers to provide more relevant teaching strategies.  Also, reading and reflecting on previous studies and concerns can give insight to ways to move forward with the study, or even given a sensible, practical approach for the situation.  The last point in this reflection that I would like to make is that teachers are lifelong learners.  An administrator needs to consider data evaluation training for faculty and staff to enable them to conduct their own practical action research projects.

    The nine areas that are common targets or themes of school-based action research are: staff development, curriculum development, individual teachers, individual students, school culture/community, leadership, managment, school performance, and social justice or equity issues.  Each of the topics can be a part of action research, but also they can intertwine to cover more than one area.  All of these areas are important for continued improvement to better higher student success. 

Blogging in an Educational Setting

Educational leaders can use blogs during the action plan research to document thought process during the implementation phase of the action plan.  Fellow administrators or members of the professional community can give feedback and suggestions throughout the inquiry.

          Blogging can be used as a form of data collecting. Insights, or reflections, that are written on a blog are available for later research.  Reviewing a blog’s notations, at a later date, could give a solution to a new challenge.

          As a classroom assignment, I have used blogging to link the different class periods.  The same concept is being taught in three different time slots.  Blogging allowed me to have discussions that involved all of the classroom participants and presented many different perspectives.

Dana, N. F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge, the principal as action researcher.

     (pp. 87-89). Corwin Press

Action Research: What it is and how to use it.

According to the required readings, action research is the process of the principal engaging in a systematic, intentional study of his/her own administrative practice by posing questions, collecting data, gaining insights in their wonderings, analyzing data along with reading relevant literature, making changes in practice based on new understandings developed during inquiry, and sharing findings with others.  As I understand it, action research reminds me of the scientific process and of the decision making process.  It is a tool that can help administrators and teachers improve the specific learning environment for the community, parent involvement, and student successes along with discovering needs for professional development.

Action research organizes the chaos of challenges in the educational environment.  As an administrator, action research can be used to improve test scores, teacher performance, instructional strategies, and campus management.  Teachers can use action research to also better test scores, classroom management, parental involvement, instructional strategies, community participation/assistance, and differentiation for the student’s learning styles.  Action research helps the administrator and teacher be engaged in the process and take ownership of the results.  It provides documentation of processes used to solve the initial challenge.  Action research that focuses on improving student achievement also improves teaching. 

Dana, N. F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge, the principal as action researcher.    

     (pp. 1-19). Corwin Press
 

Harris, S., Edmonson, S., & Combs, J. (2010). Examining what we do to improve our

     schools, 8 steps from analysis to action. (pp. 5-7).

Ringler, M. (2007). Action research: An effective instructional leadership for future public school 
     leaders. AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice, 4(1), 27-51.

Course Reflections 5306 #5

Going into this course, I had inhibitions about my ability to be in a graduate program. As I worked through the assignments each week, my confidence has increased. The assessments helped me realize that I am a good candidate for this graduate program. My ability to be able to lead others is my strongest asset.

The rules, regulations, standards, and testing procedures for operating a school are very overwhelming. Hopefully as I carry out the tasks on the internship plan and principal’s competency chart, I will develop a better understanding of the system.

My technology skills and capabilities are more advanced than I had perceived them. I do have areas that I need to learn more. The assessments were very helpful in determining those areas. I am excited about the opportunity to learn more about technological systems that can help enhance course work and teachers manage the workload more efficiently.

Course Reflections 5306 #4

The course assignments could be very overwhelming. There were different sources to show the work for the week; epic, the weekly mailings, and the course website. I learned that the weekly emails were my best checklists to getting the assignments and tasks completed. Time management played a big part in completing the assignments. However, the process of dissecting each assignment helped form a strategy to complete the assignment. Next, I made a chart to help manage the date/time spent to complete the work.

The first week that assignments were due posed a challenge. The majority of the assignment/work was done. I had to take care of some business at my mother’s home in Corpus Christi. My intentions were to complete the assignment once we arrived at her home. Only I discovered once we got there, that her internet connection was not available. This posed a huge challenge in completing an online course.

Course Reflection 5306 #3

I made a decision in the beginning to read all of the readings that were assigned to each week’s assignment. I feel that if an individual took the time to select the readings, then I needed to make time to read them. Readings often give insight to different perspectives and offer resources and strategies that can be used to better a lesson. There were two weeks that I just couldn’t allocate the time to complete all of the readings. There were some life events that occurred during the time of this course. My mother had a stroke; and I experienced a kitchen fire. The time required to handle these situations took some of my designated study time. Time management is very important. I often make a time chart so that I can accomplish my goals for the day. I over planned my days and did not get everything completed on my chart. 

Course Reflections 5306 #2

The tasks that we completed in the assignments fulfilled the expected outcomes. The integration of the Web 2.0 tools and the online class discussions are great procedures to allow educators to experience. Usually an educator’s time is not spent learning how these tools work. By experience of using these tools, educators can use them to help students. The outcomes are very relevant to today’s classroom. The readings that were completed each week gave insight to ways to bring technology into the classroom and incorporate technology into the lessons. The students described in the readings and videos are the students that walk our halls and sit in our classrooms. It helps to have time to be able to read and study these topics. The end results will allow educators that opportunity to develop student focused lessons. Also, I feel this course was extremely helpful in laying the ground work of the degree program. 

Course Reflections 5306 #1

The outcomes that I envisioned for the course were to learn more about the degree plan, Education Technology Leadership; and understand the procedures for an online graduate program. Also, I wanted to learn more about Web 2.0 tools that can be used in the classroom. The opportunity to participate in discussions online was a first experience for me. I wanted to make sure that I learned how to communicate during those discussions via technology. In addition to those outcomes previously mentioned, I had hoped that I would be able to connect with professionals to help broaden my perspectives in education. I feel that these outcomes were achieved and that the actual course outcomes were definitely aligned to the outcomes that I envisioned. The integration of the Web 2.0 tools into the assignments helped understand that process. I believe that my continuation in this program will open up opportunities, present challenges, and allow for collaboration so that we can impact students’ lives. 

Web Conference: Week 5

This week's Web Conference covered the Internship Plan and the Principal's Competencies Chart.  Dr. Borel was having trouble loading up the powerpoint to allow the class to view the notes.  She made an adjustment and it began to work.  Comments were made that I did not look blurry this week.  I explained that my four year old discoved the thin protective plastic coating that was on the camera.  We discussed various activities that could be used on our charts to fulfill the criteria.  It was also discussed that these are working documents and could be altered according to our situation.  I enjoy the web conference experience.  It offers a more personal approach to the class.

Week 3: Web Conference

The Week 3 Web Conference made me overwhelmed.  First, I couldn't figure out why my view from my webcam was blurry.  Second, I had not had a chance to review the internship handbook; which made me feel very lost.  Third, being able to look ahead on what is coming for the next week is a desire, but it is very time consuming.

I solved the webcam "being blurry" problem.  I have a new computer.  The protective coating was still on the internal camera lens.  Talk about kids being sharp, my four year old looked really close and says, "Mom, what is this?," as he peels it off.  I really felt like I had a "duh" moment.

Hopefully, this next week, things will not be as busy with my mom and the remodeling of my house.  I need to delve into the material we have covered and will be covering to just get peace of mind.

Week 2: Web Conference

Week 2 Web Conference was a great example of how to use web conferencing with students. I enjoy "putting a face" to the name of the other students enrolled in the class and learning about them and their goals.  Web conferences allow the professor a set time to explain specific projects and answer questions.

 This virtual opportunity helps conserve time and energy.  Web conferencing could be used within school districts, especially larger districts.  Instead of having to set up a meeting place, make transportation arrangements, and using travel time; a web conference can help these administrators conduct the meeting and take care of the business at hand.

Also, it is beneficial to listen to the questions of others.  Most of the time, I have the same questions or hadn’t even consider the questions.  The time spent learning about and experiencing web conferencing allows the students to understand the process for activities later in our professional careers.

Week 1: Web Conference (10/5/11)

    Web Conferencing on Wednesday, October 5, 2001, marks a great day.  It allowed me to mark something off my Bucket List.  For the first time in history, I participated in a video discussion, successfully. 
     I felt success when I managed to navigate within the software.  Viewing a tutorial prior to the actual "live" conference was very helpful.  There were a few awkward moments, some lag time, and opportunities for patience.  My biggest challenge is to keep my children from interrupting this activity.  They are fascinated by this concept.

Blog Posting #3 – National Educational Technology Plan

“The National Education Technology Plan, Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology, calls for applying the advanced technologies used in our daily personal and professional lives to our entire education system to improve student learning, accelerate and scale up the adoption of effective practices, and use data and information for continuous improvement. “   U.S. Department of Education, (2010). National education technology plan 2010. Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010

There are goals of the plan focus on five essential areas.  These areas are:  Learning, Assessment, Teaching, Infrastructure, and Productivity.  Within these areas, let’s focus on the area of teaching and learning.  The learning module emphasizes the words “engage” and “empower”.  This is a passive demand for teachers to develop lessons that are student-centered and involves the use of digital tools.  These lessons should be relevant to student’s lives and meaningful.  Students will not be able to fulfill the above statement with the continued practices of the past.  In the professional world, adults are using blogs, wikis, and digital content to develop and create projects.  It is important to prepare these students for this world by teaching them using these digital tools.

Usually plans look “perfect” on paper.  In order for a written plan to be successful, those implementing the ideas need to be positive and work in a manner that will make the end result beneficial to the educational environment.  With the vast onset of digital tools, funds need to be available to purchase the required equipment for student learning.  If the funds are not available, businesses need to make the commitment to invest in the future workforce of this country by helping to make the funds available.

Blog Posting #2 – School or District Technology Plan

     Granger ISD’s School Technology Plan serves a joint campus of a high school, junior high, and elementary.  To serve these students and provide connectivity several goals were determined and strategies were development to meet these goals. Goals include ensure access and equity for all students, provide appropriate and effective professional development, ensure integration of appropriate technologies to maximize learning and teaching, provide opportunities for community and family development, and provide necessary infrastructure to support learning and administration functions.
     On campus & off campus professional development in technology is offered.  Funds area available to attend other technology trainings for administration, staff, and paraprofessionals.  The Technology Director sends emails containing information about updated technologies and webinars.
     The Technology Director assesses the infrastructure performance so that there is not a disruption of technology use during student instruction.  Also, the Technology Director budgets funds that are allocated for the purpose of supplementing outside funding.  Monitoring technology activities that are used to ensure compliance with the Technology plan is done by the Technology Director.  This individual monitors use of the computers and digital tools that are available on campus for staff and paraprofessionals.  In addition, there are assessment charts that help document the level of compliance or the new for adjustment.
      There is a definite correlation in the technology plan for it to be part of the E-Rate application.  The goal areas are also reflective of the STaR Assessments that are located on the TEA website.  Following these resources examples and guidelines allows for a solid plan that will contribute to the success of student learning.

 
Granger ISD School Technology Plan (2010)

Blog Posting #1 – Technology Assessments

          Technology assessments are snapshots of the knowledge and capabilities of teachers and students in the area of digital tools. In order to better serve the needs of each group, data is needed to give a foundation to consider the specific need.  Texas has the benefit of a technology assessment tool, Texas STaR Chart that is aligned with the Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2007.

The result of an assessment, such as the Texas Teacher STaR Chart, delivers information to make better decisions for the district.  If evaluated closely, by individual teacher, the comprehension of the digital world can be discovered.  When looking at this tool, several questions must be asked.  What was the teacher’s frame of mind when completing the assessment?  Did the teacher understand what was being assessed and how it could better his/her skills or availability of digital tools?  Do the veteran teachers understand the terminology being used in the assessment?  If the answer to these questions is an optimistic realm, than an accurate process to collect data has occurred.  However, if the answer is in the pessimistic realm uncovers itself, then better communication or attitudes need to be assessed before accurate information can be gathered.

Student technology assessment can help education in three areas:  accountability data, identify student strength & weaknesses, and discover the best digital tools for classroom teaching strategies.  An educator could benefit greatly from accurate testing results. 

The learner centered environment could become a reality for school districts with accurate results.  It should be emphasized to both groups the importance of the assessment to better the learning environment by enhancing it with digital tools.

Texas Education Agency, Instructional Materials and Educational Technology Division. (2006). The star chart. Retrieved from http://www.tea.state.tx.us/starchart