Friday, July 30, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Week 2 Reflection
This week I have learned about the nine passions that drive principal inquiry. In all passions of inquiry an increase in student achievement always seems to be one of the main goals of outcome. The nine passions that drive inquiry consist of staff development, curriculum development, individual teachers, individual students, school community, leadership, management, school performance, and social justice.These passions are the main components that keep the school operating at the best capasity. Inquiry allows the school to continue to grow in the right direction. As I read and went through these nine passions of inquiry for principals my mind was racing as my own wonderings about my campus raced through my head. Through inquiry, problems, gaps in achievement, and growth of programs can be made. As administrators, we must all become action researchers and we must model it in a way, so that our teachers will follow in our footsteps.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
What I've Learned About Action Research
Usually the term research will send anyone and everyone running. In education although, action research is inquiry based and it is very beneficial for campuses and programs to be effective. Action research consists of reflection and action. It is driven by the needs of the campus through the eyes of the stakeholders. "Inquiring professionals seek out change and reflect on their practices by posing questions or wonderings, collect data to gain insights into their wonderings, analyzing the data along with reading relevant literature, making changes in practice based on new understandings developed during inquiry, and sharing with others." (Dana, 2009) Administrative inquiry allows principals to reflect on the campuses best practices and make changes in the areas of need. Administrators can build a campus with action research through their Professional Learning Communities and Leadership Teams. Professional learning communities can share techniques used in the classroom to teach concepts, analyze scores, and ask questions to raise achievement. Collaboration and inquiry can build a solid, effective learning environment for all stakeholders.
As a future administrator I plan to devote time in my busy day to sit down and reflect. I plan on using action research to help achieve shared visions and goals.
Works Cited
Dana,N.F (2009).Leading With Passion And Knowledge: The Principal As Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks: Corwin.
As a future administrator I plan to devote time in my busy day to sit down and reflect. I plan on using action research to help achieve shared visions and goals.
Works Cited
Dana,N.F (2009).Leading With Passion And Knowledge: The Principal As Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks: Corwin.
Educational Leaders Using Blogs
Educational leaders can use blogs as an effective way to collect data from parents, teachers or students. It opens up a line of communication that all school stakeholders can take part in. Educational leaders can also use blogs as a form of professional development for staff. Faculty can hold book studies and post their reflections and or inquiries on the blog site. Students can use blogs inside the classrooms with writing assignments and educational leaders can post feedback on the blogs as well. Blogs are an effective tool in education and can also be an effective tool in action research.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Reflection
In this course Instructional Leadership: The Technology Link has allowed me to see the importance of technology in schools and the importance to being an active leader in it as an administrator. I must be honest, before this course technology was not on the top of my list as a concern for improvement for my campus until now. As I entered this technology based class I was envisioning myself walking away with ways that a teacher and leader can incorporate digital tools into their classrooms and ways that administration can help support their staff to embrace their visions and goals. This class has aligned with what I have envisioned plus some, but in the same since, this class has left me with an uneasy feeling as I have learned of the Technology Long Range Plan for the 21st century. We are a long way from even beginning to put a dent in that plan. As I trudge forward on my quest as a future administrator the information gained in this class will also help me currently in my classroom today. It has allowed me to see the injustice I am providing my students, by not using digital tools more often in my classroom. I am currently the grade level chair and during curriculum sharing days I am asking teachers to offer ways into incorporate digital tools and technology into lessons. One avenue I would have like to see more explored was way to innovatively pull from other funds to acquire money to improve technology on campuses. Funding always seems to be a major barrier for administrators achieving technology overall visions.
During this course I was successful in carrying out the course assignments. I have never done blogging before, so it did take me a little longer to get use to the requirements of uploading documents from different programs, but I learned a lot by trial and error. The most consuming requirement from this course was the discussion forum. I understand that we were promoting communication with other members of the class while analyzing readings, but I just did not benefit from it as much as I did from the actual readings. The PowerPoint presentations allowed me to refresh my skills in the program as well as analyze very important data from the Star Chart. I have never considered myself to being even technology savvy. I have a lot to learn from my peers, students and administration.
As this course drew to an end I acknowledged the importance of technology in the classroom for the 21st century learners. I now have a clear understanding of what Texas Technology Long Range Plan is and the objectives they want to achieve. I have learned to use viable tools like the Star Chart to assess technology goals and improvements for our campus and staff development needs. Incorporating technology and digital tools into our core content areas can boost participation and engagement in classroom assignments. It is our job as educators to keep up with technology and model constant learning in that field. Technology has many avenues that can be beneficial for students ranging from distant education, radio broadcasting, to simple research. The sky is really the limit when it comes to ways we can incorporate it into lessons. We must although keep in mind that we must also teach our children the rules, ethics and procedures to protecting themselves online while staying safe.
Blogging can be very beneficial for the 21st century. It can allow members to post comments over a certain topic related to class. They can be used for book studies, projects and much more. Blogging has many positives and as well as negatives in education. One negative is that anyone can start a blog or post comments to blogs. It is hard to monitor or shall I say control what other say on them. We can teach ethical standards and internet policy, but we cannot control those who we do not have in class. Another issue that we are faced with in our district is that blogs are blocked by our network server. We are unable to access them from anywhere in the district. If we were going to implement blogs we student would have to participate with them from home. Blogging has been known as a good tool to communicate with all stakeholders of the schools, but I feel it would not be beneficial in our district. I teach in a Title 1 School and unfortunately majority of our students do not have access to internet outside of the school, so using blogs to communicate with parents and students almost seems unrealistic. Let’s face it most parents are not as technology competent as their children. They did not grow up in the digital world. To communicate more efficiently with these stakeholders I believe that text messages would be more beneficial than blogging, but even then it would not reach all parents. Is our goal to communicate efficiently with some stakeholders or with all stakeholders?
Overall this class was beneficial for me as a future administrator. I will put technology staff development at a priority for my campus. I plan to participate more on technology committees as I broaden myself with technology applications and software that can be beneficial for our children. We are now living in a digital world full of technology applications; therefore we should be preparing our children for the world that awaits them.
During this course I was successful in carrying out the course assignments. I have never done blogging before, so it did take me a little longer to get use to the requirements of uploading documents from different programs, but I learned a lot by trial and error. The most consuming requirement from this course was the discussion forum. I understand that we were promoting communication with other members of the class while analyzing readings, but I just did not benefit from it as much as I did from the actual readings. The PowerPoint presentations allowed me to refresh my skills in the program as well as analyze very important data from the Star Chart. I have never considered myself to being even technology savvy. I have a lot to learn from my peers, students and administration.
As this course drew to an end I acknowledged the importance of technology in the classroom for the 21st century learners. I now have a clear understanding of what Texas Technology Long Range Plan is and the objectives they want to achieve. I have learned to use viable tools like the Star Chart to assess technology goals and improvements for our campus and staff development needs. Incorporating technology and digital tools into our core content areas can boost participation and engagement in classroom assignments. It is our job as educators to keep up with technology and model constant learning in that field. Technology has many avenues that can be beneficial for students ranging from distant education, radio broadcasting, to simple research. The sky is really the limit when it comes to ways we can incorporate it into lessons. We must although keep in mind that we must also teach our children the rules, ethics and procedures to protecting themselves online while staying safe.
Blogging can be very beneficial for the 21st century. It can allow members to post comments over a certain topic related to class. They can be used for book studies, projects and much more. Blogging has many positives and as well as negatives in education. One negative is that anyone can start a blog or post comments to blogs. It is hard to monitor or shall I say control what other say on them. We can teach ethical standards and internet policy, but we cannot control those who we do not have in class. Another issue that we are faced with in our district is that blogs are blocked by our network server. We are unable to access them from anywhere in the district. If we were going to implement blogs we student would have to participate with them from home. Blogging has been known as a good tool to communicate with all stakeholders of the schools, but I feel it would not be beneficial in our district. I teach in a Title 1 School and unfortunately majority of our students do not have access to internet outside of the school, so using blogs to communicate with parents and students almost seems unrealistic. Let’s face it most parents are not as technology competent as their children. They did not grow up in the digital world. To communicate more efficiently with these stakeholders I believe that text messages would be more beneficial than blogging, but even then it would not reach all parents. Is our goal to communicate efficiently with some stakeholders or with all stakeholders?
Overall this class was beneficial for me as a future administrator. I will put technology staff development at a priority for my campus. I plan to participate more on technology committees as I broaden myself with technology applications and software that can be beneficial for our children. We are now living in a digital world full of technology applications; therefore we should be preparing our children for the world that awaits them.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Technology Action Plan
Technology Action Plan For Pleasanton Independent School District
Goal
Produce interactive lessons and incorporate technology into our classrooms to enhance our performance in Math and Science as indicated by the AEIS report.
Objectives
1. Teachers will use technology tools to plan, communicate, prepare, and analysis lessons. Teachers will incorporate interactive tools into classrooms and submit lesson plans weekly showing evidence.
2. Teacher will incorporate Technology Teks into scopes and framework for math and science content.
3. Teachers will increase student engagement in these content areas by incorporating technology into lessons.
4. Students will master technology proficiency through the application of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.
5. The District will raise Taks scores in Math & Science to 95% passing standard.
6. Technology management systems will be installed to measure student’s mastery.
Needs
(Based off star chart & Campus Surveys)
1. Funding for ongoing Professional Development in Technology for staff.
2. At least two working computers per classroom.
3. Funding to purchase 5 more Smart Boards per grade level – 2010-2011
2011-2012 Finish supplying all campuses with smart boards.
4. Increased instructional Support
Professional Development
1. All staff, parents and students will be training in internet safety and copyright laws.
2. All staff will participate in ongoing smart board training, online learning opportunities, and integration of technology into specific content areas.
3. Staff will evaluate staff development and how effective the training meant to them and their classroom.
4. Staff will be allowed time weekly to discuss, plan and evaluate technology being used in the classroom with fellow teachers.
Assessment
1. Review and analyze data from the Star Chart and AEIS Report to track success and progression towards meeting the goals of the Technology Long Range Plan.
2. Staff will provide detailed lesson plans on how they incorporated technology into content areas.
3. PDAS evaluations and walk throughs will need to demonstrate the use of technology.
Goal
Produce interactive lessons and incorporate technology into our classrooms to enhance our performance in Math and Science as indicated by the AEIS report.
Objectives
1. Teachers will use technology tools to plan, communicate, prepare, and analysis lessons. Teachers will incorporate interactive tools into classrooms and submit lesson plans weekly showing evidence.
2. Teacher will incorporate Technology Teks into scopes and framework for math and science content.
3. Teachers will increase student engagement in these content areas by incorporating technology into lessons.
4. Students will master technology proficiency through the application of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.
5. The District will raise Taks scores in Math & Science to 95% passing standard.
6. Technology management systems will be installed to measure student’s mastery.
Needs
(Based off star chart & Campus Surveys)
1. Funding for ongoing Professional Development in Technology for staff.
2. At least two working computers per classroom.
3. Funding to purchase 5 more Smart Boards per grade level – 2010-2011
2011-2012 Finish supplying all campuses with smart boards.
4. Increased instructional Support
Professional Development
1. All staff, parents and students will be training in internet safety and copyright laws.
2. All staff will participate in ongoing smart board training, online learning opportunities, and integration of technology into specific content areas.
3. Staff will evaluate staff development and how effective the training meant to them and their classroom.
4. Staff will be allowed time weekly to discuss, plan and evaluate technology being used in the classroom with fellow teachers.
Assessment
1. Review and analyze data from the Star Chart and AEIS Report to track success and progression towards meeting the goals of the Technology Long Range Plan.
2. Staff will provide detailed lesson plans on how they incorporated technology into content areas.
3. PDAS evaluations and walk throughs will need to demonstrate the use of technology.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Texas Star Chart Presentation
Summary of Texas Star Chart
Texas Star Chart
View more presentations from smingram.
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