EDLD+5306

=Concepts of Educational Technology=





[|Technology Assessments]
Assessment is not the culmination of the learning process but it acts as a milestone in a long journey of growth and development. Accessing educators’ technology leadership knowledge and skills gives technology leaders and administrators the ability to direct where the next step should be. The Texas Campus STaR Chart is one such assessment tool that provides a framework for technology leaders and stakeholders to put together a plan for a campus to make improvements and develop technology skills. Without such tools technology leaders could not plan professional development that would maximize the benefits of training for teachers. On the downside, self-assessments such as this one can have misleading results. Some teachers might feel, for example, the need to inflate their scores so as to not be looked down upon for lack of skills. Students must also be tested to know where they are in their journey of technology integration. The Texas Technology Applications Standards have put forth guidelines that are tested in 8th grade to determine technology literacy. Without high stakes testing schools may not find the urgency to insure that all students are getting the inclusion to technology they so desperately need to compete in the high-tech world of tomorrow. Testing gives important feedback to the teacher, the school and the student. In a perfect world accessing the student’s knowledge of technology would provide him with what he needs to improve upon his skills but most students only look at it as one more test in a world of tests. REFERENCES: Texas Star Chart ([|http://starchart.esc12.net]) Texas Technology Application Standards: ( [|http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/ch126.html#s1261] )







[|EDLD Course Reflections]
As I enrolled in EDLD 5306 Concept of Educational Technology, I envisioned learning information that would help me become more knowledgeable about the technology I was using in my classroom. I felt like I was prepared for the course because I teach at a school that already uses advanced technology on a daily basis. I wasn’t really sure about what I was going to be learning or even the format in which it would be taught. The course immediately dove straight into explanations of STaR Charts, Long-Range Technology Planning and E-Rate, which I didn’t really have a lot of knowledge about. I was surprised at how much I was able to understand about these documents which had always seemed confusing to me. I learned how to create a wiki and a blog, and really enjoyed it. Every week was filled with multiple assignments that contained valuable professional development material that I can foresee sharing with the teachers during in-service training days. This course has been very informative and taught me more that I had imagined in just five short weeks. The information that I learned in EDLD 5306 really got me excited about all the things I could use in my science classroom. My students each have their own computers and I thought I was doing a great job integrating technology but now I have found new tool that I can use. Each week we used new tool in the class and each week I integrated something new for my students. I just couldn’t wait to share my new knowledge. My students loved when we made Wordles for their catastrophic event projects. The only thing that I really felt like I had trouble with over the past 5 weeks was editing my wiki. For some reason I found it very cumbersome to add documents directly to the wiki pages. I’m not sure still whether it was a problem with my computer or the fact that I just need to sharpen my skills. I loved putting the Wiki together and how it is set. I think this will be a great tool to share with my students and even my colleagues. I will be doing my internship project on wikis in the classroom because I feel it is such an important tool for collaboration. I have this planned for early fall so I have time to work out any bugs that I have stumbled over so far. I love to teach but I really loved getting to be the student again. Completing each course assignment took hard work and dedication. It was important for me to set aside several hours every night and many hours on the weekend to read, understand and complete each assignment. While this course was time consuming and sometimes a challenge as a mom of a small child, I can already see the results in my class from my energy and desire to share what I have learned. I found Ms. Borel’s web conferences particularly informative and comforting. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like taking the classes exclusively online because I am a very social person and I learn a lot from the input of others. The web conferences completely changed my outlook on this process. I do not feel like I am going at this alone. In fact quite the opposite, I have made a great friend who I know will be with me till the end (and hopefully beyond.) From this experience so far I feel like I have really accomplished a lot. I have the opportunity to not only improve myself but also to help other teachers to achieve their goals in the classroom. I love working with technology and even though I am not the most technosavvy person in the world I know I will be able to make a difference. I have learned more about technology in 5 week than I have over the past several years. This course has given me the confidence to move forward, to lead others and really feel proud of my achievements.