Texas S Ta R Chart2
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Sunday, November 29, 2009
Texas S Ta R Chart2
Check out this SlideShare Presentation: This is a breakdown of the STaR Schart for Reagan County High School
Texas S Ta R Chart
Check out this SlideShare Presentation: This is a breakdown of the STaR Chart for Reagan County High School in Big Lake, TX
Texas S Ta R Chart
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Saturday, November 28, 2009
Infrastructure for Technology
I have taken the Star Chart five times in my teaching career, and I have never spent more than five minutes taking it. I am embarrassed to say that I am one of those teachers that click 3 on everything and are done with it. Luckily I work at a school that has teachers that actually take the time and do things correctly.
My school scored a twenty-three out of a possible twenty-four in the Infrastructure for Technology area, and I am sure that this year we will have a perfect score. I am so blessed to get to work at a school that provides so much for its teachers and students. Infrastructure for Technology includes things like student to computer ratio, internet speed, other classroom technology (smart boards, scanners, etc.), technical support, and distance learning.
My school’s one three was in student to computer ratio. This year the district purchased every student a laptop. We also now have two full computer labs that also have new computers, so now we have more computers than students at our campus. We also have smart boards in every classroom with projectors in the ceiling. We also have wireless internet through the entire campus that runs at 100 Mbps. We have two technology directors that always respond in less than twenty-four hours.
More and more schools are seeing that increasing technology increases learning. Schools are starting to go to the One to One program where each student has a laptop. Before my district did the program our administrators went to Floydada ISD and Ballinger ISD.
My recommendations for improving the infrastructure for technology in Texas schools would be to increase funding for technology. Technology is not cheap and neither are technology directors.
My school scored a twenty-three out of a possible twenty-four in the Infrastructure for Technology area, and I am sure that this year we will have a perfect score. I am so blessed to get to work at a school that provides so much for its teachers and students. Infrastructure for Technology includes things like student to computer ratio, internet speed, other classroom technology (smart boards, scanners, etc.), technical support, and distance learning.
My school’s one three was in student to computer ratio. This year the district purchased every student a laptop. We also now have two full computer labs that also have new computers, so now we have more computers than students at our campus. We also have smart boards in every classroom with projectors in the ceiling. We also have wireless internet through the entire campus that runs at 100 Mbps. We have two technology directors that always respond in less than twenty-four hours.
More and more schools are seeing that increasing technology increases learning. Schools are starting to go to the One to One program where each student has a laptop. Before my district did the program our administrators went to Floydada ISD and Ballinger ISD.
My recommendations for improving the infrastructure for technology in Texas schools would be to increase funding for technology. Technology is not cheap and neither are technology directors.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Pre-K Technology TEKS
The student will learn how to open and navigate through a variety of software applications. The student will also use a variety of devices to input data onto a computer. The student will learn to use voice recorders and touch screens. The student will also use technology to express their own ideas.
The first way that the Pre-K TEKS lay foundation for future learning is by sparking the interest of the students. The students get to use a little bit of everything. That way they want to use it again. It also lays a foundation by teaching the students the base operations that they will need to do in the future.
An example of a spiraling curriculum is our math curriculum. Students learn skills in elementary and build on those skills every day. The basic skills that students learn in elementary are used every day in every high school math class.
The first way that the Pre-K TEKS lay foundation for future learning is by sparking the interest of the students. The students get to use a little bit of everything. That way they want to use it again. It also lays a foundation by teaching the students the base operations that they will need to do in the future.
An example of a spiraling curriculum is our math curriculum. Students learn skills in elementary and build on those skills every day. The basic skills that students learn in elementary are used every day in every high school math class.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Things I Learned Today
Technology is not cheap and neither is technical support. Both the state and schools are going to have to budget to increase technology. Texas teachers are willing to use the technology as long as they feel comfortable using it. Texas teachers need professional development in learning how to integrate new technology into their classrooms.
Texas is gaining a new type of student. Hispanics are now the majority, and immigrants from Mexico are moving to Texas every day. Texas is going to have to change the way it presents the knowledge to its students. The sit in straight rows and listen technique is not going to work anymore.
Texas is now part of a global economy. Texas now has to prepare its students to compete against students from all over the world.
One Size Fits All education plans do not work. A principal in Presidio, Texas is going to have to ask his teachers and students to do different things than a principal in Dallas Highland Park. Students are going to need to be connected to other students in different parts of the state.
Everyone is going to have to do their part to help Texas change for the better. Adding technology cannot be done by the schools alone. It is going to take everyone from the TEA to local school boards for something great to be accomplished.
Colleges are going to have to teach future teachers how to use technology. More time is going to need to be spent on using technology than on creating Madeline Hunter lesson plans.
Whether a student is going to go to college or straight to the workforce, the student still needs to be proficient in using technology.
I needed to know that this change is coming. As a future administrator I am going to have to take steps to get my school to where it needs to be. A lot of Texas schools are going to have to totally overhaul their technology, and they are going to need leaders that know how to get them up to standard. Schools are also going to need administrators that believe in technology. Knowing this will help me know what to put on my vita. I also learned that when I interview new teachers for jog, I am going to need to see what their technical skills are.
Texas is gaining a new type of student. Hispanics are now the majority, and immigrants from Mexico are moving to Texas every day. Texas is going to have to change the way it presents the knowledge to its students. The sit in straight rows and listen technique is not going to work anymore.
Texas is now part of a global economy. Texas now has to prepare its students to compete against students from all over the world.
One Size Fits All education plans do not work. A principal in Presidio, Texas is going to have to ask his teachers and students to do different things than a principal in Dallas Highland Park. Students are going to need to be connected to other students in different parts of the state.
Everyone is going to have to do their part to help Texas change for the better. Adding technology cannot be done by the schools alone. It is going to take everyone from the TEA to local school boards for something great to be accomplished.
Colleges are going to have to teach future teachers how to use technology. More time is going to need to be spent on using technology than on creating Madeline Hunter lesson plans.
Whether a student is going to go to college or straight to the workforce, the student still needs to be proficient in using technology.
I needed to know that this change is coming. As a future administrator I am going to have to take steps to get my school to where it needs to be. A lot of Texas schools are going to have to totally overhaul their technology, and they are going to need leaders that know how to get them up to standard. Schools are also going to need administrators that believe in technology. Knowing this will help me know what to put on my vita. I also learned that when I interview new teachers for jog, I am going to need to see what their technical skills are.
Technology Assessments
After completing SETDA survey it is obvious to me that I work for a great school district. The SETDA was asking questions about if your students have access to computers and the internet. Every student at my high school is provided with an Apple laptop. The computers have built in video cameras and every program that a student could possibly need. We also have wireless internet throughout our entire campus. To make that even better, every classroom has its own modem so the internet never gets slow no matter how many people are on it.
I have several technology strengths. I have these because I am relatively young, took a very useful college course, and have been provided with some very pertinent professional development. In college I was forced to take a class called Technology Education. I thought the class was a waste at the time, but it is the most useful education class that I ever took. The entire class was devoted to teaching things like using a smart board, an ELMO machine, and integrating technology into the classroom. I have also been blessed to work at a school district that strongly believes in technology. In the last year I been through at least seven days of professional development devoted entirely to using technology. Having been taught all of this I know how to do quite a bit. I can easily use Word, PowerPoint, Excel, iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, and GarageBand. I use Spaces to navigate between programs that I way I can have multiple programs running without having the programs overlap each other. I do not have my students turn in assignments on paper unless it is a test. All other assignments are put into drop boxes. So far this year my students have created talking Word documents, filmed themselves demonstrating Newton’s three laws and posted movies to YouTube. My technology strength is that I can use most computer programs to an advanced degree and teach others how to use them also.
My technology weaknesses fall under the domains of Solving Problems and Communication. I believe that many of weaknesses are in these two domains because many of the questions asked I have never been asked to do and probably will never be asked to do. I also do not know how to create a webpage or manage a network.
The Technology Applications Inventory showed me that I know how to do more than I thought that I could. It also showed me that I have a good understanding of basic computer skills. The SETDA Teacher Survey showed me that I work for a great school. My school not only provides a large amount of educational technology, but also teaches us how to use it. My school has everything that the SETDA ask about.
The technology area where I need the most improvement is in creating documents that communicate all types of information. As a principal I will be asked to give presentations to all kinds of groups of people. It would be very useful to know how to easily create all types of documents that look professional and are still easily understood.
I do agree with the assessments. The SETDA shows that I work for a school that provides more than enough technology for our students, and that is completely true. The Technology Applications Inventory shows that I have a good foundation in technology.
I have several technology strengths. I have these because I am relatively young, took a very useful college course, and have been provided with some very pertinent professional development. In college I was forced to take a class called Technology Education. I thought the class was a waste at the time, but it is the most useful education class that I ever took. The entire class was devoted to teaching things like using a smart board, an ELMO machine, and integrating technology into the classroom. I have also been blessed to work at a school district that strongly believes in technology. In the last year I been through at least seven days of professional development devoted entirely to using technology. Having been taught all of this I know how to do quite a bit. I can easily use Word, PowerPoint, Excel, iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, and GarageBand. I use Spaces to navigate between programs that I way I can have multiple programs running without having the programs overlap each other. I do not have my students turn in assignments on paper unless it is a test. All other assignments are put into drop boxes. So far this year my students have created talking Word documents, filmed themselves demonstrating Newton’s three laws and posted movies to YouTube. My technology strength is that I can use most computer programs to an advanced degree and teach others how to use them also.
My technology weaknesses fall under the domains of Solving Problems and Communication. I believe that many of weaknesses are in these two domains because many of the questions asked I have never been asked to do and probably will never be asked to do. I also do not know how to create a webpage or manage a network.
The Technology Applications Inventory showed me that I know how to do more than I thought that I could. It also showed me that I have a good understanding of basic computer skills. The SETDA Teacher Survey showed me that I work for a great school. My school not only provides a large amount of educational technology, but also teaches us how to use it. My school has everything that the SETDA ask about.
The technology area where I need the most improvement is in creating documents that communicate all types of information. As a principal I will be asked to give presentations to all kinds of groups of people. It would be very useful to know how to easily create all types of documents that look professional and are still easily understood.
I do agree with the assessments. The SETDA shows that I work for a school that provides more than enough technology for our students, and that is completely true. The Technology Applications Inventory shows that I have a good foundation in technology.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Checking to See if this Works
This is my first time creating a blog. This initial blog is just to see if I can return to my blog for my homework assignment.
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