Technology Summary-Master's Degree at Lamar

Through the course of this degree journey I have focused on the use of technology in the classroom setting and the need to implement more technology in how we educate students.  What is quite interesting or depressing is that in looking back over this program I realized that I didn't use the available technology like I could have or should have.  What I am realizing is that I am slow to change just like some teachers in our building that I think need to integrate technology into their teaching but don't because they don't want to learn to do things differently, perhaps better.  I have used some the web 2.0 tools that are available like blogs, google site, and other internet search options that are available.  I also integrated technology like powerpoint and  use of webcams for web conferences.  I need to take the time to learn more about social media and its benefit to the educational process through professional learning communities that share practices through social media. 

Technology Professional Development Plan

Curriculum Integration Action Plan for Shallowater Elementary 2011

Goal: To improve student outcomes through the integration of technology into every classroom and across all curriculum boundaries at Shallowater Elementary.

Part 1 of Assignment:


Goals
Person(s) Responsible
Action Items
Timeline
Assessment and
Evaluation
Secure funding for technology upgrades
Teachers, M. Hughes, Principal, P.Warrren Sup.
Teachers will write proposal including necessary upgrades in classroom including smartboards and licensing fees for additional software.
April 2011
Principal will ensure all proposals have been written correctly and effectively and ask for further clarification if needed. Principal will present proposals to superintendent.
Educate new users on smartboard technology
Teachers already using smartboards, technology coordinator, principal
Professional development activites that will prepare teachers for smartboard technology and implementation plan.
April 2011
Surveys to be conducted to ensure mastery of material presented has been achieved. Reteach if necessary.
Installation and Implementation of Technology
Smartboard installers, technology coordinator, teachers, principal
Installation of new equipment and teachers begin acquainting themselves with the technology.
May-Aug.2011
Document and turn in progress to principal. Include comfort level with new technology and any additional learning that needs to take place.
Use of technology in classroom setting with student participation
Teachers, students, technology coordinator, principal
Begin 2011 school year with teachers using smartboard technology to enhance teaching and improve student outcomes across curriculum.
Aug.2011 Ongoing
Teachers will compare testing outcomes on all assessments to previous year. Principal will perform assessment analysis.


Professional Development-Technology Improvements (Smartboard)

Part 2 of Assignment

Goal: Teachers will become proficient at using Smartboard technology across all curriculum boundaries which will enhance learning and improve student outcomes.

Professional Development Activity 1: Math specialist Mrs. Bulls will share with teachers her findings from region 17 service center conference she attended regarding use of smartboard technology in math. Teachers will have opportunity to participate in new strategies to better prepare them to implement in their classrooms. Teachers will demonstrate mastery of material through question and answer session and reteaching will occur if necessary. Mrs. Hughes (principal) will provide additional support and ensure that all teachers needs are met by providing additional resource allocation if necessary.

Professional Development Activity 2: Reading specialist Mrs. Irons will provide teachers with strategies that she has either developed or acquired from other personnel in the region for using Smartboard technology to enhance reading teaching skills. Teachers will participate in new strategies to enhance learning and student mastery. Mrs. Hughes will provide support by capturing any questions and provide additional resource allocation.

Professional Development Activity 3: ELA specialist Mrs. Gray will share findings from conference she attended regarding the use of Smartboard technology to enhance student learning and outcomes. Teachers will participate in new strategies provided by Mrs. Gray to enhance learning and student mastery as it pertains to ELA. Teachers will be provided opportunities to use technology and principal will capture any issues or questions that arise from teachers participating in development.

Professional Development Activity 4: Teachers will compare student assessment data from 2011 school year (TPRI, etc.) and data will be shared among colleagues in a staff development session to identify the impact of Smartboard technology on student outcomes. Principal will coordinate data into presentation to be presented at school board meeting. The data will hopefully be able to convince decision makers of need for additional funding for technology.

Professional Development Assessment and Evaluation:
1. Teachers will submit any issues or any questions via email to the specialist that conducted the staff development session. Specialist will also forward the issues to principal for additional support. Specialists will suggest additional training if necessary.

2. Principal will conduct informal walkthroughs of classrooms to participate in learning using the Smartboard technology and document interaction in order to provide additional training that might need to take place to maximize use of the technology.

3. Principal will compile student assessment data to present to school board that hopefully will show compelling results that the use of Smarboard technology can improve student outcomes as compared to traditional teaching methods alone.

Evaluation Planning for Action Plan

Part 3 of Assignment

Goal: To incorporate assessment measures to ensure that goals of technology plan are being achieved by all personnel.

Assessment Measure (CIP): The campus improvement plan focuses on the availability of more computers in each classroom in the district. The Smartboard initiative achieves the goal of the CIP from a different perspective. The addition of Smartboards in every elementary classroom provides an interactive tool for learning. If the goal can be met then we not only achieve the goal of the CIP but truly enrich learning at the same time.

Assessment Measure (Student Data): Student data is already available from assessments taken in 2010-2011 school year. This data will be compared to data obtained in the 2011-2012 school year. This will provide comparative data that can be utilized to measure student achievement through the use of technology (smartboards). Although these two distinct data points cannot solely provide the data necessary to make strong claims, it is a starting point as more data is gathered and added to the analysis.

Assessment Measure (Texas Longe Range Plan): This action plan effectively addresses some of the goals of the Long Range Plan in Texas. It provides for the use of technology specifically in using technology to achieve mastery of TEKS in the core areas in K-1 grade levels. Teachers need to document the TEKS mastery as it relates to the areas of technology integration of core learning areas.

Assessement Measure (Campus STaR Chart): One of the areas that is still being identified as “Developing” on Shallowater Elementary’s STar Chart is “Educator Preparation and Development”. This action plan will effectively address this area by educating our teachers in the use of this technology and implementing it in their classrooms. Our teachers will be more proficient in the daily use of technology through the use of their Smartboards which will demonstrate the development of our staff as it pertains to the StaR Chart.

Texas StaR Chart Powerpoint Presentation

I'm trying to figure out how to post the powerpoint presentation but have not figured it out yet. Will continue trying.

National Education Technology Plan

The Obama administration has set out to improve our learning outcomes in schools by focusing on the use of technology to achieve student readiness for college or a career path. The plan has 5 main goals: Learning, Assessment, Technology, Infrastructure, Productivity. The purpose of these goals are to improve our percentage of college graduates from 39% to 60% and to prepare all graduating high school students for college or careers. The goals themselves outline the path in which the United States hopes to achieve the college graduate and high school readiness goals. The intention of the plan is to improve and enhance the way we use technology to teach our students. By using technology to improve learning we can help students to be prepared for careers that involve technology or college preparation in which students will use technology for higher education. The use of formative assessment will also be directly linked to the technology plan in both the ways we administer assessments and the data that results from these assessments. Technology will provide avenues for assessments to be taken online and that data can be directly uplinked for grading and analyzing. The infrastructure will also need continuous improvement as the U.S. prepares to improve on the connectivity for student learning across the country. The result of these efforts will hopefully bring about more productivity as far as jobs and economic profitablility is concerned. The unfortunate issue that we face as is noted in the plan is the funding for projects such as this. We are in difficult times and it takes federal and state dollars to accomplish a task as large as this plan. It is imperative that we find ways to fund initiatives such as the NETP so that we can stay on the cutting edge of educational excellence.

Texas Long Range Plan

The infrastructure for Shallowater ISD has made considerable strides towards fulfilling it's obligation to the Texas Long Range Plan. It appears that Shallowater will be on track to meet or exceed the goals for the plan by 2020. Something that concerns me at this point is the looming budget crisis that the education system is facing. It would seem apparent that if these budget cuts come to pass that technology funds would be one of the first areas that districts would pull back from. If this is the case then the progress that Shallowater has made will be negated as further progress is hindered. The infrastructure improvements that our district has made are substantial and enough to serve our district adequately for a year or more. But as the district continues to grow it is evident that our technology services will continue to need expansion as we look at adding more classes. This is factual even if we don't improve on our existing technology capacities. We will need more internet connectivity and computer access simply by the growth that we are expecting to receive. My recommendation to the district is to find ways to protect the budget that we need for these technology services through cuts in other areas. I realize that cuts are going to affect someone, somewhere but perhaps we can find an area that isn't as educationally relevant. We have some of the most beautiful grounds that you can find in West Texas. Perhaps the time has come to let the grass get a little brown so we can provide the technology needed to ensure our students are at the forefront of being provided with their educational needs.

My Research Design

Goal: To identify motivational strategies that can be implemented in the classroom setting that will aid in improving student academic outcomes.

Objectives:
1. Research current literature to identify potential strategies that will be utilized in the research.
2. Implement the identified strategies in the classroom setting.
3. Compile list of successful strategies and share with colleagues in district and on web blog.

Outcomes:
Through this research I will be inquiring as to whether or not short motivational segments on a daily basis can have a positive impact on student outcomes as it relates to academic success in the classroom.

Activities Designed to Achieve Goal:
1. I will select 2 of my classes in the fall of 2010 to participate in the research. These classes
will each be involved in a short motivational segment at the beginning of each class (5 min).
I will be using 3 different motivational strategies that I have identified through the literature
review and will attempt to spend 2 weeks with each strategy to complete the six week period.
One class will be the study group for a 6 week period and the other will be the control. After
the 6 week period is completed I will cross over the groups and continue the study protocol
for another 6 weeks. The research portion of the study will be completed at the end of the
second six weeks. (Nov. 2010)

Resources and Research Tools:
1. Internet based search on current forms of motivational strategies- Complete by Aug. 15th
2. Review classic literature on motivation through internet search (Ex. Glasser) Complete by
Aug. 15th.
3. Compile list of proposed strategies that will be implemented over a 6 week period. 3
motivational segments will be utilized, each lasting 2 weeks in order to complete the six
weeks period.

Draft Timeline:
1. Collection of data prior to research complete by Aug. 15th 2010.
2. Begin classroom portion of research Aug. 23rd 2010.
3. Crossover of study groups beginning of second six weeks, Oct. 4th 2010.
4. Classroom portion of research concludes at end of second six weeks, Nov. 12th 2010.
5. Assimilate and post research findings and conclusions by Dec. 10th 2010.

Persons Responsible for Implementing Plan:
I have sole responsibility for implementation of all portions of this research plan. My students will be working in conjunction with me but will not be given any knowledge of the research so that the results will be accurate and a true reflection of the goal of the study.

Process for Monitoring the Achievement of Goals and Objectives:
1. Observation- I will be observing student behavior and monitoring level of engagement in the
motivational segment of the class period and the curriculum based portion of the period as
well. I will be documenting these observations and keeping daily logs of both the study
group and control group.
2. Academic Performance- I will be tracking student performance on all assignments and tests
and will be specifically comparing the 1st six weeks to the second six weeks grades after
cross over and study completion. This data should serve the study purpose well and be
a relatively accurate reflection of the goals of the study. I will also be segregating the data
for each 2 week period that is being spent on each of the 3 motivational strategies.
3. Student Attitude Monitoring: A component of the study I am particularly interested in is
whether or not the motivational segments have any influence on overall student attitude.
My hope is that even if these strategies don’t have an impact on student academic outcomes
they will have an impact on overall attitude and help create a more positive atmosphere. I
will be tracking this component through observation and documentation.

Assessment Instrument:
1. The first assessment will be conducted by a comparison of 1st six weeks grades to
second six weeks grades. An improvement or lack thereof will be an indication that
the study was or was not effective.
2. The second assessment will be a comparison of two week data for each of the three
motivational strategies that will be implemented. This will identify which strategies are
most effective.
3. The third assessment will be a review and conclusive action of the observation notes
for overall student engagement and attitude reflection. These observations will also be
compared from the 1st six weeks to the end of the second 6 weeks.

Narrowing down research topics

I have narrowed down my research topic to "Motivational Techniques that Aid in Improving Student Performance". My research will include identifying different motivational techniques and implementing them in a classroom setting to develop a list of "best practices" that teachers can use to increase student mastery of curriculum. Basically a list of what works and doesn't work.