QR Posters

Here is a link of some posters I made that contain a QR code that links to my wiki of resources.  Enjoy!

11.1- Reflection

   While reflecting on this course I thought of many reasons that we need to constantly update and perfect the craft of technology integration.  I have taken many ideas away from this class and have tried out new things that I will take with me as I continue to teach.  Below I have written what I have taken away from the last 10 weeks.

   First of all, teachers rely on us to help them understand how they need to be using technology in their classrooms, not only to engage students, but to prepare them for the future as well.  We have to know all the new tools that come out and are offered so that students will learn these.  Teachers are the ones who supply students with the knowledge they need to have in order to compete with others from around the world.  It's a technology integrator's job to make sure that teachers are armed with knowledge to make them  more confident and prepared to teach students what they need.  Wolfram's talk kind of ties into this by explaining that we spend too much time on teaching the tedious things.  If teachers know what kinds of technology to use in order to help students gain a deeper understanding of content, then we can spend less time worrying about things that take up more time than they should.  Technology can do that computing that takes years to teach so that we can go further than the surface with our students.  Teaching and education could drastically change if we were to allow this to take affect.  

   Something else that technology offers to students is all the different mediums in which a person can create or complete a project.  I remember thinking many times in school that I would love to create a short video or something using my computer, but I had no idea how to do that.  Today it's so easy for students to pull up a free app that will help them create some really neat and memorable projects that they can be proud of.  The thing that gets me is how many there will be in 5 or even 10 years down the road.  There is no telling how many more cool things will be invented to help students complete projects or understand content.  It's important for technology integrator's to know what is out there so that students of all different abilities have their needs met.  Teachers may have a gifted or special needs student in their class, but not know about any resources to help that student out and a technology integrator could make things much easier by showing them how to find that resource and how to use it effectively.  

   One idea that I thought of recently is how technology integrator's can actually help build relationships between teachers by connecting them.  The response time is quicker which leads to greater productivity and connections with others that might have never happened.  Along with this tech integrator's could help teachers understand why technology is important and should have a role in their classrooms.  Technology integrator's can help teachers find new tools for old lessons and with a network of teachers making connections they could eventually help each other out.  The spreadsheet activity we did is a great example of how teachers can help out their students and each other by organizing their data so that students who need help get it.  

   The last thing that I have taken away from this course is the role that technology integrator's play in making sure that others can make informed decisions about technology.  This could include administrators looking to add more types of technology into the school, or getting rid of a brick and mortar library, or even helping parents determine if virtual schooling is the best option for their child.  I think that we have a responsibility to others to make sure that they make good decisions based on what we know about technology.  This is, to me, one of the most important reasons that we need to be constantly updating and perfecting our craft.  We are depended upon to make decisions for the future of our students.  That's pretty important if you ask me.

10.2- Sharing NETS Portfolios

Below are the two pages I created in a Wiki for teachers and administrators to log their reflections about the NETS competencies.

Administrators

Below is a table designed for administrators to reflect on how well NETS competencies are being followed as well as provide evidence. In the boxes next to "Meeting Standards" type a number from 0-5, with zero being you don't do it at all, to 5 being you are implementing this very well. Below the table, reflect on each standard and add any evidence to support your claims.

Here is the link to help with the chart and the reflections. 
http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/nets-a-standards.pdf?sfvrsn=2

	Digital Age Learning	Systemic Improvement	Visionary Leadership	Digital Citizenship	Professional Practice
Administrators	Promote a digital-age learning culture that engages and educates all children	Provide leadership to improve organization through technology resources	Inspire and lead development and implementation of a shared vision for comprehensive integration of technology	Model and facilitate understanding of social, ethical and legal issues and responsibilities	Promote an environment of professional learning and innovation that empowers educators
Meeting Standards

Digital Age Learning:

Systemic Improvement:

Visionary Leadership:

Digital Citizenship:

Professional Practice:

Evidence:

Teachers

This table below allows teachers to reflect upon different standards of technology and determine if they are meeting the needs of their students. In the box next to "Meeting the Standards" choose a number 0-5, with 0 being you don't do this standard at all and 5 being that you implement this standard well. Below the chart reflect on each individual standard and add any evidence to support your claim.

Here is the link to help with the chart and the reflections. 
http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/nets-t-standards.pdf?sfvrsn=2

	Learning and Creativity	Experiences and Assessments	Work and Learning	Digital Citizenship	Growth and Leadership
Teachers	Use knowledge of subject matter, teaching, learning and technology to advance student learning and creativity	Design, develop and evaluate authentic learning experiences incorporating contemporary tools	Exhibit knowledge and skills of an innovative professional in a digital society	Understand global and local societal issues in an evolving digital culture	Continuously improve on professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership
Meeting the Standards

Learning and Creativity:

Experiences and Assessments:

Work and Learning:

Digital Citizenship

Growth and Leadership:

Evidence:

Here is a link to my wiki and critical task

http://netsportfolio.wikispaces.com/

10.1- Measuring NETS Competencies

   I think one of the best ways we can tell if teachers and administrators are meeting the NETS competencies is to use observation after becoming extremely familiar with the competencies themselves.  If I were going to do this, I would have a list of the competencies and focus on one area in particular while observing.  That way I could delve deep into each individual standard and get a really good idea whether or not the teacher or administrator understood what is expected of them.  I would also ask for specific evidence that would support each standard and again show that they understood what was being asked.  Another way to gain information would be to follow up on student assessments and actually ask them questions that would give a different perspective.  It can sometimes be difficult to get a true reading on someone though if they know they will be observed ahead of time.  From time to time our administrators will pop into our classrooms for a few minutes and give us some feedback without even telling us they will come by, which keeps us on our toes because we know we need to be prepared every day, not just the day they choose to come see us.  

   One example of this might be a group of teachers working on standard 2a., which is "design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity"(NETS-T. 2008).  It would be pretty easy for someone to tell if a teacher was trying to incorporate digital tools within their lessons and student work or projects would reflect that.  The types of evidence that could be collected might include projects that students complete and submit via the internet.  I think that another good idea would be to ask a few students how they feel about the teachers use of technology and if they felt like it was appropriate for the assignment.  I think there's a lot you can get from asking students simple questions because they are eager to give their opinions if they feel like you want their honesty.  

References:

2008. NETS-T. International Society for Technology in Education. ISTE. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/nets-t-standards.pdf?sfvrsn=2