A. Staff Development
In the standards, you demonstrate an understanding of using technology yourself. As a technology facilitator, you must be able to create learning environments to enable other teachers to use technology effectively.(IB)- Integration of Technology into the Curriculum
Integration of technology into the curriculum has the most direct impact on student learning. You should have a firm grasp of how to plan lessons that use technology effectively to improve student learning. (TF-II.A ,TF-II.C ,TF-III.A, TF-III.C, TF-III.E)
- This year our school is piloting a new program where the technology class is no longer and isolated class but rather co-taught with the classroom teacher. This opportunity to teach with the classroom teacher in their room at a flexible time allowed the technology teacher and the classroom teacher to align all the technology projects with the grade level's Common Core objectives and long range plans. Each month I would meet with the classroom teachers and map out projects that focused on Social Studies, Science and the new Common Core Writing Curriculum. We used the long range planning guide and EDU plan book to map out our month long projects. This type of collaboration was key to effectively teaching technology and applying directly what the students are learning in the classroom to what they are learning in technology. It allowed the classroom teacher to also complete the technology activities we were doing on their own time, if we were running short on time. Using the EDU plan book allowed me to align my technology objectives with Common Core Standards which were available via a drop down menu. It is important that we begin to immerse ourselves in this curriculum before we fully take over all the standards in the next few years.
IC. Technology Resources
Being a technology facilitator requires the ability to use technology resources, find new resources, and find ways to acquire new resources that are compatible with the standards used in your school. - Over the course of the first semester I built a website for my staff and students to use through a host called myportal. This website allowed me to categorize websites for students, teachers and parents. I host this site on my Wiki, the Laurel Woods homepage, handout folder and stickers in the students agenda books. Most of the sites are free and the sites that require a subscription only require a generic HCPSS log in and password. This resource has proven to be beneficial to students and staff. The students know where to go for the link and like finding approved resources on the their own. It is comforting to know that students and staff are all using the same sites and they are safely reaching the sites. This also reinforces a portion of our AUP policy where students in elementary school are not allowed to type any URL into the address bar. Instead, they can click on the links provided and it will safely take them the site.
- I also have a parent page on my Wiki that allows parents to find more resources for their students if they are at home. The link is on the Laurel Woods page and also found in the students agenda books. These extra sites are helpful for parents who are looking for educational sites to enrich their children at home. Parents are always asking teachers for extra help and I always remind the teachers that the sites are ready for parents if they want to refer them to my site.
- The last site that was designed and co-maintained by the other technology teacher and myself is called the "teacher tech deck" this also houses resources and materials on all things related to technology. As new technologies are brought to our attention we add it to the page. This helpful site gives them mini-tutorials on basic technology and web 2.0 tools. If a teacher finds something new, we like to add it to the tech deck so that other teachers have the chance to check it out.
D. Managing the Technology-Rich Classroom
Managing a classroom that uses technology can be a challenge. You should have a variety of strategies for managing the technology itself as well managing students in a technology-rich learning environment.- My current position at my school allows me to use technology on a daily basis. However, with the opportunity that my school has this year to implement the new co-teaching model of technology has allowed me to infuse technology objectives into everyday teaching. At the same time this has also allowed me to constantly provide ongoing professional development to all the classroom teachers. While I am teaching the kids technology the teachers are also learning.
- In our school we have one stationary lab of EMac's, one mobile lab of Macbook's, 2 mobile labs of Dell Netbook and one mobile lab of 15 Macbook's. All of these options are available to the classroom teachers throughout the day. They can sign up on the calendar conference and decide which option is best for them (laptops or desktops). I am also available to provide training on all of the features of both the Macbook and Dell Notebook Lab. The Dell Notebooks are vastly different than the Macbook's. We put together a very basic starter PowerPoint to help the teachers log in and access their hand-out folder.
- The students have access to an abundance on the Macbooks and EMac's. Therefore, before we start a new project or lesson all the materials are provided to them via a hand-out folder. This folder is accessible to all students and staff within the building. The materials are stored on the server and provide easy access for those who require it. It also allows for file sharing. Each teacher also has a hand-in folder where they turn in their projects, again another way to file share. These folders are found on each student's dock. Once you learn how to use your hand-out and hand-in folders, everything will go smoothly. Teachers can refer to this PowerPoint for an easy tutorial.
E. Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues
As a technology facilitator, you must understand the importance of both teachers and students behaving legally and ethically and providing a safe and healthy environment for student learning with technology. This includes having an understanding of current issues, such as copyright laws and cyberbullying, as well as finding ways to be connected to emerging issues. - Over the first quarter in Technology I teach a variety of lessons that infuse Internet Safety and cyberbullying. The students learn appropriate ways to handle online issues and also learn about appropriate sites and how to access materials at home and at school. I reinforce that it is important to not give out personal information on the Internet. Students watched a short video on Internet Safety and collaborated on a Google Doc answering questions about various scenarios that might come up while they are at home. We discussed the scenarios and talked about being safe at home. They also visited a NetSmart site which gave them more information in an educational way.
- A second project that the students completed was a poster using PowerPoint to show how to stand up to bullies. They could use the same information and apply it to cyber bullying. This project taught them techniques on how to stand up to bullies and also taught them how to use a variety of tools in PowerPoint.
- Each year the county puts on a Internet Safety and Cyberbullying poster contest. Last year, one of my students came up with the winning slogan "You can't erase in cyber space." I did not help her with the project but she used what she learned to understand what cyberbullying was about.
G. Technology for Diverse and Special Needs
Technology can facilitate the needs of special needs students through adaptive and assistive technology and differentiated instruction. As a technology facilitator, you should understand these tools, use them in your classroom as needed, and be able to work with other teachers to use these tools as needed.- In all the classes there are a handful of students who require extra assistance and time. When I am creating a project I modify the projects to meet their specific needs. For example, when the fifth grade students were working on a project about the Chesapeake Bay there were a lot of steps to get started. I made a worksheet that listed the directions with pictures. The visual was helpful for all students. I projected the steps on the screen and made copies for the students would benefit from the extra support. When they were working on their notes most of the students took notes using Microsoft Word, but some students took hand written notes and some had scribes, via a student assistant, to help them take notes. This alternate way to take notes is helpful for students who have trouble typing and going between two windows. Lastly, when they were completing their final project the students who required modifications had a different template to use. They were able to use the template that had most of the pieces done for them. They only had to plug in the information that was required. The original template was very basic and did not give the students enough guidance to complete their project.
- On my personal wiki space I list a variety of assistive and adaptive technology changes that can be made through simple technologies. This is available for all teachers to use.
B. Reflection
A technology facilitator is constantly working to improve instructional practice to facilitate student learning. Continual reflection is a key to continual improvement. During my professional development trainings with the staff I will ask them what topic they would like to learn more about. If they chose the topic they might be more interested in learning about it.
After the initial training I created a Google Doc that asked the staff if their understanding of Wiki's changed. This feedback will allow me create the next topic for training. I continued to provide a survey to the staff before and after each training. I found it was helpful to see what they wanted next and also target individual staff members who wanted something extra on their page.
The second reflection I used throughout my Internship was personal. It was a blog that I was able to vent my frustrations. I was also able to communicate those frustrations to my co-technology teacher. She understood my grievances. She gave me the idea to start a blog and write each month about what I am experiencing in my Internship. I started the blog and added a section each month. I wish I had more time to blog but at least I was able to write a few of my reflections.
