Sunday, July 18, 2010
Educational Leaders use of Blogs
The use of weblogs is excellent way for an administrator to capture "thinking" when collecting data for action research. Through this type journaling, the leader can track the data collection necessary for action inquiry while also sharing the blogs with others involved in the action research.
Action Research
Action research, also known as action inquiry, is a process whereby a practitioner or teacher focuses on a concern of theirs and then engages other teachers in the action plan. The practitioners will create a design, collect data, research literary material and implement the action strategies and evaluate their effectiveness. It is through action research that practitioners are engaging in the study of their own professional practice. This action inquiry is created within and not by outside resources which also creates ownership in the process. According to Dana, it is through action research, that we can improve schools from the inside out rather from the outside in. Thus the action research process is an tool for improving both teaching and learning.
Marjorie Ringler, states that action research is essentially an extension of "good teaching" whereby the process validates the teachers effective practices in the classroom. Learning issues are addressed and teachers are motivated to improve their teaching to address those issues.
Ringler M. (2007). Action Research an Effective Instructional Leadership Skill for Future Public School Leaders. AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice. 4(1), 27-28.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
EDLD 5368 - Final Course Reflection
As an online instructor at our local community college for over five years, I see the benefits of this form of instructional learning to be very beneficial to those who need to fit schooling around a work schedule. The same hold true for teachers who need to plan professional development around a long school day or well deserved summer break.
I enjoyed designing my professional development course to enlighten teachers to Web 2.0 tools and how they can be implemented in the classroom curriculum. Through reading “Understanding by Design” and using the backward design, I was able to take my goal of integrating technology into curriculum and create an online course. My future plans for this course is to move it over to a better learning management system and to continue to develop and expand the course so that I might implement the class with the teachers at my new job in the fall.
I enjoyed designing my professional development course to enlighten teachers to Web 2.0 tools and how they can be implemented in the classroom curriculum. Through reading “Understanding by Design” and using the backward design, I was able to take my goal of integrating technology into curriculum and create an online course. My future plans for this course is to move it over to a better learning management system and to continue to develop and expand the course so that I might implement the class with the teachers at my new job in the fall.
Friday, November 27, 2009
EDLD 5306 - TX Long Range Plan Opinion
To promote academic excellence the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology has set goals for Educator Preparation and Development. The first being that all educators graduate from a preparation program that models current technology in instruction but as the IT for my campus, I am not seeing the young teachers coming to us with a comfort level using technology let alone implementing into the classroom. Of course there are new teachers who are open and willing to try anything that is shown to them but then others shy away and stick same old boring classroom setting.
I also find that the Long-Range plan asks that all educators ensure integration of appropriate technology throughout all of curriculum and instruction. Our elementary teachers in the district are given “Scope and Sequence” tables for both Math and Science. They are told what to teach and when to teach it for the school year. I find that teachers are so stressed on teaching this material in the timeframe given that they are not open to finding ways to incorporate technology into the lesson. They leave that part to me – the computer teacher when I have their students in rotation. I am also frustrated at the fact that those “Scope and Sequence” tables have a box that is labeled “Technology Integration” and 99% of the time what is given to the teacher to “integrate” is watching a Discovery Streaming video.
One of my recommendations if for a technology specialist to go back into those “Scope and Sequence” layouts for both Math and Science and look at our district resources and actually incorporate technology integration that a teacher can use in the classroom Each elementary school campus has an IT that should be familiar with current resources and be able to guide a teacher.
I also find that the Long-Range plan asks that all educators ensure integration of appropriate technology throughout all of curriculum and instruction. Our elementary teachers in the district are given “Scope and Sequence” tables for both Math and Science. They are told what to teach and when to teach it for the school year. I find that teachers are so stressed on teaching this material in the timeframe given that they are not open to finding ways to incorporate technology into the lesson. They leave that part to me – the computer teacher when I have their students in rotation. I am also frustrated at the fact that those “Scope and Sequence” tables have a box that is labeled “Technology Integration” and 99% of the time what is given to the teacher to “integrate” is watching a Discovery Streaming video.
One of my recommendations if for a technology specialist to go back into those “Scope and Sequence” layouts for both Math and Science and look at our district resources and actually incorporate technology integration that a teacher can use in the classroom Each elementary school campus has an IT that should be familiar with current resources and be able to guide a teacher.
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