Crystal BrooksTwo Summers Technology CertificationEPSY 5195

Digital Age Work and LearningTechnology Fluency: Artifact 2

Many tech skills were required to create these spreadsheets. General knowledge and understanding of rows, columns, and cells was needed. Understanding of =Sum formula,=Average Formula to determine a standards based grade for each strand. The formulas were created and tested in the first row to insure accuracy and later copy and pasted the formulas in the necessary rows to extend to all classroom students. Then the strand cells were linked together on the final spreadsheet using a formula (=AVERAGE('Unit 8'!M4,'Unit 11'!P4)). The final data sheet allowed me and my fourth grade colleagues to easy see student assessments in their daily work, math quizzes and math progress checks.

This would address NETS-T3a and c. This was a collaborative effort with the tuning protocols to make sure that our ideas around exemplary work all the way to unacceptable student work was discussed. While parents and students did not see this actual document it teachers were able to be input directly into PowerSchool for the progress reports increasing teacher productivity during progress report time.

Digital Fluency: Artifact 2One of our district initiatives is to increase student writing potential. In many instances, we know that having an authentic audience beyond school can be valued. This past year in district we started with Google Apps, it was my job to look at Blogger as a potential tool for students and teachers. There were many decisions to be made in order to create my blog. This was one I was creating for the “Slice of Life” so I wanted a different name beyond my school title. That took time, energy, and collaborations. Then I had to decide what I wanted for my art work that would not break copyright. I wanted to demonstrate the power of “Imagine That” with risk taking and commenting. One of the most challenging parts was coming up the content that I wanted to share daily and then put it in a post, it required planning ahead. While blogging is not a new tool, it is for the district and we are looking at it as a writing portfolio opportunity for students. This would attack the “Model Digital Age and Learning” for teachers by demonstrating a way to communicate with students, parents, and the world. This would be an engaging and supportive way for students to write for a real audience, and in a place where there parents could see student work and growth over time. This would address ISTE Nets for Coaches 3g collaborating beyond the school walls.

Collaboration:Artifact 1

WMS_2014_One-Book-One-Read (Uploaded .mp4 format into google docs)

First, finding a spot that was quiet enough to record was extremely challenging. Then setting the tripod to the right height, lighting was usable, interesting chair, and backdrop. I was using a Digital Canon Camera to record the teachers and making sure that the sound was acceptable. After recording each individual teacher, all video had to be exported from the camera onto a computer and then put into Windows Movie Maker. Then make sure the videos were in the correct order, add title slides, appropriate music, and transitions. Many of the videos also had to be split and trimmed before they could be used. Once the project was complete it needed to be made available to all teachers via our web-hosting Discovery Education, it was also placed on the library website for absent students, parents, and the community at large. Finally all of the video had to be deleted from the Canon camera and reformatted.

Video creation and production with a group would fall under the ISTE teacher NETs 3d and ISTE Coach Nets 3c.This helps me demonstrate for students the power of collaborative planning and media production. I was also able to work collaboratively with teachers to use Windows Movie Maker and DEVOS.

Communication: Artifact #1 EmailEmail communication is a tool widely used to begin the collaborative process in my current position. I send out weekly bulletins and highlights of what’s going on within the schools work in to keep everyone up to date. I am charged with working with new teachers who often come with a variety of skill levels. This particular teacher was new to our district this year, but very capable in the area of technology. Instead of having her attend the workshop and be a huge waste of her time, I did some video tutorials for our school website program and Microsoft Outlook for her and she was able to accomplish the tech goals in the same workshop working at her own pace.

Communication: Artifact 2 One down fall in our district is the lack of information available to teachers regarding the process for understanding how to receive help when they have difficulty with their technology. We also provide PD and create videos for different groups that could benefit all of the teachers in our district. The current information available is an unorganized list in FinalSite and teachers find it very confusing. So in collaboration with the IT department, I started a Google Site with some graphic links to information. This has come to be widely used by teachers in our district. Next year we are hoping to add a piece where teachers can post for teachers, our hesitation is about the moderation as we are very overwhelmed with large info structure problems.This would address ISTE Coaches NETs in 3e and g because it is communication for the larger community and supports teachers in their own problem solving and learning.

TechnologyOlogy

Information Resources

There is a very lengthy conversation taking place around rigor in our district at the elementary level. Many teachers are equating rigor with more work instead of deeper thinking. This article in MindShift would lend itself to a philosophical discussion among teachers and curriculum leaders. We do a unit on Rollercoasters and we are having constant conversation regarding deeper thinking and student engagement.This would fall under the ISTE NETs 1a for Teachers in fostering creativity and innovative thinking. The NETs Coaching standard 3 a. and f by working with teachers to determine the best tools to leverage to help their students gain a deeper understanding.

A School that Ditches All the Rules but not the Rigor

EthicalI think one of the largest ethical issues in the U.S. Education system is the “Digital-Divide.” This used to be just access to WiFi and actual physical computers in classrooms. While that still exists, there is now an even greater problem, schools who now have purchased equipment updated info-structure do not have teachers who understand how to leverage the technology to benefit their students. One must also consider not only the suburban-urban debate, but also the rural systems that do not have the curriculum resources readily available to them without a high-speed internet connection. How do those teachers find and participated in high-quality professional development. High-Quality professional development could begin to be easily available from-district-to-district initiatives the leverage the use of technologies like “Google Hangouts”This relates at such a personal level for me. I currently work in a district that is very wealthy and small. They are able to higher curriculum writers and very high quality professional development opportunities. In the rural U.S., teachers often have access no Professional Development from their county districts or districts try to do one-size fits all. This is a reality for my teaching friends in West Virginia, they are often envious of what is available to me through professional development and technology resources.