Web Conference Reflection

Here is my web conference reflection, please click on the link.
Thanks,
Kelli



http://www.scribd.com/doc/51271432

EDLD 5352 Week 4

Here is my Plan, please take a look and let me know what you think!


http://www.scribd.com/doc/51182874/EDLE-5352-Week-4-Assignment

Executive Summary and Reflection of the Draft Plan

The key to economic growth and prosperity in this country is the education of our youth. We must produce students that can compete in a global economy. The teaching and learning environment that must be created includes providing students with engaging, relevant, and personalized learning experiences for all learners that mirror students’ daily lives and the reality of their futures. Unlike a traditional classroom, this requires that we put students at the center and empower them to take control of their own learning. If teachers can support student learning in areas that are of real concern or particular interest to them, personalized learning adds to its relevance, inspiring higher levels of motivation and achievement. There must be critical thinking, complex problem solving, collaboration, and multimedia communication woven into all content areas. These skills are necessary to expert learners, which we all must be if we are to adapt to our rapidly changing world. Another strategy for rethinking how teaching and learning are organized involves extending the learning day, week, or year. As we seek ways to extend learning time, in addition to considering the amount of time students spend in school, we should also look at whether we can provide engaging and powerful learning experiences through other means. One way to think about that is to leverage students’ interest in technology and the time they currently spend learning informally outside the regular school hours to extend learning time in a way that motivates them even more. As schools implement online learning, they should ensure that students’ learning experiences address the full range of expertise and competencies as reflected in standards and use meaningful assessments of the target competencies.


Professional learning should support and develop educators’ identities as fluent users of advanced technology, creative and collaborative problem solvers, and adaptive, socially aware experts throughout their careers. As a 21st Century educator we must support student engagement with technology resources for learning, highlighting the important subject matter content, pressing students for explanations and higher-order thinking, tracking their students’ progress, and encouraging their students to take more responsibility for learning. This requires deep transformations of teaching practices. Professional learning should support and develop educators’ identities as fluent users of advanced technology, creative and collaborative problem solvers, and adaptive, socially aware experts throughout their careers.

We are on the path to transforming American education, but there is still a great deal of work to be done. Our upwards trajectory and the aggressive goals that we have set will take us to the outcome that is necessary to have proficient 21st Century learners.

Summary of the Progress Report

The latest Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 was adopted in 2006. As of late we have new technologies have emerged to provide numerous opportunities for lifelong learning for Texas students, teachers, administrators, and parents. This new technology includes handheld devices such as digital phones, digital cameras, iPods, and laptops. These items are common in everyday lives of our 21st Century learner. The growth of online learning, digital content, curriculum and student management systems, and online professional development has made a significant difference in how schools implement the recommendations of the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020. The goal must be to prepare young citizens to work and thrive in the 21st Century and to effectively interact in a global marketplace. These goals must include educating all stakeholders to support a positive learning environment that embraces success.


There are four sections devoted to progress in meeting the recommendations in the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 in the areas of Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support; and Infrastructure for Technology. The data from the Texas Campus and Teacher STaR Charts provides insight into the progress of schools, teachers, and students in meeting the recommendations of the plan.

The state of Texas as provided criteria for a district to assist them in understanding what students should know and be able to do by means of technology. The various collaborations and activities that have been initiated by public schools, regional serviced centers, and the Texas Education Agency have all been successful in providing teachers and students with the tools they need to meet the goals outlined in the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020.

Opinion Piece for Teaching and Learning

The Teaching and Learning area of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology consist of the learners having access to relevant technologies, tools, resources and services for individualized instruction 24/7. Students will have the use of information and communication technologies to collaborate, construct knowledge and provide solutions to real-world problems. Students will be able to use research based strategies in all subject areas to improve academic achievement, and communicate effectively in a variety of formats for diverse audiences. The Teaching and Learning section of the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 focuses on how technology can impact student achievement by providing necessary tools and resources for administrators, teachers, librarians, and students.


According to the latest progress report Texas public schools are progressing towards Target Tech in the key area of Teaching and Learning. 25% of Texas schools are at the highest levels on the chart. At a Target Tech campus, the teacher serves as a facilitator, mentor, and co-learner.

Students have on-demand access to all appropriate technologies to complete activities that have been seamlessly integrated into all core content areas.

As we are progressing towards our goals in technology, I think that being able to assess the skill acquisition of our students is an important factor. As in any other core area, ongoing and meaningful assessment results are what drive our instruction. I see the next step in integrating more effecting teaching and learning into technology as building in regular, meaningful assessments to track our students as they grow in technology proficiency.

Texas star chart

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Texas star chart

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Research Plan

I have had difficulty posting my research plan in the proper format, so I opened a Scribd account and have downloaded my plan. You can see my plan at the link below. Take a look and let me know what you think!

http://www.scribd.com/doc/35166809/Tool-7-1-Research-Plan