Technology:Technology:The AdventureThe Adventure

byby

Joanne St. PeterJoanne St. Peter

For me, technology has been an For me, technology has been an amusement park.amusement park.

Sometimes, everything is just Sometimes, everything is just ducky…ducky…

But in a flash…But in a flash…

……glitches can erupt leaving me, the user, in glitches can erupt leaving me, the user, in a blur of confusion.a blur of confusion.

What can a person do?What can a person do?

Grin and bear it?Grin and bear it?

Abandon technology altogether?Abandon technology altogether?

The answer is to develop a systematic plan, The answer is to develop a systematic plan, a roadmap, to help in navigating where to a roadmap, to help in navigating where to go next. go next.

…might look like fun, but…

In other words, until I work my In other words, until I work my intestinal fortitude up to it, the plan intestinal fortitude up to it, the plan will help in deciding which “rides” to will help in deciding which “rides” to

avoid…avoid…

like the ones that will leave me upside-down,like the ones that will leave me upside-down,

and others that will make me dizzy.and others that will make me dizzy.

But more important, the plan will But more important, the plan will help to determine which rides to help to determine which rides to

take… take…

that will give me a new perspectivethat will give me a new perspective

on the ordinary.on the ordinary.

A plan will help to identify those vehicles of A plan will help to identify those vehicles of technology that will bring people together in technology that will bring people together in

compelling ways.compelling ways.

I. Leadership & Vision

II. Learning & Teaching

III. Productivity & Professional Practice

IV. Support, Management & Operations

V. Assessment & Evaluation

VI. Social, Legal & Ethical Issues

I. Leadership & Vision

Goal A: Support the use of data more effectively through technology

Action Steps:

A1. Participate in Excel tutorials.

A2. Using the program, sort 2009 District Fall Assessment scores to organize instructional groups.

A3. Maintain data for administration and teacher use during the upcoming the year.

A4. Share student data during fall and Trimester teacher meetings during the upcoming year.

Please Note: This is a product of my first tutorial!Please Note: This is a product of my first tutorial!

2009 Fall Reading Scores

75

80

85

90

95

100

Bill Bob Jamie Jan Jill Sam

Scores

II. Learning & Teaching

Goal A:Seek out additional innovations to further support/enhance instructional practice.

Action Steps:

A1. Consult “Tech Leader” to review innovations.

A2. Seek out information from colleagues about what works best for specific subject areas.

II. Learning & Teaching

Goal B: Facilitate the use of technology to support students’ higher level thinking and problem solving skills Support the use of data more effectively through technology

Action Steps:

B 1. Arrange for technology in-service for the early fall to address problem solving opportunities for students.

B 2. Investigate software and teaching strategies to enhance instructional practice.

III. Productivity & Professional Practice Goal A: Pursue personal professional development opportunities to broaden tech expertise.

Action Steps:A1. Apply to CREC for additional grant funding for professional development.

A2. Develop a calendar of staff sharing days on the professional calendar similar to the Language Arts planning for teachers to learn from one another.

IV. Support, Management & Operations Goal A:Explore additional sources of funding to support the technology plan and professional development

Action Step:

A1. Meet with the Superintendent to identify possible additional sources through new grants.

V. Assessment & Evaluation

Goal A: Improve the use of technology to analyze data.

Action Step:

A1. Use Excel graphs to sort student progress on District assessments to inform instructional groupings.

VI. Social, Legal & Ethical Issues

Goal A: Regularly review changes in policies and practices to ensure the safety of allusers.

Action Steps:

A1. Regularly consult ISTE website

A2. Schedule Tech Safety Seminars for teachers and students to educate all for responsible Digital Citizenship.

Along with outfitting the “travelers,” it is our Along with outfitting the “travelers,” it is our duty to prepare our children to understand duty to prepare our children to understand that technology has enormous power, and that technology has enormous power, and

as such, care must be taken to use it as such, care must be taken to use it ethically and responsibly.ethically and responsibly.

My over-arching goal then is to model My over-arching goal then is to model educational risk-taking in venturing educational risk-taking in venturing forward on the technology journey. forward on the technology journey.

After all, technology can take us all to new After all, technology can take us all to new places filled with discovery when we least places filled with discovery when we least

expect it.expect it.

Electronic BibliographyElectronic Bibliography

Administrator NETS (2002)Administrator NETS (2002)

www.iste.orgwww.iste.org

GoogleImages.com GoogleImages.com

Keyword: Amusement Park Keyword: Amusement Park

July, 2009July, 2009

Technical AssistanceTechnical Assistance

Andrew Kenyon- Excel Bar GraphAndrew Kenyon- Excel Bar Graph

James St. Peter- Text AnimationJames St. Peter- Text Animation

Richard Therrien - Accessing and Richard Therrien - Accessing and

importing digital imagesimporting digital images