Thursday, August 5, 2010
Action Research Plan - Revised Week 4
This week I made some slight revisions to my Action Research Plan. Basically I added getting more input from the science teachers that would be involved in the plan. I will get their input on the success of the new strategies through the use of surveys.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Week 2 - Research
In this week's blog, I will share my possible research topics:
1. In what ways do our after school intervention tutorials help our at-risk students pass the TAKS?
2. How can we increase the commended scores for our students on the TAKS test in all subject areas?
3. How should we incorporate the new ELPS (English Language Proficiency Standards) into our science curriculum?
When talking to my campus supervisor, we decided on these three possible topics based on information gathered in our campus improvement plan. Our biggest goal this year is to improve our commended scores on the TAKS. I thought this would be a great topic for my action research. Unfortunately, after exhaustive research, I could not find any literature on what could be done to raise the scores. Therefore, I had another meeting with my supervisor where we then decided to do research on how to incorporate the ELPS into the science curriculum. We are currently going through a lot of professional development to learn about the new ELPS that must be incorporated into our curriculum. Since I am in the science department, she thought that it would benefit our entire science department to find out effective ways on incorporating the new ELPS. From my research in science, she also hopes that I will be able to come up with effective instructional strategies that could be used across all subject areas.
1. In what ways do our after school intervention tutorials help our at-risk students pass the TAKS?
2. How can we increase the commended scores for our students on the TAKS test in all subject areas?
3. How should we incorporate the new ELPS (English Language Proficiency Standards) into our science curriculum?
When talking to my campus supervisor, we decided on these three possible topics based on information gathered in our campus improvement plan. Our biggest goal this year is to improve our commended scores on the TAKS. I thought this would be a great topic for my action research. Unfortunately, after exhaustive research, I could not find any literature on what could be done to raise the scores. Therefore, I had another meeting with my supervisor where we then decided to do research on how to incorporate the ELPS into the science curriculum. We are currently going through a lot of professional development to learn about the new ELPS that must be incorporated into our curriculum. Since I am in the science department, she thought that it would benefit our entire science department to find out effective ways on incorporating the new ELPS. From my research in science, she also hopes that I will be able to come up with effective instructional strategies that could be used across all subject areas.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Leaders Using Blogs
I LOVE TECHNOLOGY!!! There are so many things we can do with technology and more specifically...blogging. In the "old days" people would put their thoughts into a diary. It allowed for self-reflection but it was never shared. Blogging allows for self-reflection but now it can be easily shared with others. One of the greatest benefits I see for an administrator to use blogging is the ability to communicate. It is a way for many people to share their thoughts.
Action Research
Being a science teacher, I am very familiar with “inquiry” labs. We do inquiry labs to allow students to investigate and discover science concepts on their own. It allows students to learn new concepts and determine where they want or need to go. Administrative inquiry or action research is very similar to this. It allows a campus leader to reflect on their self as a way to lead the school. As Dana stated, “administrators can use it to gain deeper insights into their practice as administrators and their leadership role in school improvement efforts.” To gain deeper insight, administrators will gather and analyze data and then work collaboratively with the staff to make change for the school. It is a way of looking at data to gain insight to determine a plan of action and sharing it with others. Sharing with others means working collaboratively with the staff to not only determine a plan of action but also to put the plan into action. Administrative inquiry allows self-reflection that gives the principal ownership. It also allows teachers to have ownership as well.
As a future administrator, I will use action research to allow me to develop a vision for my school. It will allow me to work collaboratively with my staff to make sure all the students in my school succeed.
Fitchman Dana, N. (2009). Leading With Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press.
As a future administrator, I will use action research to allow me to develop a vision for my school. It will allow me to work collaboratively with my staff to make sure all the students in my school succeed.
Fitchman Dana, N. (2009). Leading With Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press.
Monday, December 14, 2009
• What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned?
This course wasn’t anything like I originally thought it would be. When readying the title “Instructional Leadership,” I envisioned that it would have more to do with instruction than technology. This instructional leadership I envisioned also included instructional strategies and leadership to help teachers improve. The course ended up being all about technology. Yes, technology is just a small part of instruction. However, despite my thoughts on what this course was going to be about, I did learn something. Technology will continue to be an important part of our schools. This course did help me toward being a betting technology leader on my campus.
• To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not?
As the Science Instructioanl Specialist on my campus, I don’t really work on organizing lessons involving technology. I spend my days coaching teachers to be better classroom teachers. However, I feel that our campus is very behind the times in its technology use. Our district has most of it’s focis on data teams that we are getting further behind other districts in technology use. I believe it is the responsibility of the Instructional Technologist on our campus to lead us in technology use. Unfortunately, I don’t believe that our current IT is a strong enough leader to move us forward. One part of the class that is used on our campus is blogging. Being able to discuss things with other students online is a fun way to open up the discussion to more ideas and opinions. Our students love to blog and discuss novels.
• What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?
For the most part, I believe I was able to achieve most of the outcomes for this class. I did feel that some of the instructions were vague and open to interpretation. Therefore, although I was a little confused at times as to what I should do, I did what I thought was the best way to answer the questions. The only thing I didn’t like was the required responses to the readings on the discussion board. It was brutal to have to not only post my responses to eight readings but then to respond twice to other people on their readings for a total of 24 postings. It became an exercise in just finishing because it was exhausting instead of something that could have been beneficial. To me a discussion board should be just that…a discussion. That isn’t what happened on this discussion board. We just did what we could to finish.
• Were you successful in carrying out the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you?
I was successful at some parts of the assignment and not so successful in some areas. One part that I was successful in completing was the readings. I actually enjoyed the information in the readings. I feel like I was not as successful at giving true responses to those readings on the discussion board. I think it was because I felt like I wasn’t really benefiting from all the discussion posts so it was hard to give it my all. I also enjoyed the roundtable interview with other staff members on my campus. It was very enjoyable to sit with other members on my campus to learn more about their contribution toward technology and professional development. I also enjoyed writing the action plan because it is something the IT on our campus will actually use.
• What did you learn from this course…about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes?
In reflecting on what I learned in this course, I realized how much more needs to be done on my campus for us to continue to move into the 21st century. We have so much technology available on our campus, yet we can’t get teachers to use it. Why? We lack confident teachers in the use of technology. I learned we can changed this through a good action plan that not only teachs the teachers how to use the technology but adding support. I learned that our campus is in great need of support. This support needs to be there for the teachers weeks and months after the initial professional development of new technology. We currently don’t help our teachers enough. As an instructional leader on our campus, I hope I can guide our teachers to where they are confident enough to use new technology or at least use the existing technology.
• What is the educational value of blogs and blogging to the 21st century learner?
Blogging…Facebook…Twitter…these are all the new ways in which a group of people, including students, can be in constant contact with each other. It is hard to believe that when I started teaching back in the early 80’s, no one had a cell phone. Today, almost everyone has a computer in their home as well as a cell phone. Cell phones allows for immediate access to information. This immediate access is also a great way for teachers and students to interact in the classroom and at home.
• What are the concerns of blogs and blogging in education?
The biggest concern for blogs at our school is making sure what is said is always appropriate. I teach in a middle school. We all now that middle schoolers can be a little inappropriate at times. Matter of fact, they can be down right mean and they don’t always make the right decisions. It is going to be tough to monitor all of the student blogging as well as making sure they follow the AUP. Despite this, as many classrooms and districts move into the 21st century, this will become one of the main forms of instant communication. My biggest concern is how will we be able to keep all of the instant communication secure. As with all technology, there is always a part that leaves us vulnerable to people that aren’t so nice.
• How can you use blogging to communicate with school stakeholders?
Blogging can be a great way to communicate with all stakeholders in the school. It will allow parents to have immediate access to information. This information might be day-to-day news and announcements at our school. But, this information might play a critical role in disseminating emergency information. It will also allow teachers to quickly communicate with their students. I have had days in my classroom where something changes some time between first and seventh period. Blogging will allow teachers to immediately blog or text these changes without having to wait to see them in class the next day.
This course wasn’t anything like I originally thought it would be. When readying the title “Instructional Leadership,” I envisioned that it would have more to do with instruction than technology. This instructional leadership I envisioned also included instructional strategies and leadership to help teachers improve. The course ended up being all about technology. Yes, technology is just a small part of instruction. However, despite my thoughts on what this course was going to be about, I did learn something. Technology will continue to be an important part of our schools. This course did help me toward being a betting technology leader on my campus.
• To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not?
As the Science Instructioanl Specialist on my campus, I don’t really work on organizing lessons involving technology. I spend my days coaching teachers to be better classroom teachers. However, I feel that our campus is very behind the times in its technology use. Our district has most of it’s focis on data teams that we are getting further behind other districts in technology use. I believe it is the responsibility of the Instructional Technologist on our campus to lead us in technology use. Unfortunately, I don’t believe that our current IT is a strong enough leader to move us forward. One part of the class that is used on our campus is blogging. Being able to discuss things with other students online is a fun way to open up the discussion to more ideas and opinions. Our students love to blog and discuss novels.
• What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?
For the most part, I believe I was able to achieve most of the outcomes for this class. I did feel that some of the instructions were vague and open to interpretation. Therefore, although I was a little confused at times as to what I should do, I did what I thought was the best way to answer the questions. The only thing I didn’t like was the required responses to the readings on the discussion board. It was brutal to have to not only post my responses to eight readings but then to respond twice to other people on their readings for a total of 24 postings. It became an exercise in just finishing because it was exhausting instead of something that could have been beneficial. To me a discussion board should be just that…a discussion. That isn’t what happened on this discussion board. We just did what we could to finish.
• Were you successful in carrying out the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you?
I was successful at some parts of the assignment and not so successful in some areas. One part that I was successful in completing was the readings. I actually enjoyed the information in the readings. I feel like I was not as successful at giving true responses to those readings on the discussion board. I think it was because I felt like I wasn’t really benefiting from all the discussion posts so it was hard to give it my all. I also enjoyed the roundtable interview with other staff members on my campus. It was very enjoyable to sit with other members on my campus to learn more about their contribution toward technology and professional development. I also enjoyed writing the action plan because it is something the IT on our campus will actually use.
• What did you learn from this course…about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes?
In reflecting on what I learned in this course, I realized how much more needs to be done on my campus for us to continue to move into the 21st century. We have so much technology available on our campus, yet we can’t get teachers to use it. Why? We lack confident teachers in the use of technology. I learned we can changed this through a good action plan that not only teachs the teachers how to use the technology but adding support. I learned that our campus is in great need of support. This support needs to be there for the teachers weeks and months after the initial professional development of new technology. We currently don’t help our teachers enough. As an instructional leader on our campus, I hope I can guide our teachers to where they are confident enough to use new technology or at least use the existing technology.
• What is the educational value of blogs and blogging to the 21st century learner?
Blogging…Facebook…Twitter…these are all the new ways in which a group of people, including students, can be in constant contact with each other. It is hard to believe that when I started teaching back in the early 80’s, no one had a cell phone. Today, almost everyone has a computer in their home as well as a cell phone. Cell phones allows for immediate access to information. This immediate access is also a great way for teachers and students to interact in the classroom and at home.
• What are the concerns of blogs and blogging in education?
The biggest concern for blogs at our school is making sure what is said is always appropriate. I teach in a middle school. We all now that middle schoolers can be a little inappropriate at times. Matter of fact, they can be down right mean and they don’t always make the right decisions. It is going to be tough to monitor all of the student blogging as well as making sure they follow the AUP. Despite this, as many classrooms and districts move into the 21st century, this will become one of the main forms of instant communication. My biggest concern is how will we be able to keep all of the instant communication secure. As with all technology, there is always a part that leaves us vulnerable to people that aren’t so nice.
• How can you use blogging to communicate with school stakeholders?
Blogging can be a great way to communicate with all stakeholders in the school. It will allow parents to have immediate access to information. This information might be day-to-day news and announcements at our school. But, this information might play a critical role in disseminating emergency information. It will also allow teachers to quickly communicate with their students. I have had days in my classroom where something changes some time between first and seventh period. Blogging will allow teachers to immediately blog or text these changes without having to wait to see them in class the next day.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Professional Development Plan
Goal: To incorporate more technology into the classroom through the use of learning.com and gaggle into the regular curriculum.
Looking back at week 3’s student surveys, I have concluded that our students are not adequately using technology in the classroom. There are many choices of technology tools in the classroom for teachers to use when giving instruction to students. Unfortunately, there are very few opportunities where technology is actually in the hands of the students as they are learning. Meaningful professional development needs to be provided for the teachers. This professional development will include training the teachers so they are comfortable using new software applications in class. Our district goal this year is to train the teachers in using learning.com and gaggle.
In years past, training a teacher in the use of new technology hardware and software was not a problem. The district is constantly providing new opportunities to learn new software. What our district lacks is follow-up and support. To ensure that learning.com and gaggle are actually being used after the training, the instructional technology specialist (IT) on our campus will need to do some follow-up training. This will be in the form of a teacher actually showing the IT finished student products from using the software programs. To encourage teachers to try these new software programs, our IT will provide support through modeling of lessons as well as co-teaching with teachers. This will provide them with immediate support as they present their lessons using new software for the first time. The IT will provide a report to the principal on the required Secondary Campus Staff Development Action Plan form. This form is used to state which technology courses the teachers are required to complete, how they will be delivered and when they must be completed.
Below you will find the Technology Organizational Flowchart for our district. Here are the roles and responsibilities of each member of the organizational chart:
Organization and Development – Prepare an annual budget that is supportive of and aligned with the district strategic goals and objectives
Curriculum Department – Create an instructional management system to ensure all students meet or exceed the state standards
Director of Information Technology – Provide the technology hardware and training required to integrate technology into the curriculum as a tool for teaching and learning.
Principal/School – Develop, implement and evaluate focused sustained professional development for all staff
Instructional Technology Specialist – Develop meaningful professional development for all staff as well as provide support system that facilitates the use of technology hardware and software in the classroom
Goal: To incorporate more technology into the classroom through the use of learning.com and gaggle into the regular curriculum.
Looking back at week 3’s student surveys, I have concluded that our students are not adequately using technology in the classroom. There are many choices of technology tools in the classroom for teachers to use when giving instruction to students. Unfortunately, there are very few opportunities where technology is actually in the hands of the students as they are learning. Meaningful professional development needs to be provided for the teachers. This professional development will include training the teachers so they are comfortable using new software applications in class. Our district goal this year is to train the teachers in using learning.com and gaggle.
In years past, training a teacher in the use of new technology hardware and software was not a problem. The district is constantly providing new opportunities to learn new software. What our district lacks is follow-up and support. To ensure that learning.com and gaggle are actually being used after the training, the instructional technology specialist (IT) on our campus will need to do some follow-up training. This will be in the form of a teacher actually showing the IT finished student products from using the software programs. To encourage teachers to try these new software programs, our IT will provide support through modeling of lessons as well as co-teaching with teachers. This will provide them with immediate support as they present their lessons using new software for the first time. The IT will provide a report to the principal on the required Secondary Campus Staff Development Action Plan form. This form is used to state which technology courses the teachers are required to complete, how they will be delivered and when they must be completed.
Below you will find the Technology Organizational Flowchart for our district. Here are the roles and responsibilities of each member of the organizational chart:
Organization and Development – Prepare an annual budget that is supportive of and aligned with the district strategic goals and objectives
Curriculum Department – Create an instructional management system to ensure all students meet or exceed the state standards
Director of Information Technology – Provide the technology hardware and training required to integrate technology into the curriculum as a tool for teaching and learning.
Principal/School – Develop, implement and evaluate focused sustained professional development for all staff
Instructional Technology Specialist – Develop meaningful professional development for all staff as well as provide support system that facilitates the use of technology hardware and software in the classroom
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