The TEKS for technology set in place by the state of Texas do a good job of outlining skills that today’s students will need in order to be productive in today’s global economy. These TEKS are set in place as early as Pre-K. Some of the highlights to the Pre-K technology TEKS is that the state encourages doctors to encourage parents to read to their children. The other is to hold high expectations. Another part that I found interesting was the part where the TEKS outlined behavior and emotional control.
A spiraling curriculum will hit on a topic for a day or two and then come back to it in another week or month. It is like that topic will spiral back around in a week or two and you will focus on that specific skill again. My district uses a spiraling curriculum. TEKS that spiral are ones that come in each level of the TEKS. For example, Grades 3-5 TEKS 10(C) use appropriate applications including, but not limited to, spreadsheets and databases to develop charts and graphs by using data from various sources. This TEKS spirals back around in Grades 6-8 TEKS 10 (C).
Monday, November 30, 2009
Long-Range Plan for Technology
Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020, lays out the framework for further implementation of technology in schools. The Long-Range Plan gives a teacher, parent or administrator a good idea of where the state sees strengths and weaknesses within it’s’ scope of technology. Having now been introduced to the plan it will help me first off in my classroom. I understand where the state sees technology going and I can stay on top of my responsibilities to make that happen. My favorite part was the Introduction to the 21st Century Learner. It gives a good example of the type of student we are dealing with today and tomorrow. Today’s learners are different than learners from even ten years ago. The Texas Long-Range Plan lays out how we will help the new learners in the classroom. As an administrator, this new information will help me know what will be expected from my campus when it comes to technology. Also, it shows me want the state is willing to do funding wise to help my campus implement more technology in the classroom.
Technology Surveys
As we move into the future it is essential that administrators become more and more familiar with technology. Technology is the key to tomorrow for our students. Technology is not going away and it is time for us all to embrace it. Having said that, I completely understand where my strengths and weaknesses fall under the technology umbrella. I feel very confident with word processors, spreadsheets and the internet as a whole. I know that my weakness falls under the video aspect of technology. I am able to access videos from a website and play them; however I need more training on how to publish videos.
I believe the two assessments were very fair assessments of myself and my campuses technological ability. The Technology Applications Inventory was a good look at my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to technology. One thing that stood out was how basic some of the technology was. For example, the ability to keyboard or type does not seem like technology to me. I guess that goes to show how little some of us give ourselves for knowing anything about technology. The SETDA survey allowed me to compare some of my strengths with that of my campuses strengths when it comes to the use of technology. I filled out the Teacher Survey, since that is my current position. One thing I really liked about this survey was that it asks questions about the amount of time teachers are given to prepare and collaborate for the use of technology in their classroom. I think this is an important practice that many teachers do not have the time to do.
All in all, after looking at the surveys and getting a better picture of my use of technology, I feel that I am progressing with the knowledge and use of technology at a good pace. I need to spend more time with it. I am hoping that our campus will incorporate more technology into staff meeting and professional development in the future.
I believe the two assessments were very fair assessments of myself and my campuses technological ability. The Technology Applications Inventory was a good look at my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to technology. One thing that stood out was how basic some of the technology was. For example, the ability to keyboard or type does not seem like technology to me. I guess that goes to show how little some of us give ourselves for knowing anything about technology. The SETDA survey allowed me to compare some of my strengths with that of my campuses strengths when it comes to the use of technology. I filled out the Teacher Survey, since that is my current position. One thing I really liked about this survey was that it asks questions about the amount of time teachers are given to prepare and collaborate for the use of technology in their classroom. I think this is an important practice that many teachers do not have the time to do.
All in all, after looking at the surveys and getting a better picture of my use of technology, I feel that I am progressing with the knowledge and use of technology at a good pace. I need to spend more time with it. I am hoping that our campus will incorporate more technology into staff meeting and professional development in the future.
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