I thought that the cross collaboration was great. I enjoyed meeting people from other classes and hearing how they did things at their schools. The two men that Teresa and I shared our ALAR project with really showed a different prospective. One guy (Kyle maybe, I don't remember their names) and Teresa are in the same county, but yet their schools are very different and their staff and programs at their schools were very different. It is crazy that two schools in the same county could have such different things going on. I missed both panels that were online due to internet issues, so it helped being able to talk to others who had been there.
One thing that I think could be improved are the literature circles. I did not like writing on the comment cards that were posted as much as I enjoyed reading and commenting in the water cooler in AET zone. I felt like it was very impersonal because it was much more difficult to directly respond to a comment that was made. I still think that sharing ideas and questions and things from readings is great.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Impact Videos
The four Impact videos I watched were very interesting. I teach at an Impact school and was anxious to see what new information I could learn from watching these videos. The four videos I watched were:
What is an Impact School?
Collaboration Q & A
Impact Components
Technology Integration in Subjects
I found the video that explained what an Impact school is to be the most interesting. It helped me see what kinds of things are missing at my school and what things we are doing correctly. One component of an Impact school is to have a full time Media Coordinator and full time Technology Facilitator. We have a full time M.C. but we do not have a full time T.F. She is split between two different schools so we normally only get her for 2 or 3 days a week. Since she's not there most of the time, when she is there she needs to catch up on tech issues and prof development. She doesn't spend much time working with us except for major projects, and even then it is pretty limited.
I also learned what the three goals of Impact are: 1. It is to help teachers integrate technology into the classroom. 2. To help students become technology literate by the 8th grade. 3. It is to impact academic achievement.
I believe for the most part my school meets these three goals. Teachers have been given projectors and document cameras to use in their classrooms. The majority of teachers have been given ActivBoards. There is a lot of technology. Our math series even has Internet based lessons in it. My second grade team and I do a lot of different activities and projects with my students all year that teaches them how to use computers and other technology. I believe our students academic achievement is being impacted by all of the technology and projects that we are doing.
The most important part that was emphasized in all four videos was that without flexibility, change, and COLLABORATION, Impact would not be possible. These are definitely important aspects and without them make Impact very difficult to occur. I enjoyed learning the new things that I did.
What is an Impact School?
Collaboration Q & A
Impact Components
Technology Integration in Subjects
I found the video that explained what an Impact school is to be the most interesting. It helped me see what kinds of things are missing at my school and what things we are doing correctly. One component of an Impact school is to have a full time Media Coordinator and full time Technology Facilitator. We have a full time M.C. but we do not have a full time T.F. She is split between two different schools so we normally only get her for 2 or 3 days a week. Since she's not there most of the time, when she is there she needs to catch up on tech issues and prof development. She doesn't spend much time working with us except for major projects, and even then it is pretty limited.
I also learned what the three goals of Impact are: 1. It is to help teachers integrate technology into the classroom. 2. To help students become technology literate by the 8th grade. 3. It is to impact academic achievement.
I believe for the most part my school meets these three goals. Teachers have been given projectors and document cameras to use in their classrooms. The majority of teachers have been given ActivBoards. There is a lot of technology. Our math series even has Internet based lessons in it. My second grade team and I do a lot of different activities and projects with my students all year that teaches them how to use computers and other technology. I believe our students academic achievement is being impacted by all of the technology and projects that we are doing.
The most important part that was emphasized in all four videos was that without flexibility, change, and COLLABORATION, Impact would not be possible. These are definitely important aspects and without them make Impact very difficult to occur. I enjoyed learning the new things that I did.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
GREAT
Things are just fabulous..sarcasm aside, I cannot believe that I missed online class last night. I have been so wrapped up in trying to get all of these projects finished that I have been so distracted. I didn't stay at my house last night which probably would have reminded me about class, but I completely forgot becuase of not being there (where my planner was).
I am however very excited about my groups' project. We were all really nervous because we were not sure of exactly what we were doing, but when we met with Dr. Rob, we found out that we have been doing exactly what we should and really we were basically finished other than getting the last finishing touches. It really worked out that I was required to take activboard training at my school anyway. It was perfect for getting artifacts for the project.
I really enjoyed working with my group (Teresa, Peggy, and Mickey) on Saturday after class. I felt like we worked really well together. We were able to finish the strategy (target and benchmark) sheets for each strategy.
I have found everything to be very interesting. I wish that I could have gone to the library conference. It sounded like it was a really good time. Maybe the next time there is one, I will be able to go.
Well off to do more work.....
I am however very excited about my groups' project. We were all really nervous because we were not sure of exactly what we were doing, but when we met with Dr. Rob, we found out that we have been doing exactly what we should and really we were basically finished other than getting the last finishing touches. It really worked out that I was required to take activboard training at my school anyway. It was perfect for getting artifacts for the project.
I really enjoyed working with my group (Teresa, Peggy, and Mickey) on Saturday after class. I felt like we worked really well together. We were able to finish the strategy (target and benchmark) sheets for each strategy.
I have found everything to be very interesting. I wish that I could have gone to the library conference. It sounded like it was a really good time. Maybe the next time there is one, I will be able to go.
Well off to do more work.....
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Read, read, read
Wow, put this class and the mystery class together, and you have a lot of reading. I have been finding the reading to be very interesting. I particulary like reading about what the should be in a media center and what a media coordinator's job should consist of. I am enjoying the reading in "Empowering Learners" more so in the other two texts. I think I like it more because it is more straight forward, it just gives you the info without all of the extra.
I have to admit, I am not really enjoying the literature circles though. I am finding the format to be slightly difficult really communicate with the group. I really enjoyed the way that we use to have discussions in the AET zone. I felt like it was more personal because you could link on to someones comment. I feel like on the topic cards it is almost the same as doing a blog.
Well off to do more reading...
I have to admit, I am not really enjoying the literature circles though. I am finding the format to be slightly difficult really communicate with the group. I really enjoyed the way that we use to have discussions in the AET zone. I felt like it was more personal because you could link on to someones comment. I feel like on the topic cards it is almost the same as doing a blog.
Well off to do more reading...
Saturday, September 19, 2009
The Change Game
I thought the Change Game was really fun and showed what a real school truly is. Before we really began playing the game, and we were reading the cards that described the people, I was putting them into category as far as what role they played in the Change process. I thought it was interesting to see by the end of the game when Dr. Rob was listing which character was which role, how many I got correct based on their descriptions.
My team and I struggled some with the game at the beginning. We could not seem to choose the correct activities that could get people moving. We learned very quickly that we needed to talk to people in order to get what we wanted for our committee. Once we learned that we had to talk and got permission to start doing things in the school, is when our people started moving. I found it interesting that social connection played a big part in people getting involved and moving. By the time the second year came around, we began understanding the things that needed to be done. I wish that we would have figured out the strategy before year two so we could have gotten more people to move.
I think this game would be great to play at a staff meeting in a school. I hope that when I am a media coordinator I will be an innovator and get the staff in my school to become involved.
My team and I struggled some with the game at the beginning. We could not seem to choose the correct activities that could get people moving. We learned very quickly that we needed to talk to people in order to get what we wanted for our committee. Once we learned that we had to talk and got permission to start doing things in the school, is when our people started moving. I found it interesting that social connection played a big part in people getting involved and moving. By the time the second year came around, we began understanding the things that needed to be done. I wish that we would have figured out the strategy before year two so we could have gotten more people to move.
I think this game would be great to play at a staff meeting in a school. I hope that when I am a media coordinator I will be an innovator and get the staff in my school to become involved.
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