Vincent Middle School S Ta R Chart Presentation

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Vincent Middle School S Ta R Chart Presentation

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STaR Chart Post on teaching and learning

Teaching and learning with technology takes place when teachers are guaranteeing that their students receive instruction and a chance to discover new skills with technology. Using technology helps students to improve their higher order thinking skills and collaborate with others. The TEKS have become more geared toward use of technology, which will help students to thrive in the 21st century. Due to the changing TEKS, teachers have begun incorporating more technology into the classrooms. This incorporation comes in the form of instructional devices used for teaching and learning. Teachers are using more power points for presentations and projectors to show multimedia aspects of lessons to the students. Students can use technology to learn at school and at home through computers, and other multimedia devices. Our campus has been using technology in teaching and learning consistently for the past three years, and has received an advanced rating for this area. There are areas that our campus can improve upon when it comes to teaching and learning with technology. We do not have enough computers in our school for the large number of students that we house. Teachers can incorporate technology into their lessons with their own personal computers, but students do not get many chances to explore on computers themselves. It would be idea for the students to have time to get one on one with the computer at least once each week. This would give students more knowledge about computers, and change up the repetition of every day learning. In addition to more computers, we need to have multiple labs in which to use these computers. With more labs, each department could share different labs and decide on days in which all students can use these labs for different subjects. Wireless computers would also be a great asset to our school. Teachers could model lessons on the projector and students could use the same concepts in their independent work. It is a commendable goal of our campus to become more technologically sound for the improvement of learning.

Pre-K TEKS

The essentials to build upon are laid out in the Pre-K TEKS. Students will learn terminology, keyboarding and touch screen applications in Pre-K to allow future learning to advance. This will give students a head start towards learning advance technology skills in later grades. A spiraling of the curriculum takes places when students are building on their prior knowledge each day. Students can master their skills by applying them each day in tasks that reteach prior knowledge. Before a student moves to another skill, mastery of the prior skill must be proven in order for new knowledge to build. By developing, applying, designing, and evaluating a project, a student is scaffolding their learning of skills. These projects should be innovative and fun to gain the student's interest which will enhance their learning. By beginning to use technology in Pre-K, students are given a basis for learning and interaction on computers at a young age. This basis can then be build upon each year to develop a 21st century technology savvy student.

Analysis of Long-Plan

The Long-Range Plan brings forth many good points, and I agree with all the goals stated in the plan. It is very important to have a vision for technology, so that students can become equipped for technology use in the 21st century. I learned that the State of Texas must have a sound infrastructure in order to make technology plans work. One of the biggest problems for the plan is funding. Teachers will have to be equipped with knowledge in technology, and this will be benefical to the students. Change needs to be brought forth in education with technology in Texas, and the Long-Range Plan makes this change possible. This information can help me to become an instructional leader in the fact that it will give me an outline in which to follow.

Part 1 - Survey 1 & 2 summaries

I have found that I can use technology in a variety of ways both in my classroom and in my personal life. Yet, I still have a lot that I can learn in order to become a leader of the use of technology on my campus. I use email, excel, Microsoft word, power points, Elmo, projectors, and search the web for a variety of resources. I need to learn more about the inter workings of a computer system as well as use of various devices such as digital cameras, laser discs, and scanners. As a principal, I need to understand not only the computer system but how I can make the equipment available for my staff and students. Our campus is lacking in the area of technology. We have a large school, only one computer lab, and less than twenty working computers. This is not ample equipment for a school with approximately 850 students. Most of the staff has a computer in their classroom but this is for the teacher's use, not the students. Most of our staff members are receptive and would like to acquire more technology for use in the classroom. Yet, the problem stems from funds and time. Often, funds are required in other areas rather than on technology. Also, when technology is purchased, time is not allotted for training on that equipment and, unfortunately, that equipment goes unused. I believe that more emphasis needs to be placed on technology on our campus. The majority of our campus is low socio-economic. Therefore, our students do not get the exposure to technology that they need to be ready for the computer savy world. I agree with both surveys, due to the fact, that they made me aware of the areas of technology that both myself and my campus need to improve upon.