"Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity." I focused on the indicator that states that I will "promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness" (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008).
"Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership." The chosen indicator that I would participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning" (International Society for Technology in Education, 2008).
My meeting that I am having with our schools technology facilitator has allowed me to learn more technology tools to incorporate into my lesson plans. I am continuing to meet with the technology facilitator in order to learn more helpful tools for my students. I am still curious with my question that I stated last week about finding out more on the new changes to our schools web pages. We are still unsure on how this change will effect our classroom web page. This week, I have also been trying to get some educational collaborative networking sites to be unblocked from our districts page. I have been discussing this when I meet with the technology facilitator and he is also helping with the process. Once I can get these tools unblocked, my new goal will be to set up a social networking page for my students to work on with a new project. Figuring out the project will also be something that I will need to work on as well.
Educational networking tools are a great way for my students to collaborate with one another and other students from around the world. These new ideas fit in both areas of my GAME plan when addressing my students needs through creativity as well as growing professionally myself.
Elizabeth Brindley
Eva to Elizabeth-
ReplyDeleteAm I understanding correctly that you have links to networking sites on your district web page? Or, do you mean that you cannot access certain networking sites from computers within your district?
I am asking because we have new administration and I am in the process of presenting options for them to consider regarding educational networking. I am not sure if anything can be set up on our server to facilitate, for example, threaded discussions like we take part in with Walden University, or if I can gain permission to try out some of the sites detailed by Ms. Davis in this week's video.
Would you mind letting me know if you had certain networking sites blocked, and if so, which ones, or if there was an application previously set up on your district page that no longer functions? As I said, I am hoping to be able to run some ideas by our new administrator....
I appreciate your input!
Eva
Hi Eva,
ReplyDeleteSorry for the confusion. We have so many sites blocked from our adminstration. Some of these sites, that are truly educational and would benefit our students are not accessible to students and the teachers. Many times, we go to our technology facilitator here in the building to see if we can get a great site unblocked and he has to call over at the administration building to see if we can get the site approved.
I understand that there are some sites blocked for security reasons and that is so great! But there are some really helpful sites that we are unable to get to! For example, I am wanting to use a networking/collaboration site with my students. The site is http://www.wallwisher.com.
This is a free site for students to use where they can post ideas on sticky notes. The students are able to reflect on others ideas and respond back to them. I was hoping to use it in a lesson of mine. However, the site is blocked here at school. So I went to our technology facilitator. He too thinks the site is great and so now we are working on trying to get it unblocked so that I am able to use it with my students. Now the site is open to the public so I will have to closely monitor my students. I just think it is a new piece of technology to use in my classroom and I am hoping I get to try it out!
Good luck to you!
Elizabeth Brindley
Elizabeth
ReplyDeleteI was having the same problem and the administration at my school did not have authorization to unblock many sites. I had to speak to our IT professional who had to approve the sites were educational and for a purpose that taught content based on the state standards first. Then after it was approved (which took a few weeks) the IT professional had to have the district IT personel come out to the school and meet with me and the middle school administrator. It has been a struggle to get great digital tools and websites unblocked and installed on the main server. I can feel you frustration. Once you have overcome the politics it is all worht it.
Rakeebah
Tiffany to Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI think that is awesome that you are working with your school’s technology facilitator. You are probably more aware of the tools that you have available to use in your classroom and are learning how to use them. Is your technology facilitator available to come in your classroom and help as needed? That would be nice if they were available when you were starting something new with your students.
I also think it is great that you are being proactive and asking your district to unblock certain sites that you need access to. Do you have a certain process that you have to adhere to when you ask for site permissions? I am always interested to hear how each district does things differently.
What social networking tools are you planning to use with your students? I am planning to use wikispaces with my students and am feeling a little anxiety at getting this project started, but I keep reminding myself of the positive learning experience my students will have.
Good luck!
Tiffany
Susan to Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI am having the same problem. We are such a big district and getting through the buracracy is a chore. I have e-mailed the people that I believe I need to talk to but I haven't had much success.
I also want to make changes to our buildings webpage but I am also discouraged about that as well. We have information and pictures of our old (2 buildings ago) school on our page. If our parents visit the page they can become really confused. The big problem is the same people I need to talk to about the other issues are the same ones that handle the webpage as well. It is sad when certain aspects of our administration actually make a concerted effort to remove themselfs from the day to day business of running a school. I know that they have other issues but I sometimes question their priorities.
Back to your plan, I will quit complaining about my situation now. I think you have things well in hand. You are going to sit down and have a converstion with the people you need to see. That is real progress. I think that administration needs to see how benifical the networking tools can be.
Good Luck!!
Susan