Monday, February 6, 2012
Needs Assessments for Technology Integration Initiatives
I am looking forward to seeing what kinds of information you use to begin to build the foundation your TI Initiative. This is a brand-new class and you are the "guinea pigs" so your class is helping me define the project for the classes to follow. Of course that means I am going to be accepting of a wide range of possibilities! I am already impressed with the level of reflection and the thoughtful responses AND the collaborative spirit I see in your blog postings and anticipate that will make for some really interesting and substantive TI Initiatives. I would encourage you to share resources with one another, to collaborate where and when it makes sense, and to work with colleagues in your professional settings to ensure projects that can actually be implemented.
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In our increasingly global and technological classrooms, every student needs a computer. They need a computer to complete much of their schoolwork today, as well as to learn technology thoroughly for their future jobs and careers. Teachers are integrating more and more projects and assignments that require technology usage. The West Virginia Department of Education, as well as the United States Department of Education, have introduced initiatives and mandates that require technology be used in the classroom. All that being said, the student-to-computer ratio at many of the schools in Randolph County is 4 students to every 1 computer. This is not an adequate ratio to achieve the goals listed above. Moreover, there is a push in education for one-to-one student computing. That is, every district, every school, should get to the point in the very near future where every student has a computer. This one-to-one ratio can take many forms. It can be a mobile computer lab in a classroom; it can be a classroom turned into a computer lab, with desktop computer at every students desk. It can also mean that the student is issued a laptop that travels with the student and is at their disposal 24 hours day, 7 days a week. All these methods are being pursued by a technology committee in Randolph County Schools. It is the later method that this paper will focus on. The technology committee has decided that every eleventh grader in Randolph County should be issued a laptop computer. This computer will stay with the student until they leave Randolph County, either by withdrawing or graduating.
ReplyDeleteComputers will be the focus of my TI also. I teach an online credit recovery course for students who have failed a core class. I have 8 students enrolled and right now we only have 3 working computers in my classroom. The other Special Ed teachers in my department and myself are helping out by letting students use our computers during class. It is not an ideal situation. I like your idea of supplying students with a laptop but wonder how the computers would fair. Perhaps a smaller netbook would be a good alternative.
DeleteThe one-to-one ratio is an awesome idea. I could do so much in my classroom if every student had a computer. How will the county handle support of the computers? Do you anticipate any technical problems like hardware malfunction or viruses? I know the kids will be hard on the computers and it wont take long to destroy them so how long does your county anticipate these computers lasting? The initial cost of the computers is staggering but the cost of ownership is also substantial. Is there infrastructure in place for all these devices to get online? I know that is a lot of questions but to me the one-to-one idea is so HUGE that I would be hard pressed to recognize it let alone understand all it encompasses.
DeleteThis is a great goal for your county to work toward. I see your colleagues are giving you really good feedback and suggestions that could factor into your planning. This could easily become the focus for your grant proposal (there are many funding possibilities for purchasing laptops). My question for you is, what aspect of this focus will you address with your professional development initiative? I think there are many possibilities here, too, as teachers will need to think deeply about how to best integrate the use of the laptops or netbooks into their classroom instruction.
DeleteNeeds Assessment
ReplyDeleteMy students need to understand how to create a quality graph. They need to connect how the data they gather can be portrayed in a graph to show clear connections and trends. The West Virginia seventh grade science CSOs include several expectations about the ability of students to use scientific instruments to create charts and graphs. They include SC.O.7.1.8 (Use a variety of technologies and scientific instruments to conduct explorations, investigations, and experiments of the natural world), SC.O.7.1.9 (demonstrate safe techniques for handling, manipulating and caring for science materials, equipment, natural specimens and living organisms.), and SC.O.7.1.11 (construct and use charts, graphs and tables to organize, display, interpret, analyze and explain data.) to name a few. After an informal survey of the science teachers of my building I have concluded that they feel one of the major weaknesses of our students is their ability to read, interpret, and understand data from charts and graphs. A technology that would useful to help teach this topic would be Vernier science probes. These science probes can be used to gather data and formulate the data into useful charts and graphs. The students could use the probes to further their understanding of how the data they gather is connected to charts and graphs and how these graphs can be extended for analysis of trends found in their data.
The vernier probes relate to the ISTE NETS for students on at least three of the six standards. The standards ask the students to apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information (3), use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources (4), AND demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations (6). Each of these standards can be implemented using the vernier probes.
I think using probes in the middle school grades is a great idea! There is such a push for STEM (science, technology, education and mathematics) to be taught and emphasized earlier in a student’s academic career. Introducing middle school students to technology they can use in future careers in science, medicine, engineering, etc. is a great way to “hook” them, grab their attention and maybe spur them into these fields. What challenges do you anticipate in getting these probes and using them in your classroom? Do you think they might be too advanced for students to use? Do you think they will be very expensive and you’ll only be able to afford a few for a classroom of many?
DeleteI agree with Hilary that this is a great idea - and a great platform for both your PD initiative and your grant proposal. I imagine teachers will need professional development in how to use this new technology with their students - particularly in ways that will address the learning needs you describe (understanding data displays, etc.). You might want to contact Dr. Hemler (the science methods faculty member here at FSU) to see if she can suggest any resources for this focus. I think she uses probes in her classroom.
DeleteI agree that a computer for every student is a big issue. Teachers have a hard time integrating technology into their classrooms because the lack of equipment needed to this. I think it would be beneficial for every student to receive a laptop entering high school and continue with the same laptop until graduation. This would ensure that all students have the same opportunity and access to the tools they need to be successful in school. I am not a full time teacher at the moment and find it difficult to focus only on one particular school. I think this plan should be implemented county wide. I know that this will be an expensive goal, but worthwhile trying.
ReplyDeleteWhen I finally came up with an idea for my grant I became really excited! We recently renovated our school and received intelliboards. They are very nice! I like mine and use it everyday; however, the one draw back is that is all that we have for it for our classes. I have found a grant that I think will let me order the clickers that go with it! I think that they will really help my school improve on the technology that we already have available in the school. The "clickers" will just allow the students to become more interactive with the lessons or do some quick formative assessment at the end of the lesson to check for understanding. I think that they will be an invaluable tool to improve on something that we already have available. By receiving these, I believe that it will just take the existing technology to the next level, student engagement!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Vickie - I know I've seen research on the use of clickers to increase student engagement and to provide formative feedback. If I can locate the sources, I'll post them. This would also be a good focus for your PD initiative - how would you support teachers as they prepare to use this technology? Would they need professional development related to assessment, for example, so they could more effectively use them to support student learning and to inform their teaching?
DeleteFor my grant proposal, I will ask for additional computers for student use. Our department currently has 2 working computers for the 45 students we have receiving special education services. The 4 other Special Education teachers and myself agree that the use of computers greatly benefits our students. These students come to our classrooms to complete assignments and research using the internet. We also have contained classes for English and Math that would benefit from this resource. It is imperative that we have this resource because our students benefit greatly from the additional materials that can be accessed using the computers. Our WV Standards and the ISTE standards require the use of technology and 21st century skills in our curriculum. Research also supports the use of additional visual materials and differentiated instruction for our students that can be facilitated with this resource.
ReplyDeleteWow, two computers for forty-five students. I'm sure that it is difficult to implement any type of activity involving technology with such a lack of resources. Your students and fellow teachers will definitely benefit from having access to more computers. I hope you have success with this.
DeleteI think you are headed in the right direction for both your grant proposal - increasing the number of computers available to support instruction - AND your PD initiative - focusing on how to provide differeniated instruction for students with special needs using technology. Knowing the research base for this approach will give your a strong platform for developing this focus!
DeleteI work at the NASA IV&V Educator Resource Center in Fairmont, WV. We write several grants a year. We recently just received 12 ipads to teach space weather. So we have access to all sorts of technology that we loan out to teachers to take to their classrooms. Just recently, I have scheduled an all girls workshop that focuses on all areas of STEM, but primarily math. Girls begin to lose interest in STEM areas starting in middle school. I believe that using hands-on activities that will showcase what their future will be like if they pursue a career in STEM, will inspire them to continue studying STEM areas in high school and possibly college. So for my grant proposal, I would like to find funding to host a week long summer camp for girls. I would like to bring in girl scientists and engineers and other education specialists to give the girls a real-life experience of how exciting a career in STEM would be.
ReplyDeleteI love your grant proposal idea! This sounds like a great opportunity. I hope you are able to find funding for this project.
DeleteWhat a great idea! You have targeted a well-documented need: how to keep girls engaged in math and science. I think you could easily build on this focus for your grant proposal for your PD initiative. How could you help teachers use the technology you make available to them to engage girls (and boys, too!) in math and science? What kind of professional development could you offer?
DeleteI'm going to have some interesting results and postings in relation to the TI assignment. The place I'm going to use for the Technology Initiative component to this class is the lab school on campus. I am not doing student teaching, nor am I in a class of my own, but I have been a part of the lab school since I was a freshman on campus 4 years ago. The part that makes this interesting is that even though technology is becoming more and more incorporated into classrooms on a yearly basis, and children absolutely love technology, WV state licensing regulations only allow 15 minutes of "technology time" per day. The lab school does not have a computer in the classroom, but they have written a grant to get two iPads for the classroom, the director has a computer that they do some programs on when it fits into the unit, and they have a Kindle at their disposable. I'm curious to see how my TI assignment progresses through the rest of the semester given the resources I have to work with. But, even if mine doesn't yield many interesting results, I'm looking forward to what everyone else is doing, because it will give me ideas for the future.
ReplyDeleteI think you are in an interesting position to develop both your grant proposal and your technology initiative - particularly the professional development strategy. Pre-K is often left out of the push to integrate technology, but we know that there are lots of meaningful ways to integrate technology with these young learners. You might focus on creative ways to get around the "15 minutes of technology time" - for example, teachers using the technology to teach or share resources with the children (rather than having the children working at a computer station). I've seen lots of interesting uses of interactive whiteboards in kindergarten classrooms that would probably easily and effectively translate to preschool. I know we have at least one portable whiteboard in the School of Education - maybe it could be borrowed so you could explore its potential in your unique setting?
DeleteI work at a community behavioral health center that has an adult community focused day treatment program. This program serves roughly thirty low income individuals with moderate to severe mental health problems and the program focuses on independent living skills and therapeutic activities. While conducting my technology integration needs assessment, I consulted with the instructors of this program to discuss the types of technology that would be beneficial to the clients. The instructors reported that the clients could utilize computers and the internet to help them with various activities such as completing job/educational applications, searching for recipes (many of the clients enjoy baking), creating playlists for dances, researching nutrition and fitness, reading news sites, and many other activities. Most of these individuals do not have access to any type of technology at home and are unfamiliar with computers. When discussing the medium of technology that could meet the client’s needs, the staff reported that a computer would be more beneficial than an I-pad. So, the focus on my grant will probably be the need for three computers that can be used by our day treatment clients so that they can integrate technology into their lives to assist in developing skills that can improve their day to day functioning and increase their contributions to society.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have a very clear idea about what technology is needed in your context and how it can be used. This is a strong "jumping off point" for both your grant proposal and your technology integration initiative. I would suggest thinking about what kind of professional development the instructors might need to be able to help your clients use the computers to word process, browse the internet, access online resources, etc. How would the center integrate this technology to serve these purposes?
DeleteI found that my original post was in the wrong section. I was having a operation on Feb. 2 and trying to get ahead. Here is my post again in the right section. Needs assessment:
ReplyDeleteI teach cooking and nutrition part-time at a local community college so my needs assessment may be different from a full-time classroom teacher. I have found that at this particular school the average student is over the age of 25 and the majority of students are single parents. The college offers some after school programs for the children of the students but the programs are not offered on a regular basis or for extended meetings. I would like to investigate the development of a nutrition and cooking program for middle school age students that would met face to face 1 time a week and stay connected via Google blogger for outside the classroom activities. The first lady is involved with trying to get students to eat healthy and many children of single parents are at risk for poor nutrition and this type of class would help with this need. this college has a large community education department and this would be offered through this department. There is a kitchen lab to conduct the face to face classes. There is also a need for students without computer access to be able to have a laptop available to use during the course. One source for needed laptops may be businesses who donate computers and laptops as they update the ones they use.
Lynn - I hope all is going well with your surgery and recovery. I love your idea of using technology to support healthly lifestyles! You could certainly write a proposal to a business asking for donated computers or laptops in lieu of a more formal grant. In terms of your focus on nutrition, what would the professional development component look like? Would you do something with parents (who are also your students) or something for other instructors like yourself? I would just encourage you to focus in on your target audience and the knowledge and skills you would want that audience to develop with your support.
DeleteOnce againg, I was posting this to my blog rather than posting it to this blog.
ReplyDeleteTechnology Integration Initiative
The focus of my Technology Integration Initiative will be the use of technology in the classroom and how to help educators differentiate between using technology as an amplifier and as an educational tool. I have created a survey for the faculty members at my school to take to provide me with data on this focus. To view the survey please click on the link labeled below. I have sent an email to my principal asking him to approve the survey and forward to all faculty members to complete. As communications have continued with administration the deadline for the Survey is March 9, 2012.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AsO93Ul73ieXdHN6TVQ1Wl9hUmd2b0VGLVJhNkVVSGc