Posted by ijduran in : ETIL Standards, Vision, Integration, Interactive White Boards ,
Aurora Public Schools has over 1400 classrooms and over half of them now have interactive white boards (IWB). Recent funding from the mill funds and stimulus dollars have catapulted the number of boards added to classrooms. It is more common to walk in a school and see interactive white boards used for a variety of purposes. On a recent visit to one school I saw a teacher using an IWB to demonstrate a writing example from CSAP prep material. I also saw another teacher set up a board for students to come up and demonstrate their knowledge with fractions and decimals using the graphing chart tools. The lesson ended with the teacher collecting informal data using the ActivExpressions (clickers) to determine which students needed more support. I also walked through the school and saw a number of classrooms not using the technology at that time.
But wait, there’s more
Posted by ijduran in : Professional Learning, Integration, Interactive White Boards ,
I was at Peoria Elementary School last week for the 100 Mini Trial Kick-off (another post). We had our meeting in the library where they have an interactive white board and a projector. The area in the library is set up like a classroom and this is where Peoria students participate in learning. This is also where the Peoria staff comes together for learning.
What struck me today is they had bins/totes on the tables and inside there were scissors, crayons, pencils, pens and Activ Expressions (aka clickers). Technology in our district is now starting to be just as common as the tools that have been in classrooms for decades. This is a great example of how technology is having an impact in learning environments across the district.
Peoria uses the response systems with students and staff during professional learning. They have a broad range of uses and this just shows me how technology can be infused into practices and become a common tool. As Dan Davis, our Chief Information Officer, has said, “We want students to have some type of mobile device that is so common that a student does not even notice they have one.”
How used and worn is your technology?
Posted by ijduran in : Monitoring Technology, Training, managing change ,
In recent Tech Bucks sessions we have discussed how important it is to monitor the use of technology in our classrooms. Technology can easily become really cool stuff that has superficial impact in a classroom or it can be viewed and used as dynamic tool to transform a classroom. I am more of an advocate of the latter believing that the addition of new technology can significantly increase engagement of student learning and teacher enthusiasm.
The International Society of Technology in Education recently came out with a Classroom Observation Tool that can be used in a variety of ways to monitor the use of technology integration in a classroom. I like the way they focus on student roles and teacher roles and really asking the question, “How essential was technology to the teaching and learning activities?”
See more of Monitoring Technology
Posted by ijduran in : Monitoring Technology, ETIL Standards, Vision, Leadership, Integration ,
This month’s Tech Bucks has focused on some ways you can monitor the use of technology in your schools. As we continue to acquire more technology it is essential that we have a clear purpose for how it will be used in classrooms and beyond. Administrators must be willing to have clear expectations and support for teachers and staff to learn how to utilize the tools available to them in the most effective manner.
In addition, we all must have a clear understanding of what we expect our students to be able to do as a 21st Century Learning. Understanding the standards for our students in grades K-8th are essential to have a clearer picture on what one can expect to see in a learning environment. I have also been a large proponent that if we expect our students to meet a certain level of understanding at each grade level then it is critical our teachers can do that also as a minimum expecation.
After going through the ISTE Online Class on NETS, please post your comments and thoughts below and feel free to comment on what other administrators or PT staff say. Thanks to Tonya Thompson from East MS for getting us started!
Posted by ijduran in : Uncategorized ,
I was in D.C. last week where I had the privilege of attending the “Summit on Education Reform and Hispanic Education Attainment.” The purpose of the summit was to increase awareness and share information focusing on the “promising” practices being implemented nationwide and the positive outcomes they are producing for Hispanic students. The speakers represented a wide-cross section of key stakeholders from across the nation. Speakers were as broad as the secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings to the superintendent of schools from Hidaligo Independent School District in Texas. From policy creator to practitioner the speakers provided illuminating information I believe we can learn from here in APS.
So why is the discussion so important to the White House and our nation? It is simply a matter of numbers, both from a census standpoint and definitely from an economic standpoint. In 2005-2006 there were 50 million students in our schools. 10 million of them were Hispanic. In 2023, Hispanics will become the majority minority. Maybe they will stop being referred to as the minority by then! However, by 2050, if trends continue, the Hispanic population will reach 39% and they will be the largest low income and limited English proficient group in the U.S. Now, that is a reason to panic and to wonder if we are doing everything we can today to stop that future trend.
See more on Hispanic…His – Panic…A Nation’s Panic?
I was at Peoria Elementary School last week for the 100 Mini Trial Kick-off (another post). We had our meeting in the library where they have an interactive white board and a projector. The area in the library is set up like a classroom and this is where Peoria students participate in learning. This is also where the Peoria staff comes together for learning.
What struck me today is they had bins/totes on the tables and inside there were scissors, crayons, pencils, pens and Activ Expressions (aka clickers). Technology in our district is now starting to be just as common as the tools that have been in classrooms for decades. This is a great example of how technology is having an impact in learning environments across the district.
Peoria uses the response systems with students and staff during professional learning. They have a broad range of uses and this just shows me how technology can be infused into practices and become a common tool. As Dan Davis, our Chief Information Officer, has said, “We want students to have some type of mobile device that is so common that a student does not even notice they have one.”
How used and worn is your technology? 