Digital Storytelling - Hawkins

Ebooks and digital storybooks are new technology to me. I am excited to learn about them, and the more I know, the more I see their potential! As with so much in today's world, technology is playing an important role in how we learn and teach. Storytelling through digital medias is a great way to spark the interest of reluctant readers. It can also be a way to share important information in a dynamic, moving, and memorable format. Currently, our media center does not use digital stories or ebooks. Until recently completing the digital story project for this class, I had never used them before either. While working on the digital story project I learned how involved and time consuming the creation process can be. I think media specialist could help eliminate some of the headaches which would surely arise with doing this type of project with students. Media specialist could help set-up the resource kits by gathering quality information and research sources together. The media specialist could also help the teacher instruct students on using Moving Maker. Having students, especially younger ones, create a digital story will be time-consuming and frustrating, but with help/collaboration and proper preparation, the teacher and media specialist can make it work.

Technology in School

Our school has a full time technology teacher and two computer labs. One lab is specifically designed for instruction and contains a smart board. There are sign up sheets for teachers to sign up and bring a class for a lesson. Also, once a month each class is scheduled for a 50 minute lesson that the technology teacher conducts. With this being said, I feel that out school does not utilize the technology specialist correctly. Most of the lessons taught end up being basic kidpix activities or games. While the technology teacher is availble to help teachers with tech questions and teaching more in-depth lessons, it is not something that she solicits. Many teachers that are not tech savvy do not make a point to have lessons taught. This is also the case for technology training for staff. In certain cases, the administration asks the technology teacher to present lessons on new software that we are required to use. At these times, the instruction is valuable and there are usually treats available for the staff to enjoy. I think this is a nice touch and helps to create a positive atmosphere at the end of a long day. There aren't regularly scheduled classes or updates on new software that is available.

In the event that I am required to provide technology training I would try to have a regularly scheduled time / day of the month. This may actually require more than one session to adequately help all of the staff. I would also provide refreshments if possible. I think it is difficult to encourage staff members to come to a training when they already have a never ending to-do list. I also think it is important to provide hand outs and allow the staff to have computer access if appropriate. I know that I learn much better by doing. It is difficult to simply sit, listen, and observe. With technology always changing, it is essential that staff members be kept up to date on various resources.

Technology Training--Baker

According to my sources at the school where I observe, teachers’ levels of knowledge regarding technology range from the very proficient to the very inefficient. This appears to be the consensus in many of the postings I have read on other blogs within our class. There are many older teachers who have a total aversion to any and all technology. Most teachers seem to be functional, though. This year, for the first time, all teachers are expected to keep, and to update weekly, classroom blogs. The structure and organization of teachers’ blogs vary depending upon their desires and how much time they have to devote to the task. On the basic level, teachers may simply post their daily agendas or class plans. On the complex level, blogs may feature links to class materials including handouts and lecture resources, as well as helpful web sites. During this school year, technology training has consisted of one staff development session on blogs and one staff development session on Nettrekker. Most training has focused on various teaching strategies, educational theory and Georgia Performance Standards, rather than on specific technology training.

In order to support productive technology training, the facilitator should introduce new technology by having teachers and staff role play and actually use the resources. This will provide practice for them and the opportunity to brainstorm with other teachers about the possibilities of the resources. Ideally, technology training should be presented during preplanning, on staff development days, during snack-and-shares, and/or after school.

One problem to productive technology staff development is ineffective resources. If, for example, you present a new technology, it must be available for teachers to access. You cannot hail the possibilities of using an LCD projector for instruction and then have one for the entire school. Time is also a significant barrier to productive technology staff development. Teachers have so much on their plates, that it is often very difficult for them to find the time to get comfortable with a new form of technology.

Lastly, if I were to provide technology staff development to the teachers in my school, I would provide a presentation with multiple forms of instruction and appeal to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles. I would show teachers technology that can help them meet their GPS. I would respect the teachers’ time and have training that would be beneficial to them. I would present resources that they could easily and quickly implement into their curriculum. Lastly, I would also be certain to follow up with participants and provide additional support after the training session.

Technology Training - Hawkins

Our school system provides a lot of access to technology training. At our school alone, we have someone come each month to provide a "technology update" to all the teachers. This means they learn about new and different programs available or how to use something like I-Parent or Smartboards. The media specialist at my school also tries to encourage different technology use of kid-safe and friendly search engines and websites (such as Nettrekker and GALILEO). The county really tries to help teachers and students stay on the cutting edge of technology for educational purposes. Also, because a lot of the teachers at my school are younger, they are familiar and comfortable with using the programs and systems provided. I think the hardest thing about incorporating technology is getting teachers to practice with it and use it on a regular basis. I think once they do that, they are much more likely to use daily and encourage their students to use it.

As far as staff development goes for technology training I would try to provide many opportunities for teachers and students to access the tools and programs. It is also important to not only provide instruction on using the systems, but also provide practice time. You don't become an expert on something overnight or after one training session. Having short handouts and step-by-step instructions available also helps the technology get used more frequently. Collaborating with teachers on lessons and units is another way to help encourage and integrate technology into classrooms.

Technology Training

I find it very frustrating that their isn't much technology training happening in my school. We have a technology teacher in our building and I trully feel that she doesn't provide the staff or students with much helpful training. I feel like her time could be used in such a valuable way and it really isn't. I think she spends a lot of time making sure that the computers are working etc... and not enough time actually teaching good valuable technology lessons and offering training to teachers. She offers trainings on certain things that all teachers in the building have to use, for example this year we are all required to do our own progress monitoring for RTI, so we have been trained on how to do this. Occasionally we have had an after school optional training on a certain technology topic. But these are offered very rarely. I think that so much more could be done, but unfortuneately it isn't.

You can sign up for certain courses through the district on PD Express and earn PLU's. In-tech is offered every semester, as well as some other courses. These are quite a time committment though. I like the simple, quick trainings, and I like the option of completing them on your own at your own pace and timeline. I feel great frustration that more isn't offered. The media specialist at my school provides no tech training at all, and unfortuneately little is offered through our tech teacher. I know everyone is busy and pulled in a million different directions and I am sure that is the case here too. Too much to do, and not enough time to do it. It seems to be a very common problem in all areas of education!

Technology Training - Cates

We currently have an excellent system of technology training in my county. The professional development staff provide a wide range of trainings though a wide range of methods. Teachers sign up on our county website using Blackboard, which monitors their progress towards their plu goals. The selection of technology trainings is huge, and content training can be done at the school (if enough teachers at a school request the training), at our county training facility, or even over Blackboard (both self-directed or as we do in MEDT courses). These varied methods allow faculty and staff to use the training in a way that is most comfortable for them, thereby increasing the likelyhood they will go through our county for training. The staff is knowledgable and courteous, always willing to work with faculty and staff on designing training that will work well for both.

I currently use our internal shared drive to provide cheat sheets and training information to my faculty. I have a folder in which I keep all of the material, and have provided an internal link to everyone. I keep an updated FAQ there for teachers to use, saving me a tremendous amount of time.

School TV News/Video Distribution--Baker

At the school where I complete my observations, Kennesaw Mountain High School, in Cobb County the media specialists have essentially no responsibilities in the area of school TV news, video distribution, or announcements. The school TV news is aired weekly by the students in the elective class, TV and Video Production. This elective is taught by Ms. Jackie Collier from the Career Technology Department. I have personally seen these classes at work, and Ms. Collier and her students are absolutely AMAZING! I can’t even begin to express the quality of KMHS’s program. Students from grades 10-12 participate in the tiered levels of video production. Depending upon the student’s experience he/she is assigned level 1, 2, or 3, and his/her responsibilities are based upon that specific level. Several students, typically seniors, are anchors on KMTV. Weekly topics on KMTV include upcoming school and community events, sports, weekend previews of music and movies, school programs and activities and more. You can hear a pin drop during KMTV each Friday. The students absolutely LOVE it. It provides them the opportunity to see themselves and their classmates in features like “Faces of the Week” as well as in reviews of the previous week’s sporting events. KMTV provides these teenagers with a chance to truly be the voice of their school. Ms. Collier is also responsible for the announcements that loop throughout the day on the school TVs. If a teacher has an announcement to post, he/she sends it the video production room.

The announcements in the morning are handled by the administrative office and include the pledge, a moment of quiet reflection, and various club announcements. They are read by the student government. Teachers individually use GPB in their classrooms. They have been exposed to its myriad benefits through snack-and-shares and professional development opportunities.