I believe the most important area of the Texas STaR Chart is the Teaching & Learning. It focuses on patterns of classroom use, frequency / design of instructional setting using digital content, content area connections, technology TEKS implementation, student mastery of technology TEKS, and online learning. Teachers need to provide learning opportunities beyond the classroom where it wouldn’t be possible without the use of technology. The classroom should predominately be student centered instead of the traditional teacher led instruction. Technology is used to assist the student in higher order thinking skills so that they may create more problem solving strategies.
More staff development is being provided to assist teachers in implementing the technology usage. In Dallas, teachers are given whiteboard training and classes on using Microsoft Office for proficiently. However, I see that content staff development still does not incorporate technology in their training. The district should consistently model their expectations to the teachers not inform them of their desires. Progress is very slow in the technology transition due to reluctance to change and uncertainty of implementation.
In my school, the trend has decreased for the area of Teaching & Learning. This is in part to the transition of the 6th grade team being moved to the junior high campus in Dallas. In elementary school, where the 6th graders were prior to 2006, the technology was more widely used and expected. The scores were significantly higher in schools that did use the technology in the classroom on a regular basis. Overall, the trend is increasing due to more exposure and acceptance by the teachers.
The implementation and mastery of the TEKS is directly related to the teacher’s implementation and mastery of technology. Therefore, I believe that the focus needs to be placed on the teacher’s knowledge and skills. The district needs to have a clear vision and become better models for what is expected. The administrators should be clear about their technology vision and incorporate technology.
More staff development is being provided to assist teachers in implementing the technology usage. In Dallas, teachers are given whiteboard training and classes on using Microsoft Office for proficiently. However, I see that content staff development still does not incorporate technology in their training. The district should consistently model their expectations to the teachers not inform them of their desires. Progress is very slow in the technology transition due to reluctance to change and uncertainty of implementation.
In my school, the trend has decreased for the area of Teaching & Learning. This is in part to the transition of the 6th grade team being moved to the junior high campus in Dallas. In elementary school, where the 6th graders were prior to 2006, the technology was more widely used and expected. The scores were significantly higher in schools that did use the technology in the classroom on a regular basis. Overall, the trend is increasing due to more exposure and acceptance by the teachers.
The implementation and mastery of the TEKS is directly related to the teacher’s implementation and mastery of technology. Therefore, I believe that the focus needs to be placed on the teacher’s knowledge and skills. The district needs to have a clear vision and become better models for what is expected. The administrators should be clear about their technology vision and incorporate technology.
It is so good that the teachers are being developed. This, I beleive is the key to reaching the Target Tech level.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that the district should model ways to implement technology instead of simply telling us that they want to see more technology use. Administration modelling technology use also ties into Educator Preparation and Development as well as Teaching and Learning.
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