Reflections - EDLD 5362 Information Systems Management

Self-Assessment
This class, Information Systems Management, allowed me to get a better look at the importance of student data. I already knew the importance of student data because I was the registrar prior to becoming a teacher. The class confirmed the adage, student data is what pays the bills, plain and simple. We must get this right for everything else to be right. Additionally, I learned that, "Four key ideas continually surface when i...
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Reflections - EDLD 5306
Concepts of Educational Technology

To borrow words from the assignments for EDLD 5306, I examined the role and responsibilities of an educational technology leader in the 21st century information landscape. Each week focused on different elements.
Week 1: looked at educational technology in terms of the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology, the Technology Applications TEKS, and the Technology Applications Inventory.
This was my first occasion to really look at these items....
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Week 4 Reflections

I like the videos assigned this week! I especially enjoyed the interview with Larry Rosenstock[1]. I viewed this particular video several times, not just to get quotes correct, but because the content is powerful. His point of view is very unique to education as I know it. Rosenstock understands that technology and academics can co-exist. He feels that we should not have a non-college bound track. I tend to agree with him; one of my friends was a special needs counselor a...
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Reflections - Week 3

This week was extremely trying because it is our spring break. I had to try to stay focused, especially since others were depending upon me to do my part of the lesson. I re-worked my curriculum for How Coyote Stole Fire using Cast UDL Book Builder Web site. "Universal Design for Learning is a set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn. UDL provides a blueprint for creating instructional goals, methods, materials, an...
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Do we meet the needs of all of our students?  That is a question that plagues educators, whether they admit it or not.  "The challenge posed by greater diversity and greater accountability is to enable students with widely divergent needs, skills, and interests to attain the same high standards. "(Rose and Myer, 2002.)  As I reflect upon the diversity of our campus, I feel that sometimes we forget that we do have high standards to attain.  The needs of our students are as divergent or differe...
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Reflection One: Educational Leadership Constituent Council Standard 2 “ELCC Standard 2: Candidates who complete the program are educational leaders who have the knowledge and ability to promote the success of all students by promoting a positive school culture, providing an effective instructional program, applying best practice to student learning, and designing comprehensive professional growth plans for staff.
Curriculum management is essential to success in our schools. The information...
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What is curriculum management?  According to Dr. Elvis H. Arterbury,  Professor, Department of Educational Administration of Lamar University, "It is the process of providing leadership on the development, implementation, and evaluation of curriculum and assessments that focus on academic success for all students. (2011)"

This week I looked at the six components of the Texas Education Agency Learning System including the minimum state provisions, desirable local provisions for each of the six ...
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The assignments for Digital Graphics, Animation, and Desktop Publishing were fun to create though some were challenging. 

The first project was to create my "personal brand."  I was able to work on the logo for my side-business, my travel agency.  I think I liked this project because it forced me to focus on a project I started at least a year ago.  It also forced me to focus on adjectives that describes me.  I learned how to apply the elements of design to creating a logo.  I teach the ele...

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"Whether you’re creating a Hollywood feature film or tightening a vacation video, the challenge is to take raw footage and within the limitation of equipment and budget, transform it into something compelling and watchable (Lonquist, 1994)."

I found this quote memorable because I 'try' to edit videos of our Sunday worship services. I do try to transform what I have captured, raw video, into something compelling and watchable. This quote validates what I try to do with our worship video...
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Quality Indicator 1

Context of Study: PAISD, as well as many other school districts, have a large teacher turn-around rate.  This is due to the fact that new teachers leave the district in record numbers after the first two years in the profession.  This may be from burn-out or frustration.  Sometimes they may feel that the demands are too great or they have no one to talk to for support.  Whatever the cause, I think that effective professional development can help prepare new teacher...

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Professional Development as a Tool for New Teacher Retention CARE Model: Planning Tool

Identify Concerns that must change (look to the future)

(Assign points to concerns from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important issues to consider.)

1.         New teachers leave the district and school within 2 years

2.         Training is not relevant

3.         There is a lack of support from administrators and veteran teachers

Identify Affirmations that must be sustained (look to the present)

...
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Action research, according to Dana, is intended to bring about change of some kind (Dana, 2009). Action research could be used to find "best practices" for a particular school or district.  Action research is not one size fits all: it is unique to the school or district completing the research. Research should involve input from all stakeholders in the school district.  This includes principals, new and veteran teachers, parents, students, community, and district level administrators. I love ...
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• What benefits do you see in educators knowing how to design and implement online learning?

            As I continue to work with Schoology, I now see great benefits in educators knowing how to design and implement online learning.  I just completed the Advanced Technical Credit Part I Online Training Session which is required to teach statewide articulated courses.  One thing I learned in the training is "Advances in technology have changed the workplace in a dramatic way. Stud...

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