EDLD 5301 Week 2.

This week in EDLD 5301 we read more about action research and identified a lot of real examples used in the school. We read several types of action research projects and identified the importance of each one. My favorite part of the week 2 assignment was watching actual school leaders discuss the positive influences of action research in their school district. They all gave helpful tips on deciding what action research project to use, the best time to start it, and how to find the best method for getting the most our of an action research for a specific school need.

Action Reseach

Action research is a strong developmental strategy used by professionals and administrators. Action research is done by a thorough process of posing questions, collecting data, analyzing results, conducting constant research of literature, and reflection. Action research is not finding out why we do things, or even a method for discovering flaws, but it is a tool used to identify ways in which we can improve. All of this is done for the sole purpose of establishing a firm foundation for school improvement, as well as providing a blueprint for executing a beneficial change for the entire school body. After research is completed, teachers can evaluate gained knowledge and results to address a specific concern more effectively. Professional Learning Communities (PLC’s) and other school leadership teams can work together frequently to discuss and analyze school concerns and results of previous action researches. Action research can be used for many types of school related issues such as student achievement results, and then that information is valuable in guiding educators to the desired outcome. It is a great tool for stimulating the learning environment and encouraging constant growth, development, and reinforcement. With shared knowledge, educators can come together and develop an effective plan for addressing that concern.

Action research can be conducted by both teachers and administrators. School leaders can use action research to organize high demands so that more focus can be designated into learning more information as a head leader. Action research is a quest for knowledge that will impact the learning community.

EDLD 5306 Course Reflection

Course Reflection

1.What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned?

Receiving a Masters in Educational Leadership in Technology appealed to me because it was not only something that I found interesting, but it was also something that I felt I needed more experience in. I knew that technology had a powerful role inside the classroom, but I wanted to be able to discover more ways that I can use technology to make me a better teacher. I also thought this course may put me on the path to being an educational leader and giving me more career options in a school district. I really feel confident that this course has helped me to learn more ways that I can use technology to help my students. I really enjoyed following the steps in the assignment to create blogs and wiki’s. I can only imagine the many things that I can integrate that into the classroom. I already feel more skilled in technology and anxious to learn more.


2.To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not?

Although I do not have a classroom, this course has really made me realized the value of the technology that we own at my school. I never really realized how much technology is used in an academic library. When I was younger there were card catalogs that held all the library information on paper files. Now we have database systems that hold all our information and makes research easier. E-books and online journals have allowed us to condense space and give more study room for students. Technology even allows us the opportunity to find resources that we don’t own at other libraries. I feel that this course is making me more valuable to my workplace because my interest has increased in other technologies that I have not used, or that we do not own yet. This course is definitely relative to many professions in and out of the classroom. Technology is influential all over the world.



3.What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?

I feel that I am somewhat disadvantaged because I work at a college library which means I do not have a classroom of my own yet. I am grateful for all the material I have learned, but I am very anxious to be able to execute them into a classroom and district of my own. I feel that being inside my own classroom and having some experience working in a school district will help give me the opportunity to use some of the knowledge I have gained during this course. Luckily, I do have access to students where I am given several opportunities to assist them with their education. Hopefully, all the intern hours I will be getting in this course will help me to network with some of the school’s in my area, and maybe I will be able to have my own classroom before the end of my graduate experience.



4.Were you successful in carrying out the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you?

I was able to successfully complete all of the course assignments in my first grad course. All of the assignment information was laid out nicely and the step by step instruction was very easy to interpret and follow. The only parts of this course where I found some minor difficulties was in following some of the general information for this course. There was a lot of course information in various places and sometimes I felt like it was almost a scavenger hunt to find the answer to a specific question. However, I was very pleased with how easily I could contact someone for assistance and how quickly responses were given. Receiving timely response is very important In this course because time passes by so quickly in a 5 week course. All of those factors, along with my time management and dedication, played a role in being able to successfully complete this course.



5.What did you learn from this course…about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes?

The first week of the course really forced me to reflect on my learning style and attitude towards technology. I am a very hard worker who spends a lot of time on my work; however I tend to shy away from leadership roles. I think my personality may interfere with the development of my own leadership experience. I am just starting off in my career and this course has encouraged me to step out more so I can let others in on what I spend so much time learning. I’ve always liked technology, but this course has made me more excited about technology advances. I really enjoyed working on the assignments where I used technology to create a task. It can be very tedious doing something you’ve never done before, but seeing the results of my completed work was rewarding. It was nice doing something more than the average typical assignments, it makes you see the same excitement students can feel using technology in the classroom.

EDLD 5306 Course Reflection

E-RATE Powerpoint

National Educational Technology Plan

The National Education Technology Plan, Transforming American Education; Learning Powered by Technology, urges for application of advanced technology to be used in our education system to improve student learning, accelerate the integration of effective practices, and use data and information to support continuous improvement. Each goal addresses the five essential components of learning with technology; which are learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. It calls for a revolutionary change and encourages our education system to be clear about the outcomes we seek, collaborate to redesign structures and processes for effectiveness, efficiency, and flexibility, and to hold ourselves accountable for progression and results.  The plan reinforces the fact that modern technology is affecting our 21^st century learners, as well as our entire business society.  Rapid development of technology in the world demand ongoing assessments to analyze the continued development in school integration and accessibility. Assessment should also be careful to measure just what it intends to in order to get accurate results. Technology based learning should provide engaging and powerful learning experiences and content. Another goal is that all students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and wherever necessary. Comprehensive infrastructure is necessary for us to move beyond the tradition classroom model into a learning model that expands to anywhere in the world where adequate internet connection is provided. I feel that this plan sets high but achievable standards for emerging education and technology in schools.  It is very thorough about methods to take to achieve this plan.

District Technology Plan...Beaumont I.S.D.

Beaumont Independent School District has goals to continue to be an amazing district with a positive and motivating school environment. With the support of growing technology experiences, the school district can continue to develop and improve in technology. Their technology plan displays the goals, development strategies, and assessment of telecommunication services for the past 5 years. They are currently in line with the Long Range Plan for Technology; however growth has been stagnant over the last two years. Although the Long Range plan classifies B.I.S.D. as developing techs, I think it would be great if they could become target techs in infrastructure, as well as other key areas.  The four major areas of the technology plan are integrating technology into teaching and learning, professional development, administration and support, and infrastructure and technology.  Beaumont I.S.D.’s goals are to incorporate technology as a part of education, provide staff development for emerging technology and integration, include technology based info when making instructional management decisions, and establish human and technical infrastructure to improve access to data and educational resources and communications.  The 21^st century learners live in a very technologically driven society. They depend on educators’ to provide the information that they need to succeed in society. In-service is made available every year during distance training days to support leadership technology development. They have met requirements of using technology for classroom and administrative task. Regular meetings are arranged to insure that Beaumont I.S.D. continues to stay in line with the Long Range Plan for Technology, as well as No Child Left Behind.

Post Web Conference

I really enjoyed my first web conference October 12^th. It was really great to be able to see and talk with my colleagues from all over the world at one time.  I find web conferences to be valuable in my online class because it provides weekly opportunity to have direct communication.  During my first week of graduate school I was overwhelmed with information and requirements, but  communicating with others in  my class that are also working towards their masters helped me to relax and feel more in control. A lot of information was made clear as we covered a lot of handouts and discussed a lot of class requirements.  Before enrolling in graduate school, I was unaware that I had internship requirements. Although I’m always nervous about internships and trying to arrange them into my busy schedule, I’m always amazed at the value the experience brings to my career. I also did not know that this course could guide me into getting a principal certification.  I’m very excited about all of the opportunities and directions that could be available in my future!

Technology Assessment

Technology is very important in the overall development of students and teachers in a school district. Assessing educators’ technology leadership knowledge and skills, as well as student technology skill levels and their perceived needs provide all the basic information to create an individualized technology development plan. Standard judgment is the foundation for assessment, and the assessment sets the layout for standard expectations of skills. Assessments are valuable in providing a reasonably accurate account of what is known. The information found in a technology assessment is imperative in designing a plan of skills and knowledge that may need improvement.  Once all information is gathered from the assessment, the process of planning a thorough and beneficial plan can begin.  However, as with any assessment, there is the possibility of error in measurement, validity and reliability. Nevertheless, a good assessment will have multiple methods to help balance any possible underestimation of measurement.  Not only is assessment a valuable tool for designing a development plan, but it is also a great way for teachers to assess themselves and feel urgency for growth and change. Assessment has a tremendous amount of influence on motivation and learning. Technology assessments are also great at pointing out areas that are commendable so that are can be minimized in the technology development plan instead of becoming repetitive knowledge. If a school is classified as target technology in educator preparation and development, or has high scores in the area of leadership support in online learning on the assessment, then more attention can be given for upgrading another area.