Weekend 2 Day 2

Excel, charts, graphs, my head is spinning. Well is was at the start and it still kinda is. A big thanks to Corry for helping me throughout the day. The best way to learn is to actually doing it yourself. I had to write down what I was doing so the next time I want to use excel I had something to fall back on. I see how Excel can be a very useful tool if I become good at it.

Weekend 2 Day 1

I was amazed today by the flip camcorder. I never knew how easy it could be to upload a video. I went home and told my wife about it. The positive uses of this are endless. I teach an advanced weightlifting class. During the first few weeks all I teach are fundamental and correct lifting form. I could use the flip camcorder to record each student’s lifts then plug in into my computer and actually let the students watch themselves perform the lifts. I could critique the lifts with the students watching. What a useful tool!!!

I'm actually feeling like I'm making progress in the technology world. I have made a conscious effort to not use paper whenever possible. I'm weaning myself from my paper "security blanket". Seriously, it has been an interesting week of experimenting with blogs and wikis. I am working out the kinks on my blog. I am learning that the time it takes to explore and experiment is well worth it in the long run. Thus far, I had not provided myself the time to explore. I even used excel to create a document instead of a table. Much easier! Let's hope I can figure out the whole imovie concept. I can't wait to learn how to use garage band.

Charts, Graphs, and analyzing OH MY!

Using the IIRC makes it very easy to look at data and see how things are going. It was very useful to be able to give to the point, simple explanations of the material that I found on the website. I think you can make the data easy to read and summaries to the point, teachers are more likely to read it and take more interest. It does not take long to look at our IIRC projects and see how you can convey a message simply by cutting/pasting charts and graphs.

Your flip camera was neat tool to use to keep a "diary" of activities that you do. You can capture great moments by having something like this ready to go. I think it would be a great tool to use at the high school b/c too frequently we hear how little students tell their parents about what happens at school. By having videos they can see the collaboration, activities, projects that students are working on.

I think the biggest impact on me for this weekend was our exercise that deal with leaders and how few have a technology vision. It really got me thinking what would I want my staff to do, learn, etc. To frequently administrators are too focused on the day not about next week or even tomorrow. Having a good vision can help you make decisions about technology...what you want, ways to implement it, money need for it. To often a fade comes through the school and we jump on it b/c we think it must be good b/c everyone is using it. We don't do the research and we have no idea what impact this may have next year b/c we have not thought that far. Make a vision and keep it where you can see it. Don't look tract of the big picture.

Takes Time to Save Time

I just laugh when you said that what we are doing is going to save us time as administrators. I only laugh b/c it is taking us a long time to set something up to save us time in the future. Excel takes me over the edge sometimes yet I am still amazed by its power. They need an easy to read flipchart for all the functions and abilities of Excel. It is easy to see how someone could spend hours getting "lost" in Excel. My only concern is I will lose a lot since Excel is not something I use on a regular basis. It is just like everything else it takes practice and time to become familiar with something. I found it very helpful to see how easy you can manipulate a complex system like a salary schedule...may come in handy if I become a negotiator for our union.

Excel is not the only thing that has left me a little overwhelmed. I am feeling a little shaky on my wiki. The blog has a much easier tutorial and is quite easy to navigate. I cannot say I am feeling that comfortable about the wiki. I know just as anything else I just need to play with it to have a better feel for how it works.

Lastly you made a very powerful statement today that some may not have taken totally to heart. When you said that you wanted us to feel frustrated and overwhelmed before giving us the answer b/c that was too easy. It is always good to have those feeling again b/c when you teach the same material for so many years you at times lose track of what it is like to be the student that is trying but just can't get it. Thanks.

Weekend 2, Day 2

Oh what can I say about Excel... I really don't like it. I thought that the stuff we learned today was really cool, and I know that the more time I spend working with Excel, the better I will feel about it. Today, I really felt like I was completely lost. Excel and I just really don't seem to get along. I did like the salary schedules that we created, I just need to create a cheat sheet so I can remember all of the shortcuts that will really come in handy and save me a lot of time when I have to use Excel.
I did come to a conclusion in class today...I may become familiar with Excel in my time as an administrator, but I am going to take Dr. DeSpain's advice and surround myself with people who are much more skilled in Excel than I am. That way, I will be able to use it when I need it, but I will have people available to help me with questions that I have.

I am looking forward to creating my multimedia presentation on IMovie. I have never used this program and I would like to learn. I think it would be a great program to teach my students, so this project is going to be a great learning exercise for me.

Weekend 2, Day 1

I was very happy to have time to work in class today on the IIRC project. It was nice to be able to go through the data and ask questions as we went along, because I had a lot of questions that needed to be answered! I really liked this assignment because I was able to compare Sherrard with area schools and it was amazing to see that these schools were meeting and exceeding standards, while Sherrard was on Academic Early Warning. Obviously, we need to get this figured out and get our Math scores up!

I was fascinated by the Flip camera that Dr. Closen showed us in class...I really think that I will have to purchase this in the near future. I love that you can plug it right into the USB port of your computer and have access to it immediately. I could definitely use this for my evaluations that I have to do for EDL 560 in the next couple of weeks, it will save me a lot of time to use this camera!

Los problemas de un imigrante digital

I was struck today with 'language' of Excel and the frustration we were experiencing trying to come up with something that was simple, yet complex. Dr. Closen's comment about how students feel reminds me of my language students who get frustrated when trying to handle basic verbs and adjectives in my world language classes. Once you are 'in the know' things click and one can be amazed at how easy and convenient handling information can be. But until they do it is a test of willpower. I see many parallels between being a digital immigrant and working with world languages. Both are foreign to those not used to them, but second nature to 'natives'. As an immigrant, I had a day today where I felt I was going through Ellis Island and couldn't effectively communicate with the people who were trying to admit me to the country. As technology grows ever more complex, the immigrant must keep up to what is second nature to a native. This is frustrating but necessary and 'enlightening' once a person figures things out. I think the 'teachable moment' of class today was the constant reminder of the opportunities and tribulations of being an immigrant and the absolute necessity of moving forward.

Excel Bliss

I can admit I felt a bit overwhelmed with Excel begin to begin with! It was a bliss to me all the different function options and how to enter them to gather data. I was creating a cheat sheet of how to copy items and move data from one sheet to another in hopes making it easier. There's so much that Excel has to offer that I never really paid attention to.

Creating the salary schedule was definately a challenge and tested our patience (mine at least) but it only helped me want to figure it out more. I plan to use Excel more when compiling my data since now I know how to do it in half the time as I was doing in Microsoft Word!

Have a great couple of weeks everyone!

Weekend 2, Day 2

WOW! I guess "comfortable with Excel" is a relative phrase.... Seems that I am actually comfortable with, as Jamie pointed out, that which I use on a regular basis. I learned quite a bit today! I learned a few new functions from Dr. Closen today, and they will save me a tremendous amount of time in the future. (Thanks, Dr. Closen!)

I enjoyed working together with my group to figure out the problems of learning something new. Transfer this to the classroom, where students struggle together and I think that it builds a sense of community, and a sense of pride when a problem is solved.

Practical experience like this excites me (Could you tell, Karen?) and I'm eager to learn things that I can put to use. This wasn't just "another hoop" to jump through - it's something we can all use. Sorry if I stepped on anyone's toes... Have a great week, everyone!

Ugh! Excel

I cannot believe how stupid I feel when it came to working with Excel today in class. I think I have completely avoided using Excel, because I have an electronic grade book that does all the calculations for me. I guess I never saw the purpose of it. Then, if had I to use Excel, my husband would have to help me, but unlike me, he uses Excel every day, since is an engineer. But, now going through this class, I can see the importance of using it has an administration to manipulate data. I am learning, slowly, and begrudgently, but I am quite determined to get better!

Equity of Access

I was intrigued by many things in class today, including the FLIP camera, the National Technology standards and the analysis of our schools' administrators with regards to where they fall in the continuum. I was particularly intrigued at the idea of equity of technology access among teachers, students, and sub-groups such as ELL and Special Education students within a school. Working in a school with a relatively high SES, I have noticed how much many of our students rely more on their own personal technology and what they have at home, compared to what the school offers. Given the filters and aging nature of many of our computers, students who have means simply bring their own laptops or save work for home, simply because it is more easily done there. Our school technology people have made this home use easier by creating a home-accessible U-drive and going paperless with regards to grades, parent newsletters and most communication. There are, however, 11% of the students who fall into the low SES category who can't do this, and they oftentimes lag behind their peers in finishing technology-related projects. It is "assumed" that if they need computer access outside of school, they can go to the library; given where they live and the nature of many of their family structures this is not equitable at all. Having a few of these students in class, I am concerned that this 'have not' in a world of digital natives who 'have' has led to increased low SES dropouts and a host of other issues.

Weekend 2 Day 1.5

I'm short one post so I'm making up for lost time. I learned a lot about IIRC today and how to really search for data. I enjoyed looking about the trends of our school and comparing ours against others with similar demographics. I found that our school is doing pretty well comparatively. I keep leaving my classes woindering why none of this wasn't taught in my undergrad......

Jon

Weekend 2 Day 1

Today we looked at what our schools are doing well, ok, and below average. I think I sometimes forget that my principal is doing everything that he can to give me what I need. I am critical of him a lot when it comes to technology but I'm also not the one in his shoes. There are sometimes good reasons why things are the way they are. I need keep in mind my feelings as a teacher and do what I can as an administrator to fix them. So far my classes have made me see our school in a different light. I need to try to stay positive and help the school community as much as I can.

Jon

The Flip Camcorder

I was really impressed with the ability of the Flip Camcorder that Dr. Closen showed us in class today. I could not believe how easy it would be to use in the classroom. There would be no cables to fumble around with, and the video could be up and running in a matter of minutes. I really liked how the camcorder could be plugged directly into the USB drive. I also kept thinking of all the possibilities with MovieMaker and PowerPoint, where students could create unique video projects for class. I am seriously thinking about purchasing one because of how user-friendly it is and the endless possibilities for it in the classroom.

Weekend 2 Day 1 Reflection

I can honestly admit that I have not looked into the ISTE in depth prior today in class. There is a technology committee in the district; however we are rarely informed on information pertaining to technology. In my district there is only two tech personnel and a few aides making it difficult to communicate and improve our low levels of ongoing professional learning.

As long as I have been around I have never been informed of our district's technology plan or vision; same applies for my building. I do know that there are several frustrated individuals in my district this year due to a virus wiping out our servers for nearly three weeks, short number of technology staff members to fix issues, and lack of training on how to implement all the new SMART Boards and for each teacher to create their own webpage!

Great Class. Good Discussions.

Weekend 2, Day 1

Taking a look at the NETS standards and completing the survey designed for Site leaders gave me a bit more insight into the responsibilities that come with technology leadership. I'm not exactly proud to say that I've never seen these standards before today. How'd I miss these?

Of course, I am happy to say that when I looked at the teacher's standards, I believe I am clearly heading in the right direction in terms of my utilization of wikis and blogs in my classroom. I know that I have a long way to go, though. When Dr. Closen brought up the David Truss video, I was impressed with the content. There was a quote in the video, and I'm paraphrasing...."When I look at someone else's page, it makes me want to make mine better." I'm proud to say that I have a competitive streak when it comes to this stuff! I enjoy learning more about tech, and then looking for ways to apply and share what I've learned with students.

I think anytime we can inspire other educators to do more and do better, we're demonstrating what it means to be an effective leader.