Pine Forest Elementary, located at 4150 North Main in Vidor, TX, serves a diverse population of students from various ethnicities. However, a large percentage of the student population is white/caucasian. A vast majority of the students at this campus are economically disadvanted, while there are some from middle-class to upper middle-class homes. This campus is one of three elementary campuses in Vidor Independent School District, and it serves to educate many students from single or multi-parent homes and from homes stricken by poverty.
It was interesting to learn how closely the Long Range Plan for Technology mirrored the Texas STaR Chart. The four key areas on the Texas STaR Chart are also four of the key areas on the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology. The Texas STaR Chart is completed by the faculty on this campus each year, and it provides the administrators with an overall outlook of the technology progress on the campus. From the assessment taken during the 2006-2007 school year, "Key Area 1: Teaching & Learning," proved to be the campus' greatest weakness with a score of 11. The 2007-2008 school year reflected the same results of 11, while the 2006-2007 school year showed even lower results with a score of 9. Each year's summary lists these scores as qualifying for a Developing Tech rating. On the Campus Statewide Summary, Teaching and Learning is listed with one of the largest percentages, 65.7%, falling under Developing Tech, as well.
To improve next year's results for the Teaching and Learning area of the STaR Chart assessment and hopefully move to a rating of Advanced or Target Tech, I recommend that the faculty receives more technology-based professional development. Unlike many professional development seminars, a successful program will include hands-0n instruction and learning, so that our teachers are able to better see how to utilize the programs in the classroom. This seminar should additionally include helpful suggestions and ideas for teachers to use to provide students with more teacher-facilitated/peer and small group technology based activities. Also, I recommend periodically obtaining the opinions of the faculty on any areas of concern or growth regarding technology use in their classroom. This may be done via monthly faculty meetings or periodic surveys. Our ultimate goal is for technology to be used in the classroom by teachers and students regularly. Hopefully, these recommendations will help us to also meet the goals of the Vision 2020 of the Long Range Plan for Technology by equalizing the learning environment and bringing the world to the classroom.
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Heather,
ReplyDeleteI wonder why the administration at my school doesn't seem to have as firm a grasp on this subject matter as you. I hope you can facilitate greater understanding in your staff than my administration has with me. Periodically obtaining faculty opinions will help with staff buy-in thereby increasing your STaR chart results. Thanks for the insights.
I think targeted professional development is greatly needed to help staff feel more competent when technology in the classroom is concerned. Further, I think giving staff the opportunity to periodically meet as teams to collaborate on lessons that incorporate technology also helps. Knowing that you are not going at it alone is always a comfort and it creates an environment of commaraderie when new skills are being practiced.
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