Jamaica Gleaner News - LIME's command performance - Outlook - Sunday | December 19, 2010

Jamaica Gleaner News - LIME's command performance - Outlook - Sunday | December 19, 2010

Colleagues, Jamaica is moving forward with more technology. Just thought I'd share.

The End of an Excellent Course

http://www.screencast.com/t/uPudFfKEyhttp://www.screencast.com/t/uPudFfKEy



'WE DID IT OUR WAY' (Indeed)


Dedicated to ALL my colleagues in VIF 6 - Way to go guys - Kudos to you all!!




Can you believe how far we have come? It has indeed been a wonderful run and I'm so excited to be able to go into my staff development workshops as an empowered administrator having the ability to use different modalities of Web 2.0 tools to teach and to reach my staff and students.
I look back with real pride on my photostory tutorial. I read all the instructions and I was ready to go 'Jing' it up but there was a problem - I promised my colleagues during the tutorial that I would actually show them an example of a photostory; but here I was at a road block what to do, what to do? I just could not get it uploaded to my blog.
My grandparents used to tell me that 'patience was a virtue' and I really found out at that moment the true meaning of the saying. I met many other web 2.0 tools that night - www.Picasa3.com, www.camtasiastudio.com and of course the good 'ole' www.youtube.com  It was a wild run with me the techno phobe at the controls but as my introduction alluded, I did it my way and eventually conquered the obstacles.As Marc Prensky said "we must engage  students or enrage them".  A student will be more interested in what is being taught if he/she finds the material interesting. As an educator we must use technology and adjust our teaching style as well as our learning style. I did a lot of that during this course. At times I was enraged when I couldn't figure out what to do but overall I was engaged throughout the course with the wildly interesting issues we discussed.
 I move forward as an administrator to engage my students as Marc Prensky suggested but not only my students but my staff as well. Technology is never static, it continues to move and so continuous training and staff development workshops is an absolute necessity if teachers are to chart the way forward with technology.
Thank you Dr Watwood for showing us how much more than a smart-board technology is; thank you colleagues for your sharing over this time. It has been truly great and I feel quite honored to be a part of this group. Have a safe holiday and all the success in the new year. Hopefully we'll be together again online in January. 

Visionary High School's Three Year Technology Plan - Group One

http://www.slideshare.net/walshdavisjm/final-draft-tech-plangroup-work-1-6200751

Before viewing this, please read the introduction posted on Conscientious View's Blog. Thank you all. Looking forward to your feedback.

Emerging Technology - Then and Now

The 'Tech-Ready' Teacher!

             According to http://www.wikipedia.com/ mobile computing is a form of human computer interaction where a computer is transported during normal usage. It has three aspects - mobile communication, mobile hardware and mobile software. One of the most important aspects of mobile computing is portability.  As I researched I came across two schools of interest. Beijing Municipal uses mobile phones as a part of their class but it became an issue affecting exam security so the Education Department installed mobile phone screening during college entrance exams to prevent illegal transmission of answers through mobile phones.

In his book Rewired: Understanding the iGeneration and the Way They Learn, professor and author Larry D. Rosen states “iGeners are growing up with portable technology'. Marymount Girls' School NYC is one such environment that is packed with IGeners. Mobile technology is integrated into the school's curriculum for multiple reasons. It was created to allow girls to interact in an environment of interconnectedness while using a range of instructional strategies. They use I-Tunes, podcasts, Twittering, Tweetmike and Tweetcast to develop their speaking, listening and comprehension skills
They are blogging, commenting, sharing; they are accessing multimedia, multitasking and evaluating.  The Ipod Touch was used to teach several subjects including foreign languages. The students responded very positively. I'll share some of their comments with you:

• I am a visual learner so being able to conduct basic demos of physics concepts made learning more dynamic and enhanced my basic understanding.
• The iPod Touch is a terrific way to learn a language

As technology continues to emerge so is the program at Marymount. The iPad was infused into the curriculum in the Fall of 2010. The programs being used has given the students the opportunity for individualized yet instructional avenues using portable technology.

As the years roll on administrators are faced with many more technological issues than cyberbullying. The rapid growth of Web 2.0 technologies like social networking have emerged. Some administrators view the emergence of technology as a landmine, sparking spirited discussion as evidenced in this article http:www.boardbuzz.nsba.org/discussions/archive/session.10182007.newtech.php

As I look back on the track record of emerging technology, I wonder what next? Remember when cell phones were this huge?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5ELj5HpV0E

Here is where the future of phone technology is heading. HELLO WORLD! Are we ready? Ready or not here they come.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngp3YJoE-1c

Mobile Computing

Hi Colleagues

Very interesting video I wanted to share based on the next blog post. Is this where we are going; or are we already there? Just something to think about for the week!
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Professional Development / Internet Integration

This was certainly a topic that provided much fodder for discussion. In my preparation I decided to have a little fun and so I canvassed the teachers and administrators in my building as well as some in a neighbouring Middle School. An educator who believes in their continued professional growth is the 'Commander-in-Chief' or the 'Sarge in Charge' of their edu-world.m
My poll question was:

Do you believe  teachers  are responsible for their professional development, or is administration responsible?

Many teachers believed that they were responsible for their professional advancement (70%) while some believed, administrators included, that administration was(20%). There were a few still on the fence (9%) not sure who was responsible while the jury was still out for some (1%). These teachers stated that they are the ones who need to be intrinsically motivated and so advance their own learning. The Title One Coordinator (Middle School Administrator), remarked that student achievement was an area of concern and if teachers were to be adequately prepared for the challenge, especially with NCLB breathing down their necks; administrators MUST make professional development a priority. She mentioned a professional development system called ProDev that offered courses to teachers in all areas of development from classroom management to technology skills as basic as understanding Microsoft Word. Teachers received credits for professional development and are sometimes offered graduate credit courses. As an added incentive teachers are presented with a 'small gift' at the end of the year if they have 44 or more professional development credits. As a young 4th Grade teacher remarked to me today,'Times have changed. Teachers no longer need to be pushed or prodded to develop themselves. The new breed of teachers want to move up to new and better positions so the desire is intrinsic rather than extrinsic'.

RESEARCH FINDINGS

As I perused the readings, these issues fairly jumped out at me.

• educational leaders must harness the value of information and communications technology and reconsider the goals for technology integration that are focused on student learning. Ultimately student learning outcomes is the measuring stick of all new programs. If there is no growth, the program is unnecessary.
• Educators must align their tech skills to standards and assessments, curriculum and instruction and provide multiple learning environments. Here enters the Web 2.0 tools for classroom use.
• Fayetteville School District has the 'right ' attitude; they believe technology infusion is for the teacher as well as the students and although NCLB is a driving force behind decisions in education, they believe it is NOT just about the test. I applaud this; students must be prepared for the world at large not just for 'passing' a test.
• Henrico County went further to educating their board on technology, not just the teachers - they believe it is not just about the tool, it is about instruction. It is the process of creation and collaboration among and between learners (students as well as teachers).
• Blogs and digital portfolios being used by students was a much discussed topic. Personally I'd like to see more school districts infusing technology use in classrooms by unblocking some of these Web 2.0 sites and help teachers truly educate their students beyond the classroom.

Dr. Scott McLeod's Slide - Reaction

A very powerful question.  One comment I agreed with was Linda's. She spoke of students being BORED who did not wish to be lectured but needs to be engaged. Students are actively involved in technology outside of school and so as educators, we need to extend that knowledge, not power them down when they enter our classroom doors.

Personal Story

In 2008, when I just came to this country; I came in as a great teacher; always teaching because I was not exposed to the type of technology I was being asked to use. I just didn't know how. I did not have Promethean boards or smart boards in my classroom back home. One day I was going through an Science lesson and my observer commented to be at the end that it was a good lesson but I was lecturing too much. I was crushed because I thought I was impressing her with my 'teaching skills'. That incident opened my eyes to what the American classroom was all about - engaging learners, differentiating instruction, using technology based lessons and overall catering to the needs of every learner.  I got empowerment from the criticism and launched myself into learning all I could learn and applying it in my classroom.

My growth speaks for itself. I'm now equipped with so much that I would say to anyone, a classroom cannot survive in this day and age without technology. Children are living in a digital world and in order to advance this we must embrace it and pass it on as one of the best legacies we could give to our students.

Horizon Report - Are we Prepared?

YouTube - Mobile Computing : 2010 NMC Horizon Report


This is just one aspect of the efffectiveness of the Horizon Report. In a word - stupendous! I am really awed with what the future holds - What a great and bright future for our kids? I feel honored that I'm able to begin sharing from the many interesting web 2.0 tools I learned about in this course.  But how many educators are really ready for this transition?

I look @ the Web 2.0 tools that we are now using in 2010 and I question  myself - 'Will these tools still be in existence in 2020?' 'Are we preparing our students for the technological revolution? The above video gives us a taste of what the future holds. Are we as upcoming administrators ready to chart the waters and make sure the Net-Gen kids are not ahead of us?
I look back at where we were as educators when we began this course and look at us now! Confident, self-assured, motivated - to teach and share knowledge using none other than web 2.0 tools. What a transition!We have become futuristic, visionary leaders who are more than prepared to share technology with our staff and students. What growth - who would have imagined we would have come so far so quickly? I view the impact of the Horizon Report the same way I viewed this course as I entered - as a challenge. The onus is on us to prepare our students to click, swipe and scroll , because that's the way of the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8

This short but powerful video reminds us of what we are up against as educators and how important technology is to the world as we know it!
To close my blog this week I leave you with a video on the 21st Century Learner. This is where we're at right now - did the Horizon Report prepare you for the future?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1srP6J7f9kY

The School Board and Technology

A school board according to Encarta World English Dictionary (North American Edition) is a local body overseeing schools: in the U.S , a group of people elected or appointed in each county or local school system to make decisions about education in public schools.

Quite a mouthful but there's more. In order to examine the role of the school board with technology support, I'd first  like to examine the roles and responsibility of the school board.

Roles and Responsibilities

Local school boards function as legislative, executive, and quasi-judicial agencies. They must develop, implement, and assess policy; institute sound employee relations; conduct open meetings; recognize and conform to the legal mandates imposed by state and federal laws; and govern within the limits of a delegation of state authority. Additionally, the board has an obligation to assess its successes and failures; inform the public of all deliberations and decisions; promote accountability; avoid abuse of power; enhance public understanding of its mission; conform to standards of ethical behavior; provide a framework for setting goals; and develop strategic plans for the accomplishment of those goals.

Finally, school boards provide leadership for the local school system, adopting a unifying vision and mission, soliciting and balancing the participation and input of members of the community, and advocating on behalf of the educational needs of children at the local, state, and national levels.

Educating the School Board about Internet in Schools

Although a school board consists of persons with varying educational backgrounds, I believe it is vitally important that school boards be introduced to, and be made aware of the technology programs and tools being used in schools.  Just recently a team of Elementary teachers in my county were charged with making a Technology Presentation to the school board. This was designed to serve two purposes - to exhibit the web tools and sites being used in the advancement of the children's education and to give the new incoming board an idea of just how important technology is to the schools in the district.

To say it served its purpose would be an understatement. The Board Members were quite impressed with the high level of technology that was being used in the schools and I was quite pleased to see two of our Web 2.0 tutorial tools - Slideshare and Photo Story - being used. I do believe that this presentation had a positive effect on the board. There were persons on the board who did not think students should be as exposed to technology in the classroom as they were, and it served to stop these negative thoughts right in their tracks. Embedded in the presentation were students' artifacts showing the practical use of the web in class to enhance learning. Suffice it to say ,that this inclusion  stopped the naysayers right in their tracks.

Board's Role in Technology Planning

   There is now a new board in place - they were inaugurated last evening - and I do believe the approach to technology in schools will be very different. There should be a concerted  effort  on the part of the board to make sure that more Web 2.0 tools are integrated in the classrooms geared at enhancing learning.     I was privileged to have a conversation with one member who has a 'powerful voice' on the board and he is determined to bring back to the High and Middle schools a lap-top program where every child has a lap-top for classes. Some schools are so privileged but there are still a few who are not as fortunate. He stated that the presentation gave him a renewed focus to seek as much funding as possible to assist in this venture.

 There are school boards who believe, as I do, that technology should play a vital role in meeting the needs of the wide range of abilities, disabilities, cultural backgrounds and ethnic populations present in school districts.

 School Boards should ensure that technology is appropriately and equitably integrated into instruction and management and used by all students and staff as an integral part of school improvement and student success. If the board has the best interest of the schools in mind; they should focus on students performance and achievement, increasing staff productivity and also ensuring the efficient day-to-day operations of the school system.

Open Up or Block Internet in Schools?

The above signs have become the usual on some school computers as administrators strive to protect their students from the ills of cyber-world. The question (which is very emotional for some), is whether or not internet sites should be blocked in schools?The answer can be very conflicting at times because in the act of doing what is best for students, good websites are also blocked and this can be very frustrating for educators.

The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requires all school libraries receiving certain federal funds to install and use blocking or filtering software; to prevent students from viewing material considered harmful to minors; however some studies conclude that blocking access to web pages that are directly related to the state-mandated curriculums and by restricting broader inquiries by both students and teachers.
My school district uses a web filtering software known as Lightspeed. Lightspeed is used to help filter offensive sites. Periodically the filter misses websites that should be blocked and sometimes block sites that should not be blocked. Teachers are encouraged to submit websites they feel need to be blocked. Elementary filtering is much more restrictive than those employed in Middle and High schools or in administrative centers. Although there is a system in place to block sites considered 'harmful' to students, there are also policies and procedures institutions can adopt to protect/sanction students' use of the Internet. I'll share a few with you.

• Internet contracts must be signed by parents and students each year before students can access the internet.
• Students must have an Internet license on file before they can use the Internet.
• Students who abuse privileges will be restricted from using the internet.
• Chat lines and Instant Messaging are prohibited (for safety have these blocked)
• Students should observe all copyright regulations regarding internet use.
• Students should have NO expectation of privacy regarding anything they do on a school computer system.
• Using school computer equipment or Internet facilities implies consent to search computer-related equipment.

Research Findings  
In my research on this topic I found to my chagrin that there are websites available that gives explicit instructions as to how to unblock a blocked site.
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/how-to-access-blocked-web-sites/

Really!, and then we wonder why our Net-Gen kids are outsmarting our efforts? There is a lot more sites like this one and students are using it to get through these blockages. I also decided to poll my students to see how they felt about the blocked internet sites.  My question was simple - 'Should the Internet be blocked in schools?' I got conflicting responses, it was almost a tie - 47% felt the blockage was a 'good' thing while 53% felt that it was ''stupid'. Three statements stood out for me and I'll share them with you. One young man - typical 4th Graders remarked that his favorite game site was blocked and 'that ain't cool'. The next two statements really resonated with me because these were 4th grade students. One young man stated that he was fine with the sites being blocked because some sites pose as a threat to children endangering their welfare by corrupting them and the wider community. He went on to say 'child porn' which is illegal was accessible and so the internet unsupervised was not the place for a child.  I was stunned! I thought 'Here was a child who is being guided by a responsible parent, wow!'.  Another stated that objectionable content found on Myspace and Yahoo have no place in the classroom and so should be blocked. I did a double take at this point - objectionable content? and this was the 4th grade - no wonder he is one of the students I'm accellerating.



Computer Access in the Homes

 It makes me very sad that there is not more close supervision in the homes re Internet use. This is becoming more evident in the type of posts students are making for example the fake Myspace posts damaging the educator's image. https://blackboard.vcu.edu/@@/F2E7EE38D2B48EF3C6232CDC37F85E1F/courses/1/ADMS-647-C91-2010Fall/content/_2579593_1/Layshock_NSBA_summary.pdf  Many of them were done form home computers since these sites are filtered on school property; yet parents have the nerve to talk about infringing on their child's 1st Amendment rights. Many more persons need to be sanctioned with internet censorship to stop this wanton free reign. Internet Censorship is control or suppression of the publishing or accessing of information on the Internet.
The law requires that schools develop an Internet Safety Policy and use protection measures that block and filter internet access to material that is obscene or harmful to minors. I believe by extension parents should also be covered under the law to ensure that their children are not open to these sites at home either. A law such as this will force parents to be more responsible and actually supervise their child's use of the internet.. A resource that is available to parents who are concerned about their children's use of the Internet is 'The Parents Guide to the Internet' published by the U.S Department of Education.

The Teacher's Role
  No matter what guidelines or software filtering packeges are adopted by schools, teachers need to exercise good classroom management in supervising students access to the Internet. Parents also share responsibilities with the schools in assuring that their children learn how to become responsible users of this medium. In my classroom, I have an Internet sign-in form at each computer; students sign their names, date, time and site being accessed on this form. I also monitor them physically as you know how 'fast' students hands can move on a keyboard.

Social Networking - Serving its Purpose?

http://www.en.wikipedia.org/ defines a social network as a social structure made up of individual or organizations called 'nodes' which are connected by one or more specific types of interdependency. The two networks at the focus of this narrative  is http://www.myspace.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/ .

Facebook is a social network service and website.It is intended to connect friends, family and business associates.

Myspace is also a social network service that allows you to create a profile page that you can use to meet new friends. Both networks have been found in the middle of libelous and slanderous situations in the education system, administrators especikally have found themselves at the mercy of the Net-Gen kids as they weave their way in and our of cyberspace blazing a trail of libel and mayhem. Libel is defined as the publication in words, photos, pictures or symbols of false statements of fact that harm another's reputation.Many social networking cases are reacted through libel and many times the 1st Amendment is cited but it is being clearly indicated; that the 1st Amendment will not protect them from libel. Students have been insulting teachers for centuries, but the Internet has raised the level of insult from crude blackboard drawings to posts potentially available to scores of people who sign on to blogs or social networking sites.

 In my research and readings I found many such instances that had my hair standing on end. The lengths students will go through when they despise a teacher.There were many more incidences found connected to Myspace than Facebook regarding educators. In one such incident a principal sued four students for creating a fake profile on Myspace. He deemed it as 'demeaning and demoralizing'. He sued for defamation of character, stating that his reputation was damaged, he was humiliated and the profile affected his ability to earn. The 1st Amendment was cited in this case because of the 'free speech' component. It is being realized though the free speech DOES NOT  protect you from the culpability of your actions.
Appeals Court to hear Myspace Case
 In Pennsylvania, a District judge ruled against a middle school student who created a Myspace page mocking her school principal as a pedophile and sex addict. Again the 1st Amendment was brought forward stating that her actions were protected because they were non-threatening, non-obscene and a parody. The judge viewed the case in three categories:

• Were the 1st Amendment rights violated by the school?
• Were the district's policies unconstitutionallly vague or overboard?
• Did the school violate the parents parental rights?

The judge rejected all three arguments citing Tinker V Des Moines Independendent School District (1969) which in a nutshell states that 'students and teachers do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the school gate'. Myspace was not considered political speech unlike the political protest censored by school officials in Tinker. Absent material and substantial disruption of the learning environment, interference with the educational process, or the creation of a harmful condition in the school, student 1st Amendment rights shall not be abridged. Undifferentiated fear or apprehension on the part of school officials is not enough to abridge these protections. Although the Supreme Court has made it clear that students possess 1st Amendment rights, it has consistently held that student speech and press activities are not immune from control by administrators and teachers. Based upon reasonable pedagogical concerns, school principals and teachers may restrict student 1st Amendment rights when content is considered vulgar, obscene or libelous, whether the content is expressed orally or in writing (Bethel School District V Fraser, 1986 Hazelwood V Kuhlmeier , 1988).
One administrator who sued a student for libel because of information posted about her on a fake Myspace page; commented that social networking sites are very dangerous as there are no restrictions. The only avenue open to holding these students accountable is to sue them.Social networking sites, such as MySpace, market themselves as places in cyberspace for people to meet and communicate, often connecting using clever aliases. But, law enforcement officials say, children who join these sites may be putting themselves in harm's way . People  should know the difference between using social networking for a good reason and for things that would be hurtful. It was very sad for me to see how many students use these sites to tarnish the images of educators - I had to wonder 'Who's next? will it be me or a known colleague?
 It was comforting to see that there were some active 1st Amendment organizations dedicated to protecting student rights recognize that in the Internet age, it is even more important that students understand the possible consequences of their speech. The popularity of social networking sites including Myspace and Facebook is increasing. One attorney stated that it would be tragic if schools prevented students from blogging. A better approach he claimed would be to teach them how to blog well, how to understand their rights and that of others and the principles surrounding journalism.

School Policies

    My school does not have a policy on social networking sites. This is so because these sites are blocked to everyone using the school's network. As soon as you try to log into these sites you get a message that says 'ACCESS DENIED'  This effectively deals with this type of problem on school property but you never know when it will surface somewhere else. There is also an internet policy in place governing the use of specific internet sites that both parents and students have to sign to. Although cell phones can pose as grave a problem as the computer, in my elementary setting, there is hardly room as a 'No Cellphone Policy' is strongly enforced.

Recommendations

I'll leave you with a few tips on how to spot a fake Myspace profile. This will save administrators and other users, the grief that you go through when your life is thrashed through a fake profile.                               

• Begin by looking at the number of friends the Myspace profile has.
•  Next look at the pictures. If the pictures are professional or if you just see body parts, odds are good it's a fake Myspace profile.
• Another give away of fake Myspace profiles is the comments section. Fake profiles don't bother to send out genuine comments, so they will have comments added by "bots" like, "Thanks for Adding Me".
• Always keep in mind that you don't know who you are talking to on Myspace when you meet someone new there and use caution

 To my fellow educators out there; this cyber world is a tough world to live in. We have to be on high alert at all times, live an exemplary live that when the 'fake profile' hits the web; there is someone to say that doesn't sound like something you would do. Remember the 1st Amendment does not make students immune from control by administrators and teachers.

Read more: How to Spot a Fake Profile on Myspace | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4522056_spot-fake-profile-myspace.html#ixzz13oJqAaSy