Getting Organized

I really do actually appreciate tools that help you stay organized...it's been a bit of a process getting there!  I did go ahead and sign up for Delicious, Doodle and the Calendar.  I will use the calendar first to see how it works with my family then hope to use it in the fall with the three T.A.'s in my room.  I am again, excited about all this learning!

My Vision Statement

My own personal vision for education including the role of technology…

If I ran our school system…… It is empowering to be asked this question! I have to start out by sharing that I am returning to the public school system after 13 years of being away from it and working in ministry. I will take my experiences, my intuition and my beliefs to develop the most effective system I can imagine….yet I can’t say it will be based on research.

First, the system would have a shared vision K-12 that all come around, staff, parents, students and community. The vision would lead the way for all decisions. This vision would be present in all buildings and communicated regularly to all.

There would be cohesion and a team atmosphere that was positive, supportive and focused on the goal K-12. The elementary, middle school and high school would not seem like separate entities but would be one team working together. The buildings would all be on the same campus.

Curriculum: is an overwhelming question. I believe that I would include how to be a productive citizen K-12. Expectations would be clearly identified and communicated in a positive way. These expectations would include staff as well. Academics I am not sure at this point I could narrow down. The curriculum goals would be identified and communicated with the learning community.

Teachers: Teachers are carefully chosen who have the following characteristics….have a passion and knowledge for learning, teaching, their specialty, best practices, classroom environment and the age of the child they desire to work with. Having the right people in the right places is crucial. The teacher’s role is to create an effective learning environment, create lessons that engage, motivate etc and where students feels safe and can take risks. The teacher then facilitates learning.

Students: Are in and out of the classroom interacting with other ages and in the community to see how their learning is relevant. School is in session year around with a week off here and there and two weeks in the summer. Students are initiating and responsible for their own learning . They are developing the questions, doing the thinking and exploring via technology. They are problem solving and seeing the need to learn additional skills.

Assessment: The learning goals would be assessed in a variety of ways depending on the content and learning styles. I believe the learning would be assessed in the application of the content or skills as much as possible. I do believe there needs to be more ongoing checks of progress across the board for every maybe 4 times a year system wide to see if progress is being made toward the end goals.

Technology: With limited knowledge I believe that minimally students would have unlimited access to use it in ways that would motivate, engage and support their learning. I would also hope they would learn to use it as a network for learning, as a resource and using it in ways they would use it in their own lives and careers some day.

TLA TAL - Getting Started

I am looking forward to learning more about professional networking, ways to use technology and become more savvy. I am hoping to learn ways to use technology in the classroom.  This will be a big learning opportunity for me.