Standard TF-I. Technology Operations and Concepts. Educational technology facilitators demonstrate an in-depth understanding of technology operations and concepts. Educational technology facilitators:
A. Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts related to technology (as described in the ISTE National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers).
Artifacts- Staff Interest Survey and Internship Proposal
As I was planning my internship, I tried to narrow the scope of all the topics that I originally wanted to include by creating and distributing a Staff Interest Survey. When creating my survey, I decided to use Google Docs because I found that it was easy to use, would give me results in a spreadsheet format, and wanted to demonstrate a format that was previously "unknown" to most of the staff. When formatting questions, I tried to include topics that would be of interest to any member of the Fossum staff- not only teachers but also administrators, secretaries, and paraeducators. Previous discussions with staff members had indicated some interests and needs, and so I created my survey to include those topics, as well as include some others that I hoped would expand their skills. I was pleased with the response that I received to my survey, although I did have to send out reminders for completion. As a student of technology myself, I read over the results knowing that change comes slowly, and that practice with a specific topic is better than a quick overview of many things at once. I kept all these things in mind when analyzing the results and creating my proposal.
I created my Internship Proposal to include training staff with basic iPad functions, as there are a large number of staff members with little or no experience using an iPad. I also included apps that would be easy for a teacher to use without actually owning an iPad themselves. The demand was high for training with Edmodo, but I also included Pages and electronic documents as I felt that this would be a critical part of many teachers' classrooms. Last, I decided to include a wiki as a means of communication between staff members. As far as I know, there are not any teachers in my school currently using a wiki in class, and I thought that this would be a way for the teachers to gain experience with the format.
Artifacts- Staff Interest Survey and Internship Proposal
As I was planning my internship, I tried to narrow the scope of all the topics that I originally wanted to include by creating and distributing a Staff Interest Survey. When creating my survey, I decided to use Google Docs because I found that it was easy to use, would give me results in a spreadsheet format, and wanted to demonstrate a format that was previously "unknown" to most of the staff. When formatting questions, I tried to include topics that would be of interest to any member of the Fossum staff- not only teachers but also administrators, secretaries, and paraeducators. Previous discussions with staff members had indicated some interests and needs, and so I created my survey to include those topics, as well as include some others that I hoped would expand their skills. I was pleased with the response that I received to my survey, although I did have to send out reminders for completion. As a student of technology myself, I read over the results knowing that change comes slowly, and that practice with a specific topic is better than a quick overview of many things at once. I kept all these things in mind when analyzing the results and creating my proposal.
I created my Internship Proposal to include training staff with basic iPad functions, as there are a large number of staff members with little or no experience using an iPad. I also included apps that would be easy for a teacher to use without actually owning an iPad themselves. The demand was high for training with Edmodo, but I also included Pages and electronic documents as I felt that this would be a critical part of many teachers' classrooms. Last, I decided to include a wiki as a means of communication between staff members. As far as I know, there are not any teachers in my school currently using a wiki in class, and I thought that this would be a way for the teachers to gain experience with the format.
B. Demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay abreast of current and emerging technologies.
Artifacts- iPad Apps Presentation and iPad Accessibility Settings
When beginning my internship, I had only basic knowledge myself of how to use an iPad. Therefore, in designing both my proposal and my internship sessions, I conducted a large amount of research myself on how to use an iPad within the classroom setting. I read numerous blogs and websites, as well as subscribing to iPad Classroom teachers and 1:1 Classroom communities within Edmodo. I wanted to choose the best apps that could be used in any setting, and I only wanted to use apps that were free to both teachers and students. In addition, I attended an Advanced iPad professional development session given to TLC3 cohort members in January 2011. In that session we not only learned many apps but were given resources there as well. I was able to take all this information and bring it together to create the presentations for my sessions.
I created the iPad Apps session focusing on apps that I discovered during this time. I expanded my own skills when creating the QR code and this was one app most enthusiastically received. The session I created on iPad Accessibility Settings was all new information to me; I had to master it myself in order to present it. In addition, I created an account within Evernote as a way for participants to sign into my sessions so I could keep track of attendance, This was yet another way for participants to experience a new tool they might use in class.
Artifacts- iPad Apps Presentation and iPad Accessibility Settings
When beginning my internship, I had only basic knowledge myself of how to use an iPad. Therefore, in designing both my proposal and my internship sessions, I conducted a large amount of research myself on how to use an iPad within the classroom setting. I read numerous blogs and websites, as well as subscribing to iPad Classroom teachers and 1:1 Classroom communities within Edmodo. I wanted to choose the best apps that could be used in any setting, and I only wanted to use apps that were free to both teachers and students. In addition, I attended an Advanced iPad professional development session given to TLC3 cohort members in January 2011. In that session we not only learned many apps but were given resources there as well. I was able to take all this information and bring it together to create the presentations for my sessions.
I created the iPad Apps session focusing on apps that I discovered during this time. I expanded my own skills when creating the QR code and this was one app most enthusiastically received. The session I created on iPad Accessibility Settings was all new information to me; I had to master it myself in order to present it. In addition, I created an account within Evernote as a way for participants to sign into my sessions so I could keep track of attendance, This was yet another way for participants to experience a new tool they might use in class.