1.3 Policies, Procedures, Programs & Funding
Candidates research, recommend, and implement policies, procedures, programs, and funding strategies to support implementation of the shared vision represented in the school, district, state, and federal technology plans and guidelines. Funding strategies may include the development, submission, and evaluation of formal grant proposals.
Candidates research, recommend, and implement policies, procedures, programs, and funding strategies to support implementation of the shared vision represented in the school, district, state, and federal technology plans and guidelines. Funding strategies may include the development, submission, and evaluation of formal grant proposals.
Artifact - Emerging Technology Plan
As part of my Multimedia & Web Design course over summer semester, I was required to research an emerging technology and create a PowerPoint suitable for presentation to the school district Board of Education to persuade them to adopt said technology. I worked alone. This project meets standard 1.3 which required candidates to research and recommend programs and procedures which support the implementation of technology plans at all levels of school governance.
For Standard 1.3, I chose my Emerging Technologies Plan as my artifact because it required that I research numerous options in order to evaluate which one would most benefit the students in my school and my district. I looked through a number of websites and platforms I thought would help incorporate instructional technology in my district and seriously considered My Big Campus, a platform which allows teachers to manage their classrooms, connect with students and parents, and encourage student collaboration online. It is a great platform, but is already on my school system's radar. I wanted something new which would also hit a large number of student engagement indicators and facilitate a high LoTI level. After much research and evaluation, I settled on ePals, a secure online platform which is standards based, authentic, and collaborative on a worldwide level. I chose to recommend this program because it is not only standards-based, but safe, and free.
My next task was to develop a PowerPoint presentation to persuade my district to implement ePals system-wide. In this artifact, I had to critically analyze ePals in depth. I talked about how it supports the Paulding County School District (PCSD) Technology Vision Statement and Technology Plan using the language of the plan in my description. ePals is project-based, develops cultural and global awareness in students, and encourages ethical use of the internet. I developed a procedure for equitable access via the media centers, computer labs, Bring Your Own Technology devices and home and community resources. I explained how the hardware and software necessary to implement ePals is already in place in our schools and technical support is available at the school and system level. Cost was not an issue as ePals is free. One of the most important arguments in my presentation was for how ePals enhances learning by providing standards-based, student-centered lessons which are authentic, challenging and culturally responsive. ePals lessons allow students to be explorers while teachers are facilitators or co-explorers. Collaboration is the essence of ePals as it extends learning beyond the classroom walls to connect with other students and experts in classrooms across the globe to solve problems related to content themes or concepts. Differentiation is also made easy through ePals as students can work alone or in groups, content can vary, and peer feedback can supplement teacher feedback.
Other important factors affecting implementation of a program like ePals are research and professional learning. I found numerous articles discussing the positive impact ePals has on learning and on giving our students the skills they need to be effective citizens and workers in the 21st Century. I was sure to cite some of those articles to support my argument. Professional learning can be lead in my district by school media specialists and PCSD instructional technology personnel.
All in all, I felt this artifact not only supported Standard 1.3, but was a valuable learning experience for me. It helped me learn to lead by doing my homework and making a persuasive argument to effect change in my school and my district. This activity will serve as a model I will use for future proposals as I assume the mantel of instructional technology leader. If I had to do it again, I would have liked to collaborate with a teacher who was using ePals in the classroom so that I could more knowledge of the mechanics of using ePals for teaching and learning.
Working on an emerging technology plan has impacted students and faculty at my school. I have actively promoted ePals this year, concentrating on my foreign language department which is a natural fit. It was frustrating at first as my teachers have been overwhelmed with the new SLOS and TKES initiatives this year, but 2 of them have made contact with classes in South American and are participating in email pen pals projects.
For Standard 1.3, I chose my Emerging Technologies Plan as my artifact because it required that I research numerous options in order to evaluate which one would most benefit the students in my school and my district. I looked through a number of websites and platforms I thought would help incorporate instructional technology in my district and seriously considered My Big Campus, a platform which allows teachers to manage their classrooms, connect with students and parents, and encourage student collaboration online. It is a great platform, but is already on my school system's radar. I wanted something new which would also hit a large number of student engagement indicators and facilitate a high LoTI level. After much research and evaluation, I settled on ePals, a secure online platform which is standards based, authentic, and collaborative on a worldwide level. I chose to recommend this program because it is not only standards-based, but safe, and free.
My next task was to develop a PowerPoint presentation to persuade my district to implement ePals system-wide. In this artifact, I had to critically analyze ePals in depth. I talked about how it supports the Paulding County School District (PCSD) Technology Vision Statement and Technology Plan using the language of the plan in my description. ePals is project-based, develops cultural and global awareness in students, and encourages ethical use of the internet. I developed a procedure for equitable access via the media centers, computer labs, Bring Your Own Technology devices and home and community resources. I explained how the hardware and software necessary to implement ePals is already in place in our schools and technical support is available at the school and system level. Cost was not an issue as ePals is free. One of the most important arguments in my presentation was for how ePals enhances learning by providing standards-based, student-centered lessons which are authentic, challenging and culturally responsive. ePals lessons allow students to be explorers while teachers are facilitators or co-explorers. Collaboration is the essence of ePals as it extends learning beyond the classroom walls to connect with other students and experts in classrooms across the globe to solve problems related to content themes or concepts. Differentiation is also made easy through ePals as students can work alone or in groups, content can vary, and peer feedback can supplement teacher feedback.
Other important factors affecting implementation of a program like ePals are research and professional learning. I found numerous articles discussing the positive impact ePals has on learning and on giving our students the skills they need to be effective citizens and workers in the 21st Century. I was sure to cite some of those articles to support my argument. Professional learning can be lead in my district by school media specialists and PCSD instructional technology personnel.
All in all, I felt this artifact not only supported Standard 1.3, but was a valuable learning experience for me. It helped me learn to lead by doing my homework and making a persuasive argument to effect change in my school and my district. This activity will serve as a model I will use for future proposals as I assume the mantel of instructional technology leader. If I had to do it again, I would have liked to collaborate with a teacher who was using ePals in the classroom so that I could more knowledge of the mechanics of using ePals for teaching and learning.
Working on an emerging technology plan has impacted students and faculty at my school. I have actively promoted ePals this year, concentrating on my foreign language department which is a natural fit. It was frustrating at first as my teachers have been overwhelmed with the new SLOS and TKES initiatives this year, but 2 of them have made contact with classes in South American and are participating in email pen pals projects.