Importance of Multimedia Tools

Our frequent discussion of technology in the classroom and technology in the school are so important. We reflect on how tech savvy our students are and yet sometimes, I don't think we even begin to think about future generations. This generation of digital natives represent the very beginning of what is to come. As an educator, it is essential that we become comforatable with using a variety of media sources to ensure quality, differentiated and rigorous instruction. This is so important because it is our main avenue to reach the adolescents of this, and future, generations.

There are several technology tools that make classroom instruction more engaging for today's learner. The Promethean Boards are an obvious example, as their interactive features help learning come to life. More specifically, kinistetic leaners can use the board to manipulate material, thus meeting their needs as hands-on learners. Visual and audio learners can learn material with ease as teachers can use sound and visual features to present material in a new and relevant way.

Additionally, the use of video clips has proven very effective in my instruction. I have found that presenting video and following it with a reading activity is very successful for ESOL, SPED and many most other students.

Edline is another media tool that is effective for communication between teachers, parents and students. Parents and students can view grades and missing assignments at anytime. Teachers can also post assignments, deadlines, due dates and class information. This tool enables all stakeholders to be on the same page.

Finally, giving students access to one of our computer and/or mobile labs makes learning so exciting and so relevant to students. Today's learner will be entering into a technology reliant world. It is so important to ensure that students can use internet sources to locate and analyze information. It is just as important that they are able to use programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Frontpage and much more to create presentations and record pertinent information.

Ashley's Delicious URL

http://delicious.com/sanero234

Effective Websites-Week #5

I've really enjoyed this reflection assignment. Each program that I am coordinating this year, have a link on our school's homepage. I am charged with updating them, and as such, I had already been thinking about web sites, the most appropriate information to share, and accessibility for all. This assignment has really provided me with important tools to complete that task.

It is important that the content on a school website is appropriate. Administrators and/or web administrators can follow the State/Federal Law: 508 compliant/accessibility code to ensure that content is acceptable. It is important to note that in many counties, such as Montgomery County, the school principal is responsible for all information shared on their school's site. Consequently, it is important that school administrators work closely with the web master to provide a clear, and informative website with easy to follow links. This helps to ensure that every member of the school community has access for important information such as school information, address and directions, school programs, school staff, contact information etc. The digital natives are starting to become parents. As such, a thorough school website is the perfect tool to reach out to many of those families.

I am using googleweb. I plan to include informative graphs regarding important data. I will also include a section that will share tips and resources for every member of the school community to get involved.

Week 4 Reflection-Presentation Tool

Time is and always has been a precious commodity in the field of education. These days however, an educator’s time is chock full of new interventions, programs, trainings and meetings. Although these meetings are ideally relevant and important, they can still take away from the time that teachers have to plan, grade, analyze, and discuss. In order to continue to improve and learn new strategies, teachers need not only programs and meetings, but also chances for collegial discourse. When given the time, teachers relish the opportunity to share best practices, talk about new strategies and interventions and much more. Although required meetings and trainings are often embedded with opportunities for teachers to talk, it is difficult to engage in in-depth sharing when given only a few minutes.

This is where GoogleDocs comes into play. This web based program allows users to post documents and materials for others to share. The program would be ideal for sharing of lesson plans, documentation of meetings, interventions, etc. Teachers could add, delete, share and edit documents with one another. Users are able to choose who can see posted documents. One downside of this program could potentially be that as a leader, you would need to be cautious of what is documented and shared about students and teachers.

I believe that the pros of this program outweigh the cons. Content specialists could monitor the planning or assessments of their department. This tool would allow school administrators “to ensure the integration of appropriate technologies in instruction and learning environments to maximize student achievement,” which is the 2nd Maryland Technology Standard for School Administrators.

Week 3 Reflection-Date

Most leadership teams will tell you that drafting, writing and revising their school's vision and goals takes a lot of time and effort. These goals guide the work of the leadership team and the school community. In a school comprised of a diverse student body and varied learning levels and styles, data is integral in answering the question “are we moving toward our goal?" Using data to find the answer this question of course leads to a conversation that includes many more questions.What is working? What isn't working? What can we change? What trends are we seeing? What are our next steps?A conversation that includes questions like these leads educators to institute programs and strategies that promote a positive learning environment. Following the trends in student data allows teachers to re-teach, re-assess and differentiate instruction. At Clemente, we collect data in a variety of ways. At the classroom level we collect formative data and summative data through assessments, Promethean Activotes, surveys, consensograms and data points. At the school level, we collect data through MAP-R and MSA Data, state, county and school survey results, and students and group grade trends.I believe that at Clemente we efficiently use data to drive our decision making. However, I would like to see teachers become more independent with collection tools such as MyMCPS, SWIS, survey programs, etc.

Ashley's Week 1 Reflection

In 2009, technology is automatic for children; especially adolescents. As the article "Leadership in the 21st Century: The New Visionary Administrator" states "today's students think and process differently." They are "digital natives." Consequently, this generation of leaders must be ready to think, learn and lead like digital natives.



The new generation of visionary must think beyond their comfort zone to ensure that technology is on the forefront of communication, data collection, collaboration and rigorous instruction. It stands to reason that technology alone does not ensure that successful procceses and programs are put into place. A visionary leader must ensure that the technology used is matched to the needs of the school and the community. If used incorrectly, there can be a disconnect between a school's vision and the chosen technology for that community. For example, if a school's vision is that parents, staff and students will work together to achieve student success, but the only means of collaboration are via the internet, then families who do not have internet access are automatically excluded as a stakeholder. It is the charge of the leader to ensure that the technology used leads to inclusion, not exclusion.





Additionally, visionary leaders understand that the use of multiple technology sources is necessary in developing life-long learners for the 21st century. In MCPS, the Seven Keys of College Readiness is a pathway that, if followed, increases the chance for students to exit the school system with the tools necessary to be succesful in college and the world beyond. For this generation, success in college and the world beyond must include the use of the growing technology and a visionary leader's roles is to ensure that every child has access to these necessary tools.

Ashley 1st week Blog