Standard+III


 * 3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning **

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:
 * a. ** demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
 * b. ** collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation
 * c. ** communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats
 * d. ** model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning

I am continually seeking ways to expand my technology knowledge and skills and my integration of technology:
 * 1. List in each category ways that you currently are working to increase your knowledge of technology: **

· professional development trainings and courses --The technology course that I am currently in is the only course I have ever taken to increase my knowledge of digital tools. Our school will use professional development to teach us more about online grading systems and the SAS systems, however nothing is presented regarding enhancing technology for educational purposes for the classroom. · professional memberships --Subscribing to online journals and Diigo accounts are really the only professional memberships that I currently have that would offern insight into technology integration. · professional reading Apart from the online systems that our schools gives us to read about, I don't read very much about technology in the classroom. However since I started this class, I really have opened my eyes to the many computer tools. · participation in and use of blogs, wikis and other technology tools --I have never been involved in blogging for educational purposes, however I do blog on sports websites. Creating this wikispace is the first time I have done this. It is actually very easy to create and maintain. · other
 * 1a. List at least 2 actions that you could take to improve the above areas. **

--Using my wikispace as an online classroom is one possibility. I can post assignments and even blogs using this site. I plan on making another wikispace for next school year and showing the students the endless possibilities of the wikispace. I can even put parent surveys on the wikispace to gain insight from them as well.

--I plan on taking a technology course every few years to keep me current with computer options for education. I don't think I will use all the tools presented in this course, however I am at least familiar with many tools and their purposes. Taking a course every 2-3 years will not allow me to forget what I do know, and also expand my knowledge. Technology grows incredibly fast so in a few years there will undoubtedly be many more tools! I feel that I already know quite a bit more than most of the staff in my district regarding technology assessment.

--The only way that I communicate with parents is the online grading program and school email. The online grading program is fairly new in our district, as parents can now view their student's scores. Our email agreement allows me to communicate both teacher and parent concerns. Grades are not permitted to be shared through school email. I realize not only am I way behind in using technology as a means of communication, but many faculty members are also unfamiliar with the great number of possibilities.
 * 2. List ways that you currently utilize or incorporate technology to communicate and collaborate with students, parents or community members. This may include but not be limited to use of any collaborative tools, parent portal tools, web pages, blogs, other web 2.0 tools, LMS, and videoconferencing tools. **


 * 2a. List at least 2 actions that you could take to improve the above areas. **

--I want to maintain my wikispace, and actually create a wikispace for each of my classes. I plan on creating these over the summer, therefore I can show the students how to view the site, and find information about the class from the site. I most likely will send a letter home to parents informing them this is the best way to communicate and view upcoming assignments and tests. --One teacher in our district uses twitter to post assignments, and I plan on doing that as well. Most students have cell phones with Internet capabilities therefore they can check classwork with their phones. Since this teacher uses Twitter, students think it is really cool, and many do check their assignments using the site.


 * 3. List ways you currently organize electronic and digital resources. This could include RSS, social bookmarking sites, web evaluation tools. **

Prior to this course I have never organized anything electronically except emails and photo albums. I now have many RSS feeds that go directly into my Google Reader. Not all of the RSS feeds are educational, but I also check many sports sites using RSS. I always wondered what social bookmarking was, and now I understand. I have also joined a Diigo group, and a formed a Delicious account, however I find Diigo to be much better and more user friendly than Delicious.

**3a. List at least 1 action you can take to improve the above area.**

I never used any form of web evaluation tools for any of my classes. I suppose I trusted the juniors and seniors to find appropriate sites. Our librarian does a presentation of how to navigate the Internet to find proper sites, but I know many students ignore what she says. Most students click on the first site when completing research, and that can be bad information. I plan on creating web evaluations forms that students will complete after researching topics. I also plan on creating Trackstar accounts for many research projects therefore I have previewed the sites and know they are reliable and valid.


 * 4. Write an action plan summary statement that includes 1a, 2a. and 3a. Transfer this statement to your Action Plan page. **

I obviously plan on using my wikispace next school year. I will create the wiki this summer for each course (World History, Psychology, Sociology) and students and parents will have access to the site. The wiki is very is to create and maintain, and it provides great communication potential and students can also check the site if they are absent. Also next school year I plan to have a technology based assignments for each unit that I teach. I think students will enjoy creating a Glogster, Photostory, and MovieMaker. I would also like to use cell phones for classroom purposes, but some persuasion would have to take place. Finally, I want to students to really think and consider information they acquire from the Internet. Giving students a web evaluation form that they must complete and would accompany their research would really make them evaluate websites on the Internet. I plan on creating the wikispace and digital tool examples over the summer therefore they will be ready to use next school year.