Part III: Presenting the Total PACKage (1200 – 1500 words)
Context:
I currently am the Saline Middle School Principal within the Saline Area School District. Saline is an upper middle-class community, primarily Caucasian. As a district we encompass the Ann Arbor area. I have held this position for six years, however I have been a building administrator for the past fourteen years across four different buildings. Prior to becoming a building administrator, I was a high school Marketing teacher, Drivers Ed teacher and Coach.
Saline Middle School is currently the largest 6-8 middle school in the State of Michigan with over 1250 students. We have approximately 80 staff members who work in multiple capacities. We will begin our third year as a BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices) school building. Saline Area Schools is committed to prepare all students and teachers to maximize learning by fully integrating relevant technology into academic content. As part of this commitment, the District recently added wireless capabilities to Saline Middle School to allow student-owned devices to be used in a classroom setting to support instruction. With classroom teacher approval, students may use their own devices in the classroom to access, interact and save information from the internet, communicate with other learners and use web productivity tools to create assignments/projects or take classroom assessments.
In Saline we have a very supportive Superintendent who is a proponent of using technology within our schools. Our Director of Instructional Technology is a former classroom teacher, who is our ambassador for moving into 21st century learning environments. She will not only provide direction, but she will provide instruction and the tools needed to transform learning into a tech rich lesson. Being in Saline it is obvious that I have the opportunity and support to move forward and begin my implementation of my DreamIT idea.
Content:
This project / idea has endless possibilities, however I want to begin by taking small steps to work with the staff to ensure that this will be a meaningful learning opportunity. All too often we rush into making decisions and we forget to “cross” the T’s and “dot” the I’s. At Saline Middle School we offer our language arts teachers release days to complete reading assessments on their students. The teacher is present, however a substitute is needed. This idea would begin by working with these teachers during this school year to develop the “cyber-hour”. The good news is that these release days are set-up in advance and the language arts teachers coordinate their schedules so that they are not out on the same days. This leaves the realization that we can actually coordinate a schedule and have a plan moving forward. I believe technology should be embedded in everyday learning as a means for our teachers and students to collaborate, create, and connect on a daily basis. Taking our time to develop the technology and integrate it more seamlessly into a cyber-classroom experience will ultimately be the key to this DreamIT project. I had the chance to speak to one of our 7th grade language arts teachers the other day. I gave him a quick overview of my idea and his response to me was “I think this would be a more effective use of time when a substitute teacher is in the classroom. I can see this being meaningful technology time above other aspects, but I'll enumerate those reasons later when we meet.” Ceo, M. (2013, July 17). Interview by D.W. Raft.
Originally, I was going to claim this as my idea and push this onto the teachers. However, after a wise conversation with Punya, having this be a collaboration with the teachers seemed like a much better thought process. As I started to rethink some of the obstacles I may encounter it was clear there would be challenges. The number one barrier would be Teacher buy-in! This may be difficult, as many teachers may not have the technology proficiency to facilitate such a plan. Additionally, many teachers have a great deal of content to cover and may be unwilling, or unable, to support such an idea. The diversity in how teachers plan for absences might also have an impact. For example, if a teacher knows they are going to be gone - they might have a specific lesson/learning objective that the substitute could carry out. There are also some logistical issues such as having the technology available along with the space to house the classes. Not to mention it takes time to develop these types of lessons and time is not something we have in excess. However, these are the types of conversations that I need to have with our language arts teachers and assure them we will work with them to make this as stress free and accommodating as possible. For me, this will be a great opportunity to demonstrate my instructional leadership skills as I work with the teachers, students and the IT department...I’m getting excited!
Technology:
I am a full proponent for technology use in the classroom. I see students receiving meaningful instruction with the use of technology. Every aspect of life is becoming more ingrained in technology, so the more technologically savvy students become, the better prepared they will be when entering the workplace. Technology is becoming the paper and pencil, the encyclopedia, the textbook, etc. But, beyond that it will provide much greater capability than ever before. Instant connections with resources around the world, real-time pictures and videos, etc. There are so many possibilities. Currently, the adults can't keep up with the kids when it comes to technology usage, and that's a problem. The need for teachers to diversify their instruction cannot be overstated. As educational methods are researched and adapted, it has become increasingly apparent that students are diverse learners. By making material more interactive and accessible through different mediums, the students will engage and make learning more concrete. Technology is the best vehicle to accommodate a variety of learners. We can know longer ignore the need for technology, the time is upon us. This is where I see the value for the implementation of my DreamIT project, and an eagerness for it to come to fruition.
I want to develop a technology plan that is helpful for our students and teachers when the classroom teacher is absent. For starters, I will need to allocate resources that are available for students during these assigned times. Not only a space, but a well developed space that has technology at their fingertips. My vision is redefining the media center and how this space is utilized. This will take monies, which is not easy to find these days. It would be great if we had a technology bond, but that is a few years away from reality. I have allocated $13,000, plus our Instructional Technology Director is supporting an additional $12,000. If I can get our Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum to support $5000 and we use the monies we save on substitute, which is a value of $5000 I am looking at $30,000. This seems like a lot of money, but it will only provide a start to my dream 21st century learning space.
I’ll begin with the layout of the current media space. It will continue to serve as our media center, checking out books, doing research, etc. However, it is a large space that offers some flexibility in it’s layout. I look to develop one section that is tucked away in the back of the media center as my targeted “cyber-classroom”. Below is a picture of our media center and the second picture is of what I envision as the ideal space. There is some good news, we have a sinking fund that allows for the cost of wiring of computers, network drops, wireless and other technical items that need to be wired or relocated. Then the purchase of tables, LCD monitors, computers, Ipads and wireless charging devices Helios Wireless Charge Stations will be added to our media center in the coming months. Overall, this will required some reorganization and the purchasing of products, but we are in a good position with a solid plan to move forward.
Pedagogy:
This is probably the one of the most important aspects of this project. Engagement is key! and is an area that I feel creates learning. If we cannot engage our learners in what we want them to know then it is hard to have productive learning. Thinking like Willingham suggests, which is that students will benefit from a mix of pedagogical approaches no matter their preferred learning style is how this plan needs to roll. The great thing is with this DreamIT project is that it is based around the use of technology, which offers a vast array of available ideas of which to take advantage. I see our students doing group work early on in the process. It is a great way to intertwine collaboration and cooperation and the use of Google Presentations, which is a wonderful tool for working within a group. In the early implementation stages it would be beneficial to have the lessons developed and ready to go, with the focus being on the use of a technology to create a product. I would use some of my MAET summer training and how an idea was taken and then made into a tech product. Another pedagogical approach would be a focus on student-led education which would be supported by the use of technology instead of the teacher necessarily having to develop the lesson. For example, interactive projects would be a great way to go with this idea. This would really allow for some "choice" in terms of topics of great interest to students. Middle Schoolers like some freedom, but at the same time they need some direction. Keeping the delivery methods varied will help with the engagement of the students during this time. At the end of the day, having a well laid out plan for the students, with specific goals and outcomes from the lesson will be the key.
The Total TPACKage:
Technology in this instance becomes the facilitator for learning, creation and collaboration. Instead of having a teacher in a classroom or sub stand up and be the sage on the stage (pushing information) on students...the technology is the vehicle to open the doors for student inquiry and knowledge gathering. The technology opens the doors for students to work with peers, other classrooms and people all around the world to collaborate instead of sitting at their desks like soldiers. The technology encourages higher-order thinking because students will actually use apps or websites to create a product on the spot instead of having to take a paper/pencil assignment home.
I am a realist regarding this DreamIT project and I believe that being able to offer a cyber-classroom experience will benefit our students. However, as a realist working in the actual environment everyday...I’d be hard pressed to make such large-scale substantial changes in a new program. Our culture, our parent expectations and lack of resources really has us growing our change at a slower, managed pace. With that said, we have a solid plan and we are moving forward...it just may take a little long to get to full implementation.
Throughout this planning process and development the SAMR Model has be considered. In year one of this major change I am thinking we are only able to go so far up the SAMR Model...due in part to organizational culture. In year 2 of this project as we build on our learning I see us getting it completely at the redesign level. I'd say my plan straddles modification/redesign, but we are getting closer!
Context:
I currently am the Saline Middle School Principal within the Saline Area School District. Saline is an upper middle-class community, primarily Caucasian. As a district we encompass the Ann Arbor area. I have held this position for six years, however I have been a building administrator for the past fourteen years across four different buildings. Prior to becoming a building administrator, I was a high school Marketing teacher, Drivers Ed teacher and Coach.
Saline Middle School is currently the largest 6-8 middle school in the State of Michigan with over 1250 students. We have approximately 80 staff members who work in multiple capacities. We will begin our third year as a BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices) school building. Saline Area Schools is committed to prepare all students and teachers to maximize learning by fully integrating relevant technology into academic content. As part of this commitment, the District recently added wireless capabilities to Saline Middle School to allow student-owned devices to be used in a classroom setting to support instruction. With classroom teacher approval, students may use their own devices in the classroom to access, interact and save information from the internet, communicate with other learners and use web productivity tools to create assignments/projects or take classroom assessments.
In Saline we have a very supportive Superintendent who is a proponent of using technology within our schools. Our Director of Instructional Technology is a former classroom teacher, who is our ambassador for moving into 21st century learning environments. She will not only provide direction, but she will provide instruction and the tools needed to transform learning into a tech rich lesson. Being in Saline it is obvious that I have the opportunity and support to move forward and begin my implementation of my DreamIT idea.
Content:
This project / idea has endless possibilities, however I want to begin by taking small steps to work with the staff to ensure that this will be a meaningful learning opportunity. All too often we rush into making decisions and we forget to “cross” the T’s and “dot” the I’s. At Saline Middle School we offer our language arts teachers release days to complete reading assessments on their students. The teacher is present, however a substitute is needed. This idea would begin by working with these teachers during this school year to develop the “cyber-hour”. The good news is that these release days are set-up in advance and the language arts teachers coordinate their schedules so that they are not out on the same days. This leaves the realization that we can actually coordinate a schedule and have a plan moving forward. I believe technology should be embedded in everyday learning as a means for our teachers and students to collaborate, create, and connect on a daily basis. Taking our time to develop the technology and integrate it more seamlessly into a cyber-classroom experience will ultimately be the key to this DreamIT project. I had the chance to speak to one of our 7th grade language arts teachers the other day. I gave him a quick overview of my idea and his response to me was “I think this would be a more effective use of time when a substitute teacher is in the classroom. I can see this being meaningful technology time above other aspects, but I'll enumerate those reasons later when we meet.” Ceo, M. (2013, July 17). Interview by D.W. Raft.
Originally, I was going to claim this as my idea and push this onto the teachers. However, after a wise conversation with Punya, having this be a collaboration with the teachers seemed like a much better thought process. As I started to rethink some of the obstacles I may encounter it was clear there would be challenges. The number one barrier would be Teacher buy-in! This may be difficult, as many teachers may not have the technology proficiency to facilitate such a plan. Additionally, many teachers have a great deal of content to cover and may be unwilling, or unable, to support such an idea. The diversity in how teachers plan for absences might also have an impact. For example, if a teacher knows they are going to be gone - they might have a specific lesson/learning objective that the substitute could carry out. There are also some logistical issues such as having the technology available along with the space to house the classes. Not to mention it takes time to develop these types of lessons and time is not something we have in excess. However, these are the types of conversations that I need to have with our language arts teachers and assure them we will work with them to make this as stress free and accommodating as possible. For me, this will be a great opportunity to demonstrate my instructional leadership skills as I work with the teachers, students and the IT department...I’m getting excited!
Technology:
I am a full proponent for technology use in the classroom. I see students receiving meaningful instruction with the use of technology. Every aspect of life is becoming more ingrained in technology, so the more technologically savvy students become, the better prepared they will be when entering the workplace. Technology is becoming the paper and pencil, the encyclopedia, the textbook, etc. But, beyond that it will provide much greater capability than ever before. Instant connections with resources around the world, real-time pictures and videos, etc. There are so many possibilities. Currently, the adults can't keep up with the kids when it comes to technology usage, and that's a problem. The need for teachers to diversify their instruction cannot be overstated. As educational methods are researched and adapted, it has become increasingly apparent that students are diverse learners. By making material more interactive and accessible through different mediums, the students will engage and make learning more concrete. Technology is the best vehicle to accommodate a variety of learners. We can know longer ignore the need for technology, the time is upon us. This is where I see the value for the implementation of my DreamIT project, and an eagerness for it to come to fruition.
I want to develop a technology plan that is helpful for our students and teachers when the classroom teacher is absent. For starters, I will need to allocate resources that are available for students during these assigned times. Not only a space, but a well developed space that has technology at their fingertips. My vision is redefining the media center and how this space is utilized. This will take monies, which is not easy to find these days. It would be great if we had a technology bond, but that is a few years away from reality. I have allocated $13,000, plus our Instructional Technology Director is supporting an additional $12,000. If I can get our Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum to support $5000 and we use the monies we save on substitute, which is a value of $5000 I am looking at $30,000. This seems like a lot of money, but it will only provide a start to my dream 21st century learning space.
I’ll begin with the layout of the current media space. It will continue to serve as our media center, checking out books, doing research, etc. However, it is a large space that offers some flexibility in it’s layout. I look to develop one section that is tucked away in the back of the media center as my targeted “cyber-classroom”. Below is a picture of our media center and the second picture is of what I envision as the ideal space. There is some good news, we have a sinking fund that allows for the cost of wiring of computers, network drops, wireless and other technical items that need to be wired or relocated. Then the purchase of tables, LCD monitors, computers, Ipads and wireless charging devices Helios Wireless Charge Stations will be added to our media center in the coming months. Overall, this will required some reorganization and the purchasing of products, but we are in a good position with a solid plan to move forward.
Pedagogy:
This is probably the one of the most important aspects of this project. Engagement is key! and is an area that I feel creates learning. If we cannot engage our learners in what we want them to know then it is hard to have productive learning. Thinking like Willingham suggests, which is that students will benefit from a mix of pedagogical approaches no matter their preferred learning style is how this plan needs to roll. The great thing is with this DreamIT project is that it is based around the use of technology, which offers a vast array of available ideas of which to take advantage. I see our students doing group work early on in the process. It is a great way to intertwine collaboration and cooperation and the use of Google Presentations, which is a wonderful tool for working within a group. In the early implementation stages it would be beneficial to have the lessons developed and ready to go, with the focus being on the use of a technology to create a product. I would use some of my MAET summer training and how an idea was taken and then made into a tech product. Another pedagogical approach would be a focus on student-led education which would be supported by the use of technology instead of the teacher necessarily having to develop the lesson. For example, interactive projects would be a great way to go with this idea. This would really allow for some "choice" in terms of topics of great interest to students. Middle Schoolers like some freedom, but at the same time they need some direction. Keeping the delivery methods varied will help with the engagement of the students during this time. At the end of the day, having a well laid out plan for the students, with specific goals and outcomes from the lesson will be the key.
The Total TPACKage:
Technology in this instance becomes the facilitator for learning, creation and collaboration. Instead of having a teacher in a classroom or sub stand up and be the sage on the stage (pushing information) on students...the technology is the vehicle to open the doors for student inquiry and knowledge gathering. The technology opens the doors for students to work with peers, other classrooms and people all around the world to collaborate instead of sitting at their desks like soldiers. The technology encourages higher-order thinking because students will actually use apps or websites to create a product on the spot instead of having to take a paper/pencil assignment home.
I am a realist regarding this DreamIT project and I believe that being able to offer a cyber-classroom experience will benefit our students. However, as a realist working in the actual environment everyday...I’d be hard pressed to make such large-scale substantial changes in a new program. Our culture, our parent expectations and lack of resources really has us growing our change at a slower, managed pace. With that said, we have a solid plan and we are moving forward...it just may take a little long to get to full implementation.
Throughout this planning process and development the SAMR Model has be considered. In year one of this major change I am thinking we are only able to go so far up the SAMR Model...due in part to organizational culture. In year 2 of this project as we build on our learning I see us getting it completely at the redesign level. I'd say my plan straddles modification/redesign, but we are getting closer!