Stephen

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3/11/10 reflection 1 In reviewing, the National Educational Technology Standards and Performance indicators, it gave me a new perspective on just how much information is available for administators, teachers and students. The standards are well organized and thoughout for each area. The allocation of time, resources and access to professional growth are very important factors to consider. I do feel that the most important factor to having successful schools of the future is leadership stability. Sometimes leadership instability can hamper the advancement of technology in schools.

//**Stephen,

Although your reflection contains some interesting thoughts, it is my hope that you will try and go a bit more in-depth with your reflections. This seems a bit short and superficial. You have several things above that you could easily expound on and explore further. The focusing questions provided can help. Once again, they are:**//
 * //**How does the content challenge/affirm my philosophy of leadership and/or technology?**//
 * //**What new philosophies are emerging?**//
 * //**How is the content different or similar to my current professional experience?**//
 * //**What transformational effect does or has technology had on our profession?**//
 * //If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me through this wikispace using the mail feature we discussed in class. Thanks.

David//**

Steve Curry Reflection 2 Technology Fix In reading The Technology Fix: The Promise and Reality of Computers in Our Schools, numerous questions come to mind as we discuss schools in the 21st century. Hard to believe that 10 percent of this century has gone by in a blink of an eye and we are still talking about implementing technology in our schools. As I compare Pflaum’s journey through America’s schools with the book Curriculum 21 Essential Education for a Changing World edited by Heidi Hayes Jacobs, it seems that schools across America are facing obstacles with implementing similar technology into the curriculum. Four factors schools need to consider for implementing new curriculum; St. Mary’s Elementary School principal stated three apprehensions she had about technology; 1. Student isolation 2. Teacher worry about lack of expertise 3. Money These are realistic concerns that leadership teams face in our schools. School schedules are very inflexible and there is only a certain amount of days and only a certain amount of time to get everything completed. As schools look for new forms in school structures, one aspect that has been agreed upon is that computers will not replace teachers in the classroom; they especially will not replace effective teachers. Technology aides in providing another resource for students to access information. I think Principal Peter Malone had his staff at Harriet Tubman Elementary School understanding how important data can be to drive instruction. The principal was letting the function lead the form. The 19th century has a strong lock on our educational system and to go further in the 21st century to advance students to a more globalization learning system, we will have to adapt to an ever changing world.
 * 1) Schedule (long and short term)
 * 2) Grouping patterns of learners
 * 3) Grouping patterns of professionals
 * 4) Space (physical and virtual)
 * 5) Resources (Jacobs page 61, 62).

Steve Curry Reflection 3 Part II Technology Fix “Schools where there was strong leadership but the focus on defined outcomes was less clear, (Pflaum).” The first thing that concerns me when reading about St. John’s High School is that the technology coordinator, Sister Maggie Larkin is bored with education. Technology should not be a cure for boredom in our schools. This is a school that has unlimited resources for its students and to have a person in a leadership role complain of boredom only takes away from student achievement or students achieving greater heights and goals that they otherwise thought were unattainable. Linda Scott saying Special Education is the perfect place for technology in her school makes a valid point but all students should be giving the opportunity to have technology assist them in learning. Nowadays with inclusion and teachers having sometimes up to 15 students with IEPs in their classroom, it seems that technology is good for everyone. Special Education is Specially Designed Instruction, when a teacher uses technology in the classroom, I feel every student; whether or not they have an IEP is getting specially designed instruction. I really question if technology is being used correctly for students with IEPs. With all of the technology that is afforded to us in the 21st century, assistive technology is still lagging behind. You can download whole books on an I-Pod for students to listen to but I don’t see much of that happening in schools. Technology is perfect for brain based learning. With technology, students incorporate different learning styles (i.e., visual, movement, tactile, etc.). Students need to construct their own knowledge and answer their own questions to gain greater insight of their education. Schools need to create inspired learners not just passive learners that worry about a letter grade. Schools need to incorporate best practices with technology by allowing students to display creative works to the entire community.

Reflection 4 Technology Fix Part III Steve Curry As I read part III, I can agree with Maggie Lewis from Springdale High School about putting the proverbial cart before the horse. I was teaching at one school that put into place smart boards in about 75 percent of the classrooms throughout the school. The problem was though that numerous teachers did not have the training to access the technology. The smart boards, in the first year of use, became glorified overhead projectors. Maggie Lewis also has a valid point about teachers having a direct instruction orientation. I know a couple of school districts that during the interview when it is time to present a lesson it must be done through direct instruction. I do, we do, and you do format when presenting the lesson. I would have to disagree with Pam Borders who says “People don’t read today”. I feel that is too broad a statement. The Touchstones Discussion Project in Maryland is showing us that students are reading text and having discussion groups throughout the school. Two main insights that students discover through this project is; (1) if they don’t attend to the reading they will not be able to offer worthwhile coherent opinions and (2) in the course of shared open discussion they will come to understand something in a text that was initially confusing.

Technology is funded heavily by grants because schools feel that students need technology as part of the 21st century. Unfortunately leadership skills or I should say the vision of where the school district wants to go is sometimes tied down by politically correct personal and the lack of development for cognitive thinking.

Reflection 5 Technology Fix Steve Curry In reading the last set of schools the commonalities were financial budgets shrinking, social problems, administration turnover and a commitment by all staff members to integrate technology into the classroom. From my experience teaching in a low income school district the commitment to provide the students with the best available resources were in place. That commitment has to come from the leadership team and resonate down to the teachers. When leadership teams have a vision and see that vision through, they are creating a school of creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, communication and collaboration. Schools incorporating technology into their curriculum must have stable leadership, a central office to follow through on its mission and a change in mind set. School of the Future located in Philadelphia joined together with Microsoft to create a computer-based curriculum. The school is in its fourth year and still is struggling to meet the needs of the students. Although students have commented that the school provides numerous opportunities to learn. The Microsoft School is an example of radical school change and shows just how difficult it is to change the mind set and provide students with a 21st century learning opportunities.

//Stephen,

The Microsoft School of the Future is interesting, and is something I unfortunately know too little about. I will have to look more into what is going on there. Thanks!

David//