Activity log week 9

read and responded to classmates blogs
listened to session 9 podcast and created blog
completed project 3

Session 9 Professional Development

It's amazing how the idea of professional development varies among colleagues. Some love it and are eager to attend, others feel they are burdens and rather just read about it later.
Depending on the presentation, I like many others fit into both categories. When a training or workshop comes around that I am extremely interested in, I immediately sign up. But when the district's mandated trainings arise, I am the first one to say its a waste of time. Many times I am right on the money when it comes to the trainings, and sometimes I surprise myself when I actually enjoy the mandated presentations and am disappointed in the one I was originally excited about.
Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend the California Association for the Gifted (CAG) Conference in San Jose. This conference is filled with keynote speakers, workshops, and seminars all pertaining to gifted students. This was probably one of the better conferences I have attended. With it being 3 days long, I was sure to get plenty of useful information. And for the most part I did. However, there was 1 seminar that was intended to introduce some new ideas for GATE. I couldn't believe how packed it was considering all of the other workshops being offered at the same time. Like everyone else that I attended, I thought this was going to be an excellent presentation. Unfortunately I was wrong. The presenter stood and read to us what was on the power point as if we were not able to read it ourselves or follow along on the handout. We received no strategies on how to incorporate the new information or even any background on it. We merely sat and listened. This was a rather disappointing seminar for pretty much everyone there. What was suppose to be new and innovating was in reality dull and useless. Perhaps this was do to poor planning on the presenters side, or just lack of quality information.
On the upside of this convention, I attended several motivating seminars that supplied me with numerous ideas and strategies that I would live to incorporate into my classroom. Unfortunately with testing right around the corner, I have no time to add anything new into my program without taking away from the valuable test prep materials I have been instructed to give.
In conclusion, I feel that professional development is an essential part of any career path, whether it is mandated or not, dull or innovating. Regardless of the mood you set for yourself, you'll always come out with new ideas, perhaps on ways to improve the presentation, even if it is a waste of time.

Activity Log

This week I:

Completed project 2
exported project 2 into a wave file
submitted project 2 to Dr. Newberry
read classmates blog post
listened to session 8 podcast
posted blog for session 8

Session 8

Data Driven Decision Making is a huge part of how my school functions. The only thing we seem to be able to factor into our classroom now is data. Data from accelerated math, accelerated reading, STAR math, STAR reading, ALS Benchmarks and of course our lovely CST's. We have so much DATA to go over its a wonder we every get anything else done after school. I know that reviewing data and highlighting the areas that need to be stressed in the classroom is a great thing. But there is such a thing as DATA overkill, at least at my school. I like knowing where my students are academically and how they perform on test, but not all test give an accurate account of your students. I am often tired of looking at data and deciding how to use it. In my classroom I know my students, I know their strengths and weaknesses, and sometimes these test we are required to give are not accurate.I am not saying that Data Driven Decision Making is a bad idea. Just the opposite, Data is good to have, its a good map to follow, but I do not believe that is should be the sole component in designing a successful plan in the classroom.

Activity Log

Submitted project 1 for approval
worked on other 2 projects
listened to podcast for session 7
created session 7 blog
read classmates blogs
responded to classmates blogs

Activity Log

Submitted project 1 for approval
worked on other 2 projects
listened to podcast for session 7
created session 7 blog
read classmates blogs
responded to classmates blogs

Session 7

Ed Norman is alive and well in my district. We have a network that has such strict firewalls that it is nearly impossible to find any really good web sites. If there is a particular website that I need for a lesson, I need to give it to my administrator and wait for them to send it to IT, by the time I get clearance, I have already completed the lesson. So many times, I just skip the website and find one that may not be as good, but I have access to right away. It's a shame the restrictions we have within an educational setting. I understand the concern of misuse of the Internet, but as a professional I believe I deserve a little more leeway. As a teacher who uses the computers regularly in my classroom, I think that it is my responsibility to train my students well as far as acceptable us and monitor their usage. I know many teachers do not want to be bothered with this task, so they don't mind the endless firewalls. I do believe that firewalls are important, but when you use it to the extreme, it becomes a
nuisance.
I can not say that my site's IT guy is considered an Ed Norman, he is the exact opposite. He does whatever he can to help install the software that I need within my classroom.
My Ed Norman would possibly my administrators. They know what is needed for our students to be successful with technology in the classroom, but technology is not the focus. Therefore money is not allocated to enhance it. This is what I find to be my biggest problem. I can find time to have the software installed, be trained on it, and then train my students, but I do not have the funds necessary to purchase the programs.