Digital Learning Environment Inventory:
Below is a list of inventory we were asked to compile about our school from faculty and students. The responses on what types of digital learning tools we have can be found below.
1. What tools, software, operating systems, and equipment are available in your school and classroom? (including but not limited to: videoconferencing, streaming, photos sharing sites, video sharing sites, document sharing sites, podcasts, blogs, wikis, social networking sites, etc.)
In my school we have: Windows operating systems (XP, 7 and 8), Microsoft Office 2010 and 2013, Lync, Sharepoint, Crosspointe (attendance online), Edline/Gradequick, WIMBA (virtual meetings), Photoshop, Dreamweaver, remote student response systems (clickers), LCD projectors, dot cams, grade cam, virtual dissection software, test generators, Crystal Reports (online data base for county standardized test scores for students), AutoCAD, Blackboard for science teacher collaboration, and blogs (a reading blog on the school’s sight). Students and teachers also have access to Google Docs for collaboration and soon Office 365 and SkyDrive.
2. How does your school make use of school and/or teacher websites?
Our school used to have independent teacher websites linked to the school’s web page, but about three years ago we switched over to Edline.net. All teacher web pages are now hosted through that. I actually prefer this, because Edline is very user friendly, easy to navigate and modify and it provides some uniformity between the different teacher pages so students can more easily find out what they need and know where to turn for information. Edline is also linked into Gradequick (our grading/gradebook software) so grades are posted here, school and class/teacher announcements can be made here, homework and due dates can be shared on calendars and Edline also links to student/parent emails so I can quickly and easily send notifications. The school page has announcements regarding upcoming events from school dances to testing information. School clubs also have links/pages through edline.
3. How are you currently utilizing technology for learning?
I keep my teacher web page on Edline up to date and use it daily to keep students/parents informed. Grades are posted at least once a week, homework and due dates are posted on the class calendar, class power points are all posted as well for students to print/view/review. Announcements are made regarding field trips, donations needed, guest speakers, etc.. and I use the parent/student email lists often to send out notifications. In addition to this I embed short video clips into class power points as well as interactive websites (sharktracker.com, petfinder.com). I sign up months in advance to have students use our school computer labs for different projects (student presentations, online scavenger hunts, community involvement activities, etc…). I also wrote a grant and received a class set (well just short… 30) of turning point clickers and I complete clicker reviews with students prior to each test to assess where they stand with the information before the test (they vote in and the software tabulates scores for each question as well as where individual students are overall). I also use these clickers to introduce certain topics to see what kind of prior knowledge of misconceptions they are coming into the unit with (ex: Evoution). I use Gradecam (through our document cameras) to instantly grade multiple choice portions of tests and run item analysis on tests. This item analysis allows me to see “bad” questions or areas of strength/weakness in students. I use Microsoft Lync to IM colleagues in my school and in other schools around my district. I use Movie Maker to both create movies for my students and have them create movies for projects. Camera phones are used for digital scavenger hunts that take place on field trips. Good voice is a great app I use with my virtual school students that allows you to forward texts and calls to any phone number you choose.
4. Which websites are blocked by your school's firewall?
All social networking sites are blocked (Twitter, Facebook, Myspace) as well as Youtube. As far as the websites in this week’s resource folder I could access each of them from school on my teacher computer. Students have different access than teachers so I’m not sure about students. This restriction is due to federal law according to my county and tech person (CIPA: Children’s Internet Protection Act).
5. What websites and tools are colleagues in your building using?
After asking colleagues in my building some websites or tools that they use this is what they said: Weatherunisys.com (uses visualizations for weather model verification), GIS, Sumanas, Inc., Quizlet, NOVA, Discovery Streaming Videos online, AVID.org, Remind101, http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ (Tropical Cyclones and archived data), http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/
(National Marine Sanctuary Sites-Information, real time data, real time surveillance), http://www.census.gov/popclock/ (US Census-Data and Demographic Interpretations)
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/ (NOAA Buoy and Instrumentation Site, real time and archived data provided by NOAA), Google Earth, various websites that allow teachers to create free bingo and jeopardy games as well as cross word puzzles.
6. Is there a system for evaluating student technology literacy in your school? If so, how effective or helpful have you found the assessment?
We do not currently have an official evaluation system for students. We do have a teacher technology skills inventory that has occurred twice in my ten years of teaching but it covers only the very basics (email attachments, paint, word processing and spreadsheets) and it scares me to think that some teachers struggle with it.
7. Gather suggestions from students on their ideas for integrating technology into their learning.
I asked my students for suggestions on integrating technology and this is what they said:
a) They want IPADS
b) They want all textbooks to be online or electronic e books. They feel that paper textbooks are a waste of money and are too bulky
c) They did not like the idea of teachers using facebook and twitter for communication; they see it as an invasion of personal space
d) They want to be able to listen to music while working it helps them focus
e) They want schools to provide calculators because some can’t afford the expensive graphing calculators
f) I asked specifically about flipping the classroom (recording presentations and posting on youtube). Some liked this some didn’t. Said it was good for when they are absent. When I asked if most students would take the time to view them at home they agreed most would not but that was their problem.
g) They think as a school we don’t do a good job integrating technology, but when I asked for examples of what we should or could be doing it was like pulling teeth, they had trouble thinking of things.
h) They were all very excited about the thought of collaborating with students in other countries via technology…wanted to not just do pen pals, but work together on some project
8. What tools that are not presently available would help to achieve district objectives?
Youtube for one. There are so many amazing clips on this site that I want to show my students and I’m unable to. Working computers! We have a decrepit lap top mobile cart but the computers are so old and slow only about 5 work on a good day and with classes of 34 that doesn’t cut it. Our school has computer labs, but you have to book them months in advance and our entire second semester they are off limits because of state testing.
9. Does your school promote BYOD (bring your own device) policies for students?
Our school just started piloting a BYOD program this past year although we call it BYOT (bring your own technology). Only 6 classes/teachers were selected to participate, the rest of us were told explicitly not to have students use or be seen with their electronic devices. Part of this program/push also allows students to use/check their devices between bells and at lunch (both of these would have previously been banned).
B. Using your Digital Learning Environment Inventory, develop a solution or suggest an improvement customized to your school/classroom circumstances. Include a paragraph describing:
1. The solution/suggestion: While I think I do a decent job integrating technology into my teaching/classroom, I know I need to improve on breaking past our community and technology will allow me to do this. This program has shown me some great sites on how to do this. Most of my students have never travelled around the state, let alone been out of it or worse yet been on a plane and travelled internationally. After speaking with them, I see that there is a desire to on their end and I know there is a need both to break some stereotypes they have of other countries/cultures and then of course looking at it from an environmental perspective we have global issues that can be addressed. I would like to try utilizing one of the sites given as resource for international collaboration (http://www.connectallschools.org/). My goal is to research how this site works and figure out A) how to connect my classes to it and B) how to use it to collaboratively work on an environmental project that will get my students involved globally as well as meet the needs of my course curriculum and amp up technology integration in my classroom. Participating through this site will fulfill many needs including use of technology and helping my students to see there is more than what they see around them…hopefully use technology to break some of these walls that surround them.
2. Reflection: After working on this technology inventory I realized a few things. First I think that we have access to a lot of great technology so I feel fortunate for that. I think the issue lies in getting teachers comfortable in trying things out (including myself). I believe most teachers get intimidated by some of the technology available. Even for me, while this program has been fantastic, I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the flood of information and sites that are available. In some ways it’s like information overload….I don’t know where to start (kind of like when you have a large task in front of you and it’s hard to take those first steps). I think by starting with just one project and one website is a good jumping off point and from there I can increase and improve each year. My first step is going to be utilizing http://www.connectallschools.org/. (Update: I registered for this site and epals but had issues finding schools willing to collaborate and am still working on that.
Below is a list of inventory we were asked to compile about our school from faculty and students. The responses on what types of digital learning tools we have can be found below.
1. What tools, software, operating systems, and equipment are available in your school and classroom? (including but not limited to: videoconferencing, streaming, photos sharing sites, video sharing sites, document sharing sites, podcasts, blogs, wikis, social networking sites, etc.)
In my school we have: Windows operating systems (XP, 7 and 8), Microsoft Office 2010 and 2013, Lync, Sharepoint, Crosspointe (attendance online), Edline/Gradequick, WIMBA (virtual meetings), Photoshop, Dreamweaver, remote student response systems (clickers), LCD projectors, dot cams, grade cam, virtual dissection software, test generators, Crystal Reports (online data base for county standardized test scores for students), AutoCAD, Blackboard for science teacher collaboration, and blogs (a reading blog on the school’s sight). Students and teachers also have access to Google Docs for collaboration and soon Office 365 and SkyDrive.
2. How does your school make use of school and/or teacher websites?
Our school used to have independent teacher websites linked to the school’s web page, but about three years ago we switched over to Edline.net. All teacher web pages are now hosted through that. I actually prefer this, because Edline is very user friendly, easy to navigate and modify and it provides some uniformity between the different teacher pages so students can more easily find out what they need and know where to turn for information. Edline is also linked into Gradequick (our grading/gradebook software) so grades are posted here, school and class/teacher announcements can be made here, homework and due dates can be shared on calendars and Edline also links to student/parent emails so I can quickly and easily send notifications. The school page has announcements regarding upcoming events from school dances to testing information. School clubs also have links/pages through edline.
3. How are you currently utilizing technology for learning?
I keep my teacher web page on Edline up to date and use it daily to keep students/parents informed. Grades are posted at least once a week, homework and due dates are posted on the class calendar, class power points are all posted as well for students to print/view/review. Announcements are made regarding field trips, donations needed, guest speakers, etc.. and I use the parent/student email lists often to send out notifications. In addition to this I embed short video clips into class power points as well as interactive websites (sharktracker.com, petfinder.com). I sign up months in advance to have students use our school computer labs for different projects (student presentations, online scavenger hunts, community involvement activities, etc…). I also wrote a grant and received a class set (well just short… 30) of turning point clickers and I complete clicker reviews with students prior to each test to assess where they stand with the information before the test (they vote in and the software tabulates scores for each question as well as where individual students are overall). I also use these clickers to introduce certain topics to see what kind of prior knowledge of misconceptions they are coming into the unit with (ex: Evoution). I use Gradecam (through our document cameras) to instantly grade multiple choice portions of tests and run item analysis on tests. This item analysis allows me to see “bad” questions or areas of strength/weakness in students. I use Microsoft Lync to IM colleagues in my school and in other schools around my district. I use Movie Maker to both create movies for my students and have them create movies for projects. Camera phones are used for digital scavenger hunts that take place on field trips. Good voice is a great app I use with my virtual school students that allows you to forward texts and calls to any phone number you choose.
4. Which websites are blocked by your school's firewall?
All social networking sites are blocked (Twitter, Facebook, Myspace) as well as Youtube. As far as the websites in this week’s resource folder I could access each of them from school on my teacher computer. Students have different access than teachers so I’m not sure about students. This restriction is due to federal law according to my county and tech person (CIPA: Children’s Internet Protection Act).
5. What websites and tools are colleagues in your building using?
After asking colleagues in my building some websites or tools that they use this is what they said: Weatherunisys.com (uses visualizations for weather model verification), GIS, Sumanas, Inc., Quizlet, NOVA, Discovery Streaming Videos online, AVID.org, Remind101, http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ (Tropical Cyclones and archived data), http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/
(National Marine Sanctuary Sites-Information, real time data, real time surveillance), http://www.census.gov/popclock/ (US Census-Data and Demographic Interpretations)
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/ (NOAA Buoy and Instrumentation Site, real time and archived data provided by NOAA), Google Earth, various websites that allow teachers to create free bingo and jeopardy games as well as cross word puzzles.
6. Is there a system for evaluating student technology literacy in your school? If so, how effective or helpful have you found the assessment?
We do not currently have an official evaluation system for students. We do have a teacher technology skills inventory that has occurred twice in my ten years of teaching but it covers only the very basics (email attachments, paint, word processing and spreadsheets) and it scares me to think that some teachers struggle with it.
7. Gather suggestions from students on their ideas for integrating technology into their learning.
I asked my students for suggestions on integrating technology and this is what they said:
a) They want IPADS
b) They want all textbooks to be online or electronic e books. They feel that paper textbooks are a waste of money and are too bulky
c) They did not like the idea of teachers using facebook and twitter for communication; they see it as an invasion of personal space
d) They want to be able to listen to music while working it helps them focus
e) They want schools to provide calculators because some can’t afford the expensive graphing calculators
f) I asked specifically about flipping the classroom (recording presentations and posting on youtube). Some liked this some didn’t. Said it was good for when they are absent. When I asked if most students would take the time to view them at home they agreed most would not but that was their problem.
g) They think as a school we don’t do a good job integrating technology, but when I asked for examples of what we should or could be doing it was like pulling teeth, they had trouble thinking of things.
h) They were all very excited about the thought of collaborating with students in other countries via technology…wanted to not just do pen pals, but work together on some project
8. What tools that are not presently available would help to achieve district objectives?
Youtube for one. There are so many amazing clips on this site that I want to show my students and I’m unable to. Working computers! We have a decrepit lap top mobile cart but the computers are so old and slow only about 5 work on a good day and with classes of 34 that doesn’t cut it. Our school has computer labs, but you have to book them months in advance and our entire second semester they are off limits because of state testing.
9. Does your school promote BYOD (bring your own device) policies for students?
Our school just started piloting a BYOD program this past year although we call it BYOT (bring your own technology). Only 6 classes/teachers were selected to participate, the rest of us were told explicitly not to have students use or be seen with their electronic devices. Part of this program/push also allows students to use/check their devices between bells and at lunch (both of these would have previously been banned).
B. Using your Digital Learning Environment Inventory, develop a solution or suggest an improvement customized to your school/classroom circumstances. Include a paragraph describing:
1. The solution/suggestion: While I think I do a decent job integrating technology into my teaching/classroom, I know I need to improve on breaking past our community and technology will allow me to do this. This program has shown me some great sites on how to do this. Most of my students have never travelled around the state, let alone been out of it or worse yet been on a plane and travelled internationally. After speaking with them, I see that there is a desire to on their end and I know there is a need both to break some stereotypes they have of other countries/cultures and then of course looking at it from an environmental perspective we have global issues that can be addressed. I would like to try utilizing one of the sites given as resource for international collaboration (http://www.connectallschools.org/). My goal is to research how this site works and figure out A) how to connect my classes to it and B) how to use it to collaboratively work on an environmental project that will get my students involved globally as well as meet the needs of my course curriculum and amp up technology integration in my classroom. Participating through this site will fulfill many needs including use of technology and helping my students to see there is more than what they see around them…hopefully use technology to break some of these walls that surround them.
2. Reflection: After working on this technology inventory I realized a few things. First I think that we have access to a lot of great technology so I feel fortunate for that. I think the issue lies in getting teachers comfortable in trying things out (including myself). I believe most teachers get intimidated by some of the technology available. Even for me, while this program has been fantastic, I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the flood of information and sites that are available. In some ways it’s like information overload….I don’t know where to start (kind of like when you have a large task in front of you and it’s hard to take those first steps). I think by starting with just one project and one website is a good jumping off point and from there I can increase and improve each year. My first step is going to be utilizing http://www.connectallschools.org/. (Update: I registered for this site and epals but had issues finding schools willing to collaborate and am still working on that.