“Module 9 Assignment”

1. July 25th, 2010 at 7:06 pm      Reply Carl Says:

   Hi,

   Lets see, I will do what I can to help. Currently I possess a license to be a tech coordinator in my state, I am also licensed to teach technology. I have a Masters in C&I and one in Technology in Ed. However, I started using technology in the classroom my 8th year of teaching, some time before the tech masters, my inspiration was/is Papert.

   At my school, we have a tech person that normally takes care of hardware problems, I occasionally help when the problem is minor. I teach 7th/8th graders how to integrate tech into their classwork and convert them into the “Digital Natives” they should be. 😉

   I also have taught teachers tech integration for a university group that was funded by a large grant. At one time, we had over 200 trainers traveling around the state training teachers on Saturdays. Training for us was provided by a PD at the end of the year and we worked on curriculum during the fall. Since the grant money ran out, I am missing the training that was provided and meeting the friends I have made across the state.

   I installed and manage our school’s Moodle server, (self-taught). I use Moodle.org and Twitter to stay current and to help me troubleshoot problems.

   I also train teachers how to use Moodle in the classroom. We had our first department training right after school this year. All of the Math teachers have their first unit online as we are becoming a 1:1 school. Most of what I know about online learning I have self-taught until last fall, when I received training to be an online teacher for our state’s Blackboard system.

   Currently I use several newsletters, a blog or two, Twitter, and our state’s SuperComputing group for training and motivation, I also use my own blog to help me put down what I think are essentials for tech and learning, sometimes just learning. I attend webinars and enjoy giving presentations through webinars and at conferences. I think that these are my critical resources currently, I know Twitter has helped tremendously.

   Sorry to have been so long-winded, but I felt background was necessary. There are a lot of things I do know, but I am finding out there is a lot more that I don’t – which means I can keep busy learning.

   
   
2. July 26th, 2010 at 3:32 am      Reply Fred Mindlin Says:

   I worked as a Technology Integration Specialist for the last seven years of my public school teaching career, and have continued to work in the same capacity since retiring, but through the National Writing Project. My own professional development is generally not planned but responsive–I’m always looking to the needs of upcoming Writing Project programs and the needs I see among the teachers I support, and what they are asking for. The critical resources are therefore the communication tools to keep me informed of what’s on those horizons–list servs, websites, conference calls. I rely on colleagues within my local writing project, the Central California Writing Project, and leaders at the California Writing Project and the National Writing Project. I also network extensively within the tech community, both locally and internationally. The most interesting tool for keeping track of all these developments for me has become Twitter, primarily as a search and link building tool–I follow about twenty hashtag search terms, and find it the best tool for keeping current.

   
   
3. July 26th, 2010 at 4:08 am      Reply Ann Oro Says:

   How do you plan for your own professional growth and development?
   I try to stay mindful of the technology plan and find opportunities to learn, in advance, what will be necessary in the coming months and years. There is a local conference I enjoy attending and look for low and no cost opportunities online and offline.
   What resources are critical for that plan?
   The resource that is most critical is the ability to take a day off for the conference. My ability to put aside time outside of school is the most critical part of the plan. I listen to podcasts on car rides when I’m by myself or while waiting for my children at their activities. I stay mindful of webinars I sign up for so I remember to attend.
   Who do you rely on to help with your own professional development?
   I rely on my principal for help with the day(s) off. Othewise, I rely on myself and the experience of those providing courses online.
   What tools do you use for your development?
   The tools I use are on a Google Site I created for a conference session I gave the other day. Our state has had a lot of PD tied into state curriculum changes. I took advantage of this, too.

   Hope this gives you an idea or two.

   
   
4. July 29th, 2010 at 6:27 pm      Reply Tom Turner Says:

   Hey Alice. Let’s see if I can answer these sufficiently for you.

   How do you plan for your own professional growth and development?
   As part of my budget at school, I use a portion of this for professional development. I’m able to cover the cost to be able to go to 2 conferences per year. The traveling/room costs I cover on my own so as not to be a burden on the district since they do not cover out of county travel. I also rely heavily on my PLN to cover any PD needs that I might come up against.

   What resources are critical for that plan?
   The most critical resource necessary for the PLN to work are the web 2.0 tools that are out there to allow instant communication and collaboration amongst my peers.

   Who do you rely on to help with your own professional development?
   One of my greatest resources as I’ve mentioned are the great colleagues that I have in my PLN. Each and every one of them are willing to help out whenever I have a question or faced with a road block that I cannot steer myself around.

   What tools do you use for your development?
   Twitter, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, Facebook, ustream

   
   
5. August 2nd, 2010 at 9:53 pm      Reply alicemercer Says:

   Thank you so much for your response to my post. You helped me ace my assignment and impress my instructor 😉