5306+Fundamentals+of+Educational+Technology

Timeline for Agenda Agenda for First Collaborative Meeting Personal Digital Story See Austin!

Discussions Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5

The purpose of this wiki is to ultimately increase the use and integration of technology in the classroom and across our school. If provided a forum where teachers can discuss ideas about technology, collaborate, and relate strategies they have tried, then perhaps we can move towards increasing implementation across our campus and district.

The Texas Long-Range Technolgy Plan outlines a process and makes specific recommendations to local, regional, and state educational agencies in moving Texas Schools towards a 21st Century learning environment by implementing technology in the classroom. One tool used to determine the level of technology readiness for teachers and campuses is the STaR (__S__chool __T__echnology __a__nd __R__eadiness) Chart. After analyzing the STaR Chart for Vista Ridge High School, the data shows several trends in the last three years. First, VRHS is rated as **Advanced Tech** in Key Area IV of I//nfrastructure//, which means VRHS has a good student to computer ratio, internet access and speed, technical support, and other classroom technology. Also, Vista Ridge also has a Local Area Network and Wide Area Network and has a great capacity for distance learning. However, in the other three Key Areas (I //Teaching and Learning//, II //Educator Preparation and Development, III Leader////ship, Administratiom, and Instructional Support),// Vista Ridge has had a rating of **Developing Tech** and has stayed about the same in areas I and III, but has //declined// over the last 3 years in the area of //Educator Preparation and Development,// especially in the area of teachers having access to professional development. Although this is the weakest area for Vista Ridge, professional development opportunities in the area of implementing technology in the classroom and encouragement to develop our technological skills must be provided by the administration and technology leaders of our campus and district. The administration must have a common goal and direction for implementing technology in the classroom. It is important to establish a vision under the administration before moving towards getting buy-in from the rest of the educational staff towards implementing technology in the classroom.

 [|STaR Chart]
 * So, what can we teachers do to help create this vision and move our school towards an __Advanced Tech__ rating and an environment ready for our 21st Century students**? (Please respond under "discussion" and/or post your own question here)

 Please visit the following link to learn more about how wikis are used as a tool for collaboration [|Wikis in Plain English]

After viewing the short video, please go to the **Timeline for Agenda** and give your input.