Week 2, Part 2

As part of this week's assignment, I would like to focus on the first key area of the Texas School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart, Teaching & Learning. This focus area includes: Patterns of Classroom Use, Frequency/Design of Instructional Setting Using Digital Content, Content Area Connections, Technology Applications (TA) TEKS Implementation (TAC Chapter 126), Student Mastery of Technology Applications (TA) TEKS, and Online Learning. I am choosing to focus on this area because I think it reflects what teachers are actually doing with the technology they have access to on their campuses.
First, Patterns of Classroom Use indicates how a teacher is using technology in the classroom. Early Tech scores would have teachers being the primary users of technology for management purposes with the students using mostly skill reinforcement software. At my campus, we are currently performing at the next range which is "Developing Tech." This includes using technology for direct instruction with modeling for students and directing them to use technology to communicate and present information. We tend to use technology for presentation and research which tend to be in this level. When comparing to my previous school, the scores are the same in this area. We would like to improve to the next level, Advanced Tech, which would include using technology for higher order thinking skills and collaboration to evaluate information, analyze data, and solve problems.
The "Patterns of Classroom Use" is the most important aspect in this area because the second area of Frequency/Design of Instructional Setting Using Digital Content merely establishes the availability of technology in different learning environments, but not how it is used. Another area that I think correlates to the patterns of classroom use is the focus area of Content Area Connections. I believe this is important because of how technology can be used within different content areas. It can be used for research and presentation, as well as analyzing and comparing information about specific grade level TEKS. To use technology at this level would give our school a rating of Advanced Tech. When comparing to another school in the district, both campuses received a 2 in this area.
In both local campuses, the score for Technology Applications (TA) TEKS Implementation is a "2." This indicates that the teachers are aware of the TA TEKS for different content areas and occasionally include them in planning and implementing instruction. In my opinion, this indicates the TA TEKS are included as an afterthought. As a result, the next area "Student Mastery of Technology Applications (TA) TEKS is low. This describes the percentage of students who have mastered the TA TEKS. If students are not being exposed to the TA TEKS and/or using them regularly, they probably have a low percentage of student with mastery. The ideas go hand in hand.
The final section under "Teaching and Learning" includes Online Learning. Both local campuses scored low in that area. I believe using online resources to improve student learning is available but needs to be accessed. This is why I chose this area. Teachers have access to so many tools, but are unsure of how it can coorelate to what they are supposed to be teaching in the class. I am afraid that so many teachers are overly focused on the TAKS test and can not see outside of TAKS test format to allow learning on a broader more in depth level.
When comparing my local campuses with the statewide summary, our scores fall in line with most of the state scores. I feel that the infrastructure is strong in our state indicating that we recognize the need for technology instruction and usage, but we are still weak on how to implement the technology strategies effectively. There are very low percentages in the "Early Tech" stage with the highest being 5.4%, which indicates that the state of Texas is making concentrated efforts on improving technology usage in the classroom. I believe Texas may be at the forefront of technology usage tracking because according to the National Assessment Governing Board, WestEd, a 40 year old educational research group, is to construct a test that will assess the use of technology in schools nationwide. This test is supposed to be released in 2012. (Jones, J. (2009). Education Department Commissions First Nationwide Technolgy Assessment. Convergemag.com/literacy, Business Week. (p.1).
My recommendations for improvement in our scores in the Texas STaR chart are to establish specific expectations of technology usage with specific follow up dates to discuss progress. I would like to see our tech facilitators in the classroom modeling specific strategies and getting the students involved. I believe it is important to give the teachers opportunites to see how it can work with real students and then let them reflect on what worked and didn't work to see where they can improve. I also think specific strategies to align the technology with the core content areas will be more accepted than random technology skills that may "look" interesting, but won't be used because of lack of time to explore them.