2011+IT630+Module+8


 * Module 8/Week 14 **
 * Summarize your learning for this term. How will you use the knowledge you have constructed to improve your use of technology for learning in your class and for your own personal and professional development? **

1. **Description.** The learning this term has been one of those experiences where real life and school come together and it is almost too much of a good thing. I really struggled this semester because the district that I work for is undergoing the change that this course is asking us to make in education. So as I was learning and developing a philosophy of instructional technology, my district wa one step behind me demanding that I have a lot of answers quickly. Within our district, we have a network administrator and an assistant to him. The NA takes care of all the hardware and software. The assistant repairs and updates. They are only two people so they are very busy. We got a new superintendent this year, and his views on technology are very technocentric. At one point, he bought 5 iPads (we are completely PC at our district, there is not an Apple to be seen) distributed them to me, the two techs, two teachers and wanted to know the next week how we liked them and could use them in education. It took our techs two weeks to work out the bugs just to get them online. I was contacted one day and told to assemble a technology committee that would discuss and decide on a device to populate the middle school with. . .I did so, but nothing is changing fast enough to match his vision and I had to really pull out the stops to meet the needs of these requests. My learning has been driven by this pressure at work to find out all I can and put all my energies into laying a good foundation for things to come. When we build the new middle school I am confident we will wire it the best we can with the funding we have and be responsible to the taxpayers by choosing devices and computers wisely.

The second huge demand this semester has come from the High School where the US History teacher is experimenting with a one to one program for his AP class next year. The principal wanted me to do some research for him here as well. I think we have a pretty good plan devised.

Between these two projects and the readings I've done this semsester I feel like I've grown by leaps and bounds.
 * Impact **
 * 1) We've decided that the new Middle School will have a hardwired computer lab (there was a real push to make this wi-fi, and we just don't have the funding to match the gadgets with a good wi-fi system). We decided to make the computer lab hardwired and have five hardwired computers in each classroom. We decided to give each grade level access to one wi-fi cart of devices. That way, we are not bogging down the wi-fi system.
 * 2) The AP science class will have a one-to-one pilot program starting next fall. (this morphed from a teacher saying he wanted eReaders for his textbooks -- I can't even go over the whole argument here -- it was exhausting.)
 * 3) The formation of a Technology Committee was the third big push this semester. I absolutely love the combination of people who are involved. We have a teacher from every building, a principal from every building, the head of maintenance, the two technology guys the Superintendent and myself. It's a varied and interesting group.

Did I mention that I run three libraries, and am responsible for the purchases and budgets, and am responsible for teching media classes at the elementary school, and reference classes at the High School?

I will continue to throw everything from our classes into my work as the Library/Media/Information & Technology person at our district. I am very concerned about keeping up with school. I feel more organized, because I made myself go paperless this semester. I'm proud because I've reached a personal goal and have not used a single sheet of paper (I'm 50 years old, so that means I've found new ways to take notes, keep track of things and proofread.) this semester.
 * Intent **

*** I've enjoyed reading your blog Lynn...love your last intent---you are even going green! Best of luck in the program..you have enriched our learning this term! Dr. Ward Thanks Dr. Ward!!!