Yukon+High+School+9_10

=Yukon High School 9/10= 1. Strategies: For improved teacher effectiveness it is important to take a smaller, more personal approach. Some teachers can feel overwhelmed and left behind in large training sessions. Others are not getting the training that would best serve them. (For some training is either too remedial or too advanced.) This is how one 9/10 teacher put it: “Hands on computer training for people that are scared of computers. Don’t just say play with it, it will get easier. We can’t say that to our students if they don’t understand the concept so please don’t say that to me. I need to know that there is someone I can go to for help who will treat me with dignity and respect.” If we can have small cohort groups with an experienced leader we can create small learning and support networks. (A continuation and further development of the model used at the last professional development day would work well.) As for student achievement it is important that students are excited about using the technology. We all know that students will be advancing more quickly than we do with what is new and possible. It is important that we do not have a technological that is so restrictive that it feels outdated to students. We need to strike a balance between safety/security with working in the technological world that our students live in. 2. Goals: Moving towards a classroom environment where student will increasingly be using technology, with the ultimate goal of a paperless classroom. Current educational thinking trends towards student activity based learning. As suggested by one of our teachers they would like to, “use my textbook online, do all writing on the computer, do research on the computer, and eliminate paper from my classes.” In doing this, teachers will be able to give more personalized attention and instruction to students as they work at their own pace. 3. Steps: In addition to global training programs that instruct an entire site in a new program or piece of equipment, it is important that we also have targeted training directed at the needs of teachers on a one to one basis. For students it is important that we create an equal playing field where all students will have access to the latest technological equipment and thinking even if they do not have this at home. This may include regular access to computer labs during non class times. 4. Promotion: It is important that to remain on the forefront of technology we also introduce some of our faculty to technology that we do not yet have. This will allow them to begin to theorize and plan for when the new equipment of ideas will make it to the classrooms. This was best modeled when a small group of teachers at the high schools were given Apple laptops a year in advance. They have provided a ready trained support staff for the full implementation of the program this year. 5. Professional Development While traditional group professional development models work well for some technology training, it is important that a more personalized model be used. With the adoption of the Apple Laptops this has started at the two high school buildings. We have a combination of group training as well as voluntary information sessions that have allowed for more one on one help. Also, our last professional development day featured work in small group of three to four with one experienced group leader. In talking with faculty, this model would be very well received because of the focused personal attention that it would allow. 6. Tech. Type and Costs Equipment needs to be directed to where it can do the most good. In the past SMART Boards have been given away to teachers through a raffle system. While this can be great for morale, this does not guarantee that the equipment is going to where it can do the most good. SMART Boards and projectors continue to be desired by many teachers. The following is a perfect example: “As a photography teacher, having the ability to show student pictures on something other than just a stand alone computer would be wonderful. Having a Smartboard in rooms where such a need exists would be something I deem paramount in terms of technology goals for our immediate future.” 7. Coordination: One way to increase both coordination and access to funds would be to supply teachers with grant writing resources through the districts technology department. This would allow for increased confidence on the part of faculty who may have never attempted this before, and allow the technology department to help guarantee that material is being procured that will work well within the district. 8. Integration: Computer labs, mobile laptop labs, and mobile iPod labs, have all increased the ability of teachers to integrate technology into their regular class routines. In the future textbook adoption years may be a good opportunity for departments to update their technology use through new items provided by textbook companies, and changes in practices. During the last World History adoption year our textbook selection also gave each teacher a projector. These are now considered to be indispensible teaching tools by even the most seasoned teachers. 9. Innovative Delivery: The high school’s credit recovery programs have used internet based software in the past that could also be used for distance learning. Although the particular software was eventually abandoned due to low rigor and a lack of correlation to Oklahoma standards, a suitable alternative could be useful. There should also be investigations into digital field trips and teleconferencing within the classroom. New technology and high speed internet could open up the world for first hand exploration by our students. 10. Parental Involvement: We have greatly increased connections with parents over the past few years. Our current Power School program has increased monitoring abilities for parents. Also, we now have a mass-call phone system that quickly updates parents with important information. Increased use of both the district website, and those of individual teachers, will also increase the amount information available to parents on a regular basis. 11. Collaboration with Adult Literacy: A model for this may be the support that the high school gives to Community Ed. and college programs through the use of our building and resources. 12. Accountability: One way to evaluate the use of technology, and increase accountability would be to slowly phase in the use of technology in evaluations. This would have to be done very carefully, however, with the understanding that everyone is at a different level of experience. Not everyone could be held to one mandatory standard. 13. Supporting Resources An online library resource of some sort would be helpful.