Today I met with Dawn, and we worked on creating a survey for the teachers at the school where I am placed. The director is going to put this out herself, so that the teachers will actually fill out the information, and we will have great feedback on what direction our project should go in. We would like to have the project ready and in place by the end of this semester for the next one. Hopefully, I will be able to have a training session soon on how to work the smart boards because the lady in the education department has already been contacted by Dawn. I realized today when thinking about sustainability and making this project actually work, there has to be something to up the anti. People don't see a problem and just make changes very often because they are comfortable or afraid of making the change. The only way these teachers as wonderful as they are, are going to actually do more than complete a training on the boards is for them to have an incentive and reason to do so. In my opinion, for these teachers to actually need my support and for me to be able to offer my services, the teachers are going to have to be required to create lessons using the smart boards. Then I would be a wonderful resource for them that happens to be right there at their fingertips...I thought about how neat it would be if a different teacher every month was to create one lesson or project that incorporated the board, and then all of the staff met together to see the final project like a showing or viewing. This would also promote staff interactions, cooperation, self-confidence, and address peoples fears of being enable to work the technology. I also love the idea of people seeing how someone used the device and wondering how they could do that , too. Then the teachers are actually learning from each other and collaborating. If one teacher really liked a lesson plan, then they could share the saved lesson and use it in a different classroom. There is a lot of potential, but for the potential to be reached, the teachers are going to have to be required to do something. In order to work on the greater problem at hand here, (which is the lack of teachers using the technology available to them) someone has to create a problem (like having to make a lesson) in order for them to need to fix the problem (learn the Smart Board). Then they will want to actually fix the problem (come ask me for help) in order that they might be successful. Once they are confident in their abilities, then they will want to learn more and use the technology more to help with their teaching.
(2 hrs)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Smart Board Idea
The center has two smart boards and has had trainings for the teachers, but no one uses them at this time. The director’s plan is to buy two new boards every year until every classroom has one. In theory, this is a great plan, but what if the teachers continue not to use the devices? For a center on such a tight budget, buying two three thousand dollar devices every year is not a reasonable or justifiable plan without confidence and assurance that the teachers will implement the new technology. At this present time the boards are being used just the same as regular white boards, which in all of the schools that I have been in, this has been a reoccurring theme. The teachers are not comfortable with the technology and need to be given a reason to implement the technology. If there is no incentive or reason to change, then why should the teachers use the technology? If they have trouble with the devices, at this time there is no one really set up to help them fix and trouble shoot the problems and issues that come up.
I would love to know how to work one very well and be able to be a resource for teachers who want to implement these boards to the best of their abilities in the classroom. For me personally, I would love to learn this technology, and the experience of learning how to use a Smart Board really well would be beneficial to my own classroom in the future immensely. Until this meeting, I did not even know there was a difference between Promethean Boards and Smart Boards. I not only would like to be trained like everyone else, I would love to have experiences with the device to a point where I could trouble shoot and be comfortable with the device and teaching others how to use it. Some people might say that it is a bad idea for me to take on a project where I do not already fully understand the technology involved, but given time, I am certain that I can master how to operate the machine. Because technology does not come naturally to me, I have found that this makes it much easier for me to relate to other people trying to learn the devices. I can empathize, and I had to figure these same things out on my own. Dawn said something to me about how much patience it takes to teach people how to use programming and technology. I believe that because of my demeanor and major, I have the capacity to take the time to teach people and make them feel comfortable.
If I were to address the issues of the Smart Boards what could I actually do to help? What would be the steps, benefits, or progress? I do not want this project to be another short-term spurt. I would love for this center to be my home project for the next year and a half before I graduate. The first step to the Smart Board Project would be to find someone who could train me on an individual basis and be able to go much more in-depth in the training than the average person. There is one lady in the Education Department who I believe would do a fabulous job of training me and understanding exactly what I need to know in order to help other teachers in the field. I would need to have access to a smart board to practice, make projects, and implement my ideas. This should be easy with all of the University Smart Boards at the school, and people here who would understand and trust me to use them properly. I would need to make lots of example lessons using different tricks of the programming to show the teachers exactly how this can make their lives better, the teaching more interesting, and how the technology could benefit their students. The director wants me to come into the school during teacher workdays in January to give some refresher information and training to the teachers. I would also be available to provide tech support for the teachers. How would this carry over into a long-term project though? I can only see this being a long-term project if the director made it mandatory for the teachers to make so many lessons on the boards and use the boards every so often for class time. The teachers also need to be at a level of comfort that they are willing and can teach their students how to use the Smart Boards themselves. I wonder if some incentives/ prizes would make the task of learning and making lessons on the boards go over better with the teachers? You would be surprised how competitive teachers can become. There is also the question of how to measure the results of this project. A pretest of the teachers’ abilities, uses, and feelings about the technology would be a great place to start. Then there would also be a posttest to see how much the use of the technology has improved. I believe this project has a lot of potential.
(2 hrs)
I would love to know how to work one very well and be able to be a resource for teachers who want to implement these boards to the best of their abilities in the classroom. For me personally, I would love to learn this technology, and the experience of learning how to use a Smart Board really well would be beneficial to my own classroom in the future immensely. Until this meeting, I did not even know there was a difference between Promethean Boards and Smart Boards. I not only would like to be trained like everyone else, I would love to have experiences with the device to a point where I could trouble shoot and be comfortable with the device and teaching others how to use it. Some people might say that it is a bad idea for me to take on a project where I do not already fully understand the technology involved, but given time, I am certain that I can master how to operate the machine. Because technology does not come naturally to me, I have found that this makes it much easier for me to relate to other people trying to learn the devices. I can empathize, and I had to figure these same things out on my own. Dawn said something to me about how much patience it takes to teach people how to use programming and technology. I believe that because of my demeanor and major, I have the capacity to take the time to teach people and make them feel comfortable.
If I were to address the issues of the Smart Boards what could I actually do to help? What would be the steps, benefits, or progress? I do not want this project to be another short-term spurt. I would love for this center to be my home project for the next year and a half before I graduate. The first step to the Smart Board Project would be to find someone who could train me on an individual basis and be able to go much more in-depth in the training than the average person. There is one lady in the Education Department who I believe would do a fabulous job of training me and understanding exactly what I need to know in order to help other teachers in the field. I would need to have access to a smart board to practice, make projects, and implement my ideas. This should be easy with all of the University Smart Boards at the school, and people here who would understand and trust me to use them properly. I would need to make lots of example lessons using different tricks of the programming to show the teachers exactly how this can make their lives better, the teaching more interesting, and how the technology could benefit their students. The director wants me to come into the school during teacher workdays in January to give some refresher information and training to the teachers. I would also be available to provide tech support for the teachers. How would this carry over into a long-term project though? I can only see this being a long-term project if the director made it mandatory for the teachers to make so many lessons on the boards and use the boards every so often for class time. The teachers also need to be at a level of comfort that they are willing and can teach their students how to use the Smart Boards themselves. I wonder if some incentives/ prizes would make the task of learning and making lessons on the boards go over better with the teachers? You would be surprised how competitive teachers can become. There is also the question of how to measure the results of this project. A pretest of the teachers’ abilities, uses, and feelings about the technology would be a great place to start. Then there would also be a posttest to see how much the use of the technology has improved. I believe this project has a lot of potential.
(2 hrs)
Meeting with Director
This morning I had a meeting with the director of the center where I am in placement. Dawn opened up the meeting by explaining to her what Digital Bridges is and what the non-profit wants to accomplish in Milledgeville. Then we began talking about how my scholarship fits in with Digital Bridges. When we began discussing the possibilities of projects here at this center, the first thing the director said was about the use of interactive boards. The University also donated 40 computers to the school last year, but because of funding, there is only one computer in each classroom with Microsoft Word on it. The computers are using a program called Ebuntu which neither Dawn nor I had ever heard of before this meeting. One really large-scale idea for the project was finding or creating behavior programs for these students that would help with social skills. One of the largest issues with the program is the huge turnover rate in teachers because of how difficult the type of students that these teachers are dealing with, and teacher burnout happens very quickly. There are also no computer programs here like Steep or Successmaker, which help students improve their math and reading skills. These programs also provide the teachers feedback as the students progress throughout the program. The students also need to be learning more of the basic computer skills like PowerPoints, copying, and pasting. The school does have a program called Bookshare, but there is no memory on the computers to use the program. All of the programming for math is extremely expensive to buy. The school does not have a tech support until something is actually physically broken and beyond repair. The students could take online CRCT tests, if they were comfortable enough to use the computers in the first place. Even the idea of teaching teachers how to better use PowerPoints in the their daily lessons would be a huge advantage and change in the classrooms.
After the meeting today, there is a ton to think about and plan. Dawn and I are meeting tomorrow to get the ball rolling on some ideas. The director is going to send out a survey to all of the teachers to find out what they would like to see happen with technology in the center and what ways that I could help support these teachers with my project. I really believe that I have the backing of the director, which is amazing. If there is one thing that I have learned from doing the project so far, it is that you cannot be the only one wanting the project to work. I am very excited to be partnering with this center and excited to see where this project goes. In the next couple of blogs, I am going to go into much greater details and thoughts about the potential projects. I just thought that it was important to get the gist of what happened at the meeting up onto the blog, and then take adequate time to explain the concepts completely.
Restated here are the bullet points from out meeting:
Smart Boards
Ebuntu
Behavior Programs
Teacher Networking
16 Social Skills
Success maker and Steep with feedback
Using Computers in general
Basic Computer Skills
Write Out Loud in IEP
No tech support
No computer Memory
No Microsoft Word
Lack of Comfort with Technology
Lack of Incentives
Lack of use of Technology in the classrooms
Lack of funds
After the meeting today, there is a ton to think about and plan. Dawn and I are meeting tomorrow to get the ball rolling on some ideas. The director is going to send out a survey to all of the teachers to find out what they would like to see happen with technology in the center and what ways that I could help support these teachers with my project. I really believe that I have the backing of the director, which is amazing. If there is one thing that I have learned from doing the project so far, it is that you cannot be the only one wanting the project to work. I am very excited to be partnering with this center and excited to see where this project goes. In the next couple of blogs, I am going to go into much greater details and thoughts about the potential projects. I just thought that it was important to get the gist of what happened at the meeting up onto the blog, and then take adequate time to explain the concepts completely.
Restated here are the bullet points from out meeting:
Smart Boards
Ebuntu
Behavior Programs
Teacher Networking
16 Social Skills
Success maker and Steep with feedback
Using Computers in general
Basic Computer Skills
Write Out Loud in IEP
No tech support
No computer Memory
No Microsoft Word
Lack of Comfort with Technology
Lack of Incentives
Lack of use of Technology in the classrooms
Lack of funds
Monday, November 16, 2009
Questions for Meeting
These are some of the general questions I want to ask, address, and learn more about during the meeting tomorrow.
How has technology changed over your years in teaching?
Do you believe it is a good thing?
What do you think about your students learning technology skills?
Do your students learn technology skills?
Do you have students who are technologically inclined and could use technology as a good outlet for behavior?
What technology skills do you believe to be important to your students?
How do you feel that technology could improve this school?
How much funding is there for technology within your school system?
You had mentioned to me at another time about a student with a computer program written into his IEP. Are you still having trouble with this?
Is there something I could do to help?
What do you want me to do and accomplish at this school?
What would actually be beneficial to this school and that the teachers would be on board with?
What would make a large impact on the society as a whole?
What can I do for you?
Are you interested in the Testing Powerpoint idea?
Are there any great social programs on computers to teach about appropriate conversations?
What do your students need technology to accomplish for them?
Can you think of any programs or ways that technology can be used to help with behavior management, modification, or positive reinforcement?
How do you feel about computers being a reward?
What do you think of Success maker?
What is it really?
How has technology changed over your years in teaching?
Do you believe it is a good thing?
What do you think about your students learning technology skills?
Do your students learn technology skills?
Do you have students who are technologically inclined and could use technology as a good outlet for behavior?
What technology skills do you believe to be important to your students?
How do you feel that technology could improve this school?
How much funding is there for technology within your school system?
You had mentioned to me at another time about a student with a computer program written into his IEP. Are you still having trouble with this?
Is there something I could do to help?
What do you want me to do and accomplish at this school?
What would actually be beneficial to this school and that the teachers would be on board with?
What would make a large impact on the society as a whole?
What can I do for you?
Are you interested in the Testing Powerpoint idea?
Are there any great social programs on computers to teach about appropriate conversations?
What do your students need technology to accomplish for them?
Can you think of any programs or ways that technology can be used to help with behavior management, modification, or positive reinforcement?
How do you feel about computers being a reward?
What do you think of Success maker?
What is it really?
New Leads
When my mind was all over the place coming up with ideas the other night, here were some of the leads that I came up with and researched.
One of the most useful programs for blind students is Text Aloud which allows the student to learn material independently.
Dawn and I were discussing the possibilities of the internet for people with special needs. I found a website: Disabledonline.com- internet for people who have disabilities. I thought this might be a great tool for people with special needs to use. The website works as a safer internet and simpler version for people with special needs.
I wonder if there is a place set up that has a lot of tools for people with special needs in one website? I believe that all of the technology and information is out there to make life easier and more technologically advanced for people with special needs. At the same time, how far and wide do people have to search to come up with the resources they need? The technology is usually located in crazy places that are all disconnected.
All kids in some shape or form want to fit in, and the internet can be a great tool for people with special needs to feel more connected. Dawn and I talked about using the internet spaces like facebook or chatting to help students learn appropriate social skills. There are going to be many times and places for these people to write emails, respond, ask questions and communicate with each other and need to do so in an appropriate manner. Dawn and I talked about a fake internet/facebook so that only the class could see or write to each other, and the teacher could monitor what was being written. Status updates could be a great topic of discussion about emotions and what is going on in each other’s lives.
I looked into the programs and services provided in Milledgeville to use as resources to learn more about the adult special needs population in Milledgeville.
Best Buddies: a one-to-one partnership with a GCSU Student and a consumer (an adult with developmental disabilities) from the Baldwin Service Center. I came across a personal success book and thought about all of the adults in this area who are under transition services and need people to help them be successful on their own and in group homes. There are actually about 11 or more group homes in Milledgeville.
The music therapy program also involves a lot of the Milledgeville area special needs population. The music therapy program actually comes to the school where I am working once a week to do sessions with the students in my class.
Huggers: This program provides support for our community's Special Olympics games and the Special Olympics Athletes. Students get to help run the events as well as encourage each athlete.
The No Boundaries Club serves as the umbrella organization for students who want to work with people with disabilities. Its mission is to "Build the leaders of tomorrow by serving people with disabilities today."
Special Olympics: This program, through year-round sports training and competition, empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics is often the only place where they have an opportunity to participate in their communities and develop belief in themselves.
Life Enrichment Center (Formerly known as the Baldwin Service Center):This program provides individuals with developmental disabilities living in Baldwin County Georgia, with the opportunity to meet goals through Employment and Personal and Social Services. The Baldwin Service Center cultivates community partnership with local and state colleges, civic and service organizations and advocacy groups to provide a variety of community based experiences and opportunities for consumers.
After doing a lot of research, I found a lot of information about group homes and what Milledgeville is doing to help the special needs population here. I did not actually know what groups and services were available in the Milledgeville area for people with special needs. I am especially curious about the adult population after these students are finished with school. This was brought to my attention because of the students in my classroom right now who are in the transition stage where the schools and parents are working to place the students in the best environment for their adult lives and future. I wondered what technology and programs are available to them. What are some of the difficult situations and problems with group homes and other services? I would really like to research about these issues and also take this opportunity to interview with the head of The Baldwin Service Center. I believe I could receive great information and learn a lot from these people who continually work with the adult special needs population in Milledgeville, Georgia. I am going to work on setting up a meeting with these people to learn more about the services provided in the Milledgeville area and what needs there are.
I was so excited to get a text message from Dawn saying that we were on for a meeting with the director of the school where I am working. This is thrilling because I will have the opportunity to learn what this school really needs. Dawn will also be at this meeting to add a lot of validity to what I am doing. Then we can all decide together on the best course of action for this project. For now, that means that I need to come up with questions I want to ask to learn more about the use of technology at this school. In a response email, the director wrote some interesting statistics.
As you may have guessed, our technology is somewhat limited.
Georgia College donated 40 used computers to us last year but, due to lack of funding for software, we were only able to put Ebuntu on each computer. Teachers primarily use their student computers for educational games.
We have a smart board in two of the classrooms but those teachers are really not trained in how to make full use of the interactive board for instruction.
Only 2 classrooms have LCD projectors (the two with smart boards).
Our internet is slow, and goes down often despite a recent bandwidth increase through Alltel.
About my project idea with the powerpoint, she wrote
Your host teacher spoke with you about “taking the American Literature Terminology that is used throughout the state’s End of Course Tests as well as Georgia High School Graduation tests and putting them into a Power Point type presentation with pictures and audio to help students with recalling terms. Depending on resources, this could lead to embedding the presentation with a switch device to assist with turning pages for students with physical disabilities. Katie, you describe the project beautifully on the Digital Bridges Website under ‘student projects.’ ”
As I work with these schools and with technology, it would be a great idea for me to be trained in how to use a smart board because I believe that situation after situation will arise where I could be a help in using these devices and utilizing them with the teachers and schools I will be working with on into my student teaching and teaching years.
(4 hrs)
One of the most useful programs for blind students is Text Aloud which allows the student to learn material independently.
Dawn and I were discussing the possibilities of the internet for people with special needs. I found a website: Disabledonline.com- internet for people who have disabilities. I thought this might be a great tool for people with special needs to use. The website works as a safer internet and simpler version for people with special needs.
I wonder if there is a place set up that has a lot of tools for people with special needs in one website? I believe that all of the technology and information is out there to make life easier and more technologically advanced for people with special needs. At the same time, how far and wide do people have to search to come up with the resources they need? The technology is usually located in crazy places that are all disconnected.
All kids in some shape or form want to fit in, and the internet can be a great tool for people with special needs to feel more connected. Dawn and I talked about using the internet spaces like facebook or chatting to help students learn appropriate social skills. There are going to be many times and places for these people to write emails, respond, ask questions and communicate with each other and need to do so in an appropriate manner. Dawn and I talked about a fake internet/facebook so that only the class could see or write to each other, and the teacher could monitor what was being written. Status updates could be a great topic of discussion about emotions and what is going on in each other’s lives.
I looked into the programs and services provided in Milledgeville to use as resources to learn more about the adult special needs population in Milledgeville.
Best Buddies: a one-to-one partnership with a GCSU Student and a consumer (an adult with developmental disabilities) from the Baldwin Service Center. I came across a personal success book and thought about all of the adults in this area who are under transition services and need people to help them be successful on their own and in group homes. There are actually about 11 or more group homes in Milledgeville.
The music therapy program also involves a lot of the Milledgeville area special needs population. The music therapy program actually comes to the school where I am working once a week to do sessions with the students in my class.
Huggers: This program provides support for our community's Special Olympics games and the Special Olympics Athletes. Students get to help run the events as well as encourage each athlete.
The No Boundaries Club serves as the umbrella organization for students who want to work with people with disabilities. Its mission is to "Build the leaders of tomorrow by serving people with disabilities today."
Special Olympics: This program, through year-round sports training and competition, empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics is often the only place where they have an opportunity to participate in their communities and develop belief in themselves.
Life Enrichment Center (Formerly known as the Baldwin Service Center):This program provides individuals with developmental disabilities living in Baldwin County Georgia, with the opportunity to meet goals through Employment and Personal and Social Services. The Baldwin Service Center cultivates community partnership with local and state colleges, civic and service organizations and advocacy groups to provide a variety of community based experiences and opportunities for consumers.
After doing a lot of research, I found a lot of information about group homes and what Milledgeville is doing to help the special needs population here. I did not actually know what groups and services were available in the Milledgeville area for people with special needs. I am especially curious about the adult population after these students are finished with school. This was brought to my attention because of the students in my classroom right now who are in the transition stage where the schools and parents are working to place the students in the best environment for their adult lives and future. I wondered what technology and programs are available to them. What are some of the difficult situations and problems with group homes and other services? I would really like to research about these issues and also take this opportunity to interview with the head of The Baldwin Service Center. I believe I could receive great information and learn a lot from these people who continually work with the adult special needs population in Milledgeville, Georgia. I am going to work on setting up a meeting with these people to learn more about the services provided in the Milledgeville area and what needs there are.
I was so excited to get a text message from Dawn saying that we were on for a meeting with the director of the school where I am working. This is thrilling because I will have the opportunity to learn what this school really needs. Dawn will also be at this meeting to add a lot of validity to what I am doing. Then we can all decide together on the best course of action for this project. For now, that means that I need to come up with questions I want to ask to learn more about the use of technology at this school. In a response email, the director wrote some interesting statistics.
As you may have guessed, our technology is somewhat limited.
Georgia College donated 40 used computers to us last year but, due to lack of funding for software, we were only able to put Ebuntu on each computer. Teachers primarily use their student computers for educational games.
We have a smart board in two of the classrooms but those teachers are really not trained in how to make full use of the interactive board for instruction.
Only 2 classrooms have LCD projectors (the two with smart boards).
Our internet is slow, and goes down often despite a recent bandwidth increase through Alltel.
About my project idea with the powerpoint, she wrote
Your host teacher spoke with you about “taking the American Literature Terminology that is used throughout the state’s End of Course Tests as well as Georgia High School Graduation tests and putting them into a Power Point type presentation with pictures and audio to help students with recalling terms. Depending on resources, this could lead to embedding the presentation with a switch device to assist with turning pages for students with physical disabilities. Katie, you describe the project beautifully on the Digital Bridges Website under ‘student projects.’ ”
As I work with these schools and with technology, it would be a great idea for me to be trained in how to use a smart board because I believe that situation after situation will arise where I could be a help in using these devices and utilizing them with the teachers and schools I will be working with on into my student teaching and teaching years.
(4 hrs)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Behind the Scenes Stuff
This blog is much more about the behind the scenes stuff. I have put in hours, but they are all in weird ways like emailing the Speech Therapist who I was working with, getting a form, blogging, and meeting with Dawn twice. I also have been trying to contact the Director of the school I am working in to conduct a formal interview to see what the true needs of the school are and not just allow myself to come into a system and decide what it needs as an outsider. My ideas going in to this meeting are a power point with audio to help the class I am working with that does not have the funding to get the supplemental material which would help the students prepare for their graduation tests. The way the literature section is set up right now, only allows the students to view the literary terms from the textbook and read the definitions. While this does help the students identify what the terms look like and mean, the students still would not be able to look at a passage on a test and discern that the author was using one of those terms. Another issue with only reading the textbook is that the students have no idea how to pronounce these sometimes difficult words like "onomatopoeia". One of the students is actually working on his computer skills, powerpoint skills, and literary skills all at the same time. We are a team and creating a powerpoint using ten of these 150 terms. Each word has a slide with the word and definition. At school tomorrow, we are going to use the internet to look up examples of these terms, and the student will decide which example he likes the best for the powerpoint. If I was able to use this as a part of my project, I could make a full powerpoint of all of the terms, add sound, add graphics, add more examples, and could make this available online as a free resource for teachers to use with other students across the nation working to have their students to pass the graduation exam. I was really hoping to meet up with the Director this week, but I have not received any reply to my email. I may go ahead and send her another or speak with her tomorrow if I see her in the halls. I believe that getting people on board and contacting the right sources for meetings is by far the hardest part of this scholarship project. I want to help people and throw myself fully into the projects when I know what is to be done and what people want. This is just the difficult and frustrating stage of waiting, contacting, and researching. I am also planning to interview my host teacher tomorrow to see what she would like to see implemented at the school. I would also like to ask her opinion on how technology is used in the school and should be used in the school. I could also find out her background with technology because she has been teaching at this program for 10 years. I am sure that she has seen this school go through many large changes in the use of technology over the years. I am interested in hearing her responses and doing some research on my own. This school really does need people to support it and show these kids that someone really does care. One of my friends who is also student teaching at this school is painting a mural on the wall next week. This will be a reminder to the teachers and students that someone cares and add some beauty to the white washed walls and falling down buildings. So in summary a lot of this week's hours have been accumulated through observations, meetings, emails, reflection, and learning this about my new school environment in Milledgeville and how to help it. I really hope this next project is about to get started and moving to a point where I can really begin again to make a tangible impact on this town.
(14 hrs.)
(14 hrs.)
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Another Environment
Because of circumstances outside of my control, I am not going to be able to stay in the placement where I observed the blind student all last week. So, at this point the project is very up in the air. I emailed the original student's speech therapist to check in about how the project is going, and all is well, but there is really nothing left for me to do to help with their situation at this point in time. They would like for me to attend one of the student's sessions in the new year which I believe my new schedule in cohort will allow me to do so. This would give me an opportunity to see my hard work in practice with the speech therapist.
The setting I have been placed into now is very different from any I have been in before. The school is a center for children with emotional and behavior issues, and these students have been sent here from their home schools who do not know what to do with the students who are being unsafe and unreasonable in the regular school setting. This school does not have a ton of funding from waht I can see. The building is old and poor looking from the outside and in not the nicest neighborhood of town. Going in, I had no idea how much technology was being implemented in the school, how much funding there is for technology, and what the purpose of technology is in a school like this. Some of these questions remain unanswered at this time, but some have become much more clear to me. One of my fellow cohort students has reported to me numerous times that her teacher lets the kids play on the computers so much/almost all of every day which I believe is completely inappropriate and not addressing the issues the students are there to tackle. Computer can be used as a reward but no in place of instruction and the teacher. Technology has a very different role in my classroom here because the students I am working with are high school students. The computer is used as a resource in our classroom but is not used for games or fun time. The computer is for work. The students are allowed to research with adult supervision, watch videos the teacher has found to supplement the educational lessons, and the students also are learning functional computer skills by making power points and using word. I actually had the opportunity to talk to the principal of hte school for a few minutes today and explained my situation and scholarship to her. I asked her to think and brainstorm to see if she has any ideas of technological projects that I could work on or help her with at this time in the school setting. Her mental wheels began to turn very fast and one idea really caught my attention. She has a student that has a computer program recorded in his IEP to use, and the teacher does not know how to work the program. I would love this challenge to see how the student and teacher could better use and understand this program. This would improve this at risks students education, computer skills, teach the teacher, and keep the school under federal guidance by following the IEP goals. I will follow up with the principal next week to see is she has any different ideas or if she wants me to pursue the one she mentioned. I am curious where this project is headed next!
These students have had extremely hard lives and my heart breaks for many of the stories I heard this week about their lives. More than anything these kids need to be shown that they matter and can succeed because so many people have given up on them or hurt them up to this point. Many students at this school on top of having emotional and behavior issues have been sexually abused, have parents in trouble with the law, or have family members who also have emotional issues. More than anyone else I know, these kids need someone to care about them, and this school is where they are finding a place to belong.
(8 hrs)
The setting I have been placed into now is very different from any I have been in before. The school is a center for children with emotional and behavior issues, and these students have been sent here from their home schools who do not know what to do with the students who are being unsafe and unreasonable in the regular school setting. This school does not have a ton of funding from waht I can see. The building is old and poor looking from the outside and in not the nicest neighborhood of town. Going in, I had no idea how much technology was being implemented in the school, how much funding there is for technology, and what the purpose of technology is in a school like this. Some of these questions remain unanswered at this time, but some have become much more clear to me. One of my fellow cohort students has reported to me numerous times that her teacher lets the kids play on the computers so much/almost all of every day which I believe is completely inappropriate and not addressing the issues the students are there to tackle. Computer can be used as a reward but no in place of instruction and the teacher. Technology has a very different role in my classroom here because the students I am working with are high school students. The computer is used as a resource in our classroom but is not used for games or fun time. The computer is for work. The students are allowed to research with adult supervision, watch videos the teacher has found to supplement the educational lessons, and the students also are learning functional computer skills by making power points and using word. I actually had the opportunity to talk to the principal of hte school for a few minutes today and explained my situation and scholarship to her. I asked her to think and brainstorm to see if she has any ideas of technological projects that I could work on or help her with at this time in the school setting. Her mental wheels began to turn very fast and one idea really caught my attention. She has a student that has a computer program recorded in his IEP to use, and the teacher does not know how to work the program. I would love this challenge to see how the student and teacher could better use and understand this program. This would improve this at risks students education, computer skills, teach the teacher, and keep the school under federal guidance by following the IEP goals. I will follow up with the principal next week to see is she has any different ideas or if she wants me to pursue the one she mentioned. I am curious where this project is headed next!
These students have had extremely hard lives and my heart breaks for many of the stories I heard this week about their lives. More than anything these kids need to be shown that they matter and can succeed because so many people have given up on them or hurt them up to this point. Many students at this school on top of having emotional and behavior issues have been sexually abused, have parents in trouble with the law, or have family members who also have emotional issues. More than anyone else I know, these kids need someone to care about them, and this school is where they are finding a place to belong.
(8 hrs)
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
New Student Observations
This past week, I spent two days in a new classroom observing all new students and seeing how technology is being implemented in a new school system, county, and grade level. My main interest in this classroom was a boy who is blind. I had heard before going into this classroom that the student had more mental issues going on and was not only handicapped with vision impairments. I was looking into the possible technology available for helping him as a blind student and learning what technology he used at present in the classroom. The student is in the fifth grade and is in a resource classroom and does inclusion for one class period a day. In the mornings he has private lessons with a blind specialist at the school. These lessons were fascinating for me. All of his text books are in braille, and he is learning the braille contractions for letter combinations like th, ed, and the likes. For one of his lessons during the day, he listened to a book on tape about Paul Revere. During Math class, the blind teacher came back to work with him. He uses an abacus to do his many digit multiplication problems. I was so impressed with how fast he and his teacher moved the beads around and found the answers. I had no idea what they were doing or how they were getting the answers. On the second day in the classroom, the parapro was amazing and took the time to teach me how to use the abacus for math, too. The concept gets extremely complicated with the many numbers involved and carrying over of tens. It took me about an hour to understand and complete some problems correctly, and I could see what I was doing! In the afternoon, I went with the blind teacher and the student to work on his cane skills and mental map of the school. During this class period, the student is focusing on learning how to use different techniques for different types of hallways, rooms, and situations. Each hallway also has a name, so that he can know where he is and where he is going at all times. It is very difficult for him to memorize the different paths to get to different places. Schools are especially different because so many of the halls are exactly the same. He has to remember to read the braille numbers on the doors to make sure that he is in the right places. The main problem I had with the classrooms lack of technology for the student was in the afternoons. This is the time that the other students play on the educational games, but his only reward is to go listen to the others play which is not ok, fair, or right. There needs to be other alternatives that would be fun for him to do as well. No one wants to listen to other people enjoy their rewards while you do not reap any of the benefits from your own hard work.
The most I learned about Blind technology was from the blind teacher. I am going to look up the device she was telling me about that works like a computer, has braille that is removable and can read itself allowed. She said that the device is worth about six thousand dollars, if I heard her correctly. She is working with a student who has one in another area county. I would love the opportunity to see and work with a device like this one day. It reminds me very much of a Dynavox but for people who are blind. The teacher also has a program on her computer to make tests, write out braille, and convert anything into something for a blind person to read. I was amazed and impressed with what she did. When she is not working with students who are blind, she is brailling out different, books, tests, projects, and such for the students.
These two days of learning what technology is and is not available to make life easier for students who cannot see were great learning experiences for me. I am curious to see what possibilities there are for students who are blind and am interested in learning more about the technology available through some internet research.
(8 hrs)
The most I learned about Blind technology was from the blind teacher. I am going to look up the device she was telling me about that works like a computer, has braille that is removable and can read itself allowed. She said that the device is worth about six thousand dollars, if I heard her correctly. She is working with a student who has one in another area county. I would love the opportunity to see and work with a device like this one day. It reminds me very much of a Dynavox but for people who are blind. The teacher also has a program on her computer to make tests, write out braille, and convert anything into something for a blind person to read. I was amazed and impressed with what she did. When she is not working with students who are blind, she is brailling out different, books, tests, projects, and such for the students.
These two days of learning what technology is and is not available to make life easier for students who cannot see were great learning experiences for me. I am curious to see what possibilities there are for students who are blind and am interested in learning more about the technology available through some internet research.
(8 hrs)
Monday, November 2, 2009
Deep Roots Festival
On Saturday, I worked with Dawn at the Deep Roots Festival to promote Digital Bridges. It was an absolutely beautiful day for people to come out and enjoy down town Milledgeville. We set up the tables outside that were playing the new promotional video for Digital Bridges. All of the important people are on the video. The footage of the student and I is great! He looks so cute working the Dynavox, and the video footage really shows what I am doing and working on with this project. By the end of the day, Dawn and I were quite tired of listening to the video, but either one of us can do a great rendition of it, if anyone ever wants to hear what the video says. I thought it was a great idea to have us set up in front of the new home of Digital Bridges. That way people can know what the building is going to become in the future, and people can begin to put the name Digital Bridges with the place where it is going to be. We had a ton of candy set up outside for people to eat and enjoy. We also gave away bookmarks and asked people if they wanted to sign up for the email newsletter listing. I do think it is a great idea that only the ideas that people want to know about will be sent to them without other information that does not pertain to their individual wants. The crowds were really good for the festival overall, but the traffic near our table and store was low. This was because people are there to have fun and eat food. Learning about a new business was not people's first priority at Deep Roots. A lot of the people there were also parents of college students who are not from the Milledgeville area. Over all, I was very glad to have the opportunity to talk about Digital Bridges, represent the organization, and be a part of the Deep Roots festival.
(8 hrs)
(8 hrs)
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