For the full-screen movie, click here, then choose the view full screen icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Problem
The current computer lab reservation system at Clio High School is outdated, and leads to double-booking. Teachers can only reserve lab time from one of two locations while they are at school.
Solution
Google Calendar, with the new "Appointment Slots" feature.
TP
Google Calendar is a natural fit for reserving computer labs in a high school setting. On my end, I will create three different calendars (one for each computer lab) utilizing the new Appointment Slots feature. Teachers will be able to view the calendars from anywhere with an Internet connection, and reserve whichever labs whenever they want.
TC
Google Calendar is inherently more accessible to every teacher because it would not be feasible for them to take the current reservation binders home with them. There are approximately 50 teachers and only 1 copy of each binder.
An advantage of going to an online reservation system is that teachers can plan great lessons at home that utilize technology. Rather than create a great webquest over the weekend, then wait until Monday to figure out when the computer labs are open, they can plan to use technology and reserve the lab all from the convenience of home outside of normal school hours. Google Calendar automatically blocks a lab from ever being double-booked.
PC
Students will be able to interact with their content at a time that actually fits what they are learning, not the time slot their teacher was able to reserve because they didn't get to school early enough on Monday morning. Let's say that a teacher wants to do four days of instruction, and a quiz on Friday. Rather than writing three different technology-based assignments that could fit for Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, teachers will be able to look at the Calendar when they sit down to plan for the week (for example, on Saturday morning). Teachers will be able to plan more efficiently, and students will benefit by having better, more thoughtful assignments.
Here is my Wicked Project:
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Group Leadership Project
We did our Group Leadership Project on Google Apps for Education. The four of us created separate PowerPoints explaining different apps in the Google Apps for Education suite. I did the piece about Google Forms. Dave recorded his voice over the PowerPoint using Windows Movie Maker. We chose Movie Maker because it is so easy to record a voice over and edit the audio.
After watching our movie, I found that most apps let you embed your content into a blog or website very easily. Google provides embed code that can be copied and pasted. I had always known that some of Google's apps had this feature, but did not realize how prevalent it was.
If I had to do a project similar to this in the future, I would make sure that we laid out our plan from the beginning and followed through with it. We set a soft deadline for everyone to be done with their piece of the project. Some group members met the deadline, while others did not. In the end, I think our project turned out very well. Thanks Dave, for recording your voice!
After watching our movie, I found that most apps let you embed your content into a blog or website very easily. Google provides embed code that can be copied and pasted. I had always known that some of Google's apps had this feature, but did not realize how prevalent it was.
If I had to do a project similar to this in the future, I would make sure that we laid out our plan from the beginning and followed through with it. We set a soft deadline for everyone to be done with their piece of the project. Some group members met the deadline, while others did not. In the end, I think our project turned out very well. Thanks Dave, for recording your voice!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Personal Learning Plan
CEP 810 Goals
In CEP 810, I set a couple long term goals for myself. I wanted to either become a professor of education or the technology director of a k-12 school district. I was not sure which I preferred, but knew that I wanted to make informed decisions that would improve education for a lot of students. My short term goal was to get accepted into the MAET program beginning in Fall 2011. I just heard last week that I was accepted! A medium term goal that I set for myself was to graduate from the MAET program in August 2012. So far I am on track to accomplish this goal. My advisor said that it should not be a problem.
Skills I Still Need (Want)
My greatest strengths regarding technology involve pedagogy. I enjoy finding cool new tools and bringing them into the classroom. To be a k-12 technology director, I will need to learn about networking. I only know a little more than the average teacher when it comes to school networks. I am not sure if the MAET program can help me get the network certifications that I may need (or just want). I may actually have to go through a community college for some of this rudimentary (but important) knowledge.
If I choose to pursue a PhD I will need to learn how to conduct qualitative and quantitative research. While the MAET program does not offer a thesis option, there may be some opportunities to conduct research (I am thinking that CEO 822: Approaches to Educational Research will help). If not, that is something I would need to do either prior to a PhD program, or at the very beginning.
My Goals 2.0
Right now my goals are to graduate from the MAET program in August 2012, and become a technology director by 2014. I really want to graduate by next August because I am the newest member of the Clio Educator's Association, and would therefore be the first to go if there were any layoffs. My job is safe through the 2011-2012 school year, but anything beyond that will be determined by the state per pupil expenditures.
I would obviously like to get a technology director job as soon as possible upon graduation, but for the first time in my life, I would prefer to not move. My wife and I just bought a house that we really like, and both enjoy our jobs. I have taught in three states in four years of teaching. Because of this, I will probably be willing to wait a few years before accepting a job as a technology director.
If, at some point during this school year, it becomes apparent that I may get laid off, I will apply to a few full-time PhD programs that offer free tuition for PhD students plus assistantships (e.g. MSU, U of M, Northwestern, Cornell, or Harvard). I would also apply to jobs in my immediate area. I would consider 1-year grant-funded positions, as well as jobs outside of education.
In CEP 810, I set a couple long term goals for myself. I wanted to either become a professor of education or the technology director of a k-12 school district. I was not sure which I preferred, but knew that I wanted to make informed decisions that would improve education for a lot of students. My short term goal was to get accepted into the MAET program beginning in Fall 2011. I just heard last week that I was accepted! A medium term goal that I set for myself was to graduate from the MAET program in August 2012. So far I am on track to accomplish this goal. My advisor said that it should not be a problem.
Skills I Still Need (Want)
My greatest strengths regarding technology involve pedagogy. I enjoy finding cool new tools and bringing them into the classroom. To be a k-12 technology director, I will need to learn about networking. I only know a little more than the average teacher when it comes to school networks. I am not sure if the MAET program can help me get the network certifications that I may need (or just want). I may actually have to go through a community college for some of this rudimentary (but important) knowledge.
If I choose to pursue a PhD I will need to learn how to conduct qualitative and quantitative research. While the MAET program does not offer a thesis option, there may be some opportunities to conduct research (I am thinking that CEO 822: Approaches to Educational Research will help). If not, that is something I would need to do either prior to a PhD program, or at the very beginning.
My Goals 2.0
Right now my goals are to graduate from the MAET program in August 2012, and become a technology director by 2014. I really want to graduate by next August because I am the newest member of the Clio Educator's Association, and would therefore be the first to go if there were any layoffs. My job is safe through the 2011-2012 school year, but anything beyond that will be determined by the state per pupil expenditures.
I would obviously like to get a technology director job as soon as possible upon graduation, but for the first time in my life, I would prefer to not move. My wife and I just bought a house that we really like, and both enjoy our jobs. I have taught in three states in four years of teaching. Because of this, I will probably be willing to wait a few years before accepting a job as a technology director.
If, at some point during this school year, it becomes apparent that I may get laid off, I will apply to a few full-time PhD programs that offer free tuition for PhD students plus assistantships (e.g. MSU, U of M, Northwestern, Cornell, or Harvard). I would also apply to jobs in my immediate area. I would consider 1-year grant-funded positions, as well as jobs outside of education.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
PART D - Findings and Implications
There are a few ways that I will be able to tell if Google Calendar is working as my school's new computer lab reservation system. First, I will look at October 2010 and October 2011 in both reservation systems. I will check to see what the utilization was for both months. If October 2011 is the same or better than October 2010, this is a positive sign. This cannot be the only way to evaluate the effectiveness of my project because there are other factors that could impact utilization (eg technology skill set of teachers, perceived quality of computers in computer labs, # of working computer vs. computers that are out for repair).
I will also compare the # of teachers that reserved computers in October 2010 compared to October 2011. If October 2011 has more teachers that reserved a computer lab at least once, that will be a positive sign.
Lastly, I will send out a survey asking teachers if they feel it is better, the same, or worse than the old system. These three ways of evaluating my project should give me a well-rounded picture of the success or failure of my implementation of Google Calendar as a computer lab reservation system.
I will also compare the # of teachers that reserved computers in October 2010 compared to October 2011. If October 2011 has more teachers that reserved a computer lab at least once, that will be a positive sign.
Lastly, I will send out a survey asking teachers if they feel it is better, the same, or worse than the old system. These three ways of evaluating my project should give me a well-rounded picture of the success or failure of my implementation of Google Calendar as a computer lab reservation system.
Mobile Learning Lab
My favorite use of mobile learning so far is Poll Everywhere. Poll Everywhere (http://www.polleverywhere.com/) is a simple place for teachers to create polls. Students can then respond using their cell phones or computers. The teacher simply has to show students how to do it. Some students may have voted similarly for American Idol or other voting shows.
Some of my favorite polls that I have created include a poll about the ease of a quiz my students had just taken, whether or not Pluto should be considered a planet, and when I asked teachers their preferred time of day for technology training.
Some of my favorite polls that I have created include a poll about the ease of a quiz my students had just taken, whether or not Pluto should be considered a planet, and when I asked teachers their preferred time of day for technology training.
Replace audience response hardware with Poll Everywhere
Replace audience response hardware with Poll Everywhere
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)