A must Watch Copyright Video

I really enjoyed this video on Copyright Laws and Fair Use.  I think you should check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJn_jC4FNDo

Disney Parody explanation of Copyright Law and Fair Use

Synopsis:
Professor Eric Faden of Bucknell University provides this humorous, yet informative, review of copyright principles delivered through the words of the very folks we can thank for nearly endless copyright terms.

***Description taken from website***

Video Found at http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/document...

Web Conference Reflection

Last night I attended a web conference, for my Educational Technology Leadership course.  The conference lasted about an hour and it gave an overview on valuable content.  It also gave the opportunity to put a face with classmates.  I found the Question and Answer format was beneficial to my progress on our Internship portion of my Masters program.
The over view of course content was very direct and beneficial.  Even though there was a lag in the audio, the content came across very clear.  The notes and visuals provided during the conference answered many of my questions.
I enjoyed the opportunity to see what others looked like via the webcam feature.  I think the face-to-face or should I say webcam-to-webcam aspect allows for personal connection to those whom we will be working and collaborating with.  I didn't like the fact that I myself kept forgetting everyone could see me too.  A couple of times my kids had their face smashed-up on the glass peering at me through our office door.  I just knew that any moment I would burst out laughing and look like some "mad" person to everyone else in the conference.  My kids were obviously interested in the technology I was using.
The Q&A format allowed me to get some answers to who could be our "site" mentor.  I was concerned about my principal possibly retiring before I completed my Masters program.  It was a relief to find out that another leader on campus could be my mentor as long as he/she held an administrator's certification.
The web conference was brief and to the point.  It was a new experience for me.  I hope to have many more opportunities to collaborate with colleagues using technology.

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National Educational Technology Plan

The Draft Plan urges our education system to transform American technology by implementing a “21st Century Model of Learning” that is powered by technology. The Draft Plan indicates that research and data shows that students learning in a technology-rich environment demonstrate gains in numerous academic areas, including standardized assessments. When collaborative online teaching occurs in our education system, we gain access to effective teaching of dedicated and extraordinary educators. With online learning systems, students, educators, and all Americans can become 21st Century experts.
The Draft Plan also outlines challenges that our education system faces. One of the challenges is implementing modern technology to create engaging, relevant, and personalized learning experiences for all Americans. Challenges facing America’s economic and financial growth hinders our ability to compete in a global economy. A lack of motivational professional development is also a hindrance to our current educational system. The Draft Plan demands that Infrastructures provide the necessary professional development for educators to become motivated 21st Century experts. It also identifies the challenge to improve our student achievement and provides evidence that technology can help us accomplish our goals.
The Draft Plan gave me many ideas on how I can assist my campus with effective implementation of Technology Application TEKS. I believe that improved learning outcomes and productivity will become apparent once my colleagues embrace a technology-rich classroom that extends past the four walls of our school. To improve our student achievement, students must have access to technology. By sharing our knowledge of technology, I know we can all become a community of learners that will revolutionize the World Wide Web and our global community.

Click here, if you would like to view the Draft Plan.

My Perspective on Dallas ISD's Technology Plan

Dallas ISD’s technology plan outlines our goals to enhance classroom instruction, increase student achievement, and endorse College Career Readiness (CCR).   Dallas ISD strives to build teachers', staff, and students' technology skills through the support and communication of the Technology Application TEKS.  The district also believes that having the appropriate technology to meet the needs of our students and educators is critical.  Therefore, they use various tools such as the “Texas Star Chart” to evaluate individual campus needs.  They evaluate the data and allocate funds, equipment, and initiatives based on the needs of each campus.   The district then provides hardware and software for instructional use in integration of Technology Application TEKS. 

Designated initiatives allow teachers to attend professional development on how to develop technology-rich learning tasks at their grade level or in the subject that they teach.  Upon completion of the training, teachers receive hardware and software for teacher and student use in their classroom.  The district also implemented the “Caught Ya!” award.  When educators have been “caught” successfully integrating technology into the curriculum, they receive special recognition certificates entitling them to participate in monthly drawings for prizes. The winners will receive a tub of supplies, a SmartBoard, a projector, and a computer.

Our district uses the Technology Literacy Assessment (TLA) with all 5^th grade students.  The TLA is a district created technology literacy assessment.  The TLA is an online test that assesses students’ mastery of the Technology Application TEKS.  The data provides a holistic picture of the level of Technology Application TEKS mastery in the district’s elementary schools. The TLA determines necessary curriculum changes and professional development offerings at the elementary and middle school levels. In addition, educators may use the data to modify their instruction based on students' needs.

Value of Assessing Educators' & Students' Technology Skills

There can be a multitude of benefits by assessing educators’ and students’ technology knowledge and skills.  Assessment results from the “Texas STaR Chart” can assist an Infrastructure and Campus Leadership with funding and budgeting.  They can take these results and evaluate what technology “needs” should receive the most amount of funding.  The results also can help in the planning of professional development for educators.  Teachers can use the results to make informed decisions about current technologies and their applications.

On the down side, negative results can add additional pressure and stress to teachers.  Many teachers feel pressured to provide exemplary results on high-stakes test and they don’t seem to have the time to improve their standards that are outlined in the “Texas STaR Chart”.  A technology assessment can also prove negative to students, because they are already overwhelmed with the emphasis that is put on high-stakes test.  Consequently, I think many educators will continue to put technology on the back burner unless it becomes a high-stakes test.

I think many educators ask those “why” questions when they don’t see the value in technology assessments.  A data driven approach to the value of technology will unveil the answers to those “why” questions.  I have heard many educators ask the following questions:

·         Why am I being forced to use these new technologies?

·         Why are my students off task?

·         Why would I use this technology if students aren’t going to be tested on TAKS in this same format?

·         Why do I need to change?

The proof is in the pudding.  The answers are in the data.  Our students and the world are changing and their needs are evolving with the digital revolution.  In order to keep 21^st Century Learners engaged, educators must be willing to evolve into digital mentors that stay technologically savvier than those they teach.  I believe the value added with technology will become apparent when educators see the effectiveness of technologies and how use of these technologies correlate to higher student achievement.