Week 2, Part 2

Teaching & Learning

Teaching and learning details how technology is being used in the classroom. It also focuses on the role the teacher/leader plays in regard to this use. To be on target the teacher is seen as a facilitator, mentor, or co-learners. Students should have constant access to all "appropriate" technologies. I put appropriate in quotes as I feel this a very important part of this area. What would be appropriate in a PreK class will most likely differ from what is appropriate in a 9th grade class. In our district we have been working to make progress in this area. Funding is becoming more readily available to the primary campuses. Our campus classrooms all received 4 new computers per classroom and a projector cart this year. This will provide our teachers with better opportunity to become on target for teacher and learning. Looking at the state data, this is an area most people are on target. The percent is very low at 3.9. The StaT test is very subjective and I feel our teachers are in this percent even if they did not put themselves there. Our district has a separate technology department with it's own staff and director. Last year we got a new Technology Director and he has helped our district move forward and brought new ideas to the table. I believe with his help and the technology instruction specialist we will be able to move our teachers into become facilitators, mentors, and co-learners. This will take some research into more ways to incorporate different technology into the PreK classroom. Traditionally, students have had access during centers and this was playing games. I would like to see them more above and beyond this. Our students may be young but they are still very capable.. Technology is the future and starting at a young age will do nothing more than help them become more proficient and successful as they grow and learn.