Blog #4

Does the educational system that you are affiliated with offer a shared storage area on the network for students or faculty?------Do you find this beneficial?
Yes, my district since I started employment (5 years ago) has offered storage on a network server.  It is definitely beneficial in that I have been using the server since day one to back up all of my lesson plans and materials.
What type of Email System does your educational system implement? Do you use this mail system at school?.......from home? explain.....
My district utilizes Microsoft Outlook, especially since it has a calendar that the principal shares with all of the teachers to explain upcoming events.   Of course I utilize the email in school and at home.  This year has been challenging in the beginning with email since it was all moved over to our new server.  It also made some technical issues for access at home.  The web site to access email from home is an htts, or secure site that has no Certificate, so it always comes up with an error.  The issue has been resolved by our Tech. Coordinator. 

Overall, from this chapter, the most important thing that I learned is.....
In the section discussing User Account Mgmt.  I found it funny when it discussed users in-ability to log onto the network, access stored files, visit webpages, send/receive emails, and access a network printer.  This was my districts exact problems from the beginning of this school year and was not resolved until the middle of October.  The reasoning for the issues was that our old server was being "retired" and everything was being moved onto a new server.  So with the new upgrades and moves it created a lot of glitches that had to be worked out.

Software Evaluation Form

SuperKids Software Review

         - Teacher Evaluation Form -

                for

                                                    

                                  (Quest Atlantis)

The following information will be kept confidential, but is necessary for our records.

     

      Your Name   Brian Gerrity                  Date  9/23/10

      Address     Crestwood Middle School        Grade Level 8

      School                               Years Experience 9

      Fax                           

      Phone

      E-Mail       bgerrity@msn.com

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Configuration Information - highlight answers

      Software was tested on a:      PC    Mac   PowerMac

            If a PC, cpu was a:     286   386   486   Pentium    

            If a Mac, model: 

      Software was on a:      floppy disc CD Internet

      Computer monitor was:   color black&white

      Computer memory:        2MB   4MB   8MB   16MB  >16MB

      Printer used (if any):         dot-matrix  ink-jet           laser

                               color black&white

                              

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General Software Quality Evaluation

      (5 = excellent, 4 = good, 3 = OK, 2 = weak, 1 = unacceptable)

                                                       Comments

      Ease of installation    5     4     3     2     1

      Ease of initial use     5     4     3     2     1

      Manual usefulness       5     4     3     2     1

      Sound quality           5     4     3     2     1

      Graphics quality        5     4     3     2     1

Please detail any operational problems you encountered (e.g. difficulty in set-up or

installation, machine crashes or lock-ups, printer problems, etc.)

~ Set-up had some issues in that we tried to set up the online software through our server, thus not having to individually install it on every computer.  We have had many issues for about a week, lock-ups, not able to sign in, and very low-bandwith.  Most issues were resolved and had a lot to do with our server being changed over.

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SuperKids  Teacher’s Product Evaluation   

      (5 = excellent, 4 = good, 3 = OK, 2 = weak, 1 = unacceptable)

What is the educational value proposition of this software - what is it trying to teach?

This software is an online virtual world educational game.  It has many units from Math to English lessons.  In our case we are utilizing a Science unit that discusses water quality.

Content value - Is the design educationally sound?    

      5     4     3     2     1

      Comments?

Yes, and the students are very, very, engaged.

Methodology appropriateness   

      5     4     3     2     1

      Is the methodology employed appropriate for teaching the featured material?

Yes, the methodology uses the belief (that is true in education for small children) learning and play should be connected.

Is it age-appropriate SW?     

      5     4     3     2     1

      Is this software appropriate for the labeled ages, based on content, skills/knowledge level required, and typical interests?

Yes

Is it sufficiently supportive?

      5     4     3     2     1

      Comments?

Yes, it is very supportive.  There was a teacher training and we are given a single point of contact (our buoy) and she gets back to us immediately.

Is it gender-neutral?  

      5     4     3     2     1

      Comments?

Yes

Is it sufficiently interactive?

            5     4     3     2     1

      Comments?

Very interactive, students are avatars in an educational world.

Is it easy to keep individual student records?  

      5     4     3     2     1

      Comments?

Yes, there is a “Teacher Toolkit” which houses all of the administrative duties for the teacher.

Is it easy to set the difficulty level?   

      5     4     3     2     1

      Comments?

This is one downfall, it does not have the ability to change the difficulty level.

Truth in packaging - Was it what you thought it would be?   

      5     4     3     2     1

      Comments?

Definitely

Value as an independent activity?   

      5     4     3     2     1

      Comments?

Value to child’s education?   

      5     4     3     2     1

      Comments?

Purchase Value - Would you recommend it?  

      5     4     3     2     1

      Comments?

Absolutely, it was free because we are part of a study through the University of Indiana.

Is it appropriate for remedial education, accelerated studies,

 or for gifted children?  (Circle all that apply, and comment)

Yes, you as a teacher can choose which units, missions, or single quests you want students to accomplish.

What type of child would benefit most / least from this product?

All children benefit, but since there is a majority of reading on grade level, students that are LS with low reading levels do struggle.

Pluses...It actually has shown to raise reading abilities because of the students interest/motivation to play.  As long as the student’s initial level was not too far below grade level.

Minuses...ability to change level to aid in LS reading abilities.

Things you would like to see changed...

Overall Rating   

      5     4     3     2     1

Teacher’s Review - Does it achieve its educational goals?

Not sure yet, we gave a pre-test and have to give a post-test in 2 weeks.

Blog Assignment 2 ~SSF

I am not positive if my district utilizes Software Selection Forms (SSF) to gather information on software before purchase.  Part of the reason why I do not know is that both of the Tech people in my building are swamped with work.  One of them (Tech Coordinator) is making a new tech plan along with taking care of next year's budget.  The other technician is working with Integra to install our new server and take the old server off line.  So neither one of them were able to help me, which is understandable. 
I do believe for certain technologies they do utilize SSF's, especially when looking at competing products.  Unfortunately, I believe that it is administration that first starts the process by picking a type of technology, and then places it in the Tech Coordinator and Teachers that would be utilizing the technologies, laps.  If there are competing products the Tech Coordinator is more involved.  Otherwise at my district it is both teachers and the Tech Coordinator that learn the technology together.  I do also know that teachers that want a specific technology go to administration and many times at my district, as long as it is cost effective, the teachers are responsible.

It is benefical to have SSF's.  First of all you get the best product for the best price.  You also know if it is compatible, you have the capabilities of utilizing it.  Finally, it gets everyone on the same page so that the technology can be utilized to its fullest potential.

Blog Assignment 1

I believe I could be a succesful technology leader because I feel that I now meet the requirements as per the text.  Prior to Ed 589 and reading the first chapter of the text, I would have thought that I did not have enough technical background.  I did not have a full understanding of what makes up a technology leader.  I did not know of the multifaceted characteristics a tech leader needed.  Now, after reading the text, I see that though limited in my technical background I meet and exceed all of the other characteristics held by quality technology leaders.  I do have a full dedication to learning and strive to input as much technology as I can in my day to day classroom activities.  I believe my interpersonal skills are actually one of my best assests, and therefore can relate and support other educational professionals in the utilization of technology.  As for the technical background, the text elludes to the fact that much of what you learn is on the go with my trouble shooting by trial and error.
Many of the challenges that I feel I would face are actually challenges that I see first hand at my current district.  Too many times things are being integrated at the wrong time.  Example ~ Updating our server the first 2 weeks of school, as opposed to having it completed and trouble free before the school year.  Another challenge is the support for the technology.  My district has many technological advantages but limited in the professionals to support the teachers for there proper utilization.  Finally, I still see many teachers that are reluctant to incorporate technology for a vast amount of reasons (never working properly, no support, just a feeling of inadequacy with technology).

Introduction

I am a middle school earth science teacher at Crestwood.