3.+May+Field+Based+Activities+Log+Reflections

**Adan Cortez ET8002 May 31, 2010**  **May Activity Log Reflections**

The month of May was filled with many different field based activities starting with May 8, Sulema Reyes and I created a Survey Monkey questionnaire as part of the Cambridge Strategic Planning Team for Technology activity. I learned to use the Survey Monkey Website to create a questionnaire and I was surprised at how easy it was to create the survey. On May 10, we presented the survey to the Strategic Planning Committee during the following meeting. The Survey asked local business owners their thoughts on creating a collaborative partnership with the district to determine what technology skills students need when they graduate high school to prepare them for the working community. The survey also asked if they would be willing to participate in the program. In this meeting, we also reviewed our action plans and discussed the cost benefit analysis for each action plan. Standards addressed with this activity include VII.B. and VIII.D. these standards state, “Follow procedures and guidelines used in planning and purchasing technology resources.” and “Lead in the development and evaluation of district technology planning and implementation.” Williamson, J. and Redish, T., (2009). This activity helped me take part in the long range planning process and the analysis of cost and benefit of a project prior to purchasing a product or service. My mentor Mr. Isaac Rodriguez is the lead member of the committee, he was pleased with the questionnaire Sulema, and I prepared. On May 11, I worked on finalizing the action plans and the cost-benefit analysis, and then on May 13 we had our final meeting to complete the final draft of the action plans and prepared them so that Mr. Isaac Rodriguez may present it to the school board. On may 19 I prepared myself for the presentation for a training session with the third grade teachers to introduce to them Kidspiration and the benefits of integrating this program into our curriculum. Then on May 24, I collaborated with Sulema Reyes and we presented an hour-long presentation after school to several of our third grade teacher. We started the session by showing a tutorial on the basics of the program and then we proceeded to do several different examples of how this program can be used in our curriculum as a means of differentiated instruction and or as an enrichment project for students. After the meeting, we had mixed comments from the teachers, some seemed genuinely excited and wanted to use it for next year and others complained about the lack of computers in the classroom. This activity addressed TF Standards II. A., II. B., II. C., II. D. and II. F. These standards focus on effective modeling of technology through planning, designing and training for our teachers.  Another project was the creation of a classroom wiki, may 20; I prepared the wiki so that the students would be able to login. I prepared a pre-lesson plan to introduce the activity and the purpose of Wikis. On May 25, I taught my students the lesson prior to going to the computer lab, I included a lecture on netiquette when using the internet. We then proceeded to go to the computer lab where I helped every student login and created several pages with different topics of interest and allowed student to start commenting on the topics through the Wiki. After a slow and frustrating start, students started communicating with each other through the Wiki. Students enjoyed the new experience even though it was only an introduction to the world of Wikis. The FT Standards addressed in this activity include, III. A., III. B., III. D., III. E., IV. C., V. A., V. D., and VIII. C. The majority of these standards relate to the use of technology in student-centered activities, differentiated instruction, and communication and collaboration. Finally, the last four days of the school year I prepared two different Photo Story presentations, one was for my students to present on the last day of school. The presentation involves pictures of several of the activities through out the school year. The next project was for the entire campus and would be presented during our last day luncheon for all staff. On both projects I used Photo Story to add background music, comments, and special effects. My students had a great time viewing themselves in the presentation and I believe the staff enjoyed seeing their presentation as well. I truly enjoy creating this type of project. These projects addressed the standards I. B., III. A. and III. B. These standards relate to the knowledge and skills of technology and staying abreast of current technology. This activity allows me to practice some of the current technology skills I have learned these last 18 months.   **References:** Williamson, J. & Redish, T. (2009). //ISTE// //’ ////s technology facilitation and leadership // // standards: What every K-12 leader should know and be able to do //. Eugene, OR:  International Society for Technology in Education <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">