EDLD 5352

This is my final week for EDLD 5352.  

5.1

    I attended several of the web conferences.   The week two conference did not go very well because the audio kept cutting in and out for me.  Dr. Jenkins did his best to answer most questions through the chat box.  The week three conference reminded me more of a regular university class than the others which were more of a question answer type of conference.  In the week three conference Dr. Benavides touched a bit on the assignment that was due at the end of the week, but after that the discussion focused on live binders and the ways that we would be able to use online tools in our classrooms or on our campuses as administrators.  What I enjoyed and got the most of was the first hand accounts from my classmates detailing the web tools they have used and how they have impacted there class performance.  Firsthand accounts by people who are in the trenches just like me are very powerful when it comes to helping me make a decision on whether to try something or not with my students.  Dr. Benavides did a great job of showing us what a student centered discussion should look like.  He did this by prompting us with questions and then letting us continue the discussion among ourselves with just a little prodding by him every now and then. 

5.2

  In EDLD 5352 I found that technology can be used effectively for working on collaboratively on a project, specifically the use of Google drive and Google documents.  One of the great things about using Google is that it is free.  With the budgetary constraints that schools face every year, finding free resources that can enhance student achievement is very important.   I have always felt that the best way to learn something is by doing it.  The assignment for this class taught me how to teach my students and staff how to use an online tool to create a collaborative project.  The days of not being able to complete a group project because there is not time to meet at the library or pretty much over.  I have learned that with online tools a group of students can get together, plan, and create a group project even though they are hundreds if not thousands of miles apart.

     Through the collaborative project I found how a personal website such as a Google site can be used to keep parents up to date on the happenings of your classroom.  That same site can also be a place where students can go to see recordings of past lessons or even step by step instructions on how to solve a problem.   Other online tools such as Edmodo and Dropbox can help a teacher or administrator cut back on the amount of paper used in the classroom.  For example with Dropbox a teacher can upload all handouts and notices to their account.  Students and parents that have been included in the teachers account would be able to view those documents from any computer, tablet, or smart phone. 

     I am about 80% complete with my campus supervised activities.  The few that I am lacking will be completed within the first two grading periods of the year.  These include starting a recycling program on my campus and creating a fitness/wellness club for parents and staff members.  I should also be completing my action research project as well.  All that is required for completion is one more grading period of activities, gathering data, and my final conclusions.