Steve's Blog

Post # 3 is easy. This is where I am weakest, technologically, and most of this entire chapter was like reading Latin.
Now, I use photo share sites and have used google map to find a restaurant. However, my computer world has to this point been largely limited to spreadsheets and word documents.
When speaking with my colleagues- particularly HS teachers, WEB 2.0 ‘stuff’ is what most excites them. The vast majority I know or have spoken to use everything from blogs to wikis to podcasts in their classrooms.
The interesting thing about this technology is that the TECH Department has realized that classroom teachers often know more of these tools and have asked them to lead ‘workshops’ for other teachers.
To date I have not used this technology in my work but it is the area that I hope to investigate.

Well, ..I am fairly sure that I knew that HARDWARE is the ‘GUTS’ and SOFTWARE the ‘IDEAS’.. after that I must admit that I hadn’t thought of it very much. My knowledge of these things has tripled in the past month or so- I am the human version of MOORE’s LAW.. only as quickly as I learn, I still don’t match up with say, a 6th grader.. It makes perfect sense (now) that SOFTWARE can be updated, HARDWARE can not.
I did find the reading/presentations interesting but I will never need to know, for example, how a disc works. I will ALWAYS go to my resident computer expert before I purchase a new machine.

AT FDR we have:
-3 computer labs (ES, MS, HS), each run by a full time Tech Specialist
-All classrooms, EC3-12 have at least 3 computers in them (MS/HS have many more)
-The tech department (Director, 3 level specialist and 3 repair folks) maintains the Hardware. Special cases are sent off campus.
-Software: Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, Powerschool, Zimbra, Spring
-Management Software: Zimbra, Spring, Powerschool
All software packages are maintaned by the TECH Department

Administrative uses of TECHNOLOGY at FDR:
ZIMBRA- our in school email service; Zimbra DOCS and Calendars. ALL Admin meeting agendas, minutes, scheduling is done using ZIMBRA.
POWERSCHOOL- All student information. Parents, teachers, and Administrators have varying degrees of access. P-School is extremely helpful in my ‘ACTIVITY’ world
ATLAS RUBICON- Curriculum Mapping
SPRING- Locally created system for all FDR ordering and requisitions (not much love here, I must say..)

** a small aside: I find that this is such a ‘TECH SCHOOL’ that it is almost unheard of for a teacher of one level to walk to another building (we have 3 buildings for the 3 levels). We are slaves to email. I didn’t grow up with computers and find the degree which we seem to be dependent of this technology a bit ‘interesting’. We are exploring ways to discuss this as a group.**

Online computer safety and security is an issue that gets a lot of attention at FDR. The tech committee (headed by the Tech Director, comprised of volunteers at all levels of the school) has developed guideline for students and teachers. These guidelines, in my opinion and experience, are clear, ‘visible’, and repeated often. I am told that ‘filters’, relatively, are weak and the TECH department has chosen to educate and build trust among the student body in terms of online computer use.
When answering ‘YES’ to is online use safe at FDR the Tech Director cited:
-all guidelines are clearly stated at multiple levels of FDR
-all users- student and faculty- sign acceptable use agreements EACH YEAR.
-all school computers are in open spaces and are always monitored by staff. This includes all 3 computer labs.
-consequences for misuse are clearly documented and infractions are dealt with quickly- always involving parents

Steve LeBoo
TCNJ – EDAD660
Final Project: School Technology Analysis

Technology Philosophy at Colegio Roosevelt:
Information, media, and communication technology skills enable our students to be successful and empowered in their learning process and to be productive participants in the global community. Technology is an indispensable tool that is ingrained in every activity we perform, changing the nature of everyday life, enabling users to moderate and manage change. Our students need to be aware and make use of emerging technologies and have the skills to find, evaluate, create and responsibly use information.
As is made clear through the Technology Philosophy above, the school board and administration realize the importance of technology in today’s education. Computer use at F.D.R. is a focus at all levels of the school and is essential to the students in their every day education. To provide the technological skills required the school provides adequate equipment and personnel for the students and program to succeed:
• 780 Computers (1,400 students)
• A commitment to both MAC (52%) and PC (48%)
• IT Support staff at each level
• Tech Coordinators at each level
• Full time server room staff
• 2 half days per semester of “Technology Professional Development”
At Colegio Roosevelt the website is a main source of information and often the first place the entire community uses ‘technology’ in regards to every day events. Features of the website include:
• Level specific information for elementary, middle, high schools
• Daily Bulletin
• On line magazine
• Athletic/activities calendar
• Thematic Year information
• Moodle

(a great resource for students and teachers for posting on line information, assignments and assessments, students can download materials and upload assignments, teachers and students can post to forums, wikis and send messages.)

At FDR we believe that Information and Technology Literacy enables students:
• To use tools, resources, and systems ethically and responsibly
• To access and evaluate information in any medium
• To use information to solve problems
• To communicate clearly and esthetically
• To make informed decisions
• To construct new knowledge, products, and systems
We believe that teachers:
• Integrate and use technology in all curricular areas
• Create differentiated, interactive, and collaborative learning environments
• Support and encourage diverse technologies
• Manage technology effectively modeling the IB Learner Profile attributes
• FDR provides every student with equitable, age-appropriate technologies to meet curricular goals and individual learning needs, and engages and empowers our community of learners.
As we move forward, the administration realizes that ‘technology’ needs to be continually upgraded. In my experience here, and speaking with the Technology Director, staffing and finances have been well supported. From the Tech Departments point of view the main issues for them is TIME (when do they provide professional development to the staff) and MONEY (maintaining adequate budgeting is essential).
Other challenges identified by the department:
• PLANNING –with feedback from staff and administration maintain forward thinking TECH PLANS
• ITL CURRICULUM –Create, staff and maintain
• STAFF SUPPORT- upgrade the services provided
• COMMUNICATION –are their ways technology can improve communication within the FDR community?
• LAP TOPS – one to one computers for our students is an ultimate goal
The one thing that I would say is missing from above is that the entire campus is not wireless and as we move more and more toward laptops this will become more important to the school. Another observation is that there is no TECH CLASS is offered to students school-wide. Scheduling is an issue but is being revised to allow for technology instruction at all levels. The FDR web site is another aspect of technology that is being updated (at great cost) during the next school year. Finally, for me personally, I would agree with the Tech Director: Time is absolutely vital. Time available- for tech support that is directly relevant to my work and job-would develop an increased knowledge of useful technology. What I may need to know may be very different from another teacher. Overall, I feel strongly that FDR understands the importance of technology in today’s education and works hard to ensure TECHNOLOGY is available- and useful- to the entire community.

‘Your assignment is to create a simple video game’…
My brain hurts, but here is a simple video game.

Hola.
Well, Today I linked (I think..) all of your blogs to mine. Only took 10 days (my wife enjoys my suffering) and spent ‘some time’ playing with SCRATCH. I was never good at PAC-MAN (do I date myself?) and after I looked at all your blogs- I decided to stop for a while. At this rate my 5 yr old will be helping.

View BUMPASS in a larger map

Ok- This is a bit better…

I have added two more RSS links to my blog; I think that ultimately there are many ‘things’ thank could be helpful in my world of STUDENT ACTIVITIES.
On the SPORTS side: anything from YouTube videos of free throw techniques to podcasts of fitness regimes. I have added an RSS to CAPTAINU.com: a site that helps families investigate/plan for their student athletes to look into sports scholarships. (We have VERY few scholarship level athletes in Int’l schools; an easily accessible site I could send folks to would be helpful to me-and parents). This site charges.. I will look for a FREE site.
I also added a podcast from BBC. I think a MUN sponsor (or any number of teachers) may find this type of information useful if offering students options in their research.

I will return to the posted map.. I have a much more detailed map that seems to have escaped me in the saving process…

I chose ‘all song considered’ because I like the show- and almost never allow myself the time to listen. Maybe I will now that it is so easily accessible.

I tried to attach a second site and was unable…??? I will tinker with this.