Week 5 Assignment, Part 2: Course Reflections

Well, the first course is over, and I’m still spinning trying to make sure everything is done. I’m not sure that I had expected this first class to be so intensive. I’ve taken other online courses, and I realize that just like any college course with any teacher, there are similarities and differences in all of them. I think that my first course with Lamar’s Distance Education system was ok. I think this first class really assumes a higher level of technology use already in place by the student. I know that several of my classmates were drawn into the technology field out of necessity. I wondered how prepared everyone really was for this class. Hopefully, now that I understand the Epic system, that will be one less thing I have to learn during the next course.


There were some good ideas that came out of this class. I guess my main outcome was to pass the class with an acceptable grade. I know that may sound bad, but I finished my Bachelor’s degree in 2004, so it has been a while since I’ve done any real studying and coursework! In many ways this course allowed me to reaffirm some of my convictions about student use of technology in classroom. My school seems to be rather advanced in the use of technology and of what technology resources we have. Sometimes I feel like we are pushing our students into technology overload. I believe as I worked through this course I got the chance to feel remember what it feels like to be a tech newbie and have so much to absorb at one time. I think it would be a good idea for me to remember this when I begin presenting new concepts to my students.


My outcome was to pass with a decent grade and learn how to use the system. I know that may not really be a very high objective, but after having not been in classes like this for a while, I just didn’t want to lose ground. I met people in my class and created a network of peers who are willing to help me as we progress through this degree plan. I’m not sure that I had any greater expectations. I think there was almost too much reading, and I’m concerned that I may not be able to handle the course load once I start the new school year. I know I was frustrated because I really want to do well; not just good enough. So, what outcomes did I not achieve? Well, I’m not really sure. As each teacher is different each course is different. I think I did pretty well, and I’m looking forward to the next class.


Wow this is sort of hard to say. I did my assignments, but for some of them, I was really struggling. I think that much of my problems had to do with terminology. I had to get a better understanding of what all we were talking about before I could tackle the assignments. I didn’t know about the “details” section in the graded assignment area of the Epic system. Had I known about that, I might have been better able to complete the following assignments. Overwhelmed…that is probably the word that really wraps it up. To be honest if I hadn’t had someone to work through the assignments with and to bounce off ideas, I’m not sure I would have been successful. Also the fact that there were three different places to post things, two or three different email accounts to check, and I’m out of school and couldn’t access my site mentor as readily as I wished were all obstacles that I guess I wasn’t prepared for.


As I look back, I really think this course has reminded me that I am a determined person. I was able to help others with their assignments which I really enjoy. At points in the course, I found myself overwhelmed. I really had to take a step back and get organized. Look over everything and work on a plan. I know that the lessons were laid out pretty well, but they were so intensive that I don’t think I was prepared for them. Many people would say that you have to devote extra time to online classes since we aren’t meeting face to face. But I spent 5 hours almost straight on one assignment. I don’t know if that is normal. I do know that having other people to talk with, I shared cell numbers with some of my classmates, helped me a lot. Sometimes just emailing back and forth really didn’t solve any issues. I have been looking for a Master’s program for several years. When my sister approached me about going to Lamar together and working through our Master’s together, I realized that it was time to move forward and that this was an opportunity I did not want to pass up. I’m in this for the long haul and I want to be successful. I want to be able to help others. I believe that we want each other to be successful. Maybe that’s what put us in this program.

Web Conference Reflection-Week 5

I was about 5 minutes late getting into the web conference for this week. I didn’t worry with my webcam. I was able to see Mrs. Borel and a few of my colleagues. DarylAnn was explaining the Principal Competencies when I joined the room. I look back over the past 4 weeks and realize that it has been a whirlwind. I was grateful for the web conferences and the opportunity to see my instructor and know she was willing to help with whatever issues had arisen. Although this is a distance education class, I really think it’s a good idea to have these web conferences available. One of the class members was really struggling with some of the assignments, and the outpouring of support that the class members showed was great.

Web Conference #2 - Reflection

Our second web conference went pretty well although there were some serious technical difficulties. I had not been able to get my web cam working for the first web conference, so I was determined to have video this time. I logged in to the web conference site about 20 minutes or so before the appointed start time. My video worked and I could see a few other people. Daryl Ann had problems with the audio, and it remained choppy throughout the conference. With technical difficulties taken into consideration, the web conference allowed us time to ask questions about our week 3 work. Several students were having problems embedding the animoto video into their wikis and asked for help. The great thing about the web conference is that it allows us an opportunity to share ideas, to help each other, and to remind us that we don’t have to work through these courses alone. There is a wealth of knowledge to be gained if we just ask. I really can see the benefits of using web conferences with classes. However, I think it is important to stress the fact that nothing works perfectly. Being flexible, patient, and understanding when the technology doesn’t work as we would like will be a key to learning an integrating it into our own classrooms.

e-learning, e-rate and me!

More PowerPoint presentations from Laura Dacus

EDLD 5306 -- Web Conference #1 - Reflection

Well, my first web conference for the course is complete. I thought it was fun, and it was nice to be able to put some faces to the names I’ve seen our on class discussions. It took some tweaking to get things going, but I think Mrs. Borel did a great job of calming our nerves.  I enjoyed interacting with my classmates! I think that was the most fun.  It was nice to get an overview of the whole program, and I’m happy to have it in the power point to refer to.  I think one of the things I’ll need to work on is information overload during these classes. I want to think that I have a handle on what is due, when it is due, etc. However, I feel easily overwhelmed by the overviews and assignments. I’m hoping that as I settle in to the program things will flow a bit better.  J  

EDLD 5306 Blog Posting #3: National Educational Technology Plan (NETP)

The NETP or National Educational Technology Plan of 2010 includes two main goals by the year 2020: raise the number of college graduates from 39% to 60%, and work so that all students, regardless of race, income, or neighborhood will graduate from high school having the skills necessary for college. To reach these goals is it believed that an all out effort/intervention must be made rather than simply applying stop-gap measures or allowing these changes to evolve over a long course of time.

“It urges our education system at all levels to

• Be clear about the outcomes we seek.

• Collaborate to redesign structures and processes for effectiveness, efficiency, and flexibility.

• Continually monitor and measure our performance.

• Hold ourselves accountable for progress and results every step of the way.”

Atkins, Daniel E. et al, (March 5, 2010) Transforming American Education: Learning Powered By Technology p.5

The NETP focuses on five specific areas: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. After conducting studies of college ready programs, awareness was raised of how students learned, what they learned, and when they learned. Student responsibility for project based lessons, identifying real-world problems and designing plausible solutions, and collaborating with a variety of agencies, entities, and professionals in higher education, would play a great part in the success of such a focused concentration for change. The plan outlines recommendations for change that will hopefully bring about the desired results.

EDLD 5306 Blog Posting #2: School or District Technology Plan

It is the goal of Arp Junior High School to integrate technology across the curriculum. It is the desire of the campus personnel to assist the students in the acquisition of skills necessary for success in high school and beyond. The technology goals for all students at Arp Junior High School are listed below:

• Acquire a username and password for the Arp ISD network by passing a test over the district’s Acceptable Use Policy.
• Become familiar with online sources for research.
• Become familiar with the use of Blog Server. Students will successfully participate on the Blog Server with value added responses..
• Partnership for Technology Application students in a Robotics Camp.
• Successful completion of a TA assessment.
• Acquire the skills necessary to accomplish six basic standards:
• Become familiar with technology terms, input strategies and ethical practices regarding computer, internet, and intranet use.
• Gain skills to conduct effective searches on the internet.
• Utilize a word processor for basic documents.
• Gain a working knowledge of multimedia authoring tools.
• Present information in a variety of formats including digital.
• Establish some control over their learning.
• Accelerate their learning through the use of software products including, but not limited to, networked and internet based programs.
• Participate in virtual classroom settings, taking tests online, completing assignments online, and contributing to the community of learners through electronic communication.

EDLD 5306-Blog Posting #1: Technology Assessment

As with any skill, assessment is an important component in developing competency. However, just as teachers and students are faced with emphasis placed on high-stakes testing, would it be possible that too much emphasis may be placed on assessing technology skills? Few dispute the necessity for teachers to be proficient in the use and integration of technology in the classroom. Nonetheless, “Several teachers held to the belief that they needed to be “experts,” not just in the operation of technology, but also in its instructional implications and in troubleshooting.” (Burns, Mary. From Compliance to Commitment, p.298) The Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology displays necessary skills for teachers and students. Students need to be nurtured in the use of technology in their classroom activities. Although many students have access to technology, many are overwhelmed and intimidated by such inclusive use of technology in the classroom. Again, it is possible to place too much emphasis on “what” the students’ know, as opposed to “how they know and how they find” what they need. Student assessment of technology skills is necessary, but in my opinion, it must be balanced with the opportunity for exploration.

“Today’s students are technology-savvy, feel strongly about the positive value of technology, and rely upon technology as an essential and preferred component of every aspect of their lives. Today’s students need access to life-changing tools that are available for their use before they walk into a school building.” Long-Range Plan for Technology 2006-2010 (November 2006). P22 http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5082&menu_id=2147483665

Just a reminder---"What do teachers make?"

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