EDLD 5363 Week 3 Web Conference

Week 3 was another conference of clarification. Again there was some confusion on the EPIC assignment, as to was our assignment to be a PSA video or an introduction to a core lesson for students.  The assignment in EPIC was from the last class to come through the course. Due to continued glitches on the EPIC side of the house, Dr. Abernathy’s updated assignment didn’t post.  However, she persevered explaining the discussion posts, team work and expectations for the next few weeks.  This was the most informative conference so far! I am looking forward to working with my team again!

EDLD 5363 Week 2 Web Conference

I attended the scheduled time for the week 2 conference, however Dr. Abernathy was not there. I had a few questions about the week 3 assignment so was looking forward to getting some clarification.  I wanted to know if the podcast was to be strictly a podcast or should it include a video.  In the following conference Dr. Abernathy apologized for missing the conference, and was able to clarify the needs for this assignment.

EDLD 5363 Week 1 Web Conference

This first conference was a clarification of the assignment listed in EPIC. Several students, including myself, opened an assignment in EPIC that apparently was from 2009, and began working. It had been updated by Dr. Abernathy for this class, however for some reason the update did not take. Explaining and clarifying the assignment calmed all of us allowing us to begin working on our personal digital story.

Wow! It has been awhile since I posted! So this week in EDLD 5363, we had to create a digital story. This was a difficult week, as my grandma had a stroke, and was not expected to live. I had to close up school a day early, head out of town and wait while gathering other family. Grandma passed on June 3rd. Completing the assignment in and around the entire goings on of preparing for a funeral was not easy. I went back and forth on what it should be about, and how to complete it on time. I finally settled on making about my grandma, but then there were times it was too difficult and I had to stop. I must say, however, that this has been a catharsis for me. I do believe that creating the story has helped me begin to find my way- learn to let her go. The actual process was daunting at first- until I watched several YouTube videos on how to use iMovie for the iPad. We just got the iPad for use at school, and I haven't had much experience with some of the new apps. Once I got the hang of it, I really enjoyed making an "ode" to my grandma.

Draft Action Research Plan

Action Planning Template
Goal: To provide teachers with supported professional development on the effective regular use of small bring your own device technology during classroom instruction.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Continue meeting with Chris Diem, my site mentor, discuss the details of the plan adjusts the research plan as needed through the meeting and more details are gathered.	Carol Ormand and Chris Diem	Week three or four of the research course for approximately February 7-14.	Laptops, cell phones, smart phones, Ipods, MP3 players, Internet access, and team leaders classroom.	Evaluation will be determined during the meeting with Chris Diem, additional meetings may be needed.
Research various applications or programs to use with lessons in the classroom. Build some actual user friendly turnkey lessons for teacher use.	Carol Ormand	February 14 -20	Computer, Smart phone, Ipod or MP3 player, internet access, interviews with Terice Schneider from the technology department. Possibly more discussion with Chris Diem.	Once I have enough applications to share and lessons created to present to the teachers, I will inform the parties involved.
Create the lessons to share the applications with teachers. Create the supporting WIKI.	Carol Ormand	February 23 – till approximately March 9.	Wiki Website, computer, Smart Phones, Ipod or MP3 player, internet access to create lessons.	After sharing final lessons with Chris Diem, Site Mentor, Peggy Hughes, English department head, and possibly Terice Schneider, I will begin enrolling teachers into the wiki and launch a professional development lesson.

Educational blogs

Eduacational blogs can be used by leaders to keep a record of their thinking along with the thinking of the stakeholders. The principal inquirer can pose questions to the students, parents, teachers, other admin staff, bus drivers and janitors. Not only does this provide a place to gather information, but also a place to reflect on our own thoughts to gain new and improved insights.

Action Research

What I have learned in my first week of EDLD 5301 about action research is that there is a name for what my team and I have discussed for years. Teachers have felt like the workshop was being done to them which caused reluctance to buy into the in-service topic. Many times after an in-service day we would discuss the opportunities we had right on our campus. Instead of bringing in all the experts to teach us something new, why could we not look to our own. There are many excellent teachers on our campus. If we had the chance to visit each other we could then learn from each other, sharing best practices. We could reflect upon our own body of work before and after sharing with another teacher improving what needed to be improved upon and giving ourselves a much needed pat on the back for the good we achieved. By being willing to stop, take a look at ourselves we can improve our school, student achievement, promote teacher confidence and build a true team environment on campus.

I am looking forward to using all the steps of the the action research plan, instead of just the relfect and correct. Reminding myself to be flexible, seek others to bounce ideas, and adjust different solutions to various issues will help me to achieve true growth. If my students see me reflecting and improving, perhaps they to will take up the process.