YuperStar

Diane and I have been working on a matrix to describe a list of pedagogical goals that can encompass the variety of teaching styles found in the department. Our hope is that each teacher will identify at least one classroom activity (using technology) that they would like to develop over the summer and implement it during the next school year.

We are looking for feedback on this matrix as a whole. Would you prefer different wording anywhere? What pedagogical goals have we missed that are important to you? Are there activities you do now in the classroom that we could include in the green-dot column (tech-related or not is ok)? We’ll discuss this further during our Backup Pizza Party on January 15th…

Before then, please click on this link to SurveyMonkey to give us the feedback we’ll need to set up summer training. This includes technologies you would like to learn and dates you are available.

Thank you for your feedback!

Survey results so far (from 6 responses):

Best Dates: August 18-August 29
10 Topics with Highest Votes: iFlash, iMovie, GarageBand Podcasts, Yabla/Other Video, Diigo, Web2.0Storytelling, PBWiki/GoogleDocs, Communication Tools (iChat, IM, Chatrooms, Skype), Image editing (iPhoto, Photoshop), Audio Editing/CD burning

* Discussed how helpful it is when teachers put the grade level, language, and a short description of the class project in their lab reservations. Then Allison can better prepare, especially for 3rd & 4th graders.
* Special request to please block out use of the Project Area in the Reservation calendar, even if it’s for tutoring, parent conferences, testing, 1-student classes, or after the fact. I compile this data at the end of each 12 weeks to evaluate how the lab has been used. If it’s a repeating weekly event, you only have to do it once… =)
* More reservations will eventually mean more simultaneous booking (i.e. Instructional Area & Welcome Area going on at the same time). This will probably jump again next quarter to three areas being used at once, when we have the project area up and running. Instructional Area and Project Area will probably have priority over Welcome Area (to be discussed as a department). Start looking across the reservation cal to see if other lab areas will be used at the same time and discuss with other teacher if you think there will be a problem (noise can be an issue, for example, if a class is watching a video in the Welcome Area).
* Steve mentioned that he’s having a hard time finding open lab times. Obviously some times during the day are more congested than others… We might need to discuss ways of balancing this out as a department.
* Allison will post sign-up for summer workshop topics on the supply room door in January. Plans on working with Diane to apply for professional development money. Looking at AM/PM model, where teachers learn the technology and brainstorm curricular applications in the morning, and then if they choose to stay, pick one integration and flesh it out in the afternoon.