Administrators'+Reflections

Patti started the session with the positive things she has seen in the field. Gene asked for impressions from principals
 * Brookesmith – because they are small they have limited lab space, so netbooks are a boon. They students like it and T and S are excited about the technology. T and S are integrating Tech into curriculum. They use it quite a bit. (limited resources)
 * Teacher told principal after they got the netbooks two S had never completed a project finally completed one. (motivation)
 * Didn’t get the equipment until February, but kids are enthusiastic. Every summer teachers write curriculum and is integrating tech into curriculum. Lead science teacher went to ESC XV and now the 6 th grade teacher is moving to 8 th grade. The new teacher is tech savy so it will be an easy transition.
 * 5 th and 8 th on the MS campus – veteran and pup (8 th grade) – young guy is running with it. His son is in the class so the principal got feedback. Son loved the technology. Veteran fought it in her own mind and finally accepted it after a little. Actually bought some more netbooks to make a complete set. His two teachers came to the Pixie training (without the stipend).
 * Kiddos are blossoming. Running down hallways to show principal the things they made.
 * Bronte – kids love netbooks. The T say the kids are totally involved. There isn’t much boot up time, the netbooks stay charged the whole day.
 * Updated boards are nice – speakers. Kids love them. Gave old ones to other teachers
 * New netbooks with new programs – S really loved the software – 48% commended on the TAKS test. (Melissa) 8 th grade coach wasn’t excited about the grant, but now is bought in and now he does like it. Aunt point-her niece studies volcanoes used netbooks to make presentations. Had done all the research on the netbooks. Glitch – very slow to boot up. Patti will make sure the tech person looks at netbooks.
 * Already had bought laptops for the whole school (Rocksprings) Moving into CScope and the science classrooms are covered because of T3. 30% technology instruction and they plan to buy Boards for the other classrooms. Moving to mobile labs. Very good program. My science teachers were here yesterday and will be here the rest of the week.
 * Got there last summer, master was in technology strand, so when the principal went to Bangs the T were ready for technology too. They added lots of Boards, slates, projectors. Faster computers to speed up Board. It is changing the Ts planning time. “I have to have time to plan” – I need to learn to use the new technology. As the year progressed they were integrating the tech more and more.

Difficulties
 * Promethean training – didn’t work -
 * Slow boot up

Patti showed the video that was made at the PBL training earlier in the grant. (January 20-21, 2010) Gene walked the teachers through an install of the update for Pixie, so principals can play with the software. None of principals thought of themselves as 21 st century administrators, but none are afraid of the computer or get their admin to do work for them. Eight T3 teachers attended yesterday. Shirley – “who would like to get started?” “I wish you would hush so we could”

Shirley led the administrators through creating an ABCs of professional development during the morning session. After lunch, Shirley and Gene introduced Share, the replacement program for WebBlender.

I had more fun than I thought I would…I didn’t know I would be making something that I could use.