This was a difficult project for me, I have never tried to combined video and stills into one podcast. I had to revert to iMovie at the last minute, which means that the quality is very poor. I will need to invest in File Maker Pro to do a better job next time.
I did try deparetly to keep myself under control, but I definetly went overtime on this one.
In any continuous improvement model, evaluation and modification is an ongoing process. The evaluation of this project will be ongoing as well, feedback will be derived from:
• administrators comments and questions via email
• comments shared at PLC meetings
• zoomerang survey questions
The blogs greatest value will be derived from the quality of the discussions during PLC meetings. Has the blog helped to increase our focus, the depth and breath of our thinking?
Up until this point when an administrator arrives at a PLC meeting the inquiry questions, based on data, are handed to the audience during the meeting. As an administrator I realize that our days are full of essential and important, yet menial day-to-day duties; the idea that any of us can concentrate on what might be introduced at the PLC meeting is not our foremost thought. With the PLC blog the prompt inquiry will be introduced a week in advance giving administrators the opportunity to use the inquiry at a staff meeting or to discuss the issue well before the PLC, this process affords the administrators the ability to have an enriched conversation during our PLC.
In May 2008, I spoke to our superintendent, John Stafford, and shared my idea about creating a blog for our administrative PLC. He was delighted with the idea and wanted to start the process as soon as possible. The launching took place at our annual administrators’ back to school kick off call The Charge! Since the blog was introduced at The Charge! I decided to name it Staying Charged!
I was given a breakout session during The CHARGE! conference to introduce the blog and to go over the directions for use. I gave each of the administrators a tutorial with instructions and they followed along as I reviewed each step. I plan to review the instructions with each of them personally as needed. I have included the tutorial as one of the links on the bog site, just in case they need to review the instructions.
As I stated in the introduction, I am so blessed that my superintendent has confidence in me, he relies on me to do what is right for the district with respect to instructional technology and he is very open to new technologies.
Blog Tutorial
http://www.madera.k12.ca.us/imrieweb/resourcetoolkit/-Documents/The Charge! Presentations/Blog Tutorial.doc
The blog was created in EduBlogs giving me greater flexibility in design than Blogger. It also offered me the ability to approve and/or disapprove the comments. Although proper netiquette was discussed with the administrators, a protocol (rules) will be established at the first PLC meeting in August. Currently the site is not password protected, but if protocol is not followed the administrators will be required to create an account to use the blog.
The site also offers the administrators links to additional sites used in Madera Unified.
.I decided to create my own custom header so that I the title of the blog site would stand out to the users. I used Adobe Photoshop to create the custom header. It’s not perfect but it was the best that I could do for now. Hopefully the more I use PhotoShop the better I may become. I will upload pictures to the blog site when appropriate and continue to add links that will help the administrators in their jobs. One of the links points to the Educators’ TooKit that I created for administrators and teachers in MUSD. I will continue to maintain that web site.
Staying Charged- Madera Unified Administrators PLC Blog:
http://maderaplc.edublogs.org
I am happy with the PLC Blog, but I realize that there is so much more that I can offer to the administrators. I spoke to one of the administrators yesterday about adding an RSS feed to useful educational sites that would be of interest to the administrators. So much is available, it’s just finding the time to get it all done.
I decided that a blog would be the best solution for this project by meeting the needs of the administrators and the superintendent. Blogs are used for a variety of reason, but most are used to elicit comments, responses or for reflection of thoughts and ideas. I created the Madera Unified Administrators’ PLC Blog using Edublogs, a WordPress technology. Edublogs is an blog site provider for educators and students. Edublosg contains features not available from other free blog developers and it caters to education. Edublogs is made by educators, for educators, they are familiar with ways to effectively use blogs in teaching and learning
The PLC b log will serve multiple purposes, the blog affords the district administrators the opportunity to think about district issues and discussion items and a chance to reflect on the prompts topics included in the blog. It also provides administrators with the opportunity to discuss controversial issues with their own staff members for additional input. The first two prompt inquiries were derived from the discussions at the 2008-09 CHARGE! conference. Prompt inquiry questions will be added to the blog at least twice monthly throughout the 2008-09 school year. Reminder emails with the inquiry questions and the blog address included will be sent out one week before each PLC gathering. The blog prompts and comments will be discussed at the PLC meeting.
The PLC blog will continue throughout the 2008-09 school year as an ongoing project. The site will be evaluated during the first year and needed adjustments will be made to the site’s format and content.
Madera Uniifed District administrators meet twice monthly to collaboratively discuss district and school site data based on benchmark exams and /or intervention assessment tools used in the schools. The administrators desire to use their bimonthly Professional Learning Community gatherings to reflect on inquiry questions based on key focus instructional issues in Madera Unified during the 2008-09 school year. Professional Learning Communities have been an important part of the teaching and learning process in Madera Unified for the last two years. Our PLC’s focus on:
The process used to analyze the data is called the COI or Cycle of Inquiry. Much like the ADDIE process, COI engages the users in the process of analyzing a problem and developing a solution.
The issue/problems at hand:
After careful thought and analysis of the issues at hand, I decided that a PLC Blog site would serve to help administrators share their thoughts, comments and ideas. Blogs are used for a variety of reason, but most are used to elicit comments, responses or for reflection of thoughts and ideas.
As a reminder to myself of the importance of effective learning environments, this post will review the ADDIE model which will serve as a template for my online collaborative learning project.
A is for Analysis
D is for Design
D is for Development
I is for Implementation
E is for Evaluation
Welcome to the Madera Unified Educators’ Toolkit Blog site!
Although this blog is currently being used to posts assignments generated from my EdTech 700 course at San Diego State University, my vision is to use this blog as a way to collaborate with educators, sharing ideas, professional developments schedules and information in the form of an EdTech newsletter. I would also like to use my EduBlog site to distribute instructional technology resources to the teachers and administrators in Madera Unified School District.
My name is Kim Imrie and I have been happily married to my best friend (Steve) and high school sweetheart for 37 years. We have been blessed with two beautiful daughters and two great son-in-laws. We are also the proud grandparents of two perfect, precious grandchildren, Sierra age 8 and Steven age 5. I have worked in Madera Unified School District for more than 25 years; as a teacher in 3rd and 5th grades and a resource specialist in a K-6 elementary school. Seven years ago I was hired as a district technology coach for Madera Unified, during that time I have had the pleasure of working with four other certificated technology coaches and five classified technicians. My job includes writing grants, training district teachers how to integrate technology into their daily curriculum, working on projects with K-8 students and trying to keep up with new technology curriculum. Last summer my job was upgraded to an administrative position and I am now the Instructional Technology Coordinator for the district.
My hobbies include archery (compound bow shooting) and spending quality time with my husband, children, and our beautiful grandchildren
I have always desired to obtain my Masters in Educational Technology, but until recently, very few colleges and universities offered Educational Technology courses that were based on classroom integration ideas, techniques and strategies. When I heard that Bernie Dodge was going to head up the COMET program, I jumped with joy!
Since I became a district Technology Coach seven years ago, my greatest desire was to bring the latest classroom technologies and advances to the teachers in Madera Unified. I truly believe that technology engages students in the learning process. Using a computer is easy, integrating it into your daily lessons with your students is the hard part. In my job I have the opportunity to help teachers do that every day, and I want to make sure that I am sharing the best educational technologies, techniques, strategies and classroom “best practices” while helping move teachers into a technology-rich learning environment. This master’s program has given me the ability to do just that…introduce new, useful technologies to the teachers in Madera.
I have had some experience creating and using a blog (using Blogger), but I have had no experience with Wikis. I have listened to podcasts, but I have had no expeirience designing one.
