Results of Technology Survey 2009

Thanks to all who contributed. The large number of people participating (29) helps us plan more accurately. (Note: not all answered every question; percentages refer to those who answered that question.)

1. To be a more effective teacher in my classroom, I would like: ways to display work that’s on my teacher computer (example: websites, DVD, youtube video, textbook website, PowerPoint presentation):

a. Daily 54% (15)
b. Weekly 14% (4)
c. Occasionally 29% (8)
d. Never 4% (1)

2. To be a more effective teacher in my classroom, I would like the following (check all that apply):

a. Student computers for use in my class 29% (6)
b. Access to computer lab for all-class computer activity using computers/internet 71% (15)
c. Ways for students to use PowerPoint and other Technologies for class presentations 29% (6)
d. A Smart Board 29% (6)

3. I would like to upgrade from a desktop to a laptop for the computer in my classroom (so that I can take my computer to Duty, take my computer home, etc.)

a. Yes 22% (5)
b. No 26% (6)
c. Does not apply 52% (12)

4. I’d like to learn how to do the following (please check all that apply)

a. To use a thumb drive to move documents between school & home 0% (0)
b. To use Edline File Locker to move documents between school, home 43% (6)
c. To use PowerPoint 43% (6)
d. To use Excel 7% (1)
e. To use Email 7% (1)
f. To use Edline 0% (0)
g. To use Gradequick 7% (1)
h. To find free resources from internet to use in my class 43% (6)

5. Please tell us more about what you’d like to learn (including matters we might not have included above):

PowerPoint presentation. More proficient with Powerpoint and how to use computer in my classroom for all-class presentations. New features in PowerPoint and Excel. Squirrelmail. How to set up Podcast teaching scheme. Can the school afford new technology? We are addressing these needs individually.

6. Our school website (saint-bernard.com), which presents the school’s face to the world, should include the following:

a. Academic offerings, standards, goals, mission 79% (19)
b. Pictures/videos of students in academics, extracurricular 83% (20)
c. Faculty degrees 42% (10)
d. Alumni activities and information 63% (15)
e. Admissions activities and information 71% (17)
f. Current information about today’s activities 58% (14)
g. Showcase of student work 50% (12)
h. Present a polished, professional appearance 92% (22)
i. Be easy to use 92% (22)

7. Does our present school website meet these needs?

a. Yes 29% (6)
b. No 71% (15)

8. Are you experiencing any technology problems at this time?

• 7 people responded and we are addressing these problems.

Thank you again for your useful participation and feedback. You’ve helped us plan for the coming year(s).

Fair Use

Dealing with copyright and fair use

“Ever find yourself asking questions like these:

• Can I play “The Telltale Head” episode of The Simpsons in class as part of my unit on Poe?
• Is it okay to include a clip from The News Hour with Jim Lehrer in my ReadWriteThink lesson plan?
• I want to show a screen capture from a video game in my conference presentation. Is that okay?
• Can a student use the chorus from Dire Straits’ “Romeo and Juliet” in a PowerPoint presentation on the play?
• The class made a video adaptation of a Dr. Seuss book. Can we post it online?”  asks Traci Gardner, of NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) in http://ncteinbox.blogspot.com/2008/11/fair-use-and-copyright-for-educators.html .   The answer to all the questions is “yes,” by the way.

    Recently, the National Council of Teachers of English participated in  a report of how copyright and fair use should play out in education.  (”Fair use” refers to using copyrighted materials without cost for eductional purposes.)  While originally developed for media educators, the report applies to all teachers.  This is so important to all of us, I’m including the complete blog entry here:

http://ncteinbox.blogspot.com/2008/11/fair-use-and-copyright-for-educators.html

with a link to the complete report: http://www.mediaeducationlab.com/pdf/CodeofBestPracticesinFairUse.pdf 

One surprising finding:  teachers self-censor more than necessary.  We really can use copyrighted materials more than we thought we could, and often are being overly cautious. 

Some key considerations:  are we using copyrighted materials for teaching and learning, are we causing the original copyright owner significant financial harm, are we providing credit where credit is due (citing our sources), are we (or our students) transforming original work in the creation of new work? 

The entire report is well worth the read.

Blogging

I am exploring blogging as another means of communications with my fellow teachers.  Rather than having to post documents on my website every time I create a new email about how to do something with computers, I am starting to use a blog.

                I’ll email the information to you, with a link to the blog.  Happily, blogs automatically keep all the previous posts right there, where you can browse through them.  There is even a search function, so you can enter keywords like “excel,” for example, to find all articles about Excel.  This is much less work for me, and it allowing me to explore using a blog at the same time.

                I certainly agree that some blogs are little better than personal diaries, and of little interest to many, but many bloggers provide useful – even critical – information.  I get some of my best information about technology and education from blogs.  I started with a list of blogs from a book I was reading, found a few I liked, and then found other blogs linked to these blogs.  There are now about 8 that I follow all the time relating to education and technology.  I don’t read every word, but often find material that’s useful.  Most can be sent to my email automatically, so the amount of work for me is very small.  Many professional organizations have blogs associated with them, and these are easy to subscribe to.  Try your professional organization’s homepage and search on “blog.”  Not everything will be of interest, but it’s worth exploring.

                If you want to get started with your own blog, please let me know, and I’ll help you get started.  I taught myself how to do it this summer, and it is surprisingly simple. 

To kick off the year – let’s look at students’ mindset

             It helps us all to remember just how much our students’ life experiences have been different from our own.  To this end, Beloit College publishes a yearly list of reminders for their professors which I thought you would enjoy as we head back to school.

            For instance, from the Mindset List for the Class of 2011

1. What Berlin Wall?

10. Pete Rose has never played baseball.

16. Women have always been police chiefs in major cities.

53. Tiananmen Square is a 2008 Olympics venue, not the scene of a massacre.

For the complete list (as well as lists from previous years) http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2011.php.

Enjoy!

    Fran