Assignment #2 Windows 7

Why Windows 7

The following are 4 different sites that I used to find information on Windows 7

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/home?os=winxp

http://www.forums.bestbuy.com/t5/Windows-7/bd-p/Win7

http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-10383189-12.html?tag=mncol

http://www.migrationexpertzone.com/

Windows 7 offers a number of really interesting and helpful applications. Windows 7 has many more options for organizational purposes than XP or Vista has in the past. Windows 7 has a Home Group option for sharing files, music and pictures that seems more accessible than the other programs. The Jump Lists that bookmarks the favorites or well used sites would be very helpful. The Window search of finding all documents that have key words in them would really help in finding those lost documents or misplaced items with ease. Windows 7 has the option of the Windows Touch which would be great, with all the iphones/itouch devices that are becoming more main stream, a computer with this capability would be great. With Windows 7 you are able to connect to your home PC and access files, photos etc from any other computer. This is a new feature and could be very beneficial. The parental controls are on all Windows programs, but the 7 seems to be improved with spyware options. Some potential issues that I have read about were the driver compatibility. Certain ones were working fine with no issues, but others were not being recognized. A number of blogs were discussing that there still was no answer to the problem and consumers were getting frustrated. Another concern was the Device Stage and hooking up other devices. This stage claimed to recognize devices instantly, which it can, but only devices made by manufactures that have made prerequisites for image files. The iPod and iphone were two listed that don’t take advantage of the Device Stage. If my school had PCs I would recommend purchasing Windows 7 for the organizational purposes alone. However, we have all Macs in our buildingsJ

TCO entry

Beacon and technology: Do they mix?

Technology at Beacon is a very interesting discussion. First of we are a self-contained K-12 school with emotionally impaired students. Many of the students have dual diagnosis with some sort of learning disability as well. Many of these students would benefit greatly from a technology program. Secondly, we have teachers that have been here for over 25 years that still use pen and paper for grades/attendance and refuse to integrate any technology into their curriculums. Then you have the newer teachers (there are only 2 of us that have been hired in the last 4 years) that really want to use technology to the fullest capacity, however we do not have the necessary equipment or the support to use it. Our tech committee is basically a person who is in charge of trouble-shooting, ordering and adding equipment. She tries her best with what she has available. We also have a computer specialist that does come in twice a week to do maintenance/systems type of updating.

In looking at our tech plan, we have completed and maintained a number of things, like upgrading our system, cords/lines etc. There are still a number of things that have not been addressed. The most considering to me is the professional development hours. We have had very few since I have been at this school. The ones we have are to inform us of a new program they have purchased, with little or no input from staff, and as an introductory hour. The staff presenting the information does not have training on the program and cannot answer questions that are proposed. It makes the PD hours very frustrating. In the article it stated that it takes 30-90 hours of training to become proficient in technology. A few hours of sub-par training does not achieve this goal. If we have a PD, it would be very beneficial to have someone with a large base knowledge on the subject area that can answer questions and help us to implement this type of material into our classrooms.

In looking at Beacon’s TCO, there is a program that they spent over $25,000.00 several years ago to purchase. After asking a number of teachers about the program, a few had never heard of it, a few had heard of it but had no idea how to use it and 2 had actually used it several years ago, but no not currently use it now. I also inquired about using it, but no one it the “tech dept” remembers how to use it or if we were even current on the program. This was very shocking to me. All of this money was spent with out regards to purchasing something that could still be used years later.

Assignment #1

My technology skills are very basic and limited. I can perform basic tasks of web browsing, email, setting up external peripherals word processing and power point. My skills in all these areas have improved with practice and repetition. I would like to continue to improve with web searches and learning how to narrow the search using specific words and other parameters. I tend to learn best when someone demonstrates the skill, then I have time to practice and master with repetition. I can improve much of my computer knowledge with exploring on my own with guidance from an expert.
There are a number of technology skills that I need to develop. I feel the number one skill needed is to develop a way to infuse technology into my content area. I sometimes feel very overwhelmed that there are so many wonderful ideas of different programs and websites to use that I don’t know where to begin. Working with students with special needs it makes it very difficult to use some of the programs I have found. My school has about 6 computers in each classroom that mostly run. They are linked to a server that also sometimes runs. One issue I have is there are 10 students in the classroom in a very confined space. If I am working on a project etc, I need something for the other students to do while the other half is on the computers. I do have access to a projector that will “eventually” be hooked up to my computer with a screen large enough for the students to see.
Based on the technology integration survey, my classroom is at a middle ground. There is a lot of room for improvement in the area of the students learning and my learning. I have projects that I have used in the past that the students do enjoy and excel at. These projects are quarter long projects. Creating some less time consuming projects that are shorter in length would help to demonstrate other technology skills and content area as well.
I feel I have a number of strong obstacles. One is the simple issue of time. I currently teach 4 different subjects, one of which is new to me this year; I have a 3 month old baby and I am obviously taking grad classes. When I have free time, I am taking care of my daughter. Spending my time wisely in preparing for school and sharing it with my daughter is an ongoing battle, in which my daughter usually wins! Another weakness I feel I have is figuring out where to even begin in searching for a new idea. Most of which I have implemented in my classroom has been demonstrated through a class I have taken. Which there is nothing wrong with that, but I feel I need to take some ownership of the programs and lessons I am teaching. I would like to explore some ideas on my own and see where they take me.
One way to implement the use of technology into my classroom is to set up specific goals for myself. I need to begin slowly with setting aside 1 hour every weekend to explore ideas I have, and then implement one idea weekly to my class. I would like to incorporate more on a weekly, eventually daily basis. Even if it a simple web search or a You Tube /Teacher Tube clip relating to the subject area.