Hank Wortley

EDAD 696
11/21/2015
PGP Reflective Essay
PDL Initiative Project
This PGP project consisted of researching current PASS Science scores for
grades 6-8 at St James Middle School. When looking at the PASS score data, I
analyzed the data according to standard and performance indicators. When looking at
the data, I specially looked at the indicators and standards that were the weakest in
grade level and compared them to the district means. Even though the scores and
science were down across the district, the SJMS scores were still significantly higher
than those of the other schools in the district. After looking at the data, I performed
some reach within the school on how the teachers were using the IPads in the science
classroom as a supplemental learning tool. After speaking with the teachers and
researching the applications that they were using, I noticed that the applications being
used were all interactives and not focused on student centered activities or creative
aspects of science. Once the research was completed in house, a considerable amount
of time was spent researching science applications and websites that teachers at the
middle school level used in order focus on student creations to explain concepts in
science. I also found some websites and papers that had tips for successful science
classrooms in regards to the integration of IPad into their curriculum. After researching
the information, I developed a newsletter on my findings to be distributed to the science
teachers within the building. The newsletter consisted on descriptions of the new
applications as well as a QR code that linked them to an video on how to use the

application. At the end of reading the newsletter, the teachers would fill out a survey
made on Google Forms to track the implementation of the new applications being used.
It will also provide opportunities for the teachers to leave feedback regarding which
application would they like more training or professional development sessions. This
learning goals set forth during this project are directly correlated to the ideals behind
ELCC Standard 2 which addresses the schools culture and instructional programs.
Before completing this PGP project, I never realized how much a curriculum
coach was involved in during the technology integration aspect of the curriculum, I knew
that they were primarily responsible for helping teachers implement new strategies in
the classroom as well as assist teachers with differentiated instruction to target all levels
of learning in the classroom. I knew that they were responsible for looking at and
disaggregating data for the school but I soon realized that they are responsible for so
much more than just data analysis. The curriculum coaches are the link between the
students, teachers and technology within the classroom. They are responsible for
professional development, attending workshops, passing along information, as well as
ensuring that the teachers are aligning their lessons to the curriculum guide set forth by
the district and state. I realized that in order to become a successful assistant principal
and principal, I must step into the role of curriculum coach first to gain experience
interacting with teachers on an administrative level rather than a fellow teacher level.
The ELCC performance skills that were developed and refined during the course
of this PGP are as follows:

Barriers to student learning are identified, clarified and addressed.

A variety of sources of information are used to make decisions.

Professional development promotes a focus on student learning

consistent with the school vision and goals.

Multiple learning opportunities are available for all students and staff.

The dispositions that were developed as a result of completing this project are as
follows:

Student learning as the fundamental purpose of learning.

The proposition that students learn in a variety of ways
The proposition that all students can learn.
Professional development as an integral part of school improvement.

The dispositions developed throughout the course of the PGP focus on the
education off all members of the school community from the administrative team down
to the teachers and ultimately the students. The trends that are currently seen in
education are focused towards the successful integration of technology into the
classroom as well as the professional development of educators to ensure that they
have the proper training so that the technology can be successfully integrated into the
pedagogy of the curriculum. Regardless of the academic ability of the student, the IPads
and the technology that is available to the students is overwhelming and the
supplemental materials provide the student with ample opportunities to be successful.
The focus of the PDL and this project was to explore the creative side of technology and
research applications that allow students to be creative and show that they have
learned the material by expressing their knowledge in various ways. These ways can be
through drawing, videos, cartoon, comic strips as well as various other methods. The
push for technology has been so prominent that they hands on and creative aspect of
science is being lost. Through this project, I feel that I have successful made progress in

bringing back the creative of science in a digital format. I am a firm believer that
reinstating the creation aspect will drive science scores in a positive direction for those
content areas that were deemed as weak.
If I were to change anything during the course of performing the activities outlined in
the professional growth plan, it would be to follow up with the teachers to see how they
were using the suggested applications as well as how the IPads were being used for a
more creative aspect rather than a supplemental learning tool. I would also follow up
with teachers about how they would monitor student progress concerning the
applications presented to determine if they were resulting in an increase in students
scores on benchmarks and classroom assessments. Lastly, as a high school science
teacher, I would ask the teachers if I could teach a lesson in their classroom to show
them how to integrate some of the applications into their classroom. If the teachers
disagree with that, I would at least like to sit in and observe the lesson to make
recommendations for improvement.