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Cynthia Reyes

EDU 214-2001

Professor Joni Flowers

March 24, 2015

Midterm Part 2A Technology Interview (Teacher)

For the first part of my Education class midterm exam I had to interview a teacher,

counselor or a librarian. As well as an administrator, either a principle, assistant principle, dean

or the ECS about the technology in their schools.

In the first part of the exam I decided to interview a Elementary school teacher that

teachers first grade at Jeffers Elementary School. According to Ms. Curto, they use a program

called Imagine Learning to help students wether it is reading, vocabulary, or language skills.

The students who are really low in any of these criterias they must go online for 30 minutes a

week, unlike the other students who go online for 30 minutes every week. Students use

accelerated reader as well to get the help they need to improve.

Technology really helps Ms. Curto by helping her by making her life easier since

everything is online. By using the engine that they use to create lesson plans, which is called

curriculum engine, makes it easier not just create but find and share resources as well. For first

time teachers this is really hard but just using these websites can help them feel like they have

less of a load on them. But like Ms. Curto says it is difficult to find the time to really dive into

the vast of data . . ., since it has become more easier the only thing left that is hard to keep up
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with everything that they have to grade since it is a lot of work with about 20 to 30 children.

Teachers need technology in my opinion because if they get stuck they can just go on the

computer and search up whatever they need help on. They can also send messages to other

teachers about upcoming events as well as information about lesson plans. Technology can also

be used for emergency as well, if by any chance the teacher can not get to the phone and if they

can get to the computer they can send an email to another teacher or to the main office and tell

him/request for help.

Technology is something that helps teachers in many different ways, not just by looking

up answers online but also helping the students when they need help as well as creating weekly

lesson plans.

Extra Questions:

8. Can it be easy to teach without using technology?

I think technology makes teaching much easier. It allows for much greater differentiation- so
students can work on something that it tailored to their specific needs. It also can assess them,
and allow them to practice things such as fluency, that they really just need to memorize. With
such large class sizes, technology gives kids more opportunities to work on something 1:1, even
if it is with a computer and not an actual teacher.

9. Do you think giving technology to students at a young age is a good Thing?

Yes, I dont really see any problems with it- as long as it is combined with a social learning
environment. Students need to learn to use the technology as a tool to aid their learning. They
also need to learn speaking and listening skills and how to work well with others. They need to
learn social skills that will aid in instruction so they can be well-rounded learners.

10. Does technology benefit you drastically?

It makes my life as a teacher a lot easier. Lesson planning and collaboration with the curriculum
engine saves me a good deal of time. Creating, finding, and Sharing educational resources is
much easier. Assessing students is faster. I am better able to track student progress and monitor
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them on individual learning targets. Grading student work is much faster. It is easier to create
report cards and progress reports, and share that information with parents. On the other hand, it
is difficult to find the time to really dive into the vast amount of data I have on students to make
meaning of it, and use it to improve my instruction.

Cynthia Reyes

EDU 214-2001

Professor Joni Flowers

March 24, 2015

Midterm Part 2B Technology Interview (Admin)

Administrators are another major group that need to use technology as well. They use

technology just as much as teachers use it, maybe even more.

The second person that was interviewed was an assistant principle from Mojave High

School named Jennifer Beskow. Ms. Beskow has provided me with information on how the

school uses the technology at that school as well as who came up with the technology plan. The

technology plan, according to Ms. Beskow, was created by a committee that is supervised by the

assistant principle over technology. The plan is revisited each yeah making appropriate changes.

This plan includes a new website that is called Edmodo. Edmodo is becoming more used

by teachers, not just teachers in high school but teachers from all grades. Teachers can now post

an assignment online and the students can turn in assignments through that website as well.

Students can also message teachers to ask for help.

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Another website that is used is Infinite Campus. This website helps teachers, students

and parents review grades. Students can log in and see what their grades are and their missing

assignments as well as see when something has to be turned in.

When a teacher would like technology in their classroom they first need to request and

also give a valid reason on why they need it and how it would benefit not just them but everyone

using the computer. Requesting technology has a process to it, the teachers can not just say that

they want things and just get them.

Parents can become more aware of all of these technologies by asking their children's

children and administrators about how they can get all the information. The day that they should

ask all the questions that they need answers for would be on open house. The parent and the

teacher can create a bond.

Technology helps administrators in a major way when they are looking for students.

Administrators carry a cellphone with a major database. The principle can look up a student but

their first and last name or just their student ID number and with that he can see the students

whole schedule, grades, contact info, etc. This can become very helpful, because some students

like to go to high schools that are not theirs and make problems, or they just go and hangout,

but with the technology that they have, if someone looks suspicious they can just pull out their

cellphones and see if they are going to that school or not.

Administrators have a big role in the school and with them using quick and easy

technology it helps make everything simple.

Extra Questions:
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8. How many years have you been working at Mojave High School? I have been working here

for 2 years

9. Do you love your job? Yes, I love my job

10. Does Technology make thing easier for both teachers and admin? Yes
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Kristen Curto

Jeffers E.S.

PART A

1. What kind of educational software is used for student learning and for administrative use, as
grading, report writing, etc?

We use a program called Imagine Learning- It teaches reading, vocabulary, and language skills.
All the lowest level students go on it for 30 minutes each day. Others go on 30 minutes 2xs/
week.

ST Math- fluency component- all students use it for 10 minutes each day (math facts addition/
subtraction for K-2, multiplication/ division for 3-5) and the other component- to practice grade
level math standards 40 minutes 2x/week

AR (accelerated reader)

kidblog

Infinite campus gradebook program

Curriculum engine- to create and share lesson plans

Smart exchange- to find smartboard lessons

Ipod touch apps- to use for sight words and math fact practice

AIMSweb- to assess students and track student progress

2. Which software products do you find most effective in teaching and learning process?-

Anything that tracks student progress, and is easy for students to figure out how to use without
too much teacher assistance

ST math, Imagine learning

Curriculum engine

3. Did you enroll in professional development classes to learn how to use the software? Or did
you learn how to use the software on your own?

Most- I learned on my ownbut a few I went to a little professional development to learn how
to use it

4. How much time do you spend on teaching the students how to use the software products?
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Not very much- the best programs are very self-explanatory- and the kids are able to watch a
video or demo to learn we may demonstrate or model how to use a new program a few times
for about 10 minutes

5. Do you feel that there is a digital divide in your school or in the school system? Please
elaborate. If yes, what do you feel needs to be done to decrease the digital divide or technology
gap in schools?

Our school has a lot of technology available at school- so even if many of the students arent
exposed to it at home, they are able to access it at school. We have 1:1 ipads for all students in
grades 3-5, and plenty of ipod touches, laptops, and computers for the students at our site. I
think the parents in the community also have access to a reduced price internet- so their children
can access the internet at home.

It would help to have more parents with e-mail, to increase parent communication.

6. Do you feel that technology interferes with teaching and learning in the classroom?

With first graders, technology aids learning. It may interfere with older students (using ipads for
social media during class time etc.)

7. What are your suggestions to improve the use of technology in the classroom?

More educational apps would be great- or having programs that work on multiple platforms so
students can use them at school and continue the programs at home and have their progress
linked to what they do in class.

8. Can it be easy to teach without using technology?

I think technology makes teaching much easier. It allows for much greater differentiation- so
students can work on something that it tailored to their specific needs. It also can assess them,
and allow them to practice things such as fluency, that they really just need to memorize. With
such large class sizes, technology gives kids more opportunities to work on something 1:1, even
if it is with a computer and not an actual teacher.

9. Do you think giving technology to students at a young age is a good Thing?

Yes, I dont really see any problems with it- as long as it is combined with a social learning
environment. Students need to learn to use the technology as a tool to aid their learning. They
also need to learn speaking and listening skills and how to work well with others. They need to
learn social skills that will aid in instruction so they can be well-rounded learners.

10. Does technology benefit you drastically?

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It makes my life as a teacher a lot easier. Lesson planning and collaboration with the curriculum
engine saves me a good deal of time. Creating, finding, and Sharing educational resources is
much easier. Assessing students is faster. I am better able to track student progress and monitor
them on individual learning targets. Grading student work is much faster. It is easier to create
report cards and progress reports, and share that information with parents. On the other hand, it
is difficult to find the time to really dive into the vast amount of data I have on students to make
meaning of it, and use it to improve my instruction.
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Jennifer Beskow
Mojave High School

Part B.
1. Does the school and the district have a technology plan? Who creates the plan and how are
they related to each other? What are some of the items included in the technology plan?

Mojave has a technology plan that was developed by a committee that is supervised by the
assistant principle over technology. The plan is revisited each yeah making appropriate changes.
Some items include bring your own device, blended classrooms, use of Edmodo, etc.

2. How are decisions made as to which technologies should be purchased and where they should
be placed?

The purchasing of technologies depend on budget, need, and how it will work with current
infrastructure.

3. If a teacher would like a technology for their classroom, what is the process they must follow
to purchase it?

The teachers seeking technology must create a proposal to cost and benefits that is first presented
to the department chairperson administrative supervisor, then principal over budget. If the
benefits outweigh funding is available then it may be considered.

4.If a problem arises with technology in the classroom, who does the teacher turn to for support?
How long does it usually take to get the problem solves?

The teacher turns to the technology technician

5. What kind of professional development courses or workshops are available for teachers to
learn how to use hardware and software? How often are they offered to teachers?

CCSD offers professional development for programs teachers are required to use such as infinite
campus. New programs purchased on the school site utilizes a trainer of trainer approach.

6. Is there a technology committee active in the school? What input does it have on technology
decision-making?

See question 1

7. Are there any events or activities that involve the community with the schools technology?

Open House
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8. What are the schools best features related to technology learning? What is the schools
greatest problem or challenge?

Best features- teachers interest willingness to use technology and blended learning approaches.
Greatest challenge - computer lab and infrastructure not always working.

9. Do you feel that a digital divide exists among schools in the district?

No

10. How can the schools and teachers ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to learn
how to use the computers while enrolled in school?

By requiring students to use technology that are expected and structured by teacher in the
classroom. The school has an obligation to provide the technology and the access.

8. How many years have you been working at Mojave High School? I have been working here

for 2 years

9. Do you love your job? Yes, I love my job

10. Does Technology make thing easier for both teachers and admin? Yes
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MIDTERM PART 1

Application Web Address Grade How is it used in

the lesson plan

Word Processing http:// Grades 3-5 Students can

www.educationworl and 6-8 brainstor, by listing,
d.com/a_lesson/02/ typing, saving and
lp285-03.shtml printing.

Spreadsheets http:// Grades 6-12 Students learn the

lessonplanspage.co probability by
m/ tossing a coin or
MathCIProbSpreads die and then create
heets6HS.htm/ a spreadsheet and
then graph for a
visual reference

Presentation http:// Grades 1-5 Uses powerpoint

Software presentationsoft.ab presentation to
out.com/od/ show children how
powerpointlessonpl to multiply, add,
ans/ig/PowerPoint- subtract, and
Math-Lessons/ divide.
2xtable.htm#step-
heading