Field-based+Experiences+Reflections

=**Quick Tip Guide Reflection - Completion Date March 25, 2009**=

Creating a quick tip guide is more work than I imagined. Not the technical part but trying to figure out what needs to be put into the guide. I went with the premise that the person looking at it had no idea how to do anything technical. It help for me to use someone who had never used it as my guinea pig. I asked by daughter to access my account using my quick tip guide. I learned a lot from her lack of knowledge and it seemed to make a difference. The snip it tool is easy to use and pasting the pictures into a word document was easy. Of course now we have moved from First Class to outlook as our email program and we no longer have a secure place to put things such as this. But for a while, we had a great way to show a new teacher how to access rsccc grade book and attendance. I hate having to copy it on paper. I think I would like to do a how-to video next time.

=Testing Wiki - Completion Date April 13, 2009= I was recently introduced to Wiki's through my course work and found them to a great collaborative tool. It allowed me to create something that everyone could work on during their time. No longer did everyone have to be in a meeting to make plans for testing. This tool allowed all the principals at the various campuses to have input as the assistant superintendent created the document. I create the work space and everyone worked from the comfort of their own offices or from home. The fact that there were no rewrites or versions was a great change. The principals were very happy not to have to leave their campus to get the information. I also believe that the collaborative nature of the wiki creates a sense of "buy in" buy all the members of the group. I am very happy with the results and it looks like the power of the wiki is here to stay.

=Promethean Board Training Facilitation Reflection - Completion Date April 22, 2009= What a wonderful experience with the Promethean training. I had the opportunity to bring a new tool for learning to our campus. I had originally recommended the Smartboard but Tracy said that he had used Promethean at another district and found that, though the price was higher, the Promethean board and support was worth the extra cost. I went with his recommendation and ordered three boards for our 8th grade science classrooms. 8th grade science was under the gun to improve their performance on the TAKS and we wanted to give them every tool to be successful. The department head was enthusiastic because her husband has won a classroom set of the Promethean Learner Response System and she was eager to try them out.

The planning of the training was relatively easy with Tracy's, my supervisor, input. He had used them at his previous school and knew what questions to answer. Of course it helps that we schedule a rep. from the company to assist. I went on and downloaded the Active Inspire software that allows you to build lessons and use other teacher's lessons that are on the Promethean Planet site. I created a short lesson as a sample and found it was quite easy to complete. The fact that you do most of the work in powerpoint made it so. I created an agenda and scheduled the training after lunch. The training went well and the teachers were very excited. They really loved the LRS and now want a set for each room. Their hope is that it will get students more involved in the learning. One great part of the learner response system was that students can text their answer and not just pick from a multiple choice. One question I have is whether this will be a fad or be a great tool for learning. The key, I think, is to continue with the training and have teachers share their learning.