Blog #6- Collaborative Technology

The website that I decided to select was the one that I was assigned in class, because I found it very interesting and something that is completely relevant to the changes in education as we move towards on emphasis on 21^st century skills.  The website was under the third link: Technology Information Center for Administrative Leadership. ‘A Collaborative School Embracing Digital Media’ was the article I selected.  First I want to give a brief overview of what the video included.  Landmark Elementary School, which is part of Pajaro Valley Unified School District, in Watsonville, California has made major strides for equipping the staff and students with the latest technological gadgets.  Under the direction of Principal Jennifer Wildman there has been a foundation of trust and collaboration built around digital media.  After years of raising money by fundraising events and working with the parents/community, Landmark Elementary School obtained $80,000.  The money was put towards building a computer lab with LCD Projectors, six Smart Boards, flip phones/digital cameras. 

The video focuses though on the flip cameras and the use of these phones (camera function) in the classrooms.  Providing staff and students with access to these technological tools, has enhanced both the teaching and learning at Landmark Elementary School.  The camera function on the Flip Phones is used in a variety of ways to improve the education at the school and has completely changed the teacher evaluation process.  Flip cameras allow teachers to go back and observe their own lessons, when in the past and in most schools, teachers never get to see their own lessons. It gives teachers an opportunity to critique their own lessons and self-evaluate which can be very helpful.  Another great function of the flip cameras is Peer Teacher evaluations.  Teachers meet after observations and provide feedback to one another on lessons (after watching observation videos), as well as give teachers the opportunity to see new practices, share ideas, and participate in quality data.  The evaluation process is cost-effective as well, because no substitutes are needed.  The teachers have bought into the new evaluation system and feedback has been extremely positive.  Most teachers have indicated that they have found the phones to be very helpful in their teaching process.

Students also benefit from the flip cameras, because they are able to see their own work/performance.  The students take a certain pride in knowing that their work is “published,” and is significant.  Another great thing about having the students see videos of classroom lessons, presentations, themselves, peers, etc. is that they can go back whenever they desire and see the video.  They can learn skills such as analyzing, critiquing, adjusting/revising, and computer functions that go with the videos.  It also enables the students as much time as they need to analyze their work, because of the pause and rewind features of the videos. 

I really enjoyed this video for many reasons.  I believe Principal Wildman, her staff, and the students are all benefiting from the flip cameras.  Both teachers and students are learning so much about themselves through this process.  Implementing technology into the classroom is imperative for all schools as we move on in the 21^st century, and this school has it right!  Principal Wildman had several thoughts that I loved, because of the simplicity and vision she has for the future of her school.  She said, “implementation is a process.”  She knows this is a marathon and not a sprint.  Capturing promising practices is so important and this school has that advantage through the technology they are using.  I also love how Principal Wildman talks about the fact that she encourages her staff to, “not be afraid of the technology,” but yet embrace it.  Trial and error, exploration, sharing strategies, collaboration of both staff and students are all ways Landmark School is trying to sustain technology.  Principal Wildman said herself on the video that she still has no idea on how to use the Smart Boards they have in the computer lab.  She says she understands that some teachers/students will be more tech savvy than others, but she does not want that to deter the members of her school from trying everything and working hard to obtain the skills to use the technology.  Constant collaboration of staff and students as well as building such a positive atmosphere in the school can only help this school move forward.  

“Let’s make our teachers better,” Principal Wildman stated towards the end of the video.  She said that all of these pieces of technology the school has acquired have been great, but the main focus is on making the teachers better.  Better teaching leads to more student learning.  This video related directly to many class discussions we have had, ideas in Bellanca and Brandt, and how I personally see schools moving forward.  Technology is no longer going to be a rare sight in a classroom, but yet be the driving force behind the classroom.  Why would we deny the technology, when our students are using it all day, everyday?  This video opened my eyes to ways to incorporate a few pieces of technology into productive lessons.  Teacher evaluation is changing as well, and this school highlighted great ways to evaluate teachers.  Many times there is little to no feedback after a lesson I get observed in.  If I had the opportunity to see my own lessons as well as see other teacher’s lessons, I could gain so much beneficial feedback. I work at the HS level, so if a school filled with children as young as the Kindergarten level can use technology to help their education, then anyone is capable of doing this!