Read the three web pages for class 12 in Course Documents. Select one of these or one of your own that presents a serious ethical problem for the technology director. A serious ethical problem usually has consequences no matter how you decide to act. In three to five paragraphs, discuss as honestly as you can the ethical problem and the possible consequences.
In response to the tech director’s ethical dilemma:
The reading makes me think about how a teacher can be so much vulgar and ugly and how one organization like a high school in the US can not terminate her from teaching like moral job or imprison her. In my view, this teacher should immediately be terminated from the school and a tech coordinator’s duty to protect students and school environment, school technology at any cost. Ethical issues must be prioritized first.
As this teacher showed the kids how to bypass filter, she should be terminated from the school. As a tech coordinator, I think that it should be reported first to the higher authority, like school principle, superintendent, and administration. She may have a power to abuse technology like one higher authority of school district may have personal relationship. There are hidden corruption everywhere in the US society .Who knows that probably that person may relate to some political organization. Everybody may already aware of this issue, but due to possible bad consequence, this may be overlooked by others.
One of the biggest issues with ethics is loyalty. Now question is loyalty to whom? To the community or to the boss or authority. In most cases, every working person has bondage to the higher authority. Any public staff should keep safeguard confidential information, but should put loyalty on the public’s interest above personal and political loyalties. In perspective of fairness, dignity, respect, tech coordinator should make decision based on the merits of the issue, pay attention on policy, apply policy consistently. Policy should be reviewed periodically. In perspective of responsibility- as a public servant, a tech coordinator works for the community, take responsibility for his or her own actions, even when it is uncomfortable to do so.
He or she should involve all appropriate stakeholders in meeting affecting decisions, follow through on commitments, keep others informed all the incidents.
Therefore,as a Public servant and care-giver for students ,first step is to figure out what is right things to do which is sometimes difficult due to grey areas and ethical dilemmas. Second, what is the public’s perception of the right thing to do would be? Third, when needed balance the first two steps and follow the path that best serves public’s interest.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Thoughtful Problem #11
1. Busy administrators and lay people (non-technically trained) usually prefer to read a 1-page summary of a technology report. If they have a special reason or interest, they may read the entire document. Your goal is to get them to read at least the 1-page summary. Our Thoughtful Problems have been designed to train you in the preparation of a logically-organized 1-page statement or explanation.
2. Choose a technology topic that interests you. Imagine that your superintendent has requested a report from you on this topic. In 3-5 paragraphs write a clear explanatory report. The report may concern a proposal for a new project, a progress report on a problem like poor network bandwidth, or a status report on a project like a one-to-one computer implementation or technology staff development program. The emphasis in this Thoughtful Problem is the clarity, explanation and persuasion that may be necessary for the report to be effective. Keep in mind that the report may be given to each school board director or to newspaper and television reporters.
Response:A report on one to one computer implementation in a middle school.
This report conveys the impact of one to one computer implementation on the students. Reviewing Formative and summative revolution through qualitative and quantitative methods we got a clear evidence of this program. The goal of the program was the overall development in all subjects.
Different students and teachers survey results show that this program has had a substantial impact on their instruction. Students’ attitudes and perceptions has been changed after the laptop integration. Students are very excited and involved in study more than ever before. Survey results show that their writing skills have been developed and their technology skill has been developed undoubtedly. Teachers have developed technology skills after attending in workshops and through other professional development. Their teaching has been effective than ever before. Teachers’ reports show increase in students motivation, attendance and class participation, particularly for at risk students. Compared to previous grades in different subjects, after technology implementation and full fledged laptop utilization, students’ grades in all subject areas have been improved. Laptop initiative in grade 6-8 enhances students’ motivation, facilitates group work, helps to analyze data immediately during lab exercise, helps to conduct scientific investigation in the field rather than in the classroom. It inspires students’ creativity through projects and presentation. It is a shift to student centered classroom and develop a sustainable academic achievement. Therefore,it has a positive impact on students’ learning and achievements.
Drawbacks: Some teachers express that they need direct technical support for their laptops in a daily basis. Majority of teachers suggests that the lack of technical support on a regular basis really hinders the potentiality of laptops. Sometimes students’ misbehavior concerning misusing laptops is prohibited from the use of laptops and that affects students learning. Equity issue, possibilities of theft, vandalism and accidental damages are the greatest concern that should be taken care of. Added costs of hardware, network costs, technical support conditions and faculty training are the greatest obstacles.
As one to one Laptop program is new and in progress, equitable access, costs, security are challenging for this school. Narrowing Digital divide and digital disconnect are the solution for this problem. When student has high speed access to a digital assistant at school and at home, their research, writing, calculations, presentation, problem solving are likely to be better organized. Similarly,high quality professional development should get first priotity, it can develop world of possibilities for instruction and self guided learning. The bottomline is that even though the evaluation of this program conveys a positive impact on students' overall achievement, but still there is a lot of potentiality exists in this program regarding students' progress.
2. Choose a technology topic that interests you. Imagine that your superintendent has requested a report from you on this topic. In 3-5 paragraphs write a clear explanatory report. The report may concern a proposal for a new project, a progress report on a problem like poor network bandwidth, or a status report on a project like a one-to-one computer implementation or technology staff development program. The emphasis in this Thoughtful Problem is the clarity, explanation and persuasion that may be necessary for the report to be effective. Keep in mind that the report may be given to each school board director or to newspaper and television reporters.
Response:A report on one to one computer implementation in a middle school.
This report conveys the impact of one to one computer implementation on the students. Reviewing Formative and summative revolution through qualitative and quantitative methods we got a clear evidence of this program. The goal of the program was the overall development in all subjects.
Different students and teachers survey results show that this program has had a substantial impact on their instruction. Students’ attitudes and perceptions has been changed after the laptop integration. Students are very excited and involved in study more than ever before. Survey results show that their writing skills have been developed and their technology skill has been developed undoubtedly. Teachers have developed technology skills after attending in workshops and through other professional development. Their teaching has been effective than ever before. Teachers’ reports show increase in students motivation, attendance and class participation, particularly for at risk students. Compared to previous grades in different subjects, after technology implementation and full fledged laptop utilization, students’ grades in all subject areas have been improved. Laptop initiative in grade 6-8 enhances students’ motivation, facilitates group work, helps to analyze data immediately during lab exercise, helps to conduct scientific investigation in the field rather than in the classroom. It inspires students’ creativity through projects and presentation. It is a shift to student centered classroom and develop a sustainable academic achievement. Therefore,it has a positive impact on students’ learning and achievements.
Drawbacks: Some teachers express that they need direct technical support for their laptops in a daily basis. Majority of teachers suggests that the lack of technical support on a regular basis really hinders the potentiality of laptops. Sometimes students’ misbehavior concerning misusing laptops is prohibited from the use of laptops and that affects students learning. Equity issue, possibilities of theft, vandalism and accidental damages are the greatest concern that should be taken care of. Added costs of hardware, network costs, technical support conditions and faculty training are the greatest obstacles.
As one to one Laptop program is new and in progress, equitable access, costs, security are challenging for this school. Narrowing Digital divide and digital disconnect are the solution for this problem. When student has high speed access to a digital assistant at school and at home, their research, writing, calculations, presentation, problem solving are likely to be better organized. Similarly,high quality professional development should get first priotity, it can develop world of possibilities for instruction and self guided learning. The bottomline is that even though the evaluation of this program conveys a positive impact on students' overall achievement, but still there is a lot of potentiality exists in this program regarding students' progress.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Wiki book writing
As I mentioned earlier, I tried to improve the first section of purchasing as well as receiving section by writing and specifying in more detail. I included flow charts in both sections, "researching technology purchasing" and "receiving" section, because those flow charts gives any lay person an idea about whole purchasing process of a school district.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Wiki book updates
As I started "Researching Technology purchases" section first, I am now trying to finish this section perfectly. I edited a few part and included some in there. I touched just to the point, but now I think I should write it little elaborately. However, I am focusing on this section as well as "Receiving" section and will try to do my best.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Wiki book update
This week I did research about receiving technology. I found one Website about Inventory management software and I included the URL in our Wikibook. I am still thinking about what I can add in our Purchaising section.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Thoughtful Problem #9
You are asked to prepare a proposal for a Classrooms for the Future grant to provide laptop computers for each student in every high school Math, Science, Social Studies and English class. Your district administration wants this grant so that it doesn't have to purchase new computers with its own money and so that the district will appear to be progressive and competent. The administration sees this as a technology project rather than an education project. The state grant, however, requires that you develop clear educational goals, a reasonable implementation plan, and an effective evaluation plan for the project. In three-to-five paragraphs describe:
1. The educational goals of the project, how they were chosen and why they are important.
2. An implementation plan of how the teachers will be trained and how the laptops will be phased into the classrooms over months or years.
3. An evaluation plan that includes both formative and summative evaluation of the project to determine how well it has met its educational goals (with an appropriate rubric, if possible).
Response: The educational goals of the project: Goal of the classroom for the future falls into two categories: Educational and Technological. In terms of educational impact, how technology enhance teaching and learning.process.
1. First we have to understand the unique needs of high school students and understand the positive impact of these technologies. In today’s society every student need 21 century skills- the interaction, collaboration skill, higher order thinking skill, technology skill and leadership skill. Laptops for every students can provide that skills, so that they can attend in collaborative group project, hands on activities to grasp science concept and mathematical concept, video making, podcast making for language class, visual representation for social studies and science class.
2. It develops sustainable learning when students can connect their study with real world scenario.
3. It can improve their overall academic standard.
Implementation plan: If it is a 3 year plan, then planning will be set in this way- First year for 12 grade, 2nd year for 11 th grade and last year for 9th and 10th grade students. Laptops are only one device, but it needs so many supports or accessories like instructional software, its applications, network infrastructure, ongoing and significant Professional development, classroom management, security. Therefore,Implementation includes Infrastructure planning, PD, Help desk support, maintenance.
Laptop means wireless connectivity and mobility, building infrastructure, staffing, ongoing funding for implementation. All stakeholders must involve in the implementation. An customizable computing environment must have that connects students, teachers, staff and parents.
Professional development for teachers is necessary . During summer time of the first year, an workshop can be arranged for most interested teachers . In the same time of the following years PD can be arranged for other teachers. Online PD can be arranged for some interested teachers who own a personal computer with high speed Internet connection. Through ongoing mentoring and workshops professional development will be effective. During school hours, during off periods ongoing training can be arranged for a short while.
Evaluation: The study will help to determine what impacts computers are having upon learning and will document how and when laptops are being used.
Formative assessment : It means ongoing assessment throughout the years. During implementation stage, students and teachers can fill up a form of self evaluation periodically. Comparison of periodical class test , students’ grade also show an impact of technology in education.
Summative assessment: It means at the end of the implementation, overall student’ impact on technology. Standardized tests reveal mostly students’ achievement or development by applying technology in their education. We can also evaluate technological impact on learning through classroom activities as well as the study of data collection from the questionnaire and interviews, students’ records and product records.
1. The educational goals of the project, how they were chosen and why they are important.
2. An implementation plan of how the teachers will be trained and how the laptops will be phased into the classrooms over months or years.
3. An evaluation plan that includes both formative and summative evaluation of the project to determine how well it has met its educational goals (with an appropriate rubric, if possible).
Response: The educational goals of the project: Goal of the classroom for the future falls into two categories: Educational and Technological. In terms of educational impact, how technology enhance teaching and learning.process.
1. First we have to understand the unique needs of high school students and understand the positive impact of these technologies. In today’s society every student need 21 century skills- the interaction, collaboration skill, higher order thinking skill, technology skill and leadership skill. Laptops for every students can provide that skills, so that they can attend in collaborative group project, hands on activities to grasp science concept and mathematical concept, video making, podcast making for language class, visual representation for social studies and science class.
2. It develops sustainable learning when students can connect their study with real world scenario.
3. It can improve their overall academic standard.
Implementation plan: If it is a 3 year plan, then planning will be set in this way- First year for 12 grade, 2nd year for 11 th grade and last year for 9th and 10th grade students. Laptops are only one device, but it needs so many supports or accessories like instructional software, its applications, network infrastructure, ongoing and significant Professional development, classroom management, security. Therefore,Implementation includes Infrastructure planning, PD, Help desk support, maintenance.
Laptop means wireless connectivity and mobility, building infrastructure, staffing, ongoing funding for implementation. All stakeholders must involve in the implementation. An customizable computing environment must have that connects students, teachers, staff and parents.
Professional development for teachers is necessary . During summer time of the first year, an workshop can be arranged for most interested teachers . In the same time of the following years PD can be arranged for other teachers. Online PD can be arranged for some interested teachers who own a personal computer with high speed Internet connection. Through ongoing mentoring and workshops professional development will be effective. During school hours, during off periods ongoing training can be arranged for a short while.
Evaluation: The study will help to determine what impacts computers are having upon learning and will document how and when laptops are being used.
Formative assessment : It means ongoing assessment throughout the years. During implementation stage, students and teachers can fill up a form of self evaluation periodically. Comparison of periodical class test , students’ grade also show an impact of technology in education.
Summative assessment: It means at the end of the implementation, overall student’ impact on technology. Standardized tests reveal mostly students’ achievement or development by applying technology in their education. We can also evaluate technological impact on learning through classroom activities as well as the study of data collection from the questionnaire and interviews, students’ records and product records.
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