EDLD 5398ET (5370) - Week 1 Web Conference Reflection

Week 1 Web Conference Reflection

I finally reached the finish line of my last coursework at Lamar University's Master's in Education Technology Program; I found this program informational and educational. The education technology program was very different from the world that I am use to; which is business. These two worlds really collide in so many different aspects as to how we handle external customers - business customers and parents or legal guardians. It’s unfortunately, that I missed the first schedule conference on January 22, 2012; however, I had the opportunity to revisit the chat log transcript. In reading the students’ responses, I found that there were a lot of questions about the internship course in general. To add, I had a lot of questions as well but plan on making every effort in completing week 1 tasks.

Conversely, the ETL program has afforded me with the experience to use my classroom experience and incorporate it in my current job role as a corporate educator. In addition, I have learned so much since beginning the program in providing lecturer content information that is an ease for the learner to understand the material. The program has taught me how to bring a learning curriculum to life that will hold my audience attention and communicate without using face – to – face lectures but also audio lectures. Indeed, teaching and learning in an environment that can be facilitated through multi-media tools which requires course redesign and communication. I have really enjoyed being the ETL program at Lamar University.

EDLD 5398ET (5370) Educational Technology Leadership Internship

Comprehensive Exam

Submitted by

Charolette Brown

Lamar University

EDLD 5398ET (5370)

Internship in Educational Technology Leadership

Online learning provides a comfortable setting environment for interactive learning group’s social setting, and structure for ease of learning. I started my first online learning in 2008, when I first entered in the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program at Keller Graduate School of Management. After successfully completing my (MBA) online; I then thought about different methods in applying business analysis in an effort to incorporate and apply what I learned to my current role as a Corporate educator and Auditor. The business analogy applied showed different metrics systems in reporting business recommendation and solutions; which are a great tool in demonstrating what is working and what is not. This reporting system was clearly not enough to represent my research and findings. The problematic areas of my reports led to my journey in education. I researched many programs in hopes of finding the right program that would fit my area concentration in education.

In preparation in finding an education program to fit in my world of business but also captivate my interest in meshing business with education; this led to my journey in educational technology leadership at Lamar University in Beaumont (online). I first contacted an academic advisor about the program and was ensured that ETL program would be a great fit. Moving ahead, I started my first class May of 2010. According to Garrison, Anderson, and Archer (2001), the only thing that changes in an online learning environment is the channel across which learners communicate, not the social information processing mechanism that students use to make sense of the social environment. After moving through the channels of the program, I found myself paralyzed with the course curriculum assignments. The program is solely designed for educators who are teaching K-12 grade levels. This was an indication that the program might not be a great fit. I soon realized that maybe this is something that I can pursue outside of business.

While in the trenches of my assignments, and was clearly oblivious of; I had to buckle down on my coursework and look for guidance about the course through contact with my instructors and Cohort team. I found myself intricate in the program in understanding the day-to-day operations of school administrators, teachers, students, parents, and principles. In lieu of completing the course program; the program has afforded me the opportunity to share my knowledge and apply what I have learned throughout the 18 months. I more than delighted to report that I have received the best education possible from the ETL program. Last month, I was offered a position as a part-time online instructor at the Bachelor’s level.


Position and Leadership Goals

This position and leadership goal statements will provide an overview of my experience while in the internship program as it relates to Lamar University Educational Technology Leadership Master’s Program. I invite you to read about my personal and leadership goals as they are simultaneously applied today. I am currently employed as a part-time Online Adjunct instructor at Ultimate Medical Academy. I have been employed with this institution for approximately thirteen months. In addition to online teaching; I am a five year veteran at Humana, Inc., whereby in my current position, I am a medical coder, auditing, and educator.

Throughout the years of teaching whether its business or teaching related, I have always been involved in an educational forum in a group setting and online environment. Needless to say, I have always dedicated my time with helping others in a learning community. I would like to continue my position goal as an online instructor in facilitating an online classroom environment.

Over the past thirteen months, I have had the greatest opportunity in connecting with students in a collaborative learning environment. I would like to be in a position that will allow me the opportunity to teach effectively online, and allow students the same learning experience as in the traditional classroom. A primary characteristic that sets successful distance learners apart from their classroom-based counterparts is their autonomy (Keegan, 1996) and greater student responsibility (Wedemeyer, 1981).

In setting goals to become successful in leading a classroom; I would like to explore various opportunities in becoming a Program Dean of College. I know with my expertise in business and education will pave the way in leading a distance education program. Since the break of advance multimedia, technology has played a key role in changing the dynamics in online learning and distance education. The information between learners and content is the core of education. According to John Dewey, education occurs when individuals interact with their learning environment. As a role of a leader, I plan to help learners and educators by providing both with a basic foundation of knowledge and encourage learners to develop and use higher-order thinking skills to understand the information and assess new knowledge.


Reference

Garrison, D.R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2001). Critical Thinking, cognitive pressure, and computer conferencing in distance education. American Journal of Distance Education 15(1), 29-47

Keegan, D. (1996). Foundation of distance education. London: Rutledge

Munoz, M.D., & Munoz, M.A. (1998), John Dewey on Democracy, Education, Experience, and Communication. Implications for Adult Education in Developing Democratic Organizations.

Wedemeyer, C.A. (1981). Learning at the back door: Reflections on non-traditional learning in the lifespan. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press

EDLD 5363 Multimedia and Video Technology - Public Service Announcement (PSA) Post Production on Cyberbulling

Final Team Project – Public Service Announcement (PSA) Post Production on Cyberbulling – Stop the Madness



In week 5 we concentrated on putting the final pieces of our public service announcement together with team members. I personally, enjoyed working with my team-members Shanna James, and Flora Smith. Both Shanna and Flora brought together their real-world experience working with trouble youths and youths who had actually been a victim to Cyberbullying. We all shared our own individual and personal techniques and experiences to the final touches of the project.

Although, my background is a lot different than my Cohorts, I have learned that no matter what background you might come from a team of individuals are the most valuable factor in contributing toward achieving excellence and quality to a team. I have learned that we all have a set knowledge and a degree of intelligence to work together and produce a great production.

EDLD 5363 Multimedia and Video Technology: Reflection 2

Week 2:  Reflection

Due to innovation in education; our week 2 course assignment focused on using free Web 2.0 tools to teach, and communicate to students and other educators’.  We are encouraged to use such instructional technologies such as podcasting on our wiki and blog sites.  In this particular project, it will teach us on how to implement instructional technology skills to help ETL students on implementing podcasting as a core assignment by using video editing software and desktop publishing as part of our professional development and creating our own material and publishing the material by using YouTube, Creative Commons or other free websites.  As we complete our week 2 assignments, we would have experienced a new learning skill as a group through the art of developing digital media that we can use in the classroom for our students, and engaged our students with a set of tools that are highly proactive in our learning environment; and as educators we can become confident in our own teaching and developmental processes. 

EDLD 5363: Reflection - Digital Storytelling: For a Better Life

EDLD 5363 Multimedia and Video Technology

Reflection – Digital Storytelling:  For a Better Life

Creating my digital story was new but an exciting experience.  I never realized how images could bring back to life some of your deep rooted secrets about yourself and how to find your true passion in life.  My digital story did that for me.  In using the concepts from the author Joe Lambert’s “Cookbook for Digital Storytelling, I was able to recapture a past experience that had reshaped my life through the art of giving.  In reading the Cookbook for Digital Storytelling, I learned some of the most important aspects of digital storytelling.  Through the reading, I was able to vividly create a day in my life that has changed me forever.  The cookbook helped me put together scattered pieces about my story to make it a complete picture of my own experience.  Connecting stories with images helped me to expand my knowledge; and also helped me understand that communication does not always have to come from spoken words.  Communication is main-stream, it is how we can illuminate our thoughts and embed our thoughts through audio and images.  My journey to reflect back on some of my past experiences and bring some of those experiences to life in a two-minute clip was experimental.  My experience with this project has opened the gates to become open-minded in cognitive learning, social learning as well as reflective learning. 

EDLD 5344: School Law - Week 5: Reflection

Week 5: Reflection

Reflection

Throughout this course we have discussed a number of legal issues facing today’s public-school educators. For your final assignment, you will select three legal issues that you feel will be most relevant to you as a school administrator. One of these issues will focus on student management; a second on personnel management. The third can relate to any topic we’ve covered in the course. By giving your responses to the questions that follow, you will 1) record what you have learned in this course, 2) reflect on its significance in your professional life, and 3) develop a plan to further increase your knowledge and skills.

Follow These Steps

1.  Reflect upon what you have learned about law and public education.

2.  Use the guiding questions in each section to stimulate your thinking as you write three
150-word essays. The questions are meant to guide you, but you may not necessarily provide specific answers to all of them.

3.  Write reflectively instead of in “question and answer” style, and feel free to add any
related thoughts that go beyond the scope of the writing guidelines.

4.  Use formal writing style and cite Essential Readings and court decisions that support
your ideas.

5.  Submit your three completed essays by the end of Week 5.

Rubric

Use this rubric to guide your work.

Week 5: Reflection	Accomplished	Proficient	Needs Improvement	Unacceptable
Reflection	Completes all 3 essays of the reflection assignment using the minimum 150-words requirement (8 points)	Completes 2 essays of the reflection assignment (5 points)	Completes 1 essay of the reflection assignment (3 points)	Did not submit reflection assignment (0 points)
Mechanics	No mechanical writing errors (2 points)	One to four mechanical writing errors (1 point)		More than five mechanical writing errors (0 points)

Essay 1: Student Management

Respond to the questions in the red box. Your essay should:

·   Use citations from the research when applicable.

·   Use professional writing protocols.

·   Use professional language.

·  Which of the student-management issues discussed in this course is most relevant to you as a school administrator? ·  How have your views changed about the proper policies and procedures to employ regarding student management? ·  How will the knowledge gained on this topic help you become an effective school leader? ·  How will it help your staff and your students?

Type your essay in the space below.

Through the readings and lectures in this course, I learned that two of the hottest topics that face mid-level management are special education and student discipline.  This course has been instructed mental and beneficial to my learning growth in education.  In addition, I learned than an IEP may consist of a team of individuals who determines what a child needs should be, and the type of services the child may require.  Additionally, an IEP program must provide a written program curriculum designed specifically for the child’s developmental and learning growth.  The language of the plan must state what accommodations and modifications the child will need in preparation for the school year.  Now that I have briefly disclosed what I understand about the functions of an IEP; I would like to further expand my knowledge and give a brief overview of what I have recently learned about the IDEA.  

The Individualized with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) clearly defines the rights of students with disabilities to receive an education in the least restrictive manner.  In retrospect, the IDEA has paved the foundation and put a plan in action so that children with disabilities would not feel disconnected but feel that they are an integral part of the general education classroom settings as with other general education students. In support of the IDEA, I believe school administrators are pushing for the best possible education the school could offer each student in the learning environment.  For the most part, the IDEA allows for special accommodations and modifications for each student.  The special education should not be treated any differently than the general education students. 

In the case holding of Board of Education v. Rowley (1982), I believe that school administrators should become aware of the different components in the IEP plan and consequences for not following a student’s IEP.  After looking at the ARD’s video, the video demonstrated how it’s possible for a teacher failing to comply with a student IEP and the results of non-compliance.  The next area of concentration that I would like to hone in on, is student discipline on school campus.  In looking at the case holding of Goss v. Lopez (1975), a student must be afforded the right to due process in a case of suspension; which could be in the form of oral or written notice of the said charges.  As an educator knowing and understanding school and district law practices; and Federal and State law mandates, will afford administrators with the knowledge needed to make the right decisions when dealing with students and their rights.

 Essay 2: Personnel Management

Respond to the questions in the red box. Your essay should:

·   Use citations from the research when applicable.

·   Use professional writing protocols.

·   Use professional language.

·   What have you learned about teacher evaluation and remediation that you did not know before taking this class? ·   How will the information presented in this course help you become a better manager of your school employees? ·   What aspect of school personnel management do you feel you need to learn more about? ·   How do you plan to gain this knowledge?

Type your essay in the space below.

I really appreciate learning about the IEP, IDEA, and the various case laws associated with school law.  School law administrators must follow and adhere to Federal and State policies.  Additionally, I also learned that school administrators plays an integral part into eh overall environment of the school.  The administrators must focus on student discipline, supervision, and ensure that district polices are carried-out daily; in addition to State and Federal laws.  Administrators also need to become a support system, mentor, and coach to teachers on campus.  I also enjoyed learning the different facet of school law.  This course has made me more aware of the laws surrounding teacher’s contracts.  There are three types of contracts associated in the hiring of teachers.  One, a probationary contract is a one year contract that allows the school board to decline or renew for any discretion, or non-discriminatory reason.  In contrast, probationary teachers are not entitled to due process.  The Fourth Amendment guarantees teachers due process rights.  Second, in the scope of a term contract; a district must show just because for the reason of a teachers’ contract should not become renewed.  The third contract is the continuing contract.  The continuing contract simply states that the contract will become reinstated after the probationary period of the teacher is successfully complete three years of service.  Knowing these areas of discipline is important for all educators. 
 

Essay 3: Improving Professional Practice

Respond to the questions in the red box. Your essay should:

·   Use citations from the research when applicable.

·   Use professional writing protocols.

·   Use professional language.

·  Select another legal topic covered in this course that you feel affects you as a school leader. ·  What have you learned about this topic, and how will this new knowledge affect your decision-making as an administrator? ·  What professional development opportunities can you spearhead in your school to inform teachers about this issue?

Type your essay in the space below.

One particular topic that has always bothered me was the banning of prayer in public schools.  In the early 60’s everything changed when the Supreme Court handed down the ruling of Engel v. Vitale (1962), and in 1963 Abington v. Schempp.  These cases struck down the practice of prayer and Biblical readings in public schools.  As a youth in the 70’s, I can remember when we could no longer participate in group prayer when entering or exiting the school bus.  I was raised as a Christian, and exercising the right to pray in public is how I start and end my day.  School administrators should posse’s substantial discretion concerning the use of prayer being permitted.  The law implies that students may engage in prayer when not engaged in school activities.  This rule is enforced to prevent disruption of classroom learning activities.  Needless to say, I now feel more confident in understanding the concepts of school law.  Additionally, I found the course very informative and meaningful.  Educating teachers and administrators about school law will afford them the legal know how to apply these laws, and how to handle situations when arise on and off campus. 

The McKinney-Vento Act

EDLD 5344 School Law


Reflection: The McKinney-Vento Act

For starters, listening to the web-conference recording gave me an in-depth overview of what is known as the McKinney-Vento Act. Personally, I never heard of the act nor did I know that children who are labeled as homeless had such a great law enacted to help them in their education success. After listening to the web conference, and reading other resource material, I learned that the McKinney-Vento legislation requires all state and local educational agencies to design, develop, review, and revise their policies to remove barriers to the enrollment and retention in school of children and youth who are faced with homelessness. Certainly, this would include children and youth experiencing homelessness due to natural or other disasters cause. The development of such policy is critical for all schools to be in regulations and in compliant of the Act, resulting in the enrollment and attendance of homeless students in their schools’.

As with a business corporate disaster policy; implementation of a disasters school district policy are even more important. They provide schools with something that is tangible to uphold during confusion settings of an initial disaster response. If school and district personnel are familiar with McKinney-Vento policies and practices, the immediate school district response to a disaster will be more purposeful and appropriate. The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless students, as students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence are considered homeless under the law and are eligible for rendering services. Under the definition of the McKinney-Vento act, schools must know who and where students experiencing homelessness are in order to serve them. This requires knowledge of understanding how to apply the McKinney-Vento Act’s definition of homeless; and increasing awareness of homelessness and the McKinney-Vento Act in schools and the broader community, including disaster relief agencies.