VISION STATEMENT

Engage, motivate and enthrall students in their learning

Ron Houtman

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY?

We use the word technology so much, I wanted

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/careerstart-grade8/5543

CURRICULUM. WHAT ARE STUDENTS LEARNING?

In the vision for my school, students would be learning a robust curriculum that would be integrated and supported through the use of technology. The technology would not be the end all but it would be the tool for collaboration, communication and discovery. What the students learn will be shared knowledge and they would be given the opportunity solve problems together with that knowledge. My school would have curriculum that is meaningful to real world systems and to the marketplace of today.

TEACHERS: WHO, WHAT, HOW?

In my school teachers would be valued as the experts and the life force of the building. With that honor they have the responsibility to make all decisions, teaching practices and planning with the success for all students in mind. The teachers in my school are highly qualified, but they are not the only educators. All staff right up to the custodial would have a role in being an active part in the students learning.

STUDENTS: WHERE, WHEN . WHAT?

The students in my school are young. They can be found in the school environment, but not confined to a desk. In fact, in my school there would be no individual desks, but there would be tables of various heights and shapes.. They would have access to a variety of current technology and their teachers would be well trained in that technology. My school would have traditional hours for elementary but not traditional time structured days. Learning would be in blocks and may be taught and guided by different teachers. Students would always be the focus of all school decisions and choices.

ASSESMENT

In my school we would follow the Common Core, of course, and use the Smarter Balanced Assessment along with various formative assessments along the way. As for the grades K-2, The assessments would be formative and developed by the teacher. Summative assessments at this stage of the game would be researched and designed by the grade level team teachers and should align in structure to the Smarter Balanced test.

TECHNOLOGY
In my school technology would be applied in the ways I just read about in an article by the University of Pittsburgh. It would be:

Aligned with classroom objectives, student needs and the skills of the
teachers.

Accessible to prepared students and teachers. Assessment, whether it be blogging, group work on google docs,
tweeting, test taking or creating.

Reinforcement Technology would be used to supplement and expand

upon teaching and learning not to replace or repeat learning.

http://www.cidde.pitt.edu/ta-handbook/teaching-technology-1

IN CONCLUSION