It has been six years since I have graduated with my bachelors degree in special education from UW-Oshkosh. I kept telling myself I would like to work towards my masters someday, but never really knew what I wanted to go for. During the past year, I have spoken to a few people who have received their master degrees online and I thought that was an interesting way of going about it. Although those people didn't do their work through Cardinal Stritch, they did give me the idea of doing a program like this one I am currently in. I did a lot of research to finally decide to go with Stritch. I really wanted a program I felt would be able to benefit me now and in the future.
I currently am a high school learning disabilites teacher and I have been working at my current building for five years. It has amazed me how much technology has been added since I came to Appleton West High School. When I think back to my first year at West, Interwrite and Smart Boards were not in any rooms. Computer projectors were also non-existent. If you visit my school today, they are in practically every classroom. Our school has recently been wired for school wide wi-fi. This exciting new addition has made it possible for staff and students to bring any wi-fi device to school to use as a working tool. After attending class Tuesday, I am excited to see where this program takes me. In these short few days I have encountered things I have never used before such as Google Docs and Illuminate. I already can tell there will be many practical tools that I will get from this class and use in my ever changing school. Here's to keeping up with students.... let the journey begin!
Bill,
ReplyDeleteI am curious about how your district has done since adding wi-fi access to everyone? We have wi-fi capabilities here, but our computer tech does not allow the password to be distributed. Have you had an increase in network violations? Do you find it more difficult to track what students are doing? I would love to hear how it is going in your school!
I remember sitting down at a district in-service and them telling us there is a new "thing" we are going to try. This new thing was e-mail. I remember laughing with my friend say "who would ever use this?" Little did we know that technology would completely take over every aspect of our classrooms and lives? It will be exciting to see where this class take us, and in turn where we will be able to take our students. Is there one aspect you are most looking forward to learning? How tech. savvy are your students?
ReplyDeleteEmily, we just got this installed this school year and so far it seems to be working well. The WiFi just basically allows you to log into the school network as you would any other computer in the school. The user names and passwords are the same for wifi or for wired computers. Because the students can only use their student accounts, we can still track what they are doing on the network. They can go on during class, but we set rules to when they are allowed to go on and what they are allowed to be doing on the network during classtime.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I am really looking forward to more interactive technologies I can use with students and the time when all the students are provided with a device they can use to do their work. I trully feel that will happen, even though it costs money. I teach learning disabled students and there really is a wide range to their capabilities with technology. Most can do basic things, though many can't do as much as their peers because they lack the technology at home.
Like yourself Bill, I have put off my master's degree for far too long. This is my fourth year as an educator, and when I saw an opprotunity to get my degree in technology, it just seemed pertinent. I think it's awesome how your school has incorporated technology, and would like to talk with you sometime about how you use your SmartBoard with your math lessons.
ReplyDeleteHi Bill,
ReplyDeleteLike your school are school has been adding technology. Last year we went WiFi at school. This year our district has done a "refresh" program, which means the district doesn't own any computers but rather leases them. The benefit is that all teachers have the same brand new laptop, and every school has brand new desktops for students to use. As always with technology, there are many glitches but we are all excited. As new technology comes into our building, Smartboards, ELMO's, Senteos, etc. I'm not sure who is more excited - the students or the staff. It's been nice working with you.
Tammy
I think that it is exciting that your school is embracing wireless and allowing devices to be brought in to use it. What (if any) restrictions are placed on the devices?
ReplyDelete