Please reply to discussion #1 and discussion # 2. Each reply should be 200 words and one reference each reply
To begin supporting the Deep Creek High School principal and technology integration specialist (TIS) with efficiently transitioning the teachers at their school into leveraging instructional technology and strategies to increase student engagement in the classroom, I will first conduct a survey of the teachers on their use and perception of current instructional technology in the building. This will fulfill NELP 1.0 as I collaborate with the principal and TIS to design and implement a process for ongoing improvement that will involve data usage and technology.
Initially, I will gauge the number of teachers who are using the instructional technology that they have access to which is provided by the school district. I will ask questions through a Google Form to ascertain how they are using the technology, what their current skill level is in using the technology, and how important they view the technology that they can access daily. The instructional technology in this survey will focus mostly on the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) and Boxlight interactive panels, which is a main concern for the principal. I will also compare the data from this survey with the usage data from Canvas Admin Analytics to identify similarities and differences.
Another area of focus will include NELP 4.0 for learning and instruction. I will fulfill this requirement by piloting a Mastery Connect Champions Team at Deep Creek High School. This team will be dedicated to spearheading the use of Mastery Connect for assessments which will provide data on student mastery. This program, available through Canvas, will allow teachers to receive immediate data that will aid them in providing timely intervention and support to students who may perform at lower achievement levels. Feedback from this team on the function of Mastery Connect will be vital in convincing other teachers to utilize it as well for their assessments and to assist students.
As I progress towards the project’s completion, I have already met with the principal and gave her a layout of the plan for this semester. I am awaiting feedback from her and will meet with her this week to determine more details concerning the project’s implementation. We will be discussing the distribution of the teacher survey and the involvement of the TIS in the implementation as well. The principal is extremely appreciative and open to any ideas I have on improving the overall student engagement at her school. I am very grateful to have a mentor who is welcoming and willing to be innovative to attempt to solve the issues that she knows directly impact student learning.
Discussion # 2
For Competency C I have multiple tasks planned for my school. One thing I plan on submitting will be communications regarding the school science fair. Communication was done in both English and Spanish as a way to increase parental and community involvement in the fair. The communications serve as evidence in multiple ways. First, they show evidence of the science fair and how it was planned. The fair was completed in an effort to increase parental and community involvement and showcase student success in science classes. Additionally, the communications show cultural awareness. A majority of the school’s parents speak primarily Spanish. Having communications in both languages ensures a majority of parents are not left out of events. Another thing I plan to submit is a rewritten schedule of advisory coverage. Once every two weeks teams of teachers are supposed to get coverage from specials teachers so they can meet for team planning. However, there is currently a vacancy in the department which creates challenges with the schedule. Teachers who are supposed to get coverage from the vacant position have to call the office and wait for someone else to be sent to their room. This causes time to be lost during team meetings and makes the meeting time less effective. The school is being rewritten to remove the vacancy position from the rotation and ensure all staff get adequate time for team meetings.
For my accountability project, I am looking at discipline within our middle school population. The 7th grade class has almost double as many office referrals as any other grade. I am hoping to get a better picture of why that is and how procedures can be adjusted to minimize the need for office referrals. I am facing challenges with time. Currently our school has staffing shortages and a lack of substitute teachers. As a result, every time I plan to meet with my mentor to discuss the project I am pulled to cover a class. Additionally, we are currently on our winter break. I am not able to access discipline data while not on campus so I am struggling at the moment with moving forward. So far I have identified stakeholders to interview and reached out to see if they would be willing to take part. I am hoping to complete those interviews when we return to school next week.