Teacher Development Courses and the Internet in the Classroom

Central Office team at Wayne County Public Schools is always trying to create new courses for teachers in order to help us learn more about technology in the classroom. Hence, we may take as many courses as soon as  they are published on the Central Office Website. So, The first question is:
What is instructional Technology?
Then we are encouraged to take as many courses as possible either at the Technology Instruction Center or at School where a 10 or 30-hour course is offered periodically. In addition to these courses, we have to take technology courses at our school Media Center twice a month. Therefore, The following information is taken from Wayne County Website to show the process to get engaged in technology education that is going to be useful in the classroom in the long run.

" What is Instructional Technology?

Instructional technology is the use of technology to solve educational challenges, both in the classroom and in the distance learning environment.  The purpose of instructional technology is the promotion of learning through tools, environments and skills that can enhance the classroom curriculum.  Technology plays an essential role in the 21st Century goals and objectives of the state curriculum as seen in the graphic below.

* photo from http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/route21/

 

View the Wayne County Public Schools Technology Plan"

There is also a link on the left that is called:

Technology Professional Development 

In this link we find information about requirements for staff to  obtain credits in technology. Therefore, we are encouraged to visit:

" Staff Development Calendar " 

  and register in every course we want or need according to our school division. The following information is about the renewal credits and the link to see the calendar and select the corresponding courses as follows:

"Wayne County Public Schools still requires that all certified staff complete 30 contact hours or 3.0 technology renewal credits.  Technology P

ofessional Development courses have to be led by a qualified instructor, who has obtained prior approval on the course, and must consist of one of the following to count towards renewal credits:

• Hands-on learning of technology tools (hardware or software) such as Microsoft Office, Scholastic Keys, Internet research or other types of software based products that can be integrated into the classroom curriculum or used for administration purposes.  Also included would be scanners, digital cameras, camcorders, GPS systems, probeware and other technology based hardware.
• Courses that focus on the integration of technology tools into the core curriculum in order to enhance student learning and encourage use of 21st century skills.
• Anything not described in the first two instances must have prior approval for technology renewal credits before taking the course."

All courses offered by Wayne County Public Schools are based on standards, goals and objectives set forth in ISTE's NETS for Teachers and NETS for Administrators.

So, we can also see a calendar in which we register for the courses we are eager to take and the confirmation comes via e-mail. After taking every course, we are expected to use more technology in the classroom. Nevertheless, there are many "restrictions" in order to keep a safe syberspace at school. We cannot access any social network and most web pages have a denied access.

However, If we want to use any specific page for teaching purposes, we must apply a form in which explanation about teaching purposes are given and supported.
I do not know any teacher who has obtained a permission to use any of the block pages.
At the moment, all possible pages are under "The Media Center" link. 
Google is permitted and Google Docs as well because that is the one we are using at school. Students are using Google docs at school and home. Now they are able to send homework at a convenient time. 

We research on the web, and create presentations using computers in the library, or in the classroom with a mobile laptop unit. All thumb drives are scanned before we use them at any school computer. The only inconvenience is that we cannot show any posts from any social network for safety reasons. So, look at a video about Google docs, a course I already took at the County Technology Center of Instruction.


Now I am using it at school and every student as well. This is a new way to use the Internet in the classroom without problems with the risks of the most common social networks.