Standard+III


 * Model Digital-Age Work and Learning **

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:
 * a. ** demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
 * b. ** collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation
 * c. ** communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats
 * d. ** model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning

I am continually seeking ways to expand my technology knowledge and skills and my integration of technology:

· professional memberships **I currently have Diigo and Delicious accounts which allow me to access other professional networks and receive weekly and monthly emails from their accounts. This keeps me up to date on the latest trends in education as well. **
 * 1. List in each category ways that you currently are working to increase your knowledge of technology:** ** · professional development trainings and courses **I have taken several courses and completed several different trainings that have increased my knowledge of technology. One of the courses I have taken taught me how to create and manage a classroom webpage. Our school district is also using Performance Tracker and as teachers in our district, we are being trained to use the program. I am currently enrolled and am working to obtain my Master's Degree from Wilson College in Curriculum and Instruction. In this program, there are many classes that are expanding our knowledge in all departments of education. One class specifically focused on the uses of technology in the classroom and expanded my knowledge of technology and its many uses. **

· professional reading **I have a Google Reader account which allows me to read many journal and news articles pertaining to education. I also receive educational magazines at home such as NEA Today that allows me to stay current on national trends. **

· participation in and use of blogs, wikis and other technology tools **I have and maintain a classroom website and blog that allows the family members of my students to stay up to date on what activities we are completing in class and what events are to come. Parents are able to use links posted on the classroom blog and website to visit some of the same website their child visited that day in school I have also used Trackstar and Photobucket in my lessons. Photobucket allows my students to upload pictures and images pertaining to our current lesson and Trackstar allows them to share with their families the pages we visited within the day's lesson.

**1a. List at least 2 actions that you could take to improve the above areas. **I would like to set up a classroom WinkSite. This site would allow parents to access our classroom blog and receive information on upcoming events all from their phone. With so many families and parents constantly on the go, I feel this would be very beneficial for them and for me as well. I would also like to incorporate the use of Trackstar into more of my lessons. My students really enjoy having the flexibility and freedom to visit the websites they want to visit and I have the comfort of mind to know that they are only visiting the sites that I have created a track for. Secondly, I would like to research the internet and find more credible educational journals and add them to my Google Reader account. The articles I have read thus far have been very beneficial and I enjoy taking the time to read them as they appear in my account. **. **


 * 2. List ways that you currently utilize or incorporate technology to communicate and collaborate with students, parents or community members. This may include but not be limited to use of any collaborative tools, parent portal tools, web pages, blogs, other web 2.0 tools, LMS, and videoconferencing tools. **I have a classroom website that I maintain. On this website, parents and family members can access our weekly newsletter, see what upcoming events are, find out information about book orders, and more. I also have started a classroom blog. This gives parents the chance to see what their child did that day in school. Some of the posts are about one subject such as science or math and some of the posts for the day may include a wealth of information.

<span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">I would like to make a better effort to update the classroom website on a weekly basis and update our classroom blog several times a week. This way parents can access either site and know that the information is up to date. I would also like to set up a screen cast to share with the parents of my class so that can see how to use and operate some of the tools their child is learning how to use in the classroom.
 * <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">2a. List at least 2 actions that you could take to improve the above areas. **

<span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">I have a Google Reader account with organizes all of my RSS feeds that I subscribe too. I create bookmarks and store websites that are my favorites and like to revisit. This allows me to easily access the sites without having to search the entire internet for them again. I also have Diigo and Delicous accounts that I use.
 * <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">3. List ways you currently organize electronic and digital resources. This could include RSS, social bookmarking sites, web evaluation tools. **

<span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">**3a. List at least 1 action you can take to improve the above area.** I would like to be able to use my Diigo and Delcious accounts more. I am networked with several other colleagues through these sites and would love to be able to share more of the information I find with them through these sites.

**<span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">4. Write an action plan summary statement that includes 1a, 2a. and 3a. Transfer this statement to your Action Plan page. ** <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">I think that in a time that has become so dependent on technology, its important to use it and use it correctly. By using it in small ways in my classroom and exposing my students to technology, they are beginning to see and understand the importance and value of it. Technology is a great communication tool and is accessible from pretty much anywhere. This makes it great for parents because no matter where they may be they can see what their child did that day or what they might be doing tomorrow. This being said means that I need to make the conscious effort to stay on top of updating my sites for the parents. I would also like to introduce other colleagues to Diigo and Delicious so that I can share all the great articles and information I am reading with them.