Meeting agenda items
Charlene asked that all PowerRangers please check the “Official PowerRanger Home page” (link from the Staff Development web page) for information about the monthly PowerRanger meetings. Meeting agendas, dates and “minutes” are posted there. The agenda also includes a link to the lunch survey where PowerRangers are asked to indicate the lunch period attending, as well as their preference for pizza and soda. This feedback is an important component to the monthly luncheon planning, and will continue to be used throughout the year!
1. Best practices/integrating
technology
During each lunch period,“Veteran” PowerRangers shared examples of how technology is being integrated into the curriculum.
PERIOD 4 ... Michelle LaCognata
Michelle shared how she uses her webpage to leave more class time for instruction and to help with parent concerns. She demonstrated the links to her assignment pages, grades on the web and resources links. Michelle stated, “Since I post my grades online, I don't have to waste class time going over grades. I also post my weekly syllabus so both students and parents have an idea of what is going on in class. Websites are also useful for online activities and links to primary sources. Webpages can be an effective tool in the classroom.”
PERIOD 5 ... Andrew Conneen
Andy’s presentation included a brief demonstration on how he uses the ProQuest and EBSCO host databases, which are accessed from the Library home page. He also showed his current webpage and how he is modeling this on “Steve Armstrong’s exquisite site.” Lastly, he demonstrated a PowerPoint presentation he uses when teaching about political conventions. Andy had attended the Republican convention and used the digital camera to capture photos of some famous folks, with him in the picture as well!
PERIOD 6 ... Tom Loew
Tom demonstrated how students access the heart of the health curriculum which is provided online, since the web can connect students with current research and information. By the time textbooks hit the students desk, they are often outdated. He navigated through the health resource webpage identifying the six units of study and how each unit has supportive material under the categories of homework questions, unit outlines, project guidelines and grading rubric, and lesson slideshow presentations.
All the Health teachers use www.schoolnotes.com to post homework and test due dates, as well as post personal remarks about class lessons and project expectations. The health team collaborates very closely by email and by using a shared folder for classroom presentations or projects. Currently, Tom is working on a “Stevenson High School Youth Risk Behavior” web-based survey which will help teachers update curriculum specifically to the student needs and areas of concern, weakness or indicated lack of knowledge base (http://www.addaform.com/c/@DgHG.HkzU1xZ./Forms/1203eGWu/1203eGWu.html)
Tom also presented the dilemma that by having the entire curriculum online, it becomes easier for a student to find an answer, copy and paste it, and then print it out. This in itself is not bad, but the problem lies with students sharing their documents with others, who simply change fonts and submit the answers without having done the work. Other teachers presented possible solutions of how they address this issue, such as, by giving a quiz or test immediately after the collection of homework will show who has not done the work. Another solution presented was changing the grade balance of the homework value in contrast to the project and test/quiz value.
2. Norton Anti-Virus password fix
Charlene toured the room during the meetings and corrected the password access for Norton anti-virus so that PowerRangers can scan and repair their hard drives for viruses after each update. PowerRangers who still need the password fixed should see Charlene.
3. Concerns presented at
the last meeting.
Sam addressed some of the concerns presented at the September meeting.
4. PowerRanger Mentor Assignments/expectations
Mentors, mentees, partners and meeting facilitators were assigned in the beginning of October. Teachers serving as mentors are expected to contact their mentee on a weekly basis, and to set up some time for the mentee to observe their use of educational technology. Although many of the mentees have reported positive collaboration with their mentors, several Rangers stated their mentors have not yet contacted them. The mentoring of new Rangers is a critical component in the success of the PowerRanger program.
5. Closing
A teacher-created iMovie, “Teach Different,” was shown at the end of the meeting. A parody of the monster.com commercial, it is an interesting “look” at why teachers teach. The movie can be viewed on the web at: http://homepage.mac.com/lesleyu/iMovieTheater.html
* Next meeting: Friday, Nov. 30, periods 4, 5, & 6, in room
7096.
Special thanks to:
Michelle LaCognata, Andy Conneen, Tom Loew for sharing their "best
practices!"