GOALS 2000 QUARTERLY REPORT
LEA: Jefferson County Project
Name: Project LA
Project Contact:
Connie Campbell Date of Report: June 18, 2002, Fourth Quarterly Report
Please answer the following
questions in as much detail as possible.
You may use attachments.
1. Using specifics compare your timeline and benchmarks in
the grant to what is actually occurring in your project.
Stated Timeline:
April-May 2002 Teachers will learn to use Word for student-created classroom
newsletters that will focus on cross-curriculum composition and Internet
resources to improve student communication skills. Participants will be asked
to complete an evaluation of the project.
Student progress will be evaluated through a comparison of Terra Nova
scores from the 2000 and 2001 school years.
What Occurred:
Project LA participants met
for their final meeting on April 12, 15, and 16. At this workshop teachers used Word to create
skill worksheets aimed at addressing language arts TerraNova objectives for
their grade level. These are posted at
the Project LA website. Participants
also learned to create classroom newsletters focusing on cross-curriculum
composition and Internet resources. Participants also completed a written
evaluation of the staff development project. These evaluations will be compiled in the
final report due August 15.
August-September 2002 An assessment of teacher objective mastery
performance will be determined using the TerraNova Teacher Objective
Performance Summary Reports.
TerraNova scores will be
received in a digital form on Wednesday, June 18, 2002. In August
these will be aggregated to determine participating teacher mastery
performance. At that time a report will
be created comparing the 2001 and 2002 scores focusing on student performance
improvement.
2. What progress have you made toward reaching the
objectives and goals that you set in your proposal?
Goals:
The teacher
will explore and identify learning and teaching styles that enhance the
environment of learning for all students. (Jefferson County Technology School Improvement Plan Goal)
The use of technology stimulated and addressed students’
individual learning styles as follows:
§
Addressed students’ individual learning styles
§
Provided a connection to all students through the use of the various
technologies available in my classroom
§
Generated more excitement in students about using technology than is
found when using textbooks
§
Located web
sites with online activities that have helped meet the needs of students
§
Enabled teachers to develop a teaching style that was more interactive
through the use of technology
§
Proved beneficial to the visual learners in my class
§
Allowed the
teacher to adjust evaluation activities for each student
§
Reached students
who do not generally perform well on paper
and pencil activities
§
Created active learners
§
Prevented students from feeling frustrated by either
waiting on others or being left behind
§
Motivated
students through the use of technology to learn anything as long as they are
able to incorporate it.
§
Allowed students an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge more
effectively through the use of technology.
3. What progress has been made toward the National Goal
or Goals as you presented in your proposal?
Teacher education and professional development (National
Goals)
In the final evaluations, participating teachers responded as follows:
§ I have definitely increased my
use of technology in the classroom. I
have received beneficial training on various aspects of technology. In addition to many websites, I have used the
following programs often: Orchard, Cornerstone, PowerPoint, and Skills
Connection. I particularly like the way
training was set up this year. Being
pulled out of the classroom for a day is more sensible than having training
after school.
§ I have used a lot of technology
in my classroom for several years, but this year I found so many new things to
do. I use the CPS at least once a week. I have also used several of the
PowerPoint presentations created during the project. I have also created more
PowerPoint presentations to use in my classroom. I make my own worksheets
rather than using published worksheets. Therefore I have been able to focus on
the skills my students need help with.
It has really been nice to be able to have the training during the
school day. After school workshops are very difficult. It is hard to be excited
about learning something new after a long work day.
§
Having the opportunity to come out of the classroom has been a wonderful
experience to encourage the use of technology in my classroom. It has been so beneficial to have an entire
day to work on projects with a fresh mind instead of a couple of hours after
the school day ends, when I am already tired.
§
My students and I use technology in the classroom daily. I have had technology training
bi-monthly. As a result of this training
I have been exposed to different methods and activities for using technology in
the classroom.
§
I have been able to incorporate a lot of technology into my instruction
this year. It has really helped to have
the opportunity to use a professional day for training. It is so much easier to spend a day in the
tech. center and learn about the uses of technology and the various ways I can
incorporate it into my class, rather than spending all day teaching, then
spending two or three hours after school doing training.
§
It has been a great advantage to be able to have time off from school to
come and have this training. When the
training is offered after school I am too tired to benefit too much from what
is being offered. I have obtained
additional pieces of technology through this grant and I have been able to do
extra projects with my class. The all
day sessions have been much more informative and beneficial as opposed to the
three hours we would receive after school.
§ As an educator, I have enhanced
my knowledge on how to use technology as a teaching tool to evaluate and
improve students learning. Increasing
the use of technology has also made language arts more meaningful and exciting
to the learner. I have had the
opportunity to receive several full-days of training; as a result, my use of
technology has improved. Most of the
time, teacher-training is done at the end of a working day, and training is not
as meaningful.
§
I have been able to use what I have made or learned in the daytime
workshops by having more time to learn about the CPS and Orchard Program. I have been able to use the programs
successfully and easily in my classroom because of having spent more time in
the workshops instead of just going to an after school class.
§ I have truly enjoyed the
opportunity to attend technology training at our technology center during
school hours. It is difficult for me to
attend classes held after school hours.
I have learned a great deal about the use of technology in the classroom
and have been happy to incorporate these ideas into my classroom. We have used the CPS, Orchard, and other
activities to help practice skills in a more enjoyable way.
§ My technology skills were
limited at best when we began this project but now I feel much more confident
in my ability to navigate through cyberspace and use it in ways that benefit my
classroom. I am so honored and grateful
to have had the opportunity to receive this training and experience. This is invaluable to me as an educator and
will only improve with time and more training.
In the past, I would never had thought of using the computer in my
classroom but it is becoming an integral part of everyday life for all of us,
young and old. The absolute best part of
this training for me as a teacher has been the opportunity to work on this
during a normal “business” day rather than being asked to do it in the summer
or after I have taught all day long. I
am better able to absorb all of the information when I am fresh and not going
in a million different directions. We
would not expect students to do this training at any other time either. The days that I have spent in training for
this have been very informative and enjoyable.
I would definitely like to do this again. It would benefit me and the children I will
teach in the future.
§
The technology training I have experienced during our Professional
Development days and release times has been invaluable. During these training
days I have been able to focus on the new training I have received and feel
prepared to take it back to the classroom. I am excited to say that technology
has become incorporated into my daily plans in the classroom instead of using
technology only as a small part of the classroom routine.
§
I have increased the use of technology as a result of my training this
year. I have been exposed to many technological activities and programs that I
did not know was available. This year I have added a Computer Center Time to my
classroom which allows my students to use computers a minimum of 30 minutes a
week.
§
I have increased the use of technology in my classroom with the Classroom
Performance System. I have also used
PowerPoint to teach and review many skills.
In addition, I appreciate having release days to participate in
training. It is so much easier to do
training during the school day than after school.
§
Although limited by the number of computers in my room, my technology use
this year increased greatly as we utilized the CPS system and the Orchard
Program for all students. Luckily, my county was willing to allow me several
day sessions at our Computer Technology Center where I was able to practice
and learn about the programs before using them with the students. This was
invaluable to me and helped me feel more confident and prepared to use the
resources.
- I have been using computers with my students
once a week for 30 minutes. This includes all my students through
the use of our computer lab. I also allow time for individual use of the
computers in my classroom. I,
myself, a teacher who was totally
computer illiterate, am now beginning to feel more relaxed and
confident about using computers with my students.
- I have increased the amount of time I use
computers in instruction. I have increased the variety of software that I
use. I especially appreciate my school system providing professional
inservice training for me. If they did not do this, I would not have
participated. One of the smartest things our school system did was to
implement the technology center. There are so many teachers in our
systems who do utilize the training offered by our tech center. Most of
these teachers would not have pushed themselves to become tech literate
had it not been for the leave provided to do this.
Improved student achievement
through the use of technology as a tool to enhance the curriculum.
In the final evaluations, participating teachers responded as follows:
- I have actually seen scores on certain skills
go up because of the use of technology in my classroom. I have been able to reach those
students who I thought I might not be able to reach. The majority of my students enjoy using
the computer, which helps me, as an educator, to keep them motivated.
- Students’ attitudes have changed a lot. They
enjoy using the CPS , PowerPoint and Orchards programs so much they don’t
consider learning to be work, it is more like play. They like this
approach to teaching much better than the book paper and pencil method.
- Students have taken a more involved attitude
towards their education since using technology. The programs have shown the students
where their strengths and weaknesses are and allowed them to practice on
their weaker skills to improve those skills and work their way up to
higher levels of achievement.
- I have seen student improvement on many skills
over time because of the use of technology in my classroom. After
teaching a lesson using technology I could tell a difference in student
understanding and level of interest in the subject. The introduction of a topic using
technology grabs the students’ attention because it is something new and
different. They want to see what
will happen next. I notice that I
can hold their attention longer with technology and therefore (in most
cases) they learn a skill that they would not have learned if I had
simply lectured on the subject.
- It has had a very positive affect on my
students’ achievement. It helps
them to have the extra practice that technology provides, so I think
technology is a very useful tool for the classroom.
- I think the technology has allowed the students
to have extra practice on topics we have been covering in class. Instead of just one or two hits on a
topic from the class lecture, they can explore the topics more using
technology. Whether it is an
educational game related to the topic or an Orchard test reviewing
particular skills, it provides more time on a topic and allows a student
more practice time on a topic at his or her own pace.
- The format for evaluation is similar to the
Terra Nova testing. The learner
becomes familiar to the format of the test through continual use of the
programs (CPS/ Orchard).
- I am anxious to see this year’s achievement
test scores. I feel that technology
has helped prepare students for these tests. Also, technology has improved
performance in the classroom.
- I feel that student achievement has increased
due to the additional practice provided to the students through the use
of technology. I feel that the use
of technology provides the students with an enjoyable way to learn and to
practice skills discussed in class.
The use of technology allows me as a teacher to provide my
students with enjoyable activities that help give them more of an incentive
to do their best and to better meet their individual learning needs.
- Children do not look at using the computer in
the same way as they do pencil and paper. . Most of them consider it a
challenge and an adventure to learn and test using technology. Therefore, their performances seem to
be better when I approach measuring their achievement using some form of
technology.
- The use of technology has had a very positive
affect on my students’ achievement.
Through the use of CPS I have been able to give the students
practice on the objectives which we are working on. Since the CPS is set up very similar to
the format for the Terra Nova I feel that this was a real advantage for
my students. My students really enjoyed having a break from pencil and
paper while getting invaluable practice.
- I feel that the use of technology has increased
my student achievement. Technology has offered ways to reinforce skills
in an exciting way. The students are motivated to participate in learning
in a way that is exciting for them.
- After quizzing students using the Classroom
Performance System I noticed my students performed much better on those
skills when they came up later in the year. PowerPoint has also helped to improve
student achievement. Students are
much more attentive when I use CPS and PowerPoint. Therefore, they perform better on these
tasks.
- The technology helped me pinpoint problem areas
in which the students were struggling. This allowed me to focus my
teaching on these areas to help the students learn skills missed in
previous grades and to build on these skills.
- I believe student achievement is increasing due
to the increased enthusiasm and high motivation I witness daily in my
students. Also, I am able to better assess individual levels of
achievement. Now I am able to concentrate on the skills students need the
most help with. I sincerely hope that our test scores, TCAP, will reflect
the improvements I have seen in the classroom instruction. The students
write better, edit better, and are more capable in finding their own
mistakes.
4. At this point, how is the Goals 2000 funding
positively affecting the education of the children in your county?
In
the final evaluations, participating teachers responded as follows:
- I have ultimately become a better trained teacher,
hence better educating my students.
I have been able to apply the things that I have learned in
training into my regular classroom, which has been beneficial to my
students and me.
- My students enjoy school so much more when we
use technology in our class. Students have started making PowerPoint
presentations. They take more pride in their work when they see it on the
monitor and they know other students are going to be looking at it. The
children in my class really have a positive attitude toward learning.
- Students have been very excited about the
various computer programs they have gotten to use this year. They always enjoy going to the
computers instead of sitting at their desks. The programs are so individualized to
each student’s abilities that everyone has had the opportunity to
succeed.
- Project LA has given me the resources and
knowledge to incorporate technology in my classroom effectively. The more technology I can expose my
students to the better off they will be.
With technology I am giving my students more educational
opportunities.
- The students love it! They enjoy especially using the CPS
system and the orchard programs. I
think it greatly enhances both student achievement and student
performance because if it is something that the kids think is fun and
exciting, they are more likely to have better scores. I can see that result with my
students. They never ask to do
assignments or stay in from playtime to do homework, but they always want
to work on orchard, and some of them don’t even have the option of
playing the little racing game.
They just enjoy the computer.
It makes them feel smarter I guess, that they can pass a test or a
practice exercise on the computer.
Plus, on their home work assignments, when they get an answer correct,
there’s no little message that pops up to say, “Good Job” or “Correct”
and on the computer programs that is encouraging to them and so they try
harder to get that message. It is
a reward for them. The class involvement on the power points also encourages
them to work harder.
- The students really enjoy using the Orchard
system. The reward game at the
end, if the are successful, is an added incentive they really enjoy. They really get excited about working
on it. I have seen improvements on
scores from the beginning of the year.
Tasks that they did not initially perform well on have
improved. The CPS has given them
and fun alternative way to review.
They enjoy practicing using this system and it helps them learn.
- The teacher is more knowledgeable on how to
enhance learning through the use of technology. As a result, the learner has
benefited. Every student has
become increased his/her performance.
- It has helped by allowing me to take useful
tools into the classroom to help me have activities to enhance my
lessons.
- Project LA has provided me with valuable
training and new ideas that I can incorporate into my classroom. I have found these new ideas to be
extremely helpful to me as a new teacher.
The ideas have led to new ways to teach my students and in their
increased participation and success.
- I think my class has felt special this year
because we have used this equipment.
Their enthusiasm is infectious.
We have had many exciting lessons and learning experiences because
of this project. To hear them tell
their friends about all of this on the playground and in the cafeteria
has been amazing. They thoroughly
enjoyed all aspects of the project.
- In many ways Project LA has positively affected
my classroom. My students ask
repeatedly to use CPS which allows us practice for Terra Nova. Students who did not seem interested in
reading suddenly were asking if they could work on the guided reading
section on Orchard. It was
exciting to see those low readers motivated to read. One of my students in particular who is
a resource child is improving remarkably in his reading. I was thrilled one day to witness him
searching for an answer to a comprehension question!
- Every aspect of Project LA was beneficial to my
students. They had fun while they were learning and begged to use the CPS
system and the Orchard Program daily. It helped me feel more comfortable
using technology in the classroom and it increased the skills of my
students.
- Project LA has positively affected my students
by initially increasing the amount of technology used in my
classroom. Project LA has also
allowed me to come in contact with alternative uses of technology in the
classroom. I have been able to use materials constructed by the participants
of Project
LA. and
share these materials with my coworkers.
- Project LA has equipped me with several new
teaching tools. The training, CPS,
and PowerPoint presentations have improved and enhanced my teaching. In addition, I have found many
educational websites that meet my curriculum needs. The Project LA training has increased
my skills and knowledge resulting in a positive impact on the education
of my students.
- I have seen more enthusiasm and a greater
enjoyment in practicing necessary language skills. Students demonstrate more confidence
not only with the computer skills but also with the language skills.
Students no longer dread language practice skills which are necessary,
but sometimes boring for students.
5. Describe some great happenings concerning your
project. Please send any articles or documentation to us for our
files.
In
the final evaluations, participating teachers responded as follows:
- A great happening concerning my participation
in this project is simply that I now have confidence in myself that I can
learn to use technology for the positive effects that it will have on my
students.
- We have found so many good teaching resources
in this project. I think this has made the year more excited for me. It
is good for teachers to have fresh ideas. I have encouraged parents to look at
our project. I have also found sites to share with parents. They seem to
really appreciate having access to the Presentations and projects we have
created during the project. Several of them have told me they were very
helpful. They think the results of the project have been worth the few
days I have been out of the class to work on the project.
- Students have been more excited about learning
and completing their assignments because they were using the
computer. School was not so boring
and dull when we used the programs from Project LA.
- I invited parents to the room to use the new
technology with their children. I
had a wonderful turn-out and the parents got to see the technology that
we used in the classroom to learn.
- I really enjoy learning about the various ways
I can use technology with my teaching in the classroom. Having the grant money to buy soft ware
and educational programs has helped tremendously. It is a lot easier to use technology
with the soft ware and programs I have received.
- I was able through this project to purchase software,
a scanner, and a color printer for my classroom. The students have written stories and
made a adventure books and included the pictures that were printed from
the color printer.
- I have been very excited to receive more hours
of technology during the day rather than after school. The training has been more meaningful;
as a result, my teaching has been enhanced!! I am more knowledgeable of the variety
of resources available to the teacher.
- I feel more confident with the use of
technology in the classroom. My
students enjoy using the computer for more than just games. They can see their own progress.
- I have two students in my classroom who have
struggled with basic ideas since the beginning of the year. I was hesitant about starting new
material due to the fact that I knew these students needed additional
practice on these skills. Through
the use of Orchard, I was able to
give these students the opportunity to continue to practice on these
skills and at the same time be able to monitor their progress without
taking time away from my other students.
I have seen dramatic increases in these students’
performance. I have been able to
allow them to get the practice they need and deserve and monitor their
progress, making changes where needed, while continuing teaching the
other students. Another help has
been with a student requiring modifications. I have been able to let her practice
skills through the use of Orchard and take grades from her work. This resulted in a great chance in her
academic achievement.
- Participating in this project has boosted my
confidence and opened my mind as to ways I can teach and use
technology. The chance to do this
has been an honor for my classroom, my school, and my entire school
system. The technology center has
top notch instruction and equipment available to us in this county. The greatest thrill for me was when a
special education child, unable to write his name, was able to push a
button and answer a question correctly!!
The delight on his face was immeasurable. Having money to buy equipment for my
room was an added bonus.
- Many great things have come out of Project
LA! I think the greatest happening
for me though, was the day that one of my gifted student’s parents came
to visit. This particular parent had been very interested in his son
having a variety of technology experiences. The day he came to visit our classroom
we were working with CPS, my students were on task and engaged positively
in math word problems!
- Project LA has been a wonderful experience for
me. This project has given me initiative to use technology in my
classroom. I have learned how to
use alternative methods of technology within my classroom. I have also
learned about different types of on-line games and software that has been
beneficial to me and my students. The programs addressed within this
project have allowed me to come out of the classroom, during the school
day, and interact with other teachers to develop activities that match
the criteria in which the students will be tested. This program has been a definite key to
improving myself as a teacher.
- I have noticed several students have greatly
improved their computer skills this year.
In addition, I have increased my technology use this year with the
addition of the Classroom Performance System.
- Students were constantly asking to use the
technology provided by this project. They seemed to feel very comfortable
with it and expressed satisfaction with improved scores verbally to me.
One day, I exchanged classes with the other 5th grade teacher
and taught them using the CPS system. The students were so excited and
actively participated the entire class. They now ask us to exchange again
so they can use the system. Other
teachers have expressed interest in using the system and the
administration of the school have attended classes I’ve taught using the
system and are looking into purchasing an additional system for the
school. A visitor from England was in our school several months ago and she
was impressed with the system and wanted to look into purchasing one for
her school.
- I am becoming more relaxed and confident using
computers with my students. Students are writing book reports, science
and social studies reports, and poems using computers. Students did the 4th and 5th
grade newspaper, Tomahawk Times, using the computer. I have been teaching for 25 years, most
of those years without any computers available to teachers or students. I
now have a better appreciation of what computer technology can do to
advance my students’ skills.