Narrowing our focus for this week, we brainstormed things that we believe teachers may have wanted to know as first year teachers--or may still want to know.  Most of these center around technology use--eteacher duties, etc.  We broke up the list between the group members to form questions on different areas.  Goal is to create a survey to compile interests among teachers--on training.
Survey to be done by April 17--then compile data for presentation.

Our focus has once again been altered as we try to find a USEFUL focus for our PLC group.  We have discussed that there are several technology uses available and being used, but there are teachers present and new to be hired that do not know how to use the tools available.
As a PLC we thought it might be helpful to develop some sort of training tools to train those interested in how to use the technology we already have available to us.  For example, there was a PLC group first semester looking at the different aspects of schoolloop--maybe all of us could benefit from what they learned.
Our direction is now to prioritize some of the technology tools needed to be effective as teachers here at Wyandotte and develop some training resources for anyone interested in learning more about that tool.
Some examples:
Silk attendance
Silk discipline
Employee Portal--when to use subfinder and portal?
Schoolloop
Edmodo
Google docs
Apple tv
iPad apps--educreations, showme
TCAPrep
document camera
Hover cam
Next week we are hoping to compile a list of technology pieces (some from PLC group work in first semster) and prioritize the ones that we feel NEW teachers may want/need training on as they enter our school system next year.
Goal is to develop training (maybe videos, maybe google doc step by step instructions, etc.) to be made available to all teachers with potentially a list of "go to" people if more assistance is needed.

Deciding on our directive has altered; we are coMpiling a list of advantages and disadvantages of technological tools and how we are using theM as well as how they are beneficial to student learning. A survey has been distributed thru Schoolloop to teachers so that we can view a wider array of resources than those used by we 5 or six in this PLC.  

Regarding 2/20's plc

Discussion today was involved with use of computers in our own classrooms, we evaluated the sip from today and its discussion of technology in the district.  Our goals are changing a little as Stauffer and Cormode have joined our group lessening our Math 'weighted-ness', so we are adjusting our directions for this semester’s goals. 

 Understanding of ideas allows for better technological use and so effectively using technology to summarize and "realize" what has been learned.  Self-evaluation May be a step in our process of having learners use technology effectively to learn concepts rather than "cheat" or "do" homework or tests.

Our thought is that students ‘use’ technology to find answers never really processing that which they are being asked to do or learn, with this in mind, we will be taking a Mathways website, or a similar online "answer key", and using it to 'trick' students to learn a concept or lesson will be our directive for the coming weeks, next week we will have a plan for our new idea or some results if able to facilitate a plan in the interim…

Learning through processes that students are using to "cheat" in our classes will be our project this term; essentially.

1/23 Written from notes taken during last weeks(1/23) meeting

We discussed measurable results and coming up with a control group versus a study group and tried to define how we might adjust for other variables.

Some of the ideas we had for why using technology is more advantageous than traditional methods of delivery included immediate feedback(for both students and instructors), and accountability which leads to responsibility in many cases.

We  considered having the results of 11th grader improvement from the practice ACT to actual ACT in Zak's classes vs Mr K's classes.
Since Zak uses the flipped classroom method of delivery in his classroom and I use mostly a lecture delivery method we will use my classes scores as a baseline, or control for the group. After some discussion though, we think there might be too many 'intangibles' to correctly measure these improvements with any good data.

We are still trying to consider other variables to consider and adjust to create a viable study using ACT scores.

In addition to this we are looking into finding out about past gradebooks to see if we can use data from before Lori Holst used technology versus her current method of assessing and practice with the ixl website to see if there are measurable improvements; Our idea being that her method of delivery has changed but for the most part her teaching style and overall pedagogical beliefs remain; looking back at past test grades(from similar or same curriculum) will allow us to view improvement, if any, in student assimilation and understanding.

For near term study viability we decided to have Zak & K's classes have some of the same assessment questions on an upcoming test, where we will see if understanding of the group is measurably better for the students who are using technology(Mr Zak's class) for curricular delivery versus the more traditional lecture method being used my Mr K(me).  Our ICA classes will have some of the same questions on an upcoming assessment on the binomial theorem, giving us a viewable and measurable results upon which we can further conjecture about advantages and disadvantages of either method.

Several PLC's were working on the same thing.  It would have been nice to combine efforts instead of all of us trying to reinvent the wheel.  We don't want a large PLC--but it would be nice to know what others are working on so maybe we could touch base periodically.

We want to know more about:
1) Schoolloop functions,
2) QR codes,
3) Project-based math and history was great idea,
4) strategies for behaviors and rules to be consistent throughout the building needs implemented,
5) Higher level thinking where students came up with the problem--self-directed learning was a great idea.

Lessons learned in our PLC:
1.)  We worked well together to investigate our needs of the moment.
2.)  Flipped classroom/video tutorials have enhanced the classroom atmosphere and diversity.
3.)  Technology used to assess students was utilized (found many sites and even more to come).

Continued investigation will allow us to best utilize technology and diversify our classroom.

Today we spent our time preparing data and going over our presentation for the upcoming meet & greet. Technologically, we are using powerpoint to put together what we continue to discover concerning our plc learning directive.  Editing and sharing what to use and what seems pertinent allowed us to revisit our victories and troubles over the course of our discovery semester


We also discussed new methods for practice, and assessment from internet sites. I have been using thatquiz.com, thepurposegames.com, and am always looking for new tools that can be readily used to get students to assimilate material