Blog Post #14

For Blog Post #14 we looked at the ALEX-Alabama Learning Exchange. What a great website with lots of valuable information for teachers. I looked through the different subjects and looked through the learning standard rubrics of what was expected for each grade level. I looked especially at the Technology Education standards. I started with the K-2 grade level and things such as familiarity of the keyboard, mouse and monitor, position of your hands with the keyboard and computer were the requirements. I then looked at levels 9-12 and the requirements were more like learning how to access data and familiarity with the computer softwares. I then went on to look at the section with podcasts that have been uploaded about different subjects. There was a video by some students in Fairhope about how to use Microsoft Word 2003 and how set up your word for MLA format papers. It was a very useful video created by the students, because I know until I took a computer class I was pretty much clueless on how to do certain things with Microsoft Word. ALEX is really helpful in giving details about all the standards required by the state of Alabama. When you look at the rubrics, if you notice to the left there are hyperlinks that will take you to lesson plans that have to do with the certain standard.

ACCESS was designed to give all students an equal opportunity to distance learning such as foreign languages and technology in the classroom. One of the first objectives is to enhance technology in the classroom for the teachers and students to help better instruction. Another objective is to provide additional courses and electives for students to help meet individual educational goals. It is also intended to provide a comprehensive curriculum, which includes useful 21st century skills. There is also an objective to develop professional devolopment in technology for the people involved in ACCESS Distance Leanring. I noticed that alot of the objectives all pertain to the students and teachers having access to technology. It seems that ACCESS objective is to promote equality for all students in the public school system and also prepare students for the future. It seems that they are very aware that technology is in our future and the students need to learn as much about it as possible to be prepared!