Standard 3.7 - Communication & Collaboration
Candidates utilize digital communication and collaboration tools to communicate locally and globally with students, parents, peers, and the larger community. (PSC 3.7/ISTE 3g)
Artifact - Centennial Academy Media Center website
Reflection
The first assignment I completed in the Education Specialist’s degree program was developing this online portfolio framework in Weebly. Having previously used several template-based programs to develop websites for my neighborhood, and Google Sites™ to build a simple webpage for my library, I was struck by the ease of using Weebly to create a website. I decided to forge ahead and create a more robust website for my school library using Weebly. I am proud of this website, so I have included a link to the site as my artifact.
The Centennial Academy Media Center website demonstrates my ability to use digital communications and collaboration tools to communicate locally and globally with students, parents, peers and the larger community. The first page is frequently updated with timely news and current events specifically for the Centennial Academy family. The intended audience for this page is parents of Centennial Academy students. Navigation tabs across the top direct visitors to other pages with more specific information. “Burke’s Blog” contains short posts intended to invite comments from students. Occasionally, Centennial Academy teachers will ask students to comment on specific topics as a writing assignment. It is also used as a vehicle for students’ reflections about library information lessons. Classroom teachers use the “Links, Lists and Tips” page as a springboard to electronic books, research sources, and reading lists. The Competition rules, reading lists and links to other resources used by team members to prepare for competition are available on the “Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl” page.
The web-based library collection management software used by Atlanta Public Schools includes an “About Us” section. Most libraries post a static “Frequently Asked Questions” document. However, I asked the software managers to link directly to this website’s “FAQ about this Library.” This ensures that the information available to library colleagues and others using the public access catalog is always current.
Although the site is current, I occasionally change the layout or format as a result of comments from parents and teachers. Because the site has several layers, I have to be mindful of Universal Design principles. During the 2014-15 school year, Centennial Academy will be a Google School, and for consistency, all teachers are being asked to create class websites in Google Sites, so I will need to rework the site into to be consistent with my colleagues.
The work that has gone into creating this website has contributed to school improvement because I have learned to be a more effective communicator in the online community. As I practice using Weebly, I have become a more effective technology coach and provided support and assistance to my colleagues as they develop their own websites. The website also provides parents with a way to quickly access resources their students will use for research and reading, thus supporting the learning community.
The first assignment I completed in the Education Specialist’s degree program was developing this online portfolio framework in Weebly. Having previously used several template-based programs to develop websites for my neighborhood, and Google Sites™ to build a simple webpage for my library, I was struck by the ease of using Weebly to create a website. I decided to forge ahead and create a more robust website for my school library using Weebly. I am proud of this website, so I have included a link to the site as my artifact.
The Centennial Academy Media Center website demonstrates my ability to use digital communications and collaboration tools to communicate locally and globally with students, parents, peers and the larger community. The first page is frequently updated with timely news and current events specifically for the Centennial Academy family. The intended audience for this page is parents of Centennial Academy students. Navigation tabs across the top direct visitors to other pages with more specific information. “Burke’s Blog” contains short posts intended to invite comments from students. Occasionally, Centennial Academy teachers will ask students to comment on specific topics as a writing assignment. It is also used as a vehicle for students’ reflections about library information lessons. Classroom teachers use the “Links, Lists and Tips” page as a springboard to electronic books, research sources, and reading lists. The Competition rules, reading lists and links to other resources used by team members to prepare for competition are available on the “Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl” page.
The web-based library collection management software used by Atlanta Public Schools includes an “About Us” section. Most libraries post a static “Frequently Asked Questions” document. However, I asked the software managers to link directly to this website’s “FAQ about this Library.” This ensures that the information available to library colleagues and others using the public access catalog is always current.
Although the site is current, I occasionally change the layout or format as a result of comments from parents and teachers. Because the site has several layers, I have to be mindful of Universal Design principles. During the 2014-15 school year, Centennial Academy will be a Google School, and for consistency, all teachers are being asked to create class websites in Google Sites, so I will need to rework the site into to be consistent with my colleagues.
The work that has gone into creating this website has contributed to school improvement because I have learned to be a more effective communicator in the online community. As I practice using Weebly, I have become a more effective technology coach and provided support and assistance to my colleagues as they develop their own websites. The website also provides parents with a way to quickly access resources their students will use for research and reading, thus supporting the learning community.