Week 4 Assignment, Part 2: Professional Development Plan

The 2008-2009 campus STaR Chart Summary for Briarmeadow Middle School reports that the school is on target in the area of Infrastructure for Technology. This is a very encouraging report. I strongly recommend that the campus capitalize on this strength to overcome its deficiencies in other domains and move all staff and faculty to “Target Technology” in all the key areas of the Texas STaR Chart by 2012.

Specifically, the STaR Chart Summary shows that in the area of Teaching and Learning, teachers need support in creating and integrating web-based lessons which include online TEKS-based content, resources, learning activities, and interactive communications that support learning objectives throughout the curriculum. In the area of Educator Preparation and Development, the majority of the teachers want to participate in professional development activities that will allow them to create and integrate web based lessons to teach content courses online. Finally, in the area of Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support, the faculty desires the campus leadership to facilitate their use of online learning and to have a collaborative technology-rich campus improvement plan that is focused on student success and grounded in research and aligned with the district strategic plan.

These findings show a very clear trend. The teachers at Briarmeadow Middle School are yearning for more online learning support from the leadership team as well as to have a strong voice in the development of a campus improvement plan which highly integrates technology into the curriculum.

Campus Professional Development Plan target for the Spring Semester, 2009-2010

Goal: Bridge the gap between the technical capabilities of staff through on-going professional developments to enhance teaching and learning and meet the demands of the global society.

Objective 1:
100% of the faculty will become familiar with the STaR Chart, Technology Applications TEKS, and the state and district Long-Range Technology plans.

PD Content: Overview of the Texas STaR Chart, Technology Applications TEKS, Texas and HISD Long-Range Technology Plans

Persons Involved: All middle school teachers – participants; Marilou Alcaraz – facilitator; principal - evaluator/monitor

Timeline: January 2010

Resources Needed: PowerPoint Presentation; No Cost

Description of Activity: Teachers will be provided with a copy of the Campus STaR Chart Summary. In groups, teachers will discuss what the data mean to them and the implication of the results to teaching and learning. Facilitator will discuss the STaR Chart information using the slide presentation. Next, teachers will explore the TEA website to learn about the technology applications and the Texas Long-Range Technology Plan. Finally, the teachers will compare the state Long-Range Plan with the district long-range plan and discuss the similarities and difference in groups.

Follow-up Activity: Teachers create the technology links to their class websites for easy access.

Objective 2: 100% of the teachers will increase their technology proficiency from “Developing Tech” to “Advanced Tech” by the end of the school year.


PD Content: Online course in digital media integration.

Persons Involved: All middle school teachers – participants; Campus Educational Technologist – facilitator; principal – evaluator/monitor

Timeline: February – March, 2010

Resources Needed: Computer Lab; $2500.00 Course Fee (Title 1 Funds)

Description of Activity: Teachers will be exposed to digital media integration by participating in an online course. Each 1.5 hours session will be conducted every early-release Friday for six consecutive weeks. The Campus Educational Technologist (CET) will provide support as needed.

Follow-up Activity: The CET will provide support to teachers while they implement what they have learned from each session. The CET will provide immediate feedback and recommendations.