Alpacas+S17

=__**Apricot Alpacas**__= Ronald Barranco - //Contact me at barra1rj@cmich.edu or barranco@gmail.com (for Google Apps) // Shawn Peklo Kory Stevens

**Week 7: Technology Surveys**
Ronald Barranco:

Kory Stevens:

Shawn Peklo:

Final EDU Survery: Ronald Barranco, Kory Stevens, and Shawn Peklo

**1. Hardware check**
RAM- 8.00 GB. (7.86 GB usable) System type-64 bit operating system, x64-based processor. || School-wide wifi. || Memory- 4096MB Ram || School-wide Wifi ||
 * ~  ||~ **//1a. computer platform//** ||~ **//1b. computer model//** ||~ **//1c. computer OS//** ||~ **//1d. add-on devices//** ||~ **//1e. configuration//** ||~ **//1f. high-speed connection//** ||
 * ~ Ronald's school || Windows, Chrome || IBM/Windows desktop computers, HP Windows laptop, Asus ChromeBook || Windows 7, Chrome OS || SMART Board, projector, laser printer,scanner || IBM ThinkCentre PC w/ Intel Core i3, 500 GB hard drive and 4GB RAM, Asus Chromebook || T1, school-wide wifi ||
 * ~ Shawn's school || Windows || Laptops, Desktops, and iPads. || Windows 10 || Smart Board, scanners, printers. || Intel® Core™i5-3210M CPU @2.50 GHz
 * ~ Kory's school || Windows || IPads, Laptops, Desktops || Windows 10 || Promethean ActivPanel, Scanners, printers, || System manufacturer- Hewlett PackardSystem model- HP ProBook 4440s

**Summary of findings:**
The technology at each of the three schools is similar. Windows-based desktop and laptop computers are available in each of our classrooms. Interactive whiteboards are present in all three as well; Ronald and Shawn have SMART Boards and Kory has a Promethean ActivPanel. All three schools have school-wide high-speed wireless internet access available. In addition to the Windows-based laptop, Ronald's school issued Chromebooks to teachers to encourage them to use Google technology in their classrooms, and Shawn and Kory have access to Apple iPads to enable them to run iOS-based applications.

**2. Software check**

 * ~  ||~ **//2a. multimedia authoring//** ||~ **//2b. Internet programs//** ||~ **//2c. word processing//** ||~ **//2d. CAI//** ||~ **//2e. statistical programs//** ||~ **//2f. software updates//** ||
 * ~ Ronald's school || Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Premier, After Effects), Microsoft Movie Maker || Lexia, Google Classroom || Microsoft Office 365, Google Apps || none || AddinSoft XLSTAT, Google Forms || Occasional ||
 * ~ Shawn's school || Student response systems, Photoshop, Windows Media Player, Adobe GoLive || Quizlet, Classroom Jeopardy, Accelerated Reader, Google Classroom, Accelerated Math || Microsoft Office || Accelerated Reading and Accelerated Math || Google Forms, Survey Monkey. || Monthly ||
 * ~ Kory's school || ActivInspire, Movie Maker, Adobe, windows media player || Starfall, Unique Learning Systems, || Microsoft Office || Games and Drill-and-practice || Google Forms || Monthly ||

**Summary of findings:**
Our group's shared data shows that each of our school sites has similar access to creative applications from Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and Google Apps. Other internet programs in use at the schools vary, with Ronald's school offers Lexia learning for reading; while Shawn's school uses Quizlet, Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Math programs; and Kory's school is the only to provide access to Starfall and Unique Learning Systems. All schools provide regular software updates to their computers, with Shawn and Kory's schools both doing software updates on a monthly basis and Ronald's school providing occasional updates to software as needed.

**3. Level of training and trained personnel check**

 * ~  ||~ **//3a. teachers trained//** ||~ **//3b. admins trained//** ||~ **//3c. staff trained//** ||~ **//3d. computer/teacher ratio//** ||~ **//3e. in-service training//** ||~ **//3f. computers at hom//**e ||
 * ~ Ronald's school || All (part of licensure) || All || Yes || 2:1 all teachers issued a laptop and Chromebook || once per school year || all ||
 * ~ Shawn's school || 32 || 1 || Yes || 1:1 all teachers issued a laptop. iPad optional. || One. || All ||
 * ~ Kory's school || All of them (7) || All of them (5) || Yes || 1:1 || 6 || All of them ||

**Summary of findings:**
Technology training for teachers and staff is present in various levels for all three locations in our group survey. All or most of staff and teachers use computers on a daily basis at each school. Ronald and Shawn's schools each provide one technical training per school year. Kory's school holds six in-service training sessions per school year. Ronald's school district is encouraging the adoption of Google Classroom, Google Apps, and Chromebooks at each school but thus far the training and implementation of Chromebooks and Classroom has been lacking.

===**4.** Evaluation process: Is there a specific evaluation in place that measures learning achievement and evaluate pedagogical techniques specific to technology integration? Does using technology with classroom instruction increasing student learning and achievement? How do we know?===
 * ~  ||~ **//4a. computer/student ratio//** ||~ **//4b. evaluations//** ||~ **//4c. how often//** ||~ **//4d. who does evals?//** ||
 * ~ Ronald's school || 1:8 (lacking) || none || none || n/a ||
 * ~ Shawn's school || 1:1 || Yes. Done by computer teacher and tech coordinator. || Monthly || Computer teacher and technology coordinator. ||
 * ~ Kory's school || 1:10 || n/a || n/a || n/a ||

**Summary of findings:**
Integration of technology and evaluations are not common in Kory and Ronald's school. However, in Shawn's school there is a coordinator and a computer teacher that make sure the students are adapting and understanding new types of technologies being implemented within the school. In Shawn's school, technology is more accessible, whereas in Kory and Ronald's school technology may be limited. Therefore, the ratio from computers to students is lower. For example, an in class web-quest may be difficult in Kory and Ronald's schools because they would be required to work in groups. This begs the question, would everyone be grasping the concept of the lesson? Technology in the classroom enhances student learning, however, it may not increase student learning and achievement. Students may not have one on one access with a computer both at school and at home. For this reason, we believe technology is extremely valuable, however, it is not the only way to increase student learning and achievement.

5. Do you feel the technology and support/training is adequate for your school/workplace? Why or why not?

 * Ronald's response:** No, the technology and training is inadequate at my school. My school site is slow to implement advancements in technology. Every student has been issued a Google Apps account with Gmail, and teachers have been given access to Google Classroom, but most classes are not using it. All school computers using Windows have the full suite of Microsoft Office and Adobe software applications available. There are several computer labs available, but teachers are limited as to how often they can use them. My school has issued Chromebooks to teachers but has thus far provided inadequate training on how to use them. Technology in my classroom is lacking. There are not enough connected devices for all students. There is no full time technology person at my school. Any technical support requests must be phoned into the district.

Yes, I do believe that the support/training is adequate for my school because whenever we have a new program being installed or implemented, there are always training sessions. For example, we used new program that stores grades, provides announcements, and feedback for parents and students in 2016. It took a while to get used to but, we had the proper training from outside schools who have used it. Staff members were required to do research on the program and see what the similarities and differences were between our last program and our new program. That allowed them to be able to teach the program along with members from outside schools on how the program works. Whenever there are internet issues, printing issues, our technology support coordinator makes sure that it is up and running again in no time. If we ever have an issue, we know where to go and we know that it will be taken care of in a timely manner.
 * Shawn's response:**

Yes it is. Each teacher has their own laptop computer as well as a desktop computer that is connected to a Promethean board in their classroom. We also have a full time technology person in the building.
 * Kory's response:**

For our group, everyone has technology in their schools, however, it seems it all depends on location and what the district can provide for each school. There are computers in every school but, in Ronald's school it is difficult to fix the problem when their is no coordinator that deals with technology issues. For Kory and Shawn's schools, if there are issues with technology, we have someone readily available to fix the problem. It may be difficult to get messages/announcements to teachers in Ronald's school district because every teacher has not fully grasped how to use a Chromebook. There needs to be a training seminar in how to use them for teachers or else they may fall behind the times. Technology is vital with announcements, messages, grades, emails, etc.As far as our group goes, both Kory and Shawn have access to adequate and above average technology in their district. Even with some districts being limited with technology, they have to have someone be able to teach the programs to the staff. If they are not able to do that, why even distribute the Chromebooks? There are so many applications and programs that are available on these Chromebooks or any computer for that matter. If you have them, make the best of them and use them for all they are worth. When a teacher is knowledgeable with a certain application or program, everyone involved in the process benefits.
 * Group summary:**