Section 3: Evaluating, Implementing and Managing Instructional Programs and Projects

1. Flashlight "Triad" Model

There are five attributes to this model:

1. Overview and Confronting the Blog: This part is used to identify the large scale elements of a lesson or course.  This area could require a person to collaborate with their colleague to identify the mean elements.
2. From Blog to Issue: This part is where a person nail down what actually do they want to focus the evaluation on, i.e. mastery of a particular content, retention, growth, etc.  Then the person is supposed to choose two to focus on.

3. From Issue to Traid: For each issue create a traid which outlines the technology that is going to be used, the activities that are going to be used, and the outcomes expected.

4. From Traid to Data: There need to be at least five types of questions generated so data can be created.
5. From data to next step:  The data would be used to summarize the lesson or course. 

I would prefer to use this model to evaluate my instruction.  I would use it in a way to be a guide to see if I could organize my instruction into the given attributes.  I think it would really put my instruction into perspective for me. 

Goals-Free Evaluation (Scriven) Model:

 This model is focused on the programs effectiveness being determined by if its population had any growth from its use.  The facilitator is free from any standard, goals, or purposes for its use.  The facilitator generates outcomes from their observations.  After data is collected, the facilitator creates appropriate questions which evaluate the program. 

2. Just recently Texas Instruments introduced their newest calculator, the TI N-spire.  My school district adapted the calculators last year, but this year the curriculum is written with the calculator in mind.  In the beginning the N-spire was not really accepted among the teachers who were assigned them because it was sort of pushed on us.  The initial reaction was that there are a lot of features which calls for a lot of memorization on the part of the students.  With the previous calculator the obstacle of memorization was already taking care of because the students had been using those calculators for more then 5 years. 

Once the teachers started being trained using the calculator, which TI’s Webinar training was great, we realize that there were a lot of features that was unique to this calculator which seat it apart from the other one.  Most of the teacher were excited about being about to send work to the students and retrieve the work from them using the calculator.  A lot of “pencil to paper” work was eliminated with inputting the work into to the calculator, therefore eliminating simple mistakes.  The students are more engaged because of its clear images and the fact that they can present how to solve a problem to the class on the calculator. 

There are a few challenges to the innovation.  The access code is limited to the amount of time you can use it, meaning you really only can download the software on your desktop and laptop.  If your computer crashes, you have to install the software again, which uses up the last access code.  Sometimes the access points from the router to the calculator are not available. 

Although there are many advantages and challenges, my district has fully adopted the TI N-Spire.  From what I hear, this technology puts us ahead of other districts.

Relative Attributes: 

A. Calculator

Enter and evaluate math expressions. Use it to define library objects, such as variables, functions and programs, which are accessible from any problem of any document.

B. Graphing

Graph and explore equations, expressions and functions. Then make changes to variables to see how the values in dynamically-linked tables and equations will also change in real time.

C. Geometry

Construct and explore geometric figures interactively and animate points on objects or graphs and explore their behavior.

D. Lists and Spreadsheet

Work with tabular data. Use it to store numeric data, text or math expressions. Define a table cell in terms of the contents of other cells, and more.

E. Notes

Provides text editing functions that allow you to create and share documents with others using TI-Nspire™ handhelds and computer software.

Compatibility:

Windows/Mac

Complexity:

Create your own classroom of TI-Nspire or TI-Nspire CAS handhelds. Connect with students and connect them to each other. Engage them with dynamic explorations. Dive deep into concepts. Know each student’s progress and how to modify your instruction to offer just the right help and guidance.

Trial ability:

90 day trial period

Observability:

There is a Webinar set up on the TI website to help with getting starting and working with the different features within the calculator.

http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/homePage/nspire-family.html

3. If I was assigned to facilitate a series of technology sessions, I would start off with becoming aware of the team’s strengths and limitations.  This is having all the staff demonstrate their competency of each technology.  According to the results, I would assign a person or pair to conduct the sessions.  I would generate a dateline where the agendas and power points of each session need to be turned into me and what are their timeline for completion.  Once the power points and timeline are review, I will be able to give my last recommendation and be able to step back and monitor the sessions as they are carried out.