Resources cannot be judged adequately until I am able to view the completed work and establish a checklist of what still needs to be finished. Questions remain- is all equipment working? Is there any additional software that needs to be installed? Are the existing wireless servers adequate to serve the increased capacity of the upgraded computer lab? A strong foundation is necessary so the entire system is ready and operational, not sitting there like set decoration for the students to try and figure everything out. So I will follow up by writing to our site technology representative to arrange a walk-through of the completed installation.
The resources this week emphasize the role technology has in aligning curriculum with assessment in order for data to measure content learning (Cennamo, et al., 2009). David Jonassen (2006) describes the transition of pencil and paper mindtools (representative models of what a student learns) to the assistive models students construct using technology that assess understanding and measures conceptual change (p. 28).
The vendor Web manual provides some great ideas to establish protocol and alleviate student confusion with the new computers and operating systems (Getting started, n. d.). I would also like to train a group of student volunteers in each class to assist students and even staff become familiar with the equipment.
When these initial goals are determined to be in place, what is left is the wait for students to return in September. The lab must be ready on the first day for students to set up their goals and schedules to manage learning, and establish the means via assignment contracts to assess individual progress (ISTE, 2011).
References:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Getting started: A guide for your apple macbook learning lab. (n. d.). [Web manual].
Retrieved from
http://images.apple.com/education/docs/Apple-MacBook_Learning_Lab_Getting_Started_Guide_20120426.pdf
International Society for Technology in Education. [ISTE]. (2011). NETS for teachers. Retrieved from
http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers.aspx
Jonassen, D. (2006). Modeling with technology: Mindtools for conceptual change (3rd Ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J: Merrill/Prentice Hall.