5333+Embedded+Assignment+Reflection

 || == Course Name:  ==  || == Course-based Embedded Hours  ==
 * == Course Number: ==

(see Appendix I)
||
 * ** EDLD 5333  **    ||   **  Leadership for Accountability  **    ||  **  10  **  ||
 * == Description of the ==

(see Appendix I)
 ||   Create an action plan for the campus. Develop an agenda for a professional development day that addresses the targeted campus needs and include a timeline for follow-up professional development  || · The knowledge you gained from the assignment. (2 points) · The relation of new information to Technology Facilitator Standards and Performance Indicators (2 points). · The relation of information gained to personal experience. (2 points) · Discussion at a critical level, not just recitation of facts. Discussion at a critical level means discussing things such as your opinion of the reading or experience, why you hold that onion, what you see wrong with the reading or experience, how you see the reading or experience is consistent or inconsistent with what you have learned so far, implications for the future, (4 ) · Insights into the patterns of interactions of colleagues.(2 points) · Group processes including: who had power, authority, or influence; who was participating and who was not, who was not included, how did you or another leader draw the silent participants out; was there confrontation, conflict, consensus, agreement, hurt feelings? (2 points) · Notations addressing the affective or feeling tone evident, concerns you noticed. (2 points) · Questions you have that you should research or about which you can seek expert advice from your campus-based supervisor or your professor. (2 points) · Issues that puzzle you. (2 points)  ||  Taking the course Leadership for Accountability (EDLD 5333) the capstone assignment called for the creation of an Action Plan and a Professional Development agenda for a targeted area of weakness in my local High School. While reviewing the assignment for reflection, I was reminded of the many quality tasks that were completed. During this assignment prior experience and new knowledge was combined with collaborative and hands learning that led to overall success. I now have a guide and a created example of steps that can facilitate, manage, and create improvement. To better understand the assignment a reflection of knowledge gained, interactions with colleagues, and questions that need additional research should be examined. This two part assignment required a great deal of research and background knowledge. Beginning with the creation of an Action Plan, the assignment I was exposed the steps, procedures and techniques of identifying weaknesses and needs of a school community. This process has allowed me insight and new knowledge regarding the area of Comprehensive Needs Assessment, AEIS data evaluation, goal setting, and many more tools that can help identify school needs, set goals / objectives and facilitate change. The second part of this assignment called for the creation of a professional development day that targeted the goal of improvement with a follow-up plan. I completely enjoyed this activity and eagerly read every recommendation from Professor. Creating the agenda and follow up for the training day was a complete experience. Developing the topic, deciding on what activities / strategies to use, creating a timeline, and even scheduling refreshments, were all things that I needed to do myself. Going from start to finish, and beyond with the follow up strategy, were things I needed to be able to perform. My interaction with colleagues via the discussion boards was helpful as usual. It was the interactions with different groups of people that the leader successfully communicate a vision to, facilitate and action with, and create and maintain momentum. In the future I would certainly enjoy and accept similar challenges similar to this assignment. Being able to identify needs and find successful solutions necessary skill to any successful leader. My concern lies not with the day of professional development but with the maintenance of the momentum. Balancing the up and down cycles of interest regarding new initiatives seems quite challenging. More time needs to be spent and investigation and educating my local campus and district of the benefits of Web 2.0 tools. I believe these tools can facilitate communities of practice and learning that could keep the momentum going, provide resources, and maintain a fresh positive feel for committee members. “Professional Learning Communities can be wonderful and exhilarating places for teachers to grow, learn, and collaborate (Noval 2006). At current, my local district does use Google docs but not in a collaborative way. The district is not taking advantage of tools such as wikis or blogs to work on projects. The course Leadership for Accountability (EDLD 5333) and the capstone assignment taught me a lot. Reviewing this assignment for reflection has reminded me of the many quality tasks that were completed. During this assignment prior experience and new knowledge was combined with collaborative and hands learning that led to overall success. I now have a guide and a created example of steps that can facilitate, administer, and create improvement. To better understand the assignment a reflection of knowledge gained, interactions with colleagues, and questions that need additional research should be examined Noval, T. (2006). Encouraging participation. Available: [|www.teachlearning.com/story/show/Article.jhtml?articleID=175007847]  ||