Quiz #1

1.  Why should a school district have a website?  What should be on that site?
A school district should have a website to market the school.  The school can market its students by giving pictures of students, pictures of students in activities, student accomplishments and students test results (of course not individual results to harm a student).  The website can also have teacher's webpages or wikis along with a teacher's lesson plans and goals for classes. 

Student handbooks, teacher handbooks, athletic handbooks, technology handbooks, links to students gradebooks for parents, DSTEP results, menus, school information, calendars, schedules, etc. the list could go on about what can be on a school website.  I think it is very important to keep the webpage up to date, easy to use and in a way fun to use.  If people enjoy your website, they are more likely to view it on a regular basis.

In my first year as an administrator (about 5 years ago) we interviewed candidates for a couple teaching positions.  We had one of them candidates view our website to find out about the school.  This past year we had more positions open, but we had every candidate except one go out (on their own) and view our website.  So, we have possible future teachers viewing our website.  We have had future students and potential students view our website.  I think it is very important to keep your website up to date and be very useful for people.

2.  How do administrators and school boards keep a current vision of technology and the future?
I think a lot has to do with the administrators, teachers, and the school board being on the same page.  If one of them has an open mind to look into something in the technology line, they will look into it if they know their ideas will be listened too.    If a teacher says they would like to buy ipods for their class and you know they will be used, the school is more likely to purchase them.  The school board is the pulse of the community (or should somewhat be).  So, they have an idea the community would like to go.  If the school board wants to integrate more technology, they can let the administration know and vice verse.
I also think the students play a major role in this as well.  Students know as much as anybody about technology.
Workshops, in-services, and classes can all help see the vision of the future and incorporate the vision into the school district.  If administrators are equipped in the technology (they do NOT have to be experts) then they are more likely to understand it and push for technology.

3.  What information from the CEO Forum website is most useful?  How can that information be used?
The star chart was very useful and the reports were as well.  From both of these, I was able to see where are school was in regards to goals and outlines set up.  I could see our school needs more professional development.  I liked the idea of having teachers look at a report with the goals on the report (but not the year) and see how they are doing in regards to the goals, and then show them the year for the goals to get an idea of their progress.

4  What are Web 2.0 tools?  How can these tools be used by schools to enhance classroom instruction?
The Web 2.0 tools are the tools that allow interactions.  The email, facebook, blogging, podcasts, twitter, etc. are all examples of Web 2.0.  These tools allow the student to connect to their world.  It brings a calming effect and they enjoy the school work because that is what they deal with on a daily basis.  It allows them to go deeper into a subject matter rather than just pen and paper.  It allows them to interface with technology, other students, the class and the subject matter.  I think it basically takes the class to the next level.

5.  What is Cyber Bullying?  What can schools do to help prevent CyberBullying?
Cyber bullying is bullying through the Internet in simple terms.  It is one person demeaning or harming another person in some form through the Internet.  The picking on the kid on the corner of the playground has turned into getting on facebook, email or whatever form of Internet and calling sally every name in the book or threatening sally or lieing about sally in a negative manner.
School can put policies in which prohibit cyber bullying and I am pretty sure this is mandated.  A main thing they can do is educate their students on what to say and what not to say on the Internet.  Another thing school can do is enforce the policy.