Mentor Teacher Initiative 2001-2002

Findings of Pre-Project Teacher Participant Survey

Almond-Bancroft

Personal Goals:

Link workable math sites to my web page
Integrate the use of internet websites into my curricular areas in the teaching of the Life Sciences next year
To continue to learn the programs of Power Point and Word as well as other programs on our system
To eventually be able to assist others in being able to use technology within their curricula

Personal Assessment:

By linking workable math sites to by web page
By gaining skills and knowledge about accessing appropriate websites for grade level curriculum areas in science, and incorporating those websites into units that I will be teaching, such as biomes and biodiversity, etc.
By how easily I can assist others with these programs
By the final products that they produce
To produce my own product for students in my classes

Benefit to Students:

Bring technology into my classroom
I believe it will help them to understand the importance of the internet as a research and resource tool for learning.
To use the computers more within the classroom
To get the students to become more of self learners and use the computer to research projects and then present them to the class

Assessment Benefit to Students:

Being able to go into a computer lab with math classes to use math site
By locating websites that are related to the topics of study, I would like to create a study guide which helps students use websites and links to find information about the current unit of study.
By the reactions of students once the projects are complete
I will question the students on the benefits of this type of project

Expectations of Mentor:

Help me reach my goals
To help me to gain skill in utilizing the technologies we have available to us at school, such as scanner, digital camera, effective use of the internet and "better surfing techniques".
To be knowledgeable of the programs and be able to quickly assist me with little down time

Other Comments:

Montello- Forest Lane Elementary

Personal Goals:

To do websites on different history topics
"Readdress" power points
Explore many addresses pertaining to U.S. and World history
To find a way to allow my first graders to use the Internet in a productive and exciting way. To explore the Internet and find sites related to my (first grade) science and social studies themes

Personal Assessment:

Put together lessons on certain topics to use next year
Do power point with a certain period of time (Pearl Harbor)
If I find websites related to most or all of my themes and find a way for my students to easily access those sites

Benefit to Students:

By having access to numerous sites of information
Being able to show what they have learned in a variety of ways
Students will gain a better understanding of our science and social studies themes and discover more than I have been able to teach in the past

Assessment Benefit to Students:

I will have to use different rubrics when my students finish a project that will assess what they have learned.
Through teacher observation in the computer lab and by improvements seen in the science and social studies project we do.

Expectations of Mentor:

To be more comfortable using different technology tools that I will use with my students
Allow me to explore the Internet and show me a way for my students to access (as easily as possible) the sites we use during the school year.

Other Comments:

This will be very good for me.
I am very behind when it comes to using technology in the classroom!
The freedom to work on technology which directly applies to our individual classrooms is invaluable.

Portage Schools

Personal Goals:

Learn programs about slideshows, etc.
Incorporate easy lessons that would meet benchmarks, and be fun!
Learn ways to use computer/technology to supplement and enrich what I already teach
Ways to make my research more readily available to students
Ways to allow students greater flexibility in demonstrating new learning
Ways to streamline the logistics of computer use
Ways to make sure that computer use is quality learning time
Integrate the internet into my primary classroom. This is very difficult because most 1st and 2nd graders do not understand computer language, parts of the computer, and how to use it.
I hope to learn easy quick ways to access information on the internet.
I'd like to learn how to do group shared so I can pass out worksheets and activities that I've made to my class - especially things that require a lot of typing since they can't type fast.
I'd like to start my own classroom web page next year.
Being able to guide student research by using sites I have predetermined.
Having options available for demonstration of their knowledge on computer.
Tapping into "non-curricular" areas via computer for content.
I hope to learn how to create a stronger link between what my students are doing with technology integrated lessons in the regular education class and the support I can provide through EEN services.
I need to learn more about the resources available as well as how to prepare integrated lessons.
I would like to use technology to formulate lessons to meet the benchmarks for technology which the classroom teachers are now going to implement. It will be to my personal benefit to incorporate more technological aspects into the curriculum.

Personal Assessment:

Whether or not I am teaching what I planned in the fall
Create 2-3 short lessons to use in the classroom
My level of involvement
The amount of new ideas I encounter or formulate
Comfort level
The application, not the learning
Applying what I learned
Like to have 2 new units that rely on technology for use in fall
Through the completion of my work and through my attendance
By checking to see if I've incorporated these things into my lesson plans.

I will be co-designing and co-teaching a unit on Wisconsin industry that will involve the computer to a large degree.
By looking at my role now for supporting regular education technology integrated lessons, versus how I will apply what I learn to take a more active role.
I will assess myself on completing the lessons incorporating the technology benchmarks and also on how well the students are able to complete the projects including the technology.

Benefit to Students:

Keeping students computer literate and using computers for other things than games
Give students a chance to use technology while learning skills necessary in math/reading
Raise familiarity and comfort level
Open students minds to a new way of doing things
It will allow students to employ a variety of learning/performance modes to communicate with me and their peers
It will allow for the accessibility of data or information otherwise not readily available to the student
It will foster multiple approaches to problem solving
It will allow for greater variety in the presentation of materials
My students will be able to experience more than just the games that are currently on our computers at school and will have a better understanding of the computer and how to use it.
I can really make activities that we are doing in content areas and apply them into the technology.

Access non-text book information
Generate greater interest in state industry and production
My goal is to plan and team teach a technology integrated lesson with a regular education teacher who shares my students, to increase student learning.
Student will learn to use technology in their assignments on a more regular basis and become more comfortable with some of the more advanced uses of technology.

Assessment of Benefit to Students:

Applying the knowledge given to them
Incorporate a project or end result that I can have rubrics to assess
I will assess their commitment to their projects, quality of work, and growth in ability
Informal teacher observations
Use of participation and final product rubrics
Student ability to apply techniques to new situations
Through their ability to get on the computer, on the internet, and onto the website that I have directed them to.
By looking at their final projects, activities and just getting verbal feedback from them.

I hope to have students do an "industrial fair" with information about WI products they have researched on computer.
Besides looking at student accomplishment, I plan to look at participation, and collect feedback from the students. I am fortunate to have many of the same students next year as this year and will be able to make comparisons. Besides increasing academic performance on the lesson, I hope to decrease negative behaviors. It will also benefit my students by raising their self-esteem, providing a second teaching style, and by being more knowledgeable myself so I'll be better able to assist them when technology/academic problems do arise in connection to the lesson.
Students will be assessed based on the products they produce and also on how willing they are to incorporate technology in their projects when it is not a requirement.

Expectations of Mentor:

I tend to seek out my own mentors
Guide me and answer questions I may have
Creating lessons that incorporate technology
My mentor-teacher will be a guide and a resource
Technical advice when required
Ideas on unit use
Trouble shooting
As being a conduit to other ideas being tried by other professionals
I expect him/her to guide me to interesting grade-appropriate websites and to help me find a away to give my students basic instruction on the computer and it's parts.
Great. I feel after teaching many years in another district it wasn't as necessary for me than someone right out of college.

Lots of hands on problem shooting, and advice on techniques perhaps tried but not mastered.
To provide resources, direction and support based on her own knowledge and experiences in developing and teaching technology integrated lessons.
Guide us through the lesson planning process; instruct us on how to implement the benchmarks.

Other Comments:

I am not strong on computers, I hope not to drag down the group!

I'd like to see more actual mentor meetings spent helping new teachers with report cards, organizing their room, helping them figure out their classroom schedules, planning a couple days of the first few lessons.
Showing them how to score grades, what to assess especially with those of us in the Sage Grants. Just more practical ideas that would help them out.
I think the meetings that were presented this year were great and should continue.

Stevens Point-McKinley Elementary

Personal Goals:

To communicate with other classrooms and other schools.
Digital camera use and loading pictures to files.
imovie and how to incorporate into lessons
ibook as a tool for assisting with lessons
To load pictures from a digital camera on to the computer
To "burn" a CD to hold Power Point presentations
To video edit
To be able to learn to make an Imovie using the digital video camera and then to teach my peers to use it in connection with classroom teaching
(Parent) To learn what teachers were and will be able to do with technology in our school

Personal Assessment:

If I feel confident in my ability to develop and implement a program of interschool/interclassroom activities, I will be successful
By projects developed in the course
To burn a CD to hold Power Point presentations, video edit, and load digital camera independently
The video outcome of my personal video (made using still pictures and importing them through the digital camera to the Imovie)
(Parent) To be able to help teachers and students more with technology; speak at school's Computer Club

Benefit to Students:

To communicate visually with peers is a valuable opportunity. Students will compare their program with others, self assessment is important
I will be better prepared in the area of technology to assist them with technology based projects.
Students would be able to present their e-portfolios to their parents if they were unable to attend the spring conference
Students would be able to create a video project for a specified content area.
Teaching my students to make Imovies about certain topics (e.g. social studies or language arts) and using the Imovies as a communication tool and for assessment
(Parent) Students will be more successful in careers and society with increased knowledge of technology

Assessment of Benefit to Students:

Students will show an interest in people and their situations. Hopefully they can see beyond their own circumstances
Through graded projects (i.e. power point presentation)
For my students to create a video presentation as a final project
Through the completion of Imovies and sharing results with parents; through a rubric the students will self-evaluate
(Parent) Assess the benefits of what my own children learn and share with me through e-portfolios and other computer driven projects; also through my involvement in helping students in the classroom

Expectations of Mentor:

Let's have a good time and do some valuable work.
Preparation of "hands on" learning lessons which will assist me in attaining my learning objectives
I want to be able to complete the tasks independently.
I think my greatest fear in this project would be coming away without the skills. Upon occasion it has been my experience that 'tech' people sometimes do it for you instead of allowing you to do it yourself. Thus, I must continually rely on someone for constant help.
Slow guidance and patience in dealing with the various levels of computer skills necessary to complete the project; awareness of any problems that might crop up and to be able to handle them
(Parent) To continue to inform and share knowledge with teachers and parents of the school

Other Comments:

Looking forward to the class
I was very impressed with how much we were able to learn in one week when there are no interruptions related to work. It helped me to be able to continuously work on the project.
(Parent) I am much impressed with what I have seen at McKinley. Teachers and the principal . . . are interested in thinking "out of the box" sometimes to bring our students the very best and the very newest of techniques and technology. They have my support!

Wausau-Rib Mountain Elementary

Personal goals:

General computer knowledge, increase comfort level
Learn about Power Point presentations, including a multi-media component
Learn basic techniques to make word processing more efficient for me, inserting digital images into word processing documents and terminology

Personal Assessment:

Being able to do any number of computer operations
Conduct on-going interview with (mentor); also be in communication with school principal regarding appropriate content; develop a check list identifying new skills I have learned throughout this program
By how comfortable and successful I feel when working independent of this class and problem-solving on my own.

Benefit to Students:

They will have a teacher that is comfortable with technology, therefore, incorporating more technology into the classroom
Teach K-5 students how to develop appropriate social skills, thus impacting the school climate in a positive way. Hopefully, I will be able to impact students' sense of security and also positively impact their learning.
I will be able to individualize programs to meet their needs and create fun and creative learning experiences.

Assessment of Benefit to Students:

Interview with teachers and students regarding their impression of behavior by students following each quarter. I will also be comparing number of visits to the principal this coming year vs. last year.
By looking for growth in skills as well as their desire to work on programs I have created.

Expectations of Mentor:

Hope to be taught many things that can be implemented into the classroom
Hope to feel comfortable asking any questions
Assist me in becoming more proficient in utilizing technology and accessing ideas to meet my goals.
Answer questions and teach me skills that I feel will make me more efficient and independent with computer related tasks I encounter.

Other Comments:

I am looking forward to a new challenge.
I am excited to at last get some one to one/small group instruction in technology. Taking a computer class has been a goal of mine for approximately 3-4 years. I have finally bit the bullet and here I am.

Wausau-Riverview Elementary

Personal Goals:

To access information about the technology that is available
Use technology as a regular tool to use during teaching
I would like to learn how to do web pages. As a team, we hope to make web pages for our school that support the academic curriculum and provide avenues of enrichment and sources of information and support for both students and their parents.
To create and work on a website that will be helpful to students and parents or our school

Personal Assessment:

By monitoring my successes and my ability to meet my goals
How successful we are at learning how to design and implement our web pages and how often students and parents use them.
The website will be functional and we will have a fourth grade link to Riverview School website

Benefit to Students:

Firmly believe that all forms of technology must be a part of curriculum (including digital cameras, camcorders, scanners, computers, etc.)
The web pages will be a knowledge and skills source to both support and extend existing curriculum.
Students and parents will be able to go to this website and link up to basic and supplemental material related to our curriculum.

Assessment of Benefit to Students:

I will set expectations for students and assess their success through technology (this is difficult since I don’t know where this will take me)
The record of use of the web site, comments, and feedback.
I will be able to observe if they access the site during lab time.
I will survey them.

Expectations of Mentor:

Hoping she will continue to work with us, teach and support us, and link us to opportunities in technology
This becomes a user friendly web site for both students and parents and a way for them to easily access needed information.
Supervision and advice, available for questions

Other Comments:

Feel very fortunate to have Maggie on staff, this lets us be ahead of other elementary schools