May+Internship+Log+and+Reflection

May-http://docs.google.com/View?id=dggtpmb5_24cv6ppwhs


 * Week 1-** Having the chance to deliver the NetStart training was absolutely invaluable for two reasons. The first being job related, I will have to train an entire staff on NetStart this August so having the opportunity to refine the training and smooth the kinks should prove very beneficial. The second was for my development as a technology leader, having another opportunity to watch how people reacted to what I was trying to train them on, where they did well and where they struggled taught me a lot about how I was doing. I realize that the same thing can be said about teaching, but I do honestly feel that it is a different situation and a different dynamic when dealing with adults.


 * Week 2-** The opportunity to work with the student technology panel was a very interesting experience. I felt that having the opportunity to pick the students who participated was a very good one for me, I made it my focus to not just pick the good students and put the best foot forward like many people are tempted to do. I made sure to pick a varied group of students in order to make the information gained from the panel as useful as possible.

By selecting students who are not necessarily the cream of the crop, I avoided the scenario where only the ideal classroom or student was being described. Gaining insight from students with discipline or academic problems is crucial because these are the students who stand to benefit the most from increased technology use in the classrooms and at home.

The questions asked of the students covered student interests (both online and offline), school vs. play, and amount of access (digital divide).


 * Week 3-** Ms. Fawcett and I took a tour of the Sunny M. Donaldson Annex building, this is where the district houses the servers for the network. The tour was very informative and the conversation centered on how the network functioned from the Annex all the way down to a single computer in a classroom.

What I gained from taking the tour was quite varied, I had a chance to meet some of the people who I will be calling if I am in need of technical support next year as well as some of the staff further up the ladder than I. Having the opportunity to meet some of the people higher up than me in the Technology Department was very interesting because it gave me an idea of what career promotion oppourtunities may be available to me if I choose to stay with the district in the Technology Department.

What I will take away most from this opportunity however will be the basics of trouble shooting for the network, in my new position this fall, if there are internet issues, I will know where to start, what to look for, where to go, and ultimately who to call if I am not able to fix the problem myself.


 * Week 4-** Working with Ms. Fawcett on IGPro to prepare for the school year's final grades was done to help me prepare for next year. While IGPro will not be used next year, it is Ms. Fawcett's belief that the training for the new gradebook, Eduphoria, will refer quite heavily to IGPro, making comparsions and contrasts between the two programs. By showing me how IGPro works, Ms. Fawcett was attempting to give me some context for the trainings this August.