Why We Need Tech In Schools-Raymond Speaks

We currently cannot use electronic devices at Corsicana High School in the learning environment without special permission.  What if we could? This may sound threatening to some people because their way of viewing things may be different, but I think most of us would actually agree that the use of phones or any other hand held technology can actually be very beneficial. For years school administration has taken up student devices as punishment. Question is, why would they take up something that can actually be very helpful? The answer is because students almost always decide to use their tech while the teacher is giving instruction, which we all agree that the use of tech at that time isn't right. When the teacher is speaking, we should be listening. In my opinion, that is the only possible negative that would happen if tech were in schools. If there were a solution to this problem, which I'm sure administrators are looking for one, then there wouldn't be a problem for such a great thing in our schools. Many people say that students would only use tech to be on Twitter, Facebook, or to be texting their peers but this isn't all true. In my opinion, we are in school to learn and to further understand the things that will help us in the future. Tech can sure help us further understand what our teachers are teaching us.  To sum this up, I believe tech is a great thing for our schools!  It is also very beneficial not only because textbooks are outdated and old, but because our world changes everyday and we as students have to keep up with what is around us. Not only at our homes, or at work, but at school too because tech is sure to be a huge part of our generations future and we need to stay up to date with what tomorrow will bring!

Raymond Hurtado

Raymond is a junior at Corsicana High School.  He passionately believes in #edtech and what it can do for him and other students.

My Journey With Math!

Most people that know me know that I have always struggled with math.  I can remember as early as 2nd grade sitting at the table with my mom going over math facts and not being able to quite "get it."  I was always that one kid in math class that would pay attention, actively participate, and even go to the chalk board to practice problems, and still wouldn't "get it."  I remember having to deal with the fact that all of my close friends were able to take Algebra I in 8th grade.  Not me...I had to take Pre-Algebra.  I think I was sort of embarrassed by this.  I always considered myself a good student, but this math thing always stood in my way.  What made it even worse was the fact that it seemed to always build on the last concept taught.  That meant I was stuck in a never ending cycle of not knowing!  Ugggghhhh!

So I go to high school in the fall of '95 and I am super excited.  I am finally at the big school where my mom teaches.  I am excited about everything except Algebra I.  I have it 2nd period and I can still remember who my teacher was.  I will say this boldly, she was not the best teacher.  It was bad from the very beginning.  I remember failing a couple of tests and basically not given an opportunity to re-test (crazy).  I had to switch teachers later and basically lost another year of math.

Let's fast forward to my senior year.  I took Algebra II as a senior, which was a good choice.  My teacher was Daryl Edwards and he was the single reason that my fear of math began to go away.  He introduced our class to a little device called the TI-82.  Who knew they made a calculator that could basically do every math problem? Who also knew that he would show us how to use it effectively?  Well, he did!  I finished the class with a 99 average!  And even more powerful, I learned the math!

I went off to college and had to take two math classes: College Algebra, and Structure of the Number System.  I used the calculator and blew through College Algebra with an "A".  I didn't do to well in the Structure class.  I barely squeaked out of that class.  I felt like I was in the 9th grade again!  I didn't know anything from start to finish.  Whew!

Let's fast forward to the fall of 2002 around November.  It is time for everyone to find out where they would be student teaching.  Sitting in a seminar Dr. Bailey, the director of field experiences gives everyone their student teaching assignment.  I open mine and it says Herbert O'Neil-Schultz Middle School, Waller ISD.  I'm excited because I think that I received just what I wanted.  I call the school the next day and they told me that I would be paired up with Bryan Wright a 6th grade math teacher.  My first reaction is "whatever" these people are playing with me.  There is no way that I could teach any math beyond maybe 3rd grade.  Besides my specialization is Reading and English.  Well, turns out it couldn't be changed.  Yes, I had to teach math a whole semester.  It was not easy!  I had to work at it.  I went home and studied most nights so I could put my best foot forward with the students.  It was uncomfortable most days, but it made me a better teacher.

The moral of this story is that my weakness had to be destroyed!  As much as I still do not like many forms of math, I would not be where I am now without conquering some form of math.  The student teaching experience was very humbling to me.  I worked hard to make my lessons relevant and engaging because I didn't want the students to end up like me.  I had to work hard to ensure they learned.

As educators we have to remember those students that work hard and still do not get it.  We have to find what works for them.  We can never stop at one way to find the key to their success!

Corsicana Twitter Power: Creating a District Twitter Presence!

ISTE '13

In case you haven't noticed several of the Corsicana ISD learning community is connected to the educational world via twitter.  It has been amazing seeing so many educators on twitter learning, growing, and using it in the classroom. 

The most powerful piece to the Corsicana twitter puzzle is the fact that our superintendent @Dianedfrost  has supported and embraced twitter from the very beginning.  If the leader is on board, then most likely the others will move along. 

So how did this process all begin? 

Someone must have a vision
Someone in your district must believe in twitter and the power that it has in developing a Personal Learning Network or for classroom use. 

Someone must be willing to provide training
Once the vision has been realized this individual or someone else must provide training. Twitter is a microblogging site that many must be trained on how to use.  It takes more time to learn versus facebook.  They need a jumpstart on who to follow to build their PLN and how to mention, retweet, and all the other things you do with twitter.  They must also learn how to communicate with students via twitter if they so choose.

Someone must determine the initial target audience
The first big twitter learning session at Corsicana ISD took place at our summer administrative training.  Every single administrator in the district was trained on twitter by @herbertoneiljr. As I said earlier if you receive buy-in from the leadership in the district then the teachers will follow suit.

Someone must ensure that newly trained folks are engaged
  After the training all administrators were encouraged to participate in the weekly #txed chat that took place that night.  Our superintendent, Dr. Diane Frost participated as well as just about every single administrator.  After that night several of the administrators were sold on its power.  Again, after the training the educators must be exposed to something that will hook their interest.  Every time I teach a session on twitter I make sure that it is followed up by an educational chat. 

Someone must keep the conversation going
I felt it important to keep the conversation going via twitter.  Before I knew it more and more of our administrators were continuing to learn, grow, and communicate via twitter, and because of that many of our staff members took notice.  Remember superstars never want to be left out of something good!

Someone must train the staff
At a faculty meeting I held an optional learning session after the main meeting.  Several teachers and staff members stayed and were trained on Remind 101, Today's Meet, and Twitter.  Many staff members either signed up or learned more about twitter.  That night everyone was invited to participate in the #txed chat.  After that meeting several of the Corsicana High School staff members were immediately bought in to its learning opportunities.

It has been great watching all of this unfold.  We still have a lot to learn, but it is wonderful being around people that are embracing learning.

Herbert