EDLD+5365

Assignment 4-4: Course-Embedded Reflections on EDLD 5365 Web Design

I really felt out of my element and thought this was a difficult course. I was not familiar with terminology and I had a difficult time visualizing the process. I don’t mind updating my web page or adding sites or information for my parents. I always have available on my web site, working documents that students seem to lose, for example spelling contract, reading log, etc. But, EDLD 5365 Web Design is not about updating our web pages/sites. This course covered three areas of Web: site design, development and site administration. I did have an opportunity to really examine my school’s Web policy, governance and the Web 2.0 world. I also explored Drupal, PHP, MySQL, [|Picassa], and [|NewSchoolsSpaces.net]. Our culminating project was to plan and launch our new site. I felt very frustrated working with Drupal and did not fully understand the programming. Now I know how my students feel with new vocabulary and content! What I discovered is that a leader must be detailed oriented and organized to launch a new web site. It’s like planning for a wedding, it can be done simply with no “Wow factor” or it can be launched with the “Wow factor.” And like a wedding, there are details, details, deadlines, rechecking, prelaunch, etc. I have respect for the web designers and the technology leaders who do launch the first web site. I know this is not something I would like to do. But I do understand how important it is for our school to maintain a current web site. A good school website provides information, resources, upcoming events, and a place to showcase students’ work and achievements. In other words, a window to a school’s culture.
 * Self –Assessment **

I really feel like I went through this class with blinders. I don’t feel like I achieved the learning outcomes, thoughI did well in the class. For example one of the outcomes was to have an understanding of web governance, but I can’t recall off hand what it is or means. I do know that governance means control or authority, but web I forgot. In my research, Lisa Welchman (2009) states that many people are confused about web governance, she, “find (s) that different organizations have different senses of what Web Governance is (and isn't).” I really see this course for a business major with a background in technology. My reasoning I tend to procrastinate and in creating a project charter & high-level project plan made me realize that upper management cannot be procrastinators. Technology leaders must be aware of timelines and upcoming projects. Technology leaders must also be problem solvers and be proactive for roadblocks that might be hindrance to the project. I managed to complete my assignments successfully but I felt like I just went through the motions when completing my school’s project website: project charter. I enlisted the help of my husband whose undergraduate degree is in accounting and MBA in Management. He had to sit with me and explain one-on-one what I was doing.
 * Learn as a Learner **

Though I feel that I did not achieve the desired learning outcomes; my technology skills and experience has flourished. In December, 2009 I collaborated with my team (EDLD 5364 Teaching with Technology) using Google: sites, wikis, Picassa and using Google documents to create a solution to a scenario-based group project. I liked working with Picassa but found iMovie easier to use. Looking back at my Picassa project and my iMovie project, the quality of Picassa does not match the quality of movies iMovie produces. Recently our technology teacher/facilitator/specials teacher held a mini session on websites updates. Many of our teachers did not remember how to change their web page and still had a summer message. During our conference times, we had to meet wither her to up-date our websites. My team did not have to attend, I had meet individually with them and walked them through the exercise. I do have sites that my students can link to for instructional support. I concern is that it does not look pretty. I would like to learn how to create a better site for my teachers, parents, and students. My Academic Coach is looking into sending me for training. I enjoy working with Google documents and sites and using them as collaborating tools. I send my creations (assignments) to my colleagues to share examples of the possibilities of utilizing these programs. They are impressed, but still no buy in to utilizing these programs. I would like to share with fourth grade and show how wikis can be used for writing practice. In fact I’m trying to engage our principal in starting a blog. I agree with Mr. Peterson when describes our roles a leaders of technology the, “21st century leader is someone willing to take the time to learn about new tools and then implement them into his/her daily work” (January 27, 2009). If my principal hopes to promote technology integration, he must utilize web 2.0 tools in his job. I’m honored to be the technology leader on our campus. My main concern is that my campus wants results now, but there is not enough time to research, experiment, being a full-time classroom teacher and attending graduate classes.
 * Lifelong Learning Skills **

**Reference ** Google. (2010). Google Sites Overview. Retrieved from []

Peterson, B. (2009, January 27). Principals of the Future [Web log message]. []

Welchman, L. (2009, March 15). Web governance: a definition [Web log message]. []