Lamar EDU EoL 3 2016
Robert Bracken Learning Manifesto
Robert Bracken
Lamar University
College of Education and Human Development
I’m very passionate about producing videos. I’ve had a lot of starts and stops along my journey and there may be more ahead. As I was graduating college in 2003 is when Youtube was first coming around. There were many funny videos that we shared through email or by “googling” but when the Youtube platform came out then we had one specific place to see all our favorite videos. My favorite video then and now is “Star Wars Kid” Here’s an explanation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBLhAm9vW10
My personal learning and leading philosophy is learn through doing. When I first started my internship at Channel 39 in Houston I would spend hours in the video editing bay watching someone work. It was when I sat down at the table myself is when I felt the learning process take shape. I could move things around the screen and slowly my arms and fingers would make videos that my mind wanted to make.
An emerging issue is putting video creation in the hands of teachers. Right now our teachers at Klein ISD are going full speed making video tutorials to explain concepts in their class. Our department is in charge of our video network called “Kleinflix.” This is a website where any Klein ISD employee can post a video. Our district makes sure each district computer has screen recording software so they can easily record and post without any editing.
Here’s a sample of educational training videos hosted on our website. - https://kleinflix.kleinisd.net/show-videos?g=85f5bcbb&page=1
If you click the four boxes at the very top, it’ll take you to the main page where you can see other department video channels.
It’s part of my job to help with troubleshooting our Kleinflix and installing its components. When I run into issues I use their video library to help me solve problems. That’s what our Klein teachers and students are already doing. Youtube has exploded with video tutorials. I help make sure that our school district is using Kleinflix to keep uploading high quality videos.
One thing I love about our district is our technology initiative. During this upcoming school year we will continue to roll out the Future Ready 21 program that utilizes technology to increase learning and interaction in the classroom. This is a great example of constructivist approach as our teachers adapt to the role of facilitators. As our Chief Technology Officer said to “encourage engagement.” That’s a perfect way of putting it. (Smith, 2016)
One thing that I think is wrong with our educational system is schools being judged by their test scores. As I look through a list from the Houston Chronicle about the worst SAT Scores, there seems to be a lack of highlighting external influences to the stats and it leaves the reader an expectation that the reason is geography of the area. When judging a school district or school there needs to be multiple factors of what to look for. The news article didn’t highlight any extra. (http://www.chron.com/news/education/article/30-Houston-schools-with-some-of-the-worst-SAT-8403825.php)
I work closely with our Klein ISD Gifted and Talented Program and they have said to me privately that their program isn’t a goal for students but a support network. Being super smart or high achieving is something that kids almost can’t control. They complete assignments quicker, have a better understanding of problems, and catch errors in a teacher’s work. While Klein ISD recognizes all students have their academic strengths, not all students are gifted. I videotaped a class that gave our teachers the tools to recognize high achieving students and the tools to calm parents who demand their unqualified children into the program. (Here’s part of the class 1:04:42- https://kleinflix.kleinisd.net/show?video=c4a00602cceb ) It was important to the program coordinator that this session be videotaped and published online. The purpose was so any teacher could refer back to the program and re-live some instruction.
I loved watching this Youtube video of Seth Godin “Stop Stealing Dreams.” Imagine how less impactful it would be if it was a PowerPoint, delivered by someone will less pizzaz, and without the audience’s great reactions? These TED talks come in a lot of different type, but they all seem to be presented with video distribution in mind. You can listen to some of them by podcast.
Seth Godin did a great job when he asked the question “Are we teaching the children to collect dots or how to connect the dots?” Right now in my department we are reviewing school test scores and how they stack up to the Texas Education Standards. This affects money and money affects the direction we’re headed as a district. Luckily our scores are good with most of the schools rated “Met Standard.” The TEA has set their own standard for “connecting the dots” and making sure student groups are evaluated against the system safeguards for graduation rates. (TEA Performance Reporting 2015.) This means that schools can’t depend on higher scores in other areas, high scores from the gifted or affluent students to hide poor performing student’s scores.
There are a couple of schools that are “Improvement Required.” Around here we call them IR and they receive a lot of attention and help. Here’s a quick example of our ratings in 2015. (https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/cgi/sas/broker?_service=marykay&year4=2015&year2=15&topic=acct&_debug=0&ptype=H&pickone=Y&level=District&title=2015+Accountability+Reports&_program=perfrept.perfmast.sas&prgopt=2015%2Facct%2Fdistsum.sas&search=distname&namenum=klein)
According to the TEA the highlights of the 2015 State Accountability Results uses four indices that measure the quality of learning. There are over 1,200 districts in Texas with more than five million students and according to the TEA nearly 95% met their standard.
As for what’s wrong with Texas schools the clear answer is “Not much!” I don’t want to highlight the roses and not the weeds, but a report from the Friends of Texas Public Schools says administration overhead, football stadiums, and extracurricular activities are only 3 cents each of every dollar. On the flipside, 49 cents of every dollar is spent on teacher salaries.
Another problem that gets pointed out is; Are students prepared for the real world? Texas has set an all-time high for graduation rate in 2012. At 87% graduation rate for the Class of 2012 marks the fifth consecutive year the rate has increased. I believe that out of the 1,200 school districts and other educational opportunities having a high school education sets a solid foundation for the future and being a productive citizen. According to the website AmericaPromise.org high school graduates are less likely to be unemployed, live in poverty, have poor health, or have children who also live in poverty.
References
30 Houston schools with some of the worst SAT scores. (n.d.). Retrieved July 26,
2016, from
http://www.chron.com/news/education/article/30-Houston-schools-
with-some-of-the-worst-SAT-8403825.php
Godin, Seth (2012, October 16). STOP STEALING DREAMS: Seth Godin at
TEDxYouth@BFS. Retrieved July 26, 2016, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXpbONjV1Jc
2015 ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS. (2015, November 4). Retrieved fromhttps://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/cgi/sas/broker?_service=marykay&year4=2015&year2=15&topic=acct&_debug=0&ptype=H&pickone=Y&level=District&title=2015AccountabilityReports&_program=perfrept.perfmast.sas&prgopt=2015/acct/distsum.sas&search=distname&namenum=klein Tracking the Education Dollar. (2011, February). Retrieved fromhttp://fotps.org/sg_userfiles/TrackingTheEducationDollar.pdf?99d108End the Dropout Crisis. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttp://guidebook.americaspromise.org/section/demonstrating-the-benefits-of-high-school-completion#fn1-290 Klein ISD preparing students to be digital citizens. (2016, July 19). Retrieved July 27, 2016, fromhttp://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cypresscreek/news/klein-isd-preparing-students-to-be-digital-citizens/article_922588e7-9c3f-5597-a1ef-406f7266e70e.html
