Teacher Quality Ning Assignment

Emerging Instructional Technologies
South Hardin Middle School
Teacher Quality Ning Assignment

Goal
Our goal is for the faculty to gain an understanding of the concept of social networking and how to implement it in their classrooms as an educational tool for students to interact with them.

Objectives

Instructors will participate in classroom and peer social networking on the South Hardin Middle School Ning.
Instructors will accept the invitation to the school's Ning and setup their My Page.
Instructors will interact with peers and students through the use of posting discussions on the school's Ning.
Instructors will upload files to the school's Ning for classroom use.

Expectations before first Professional Development
Complete RWLDs posted at South Hardin Middle School Ning and complete google form on the group page.

Professional Development Hour 1
During this professional development hour, the concept of social networking will be presented to faculty. Instructors will be introduced to what social networking is and why it should be implemented at their curriculum. Instructors will be given a guided tour of the school's Ning and the purpose it holds.

During this professional development hour one, instructors will be expected to participate in the following:

Demonstration of South Hardin Middle School Ning
Explanation of My Page using Jing link on the school Ning.
Complete the profile on My Page
Post Comment to Discussion on Main Page (Question - How they would implement this in their classes.)
Continue to complete the RWLDs and discussions posted on the school's Ning.

Professional Development Hour 2
During this professional development hour, instructors will be shown how to maneuver My Group features on the Ning and implement a lesson to their My Group. Also, concepts/skills from professional development hour one will be reviewed. Instructors will be expected to participate in the following:

Highlight Discussion Thread Results from Professional Development Hour One
Demonstration of How to Maneuver My Group Features using Jing link
Demonstration of Posting Comments to My Group using Jing link
Demonstration of Uploading Files, Pictures, Podcasts, etc to My Group page using Jing link
Practice the Concepts Presented on My Group Features
Develop a lesson as to how they would implement this in their class and post it.
Continue to complete the RWLDs and discussions posted on the school's Ning.

Professional Development Hour 3
At this point, instructors will be asked for feedback as to how the Ning is utilized. Questions and concerns will be addressed. During this time, instructors will be given information on blogs and how to maintain them. Instructors will be expected to participate in the following:

Demonstration of How to Create a Blog and its Features
Demonstration of Posting to a Blog using Jing link
Practice the Concepts Presented in Blogging and its Features
Develop a lesson as to how they would implement this in their class and post it.
Continue to complete the RWLDs and discussions posted on the school's Ning.

Assessment
At the end of the school year, the instructors will showcase how they have used the Ning within their classrooms and how this impacted student learning.

Teacher Quality Ning Assessment Rubric
	4	3	2	1
My Group Discussions	Instructor initiated discussions weekly within their Group. Weekly students reflected on classroom instruction.	Instructor utilized the discussion feature within their Group. Twice a month postings for students to reflect on classroom instruction.	Instructor utilized the discussion feature once a month within their group. Students responded to this posting.	Instructor did not utilize the discussion feature.
Content of Instructor’s Postings	All posts are well-written. Instructor used both written and visual representation in their postings. All postings were appropriate curricular content in nature.	All postings are well-written. Instructor utilized the resources available. Postings have files, pictures, graphics, podcasts, etc. uploaded. Postings were educational.	Postings may have not been well-written. Instructor did not utilize the upload feature for files, graphics, podcasts, etc. Postings did not have educational purpose.	Instructor did not post.
Content of RWLDs Reflections Postings	Instructor’s reflections on the RWLDs were well-written. All reflections are posted to the Ning and included insights as to how this could be used by others. Commented on other instructor’s reflections.	Instructor’s reflections on the RWLDs were well-written and were posted to the Ning. Commented on other instructor’s reflections.	Instructor reflected on the RWLDs, but did not post to the Ning.	Instructor did not reflect on the RWLDs.
Showcase Lesson Plan – Lesson plan includes standard/benchmark/lesson objective.		Clearly states standard, benchmark, or objective (lesson linked to any standard or benchmark).	Lesson included a benchmark, standard or objective but it was not tied into the lesson.	Does not include standard/benchmark/ objective of lesson.
Showcase Lesson Plan – Lesson plan includes technology applications.	Instructor designed a Ning to present their showcase.	Multiple uses of technology application (Microsoft Office, Jeopardy, interactive whiteboard, graphic organizers, Ning, Inspiration, etc.)	Used one type of technology application.	Does not have technology applications
Showcase Lesson Plan – Evidence of student work related to the technology used.	Student work is posted on the school’s Ning.	Some evidence of student work (tests, quizzes, papers, ppt, graphics organizers, final project sample, etc.).	Only one type of student evidence is shown.	Does not show evidence of student work.
Showcase Lesson Plan – Student achievement enhanced by use of technology.	Student mentoring program utilized for students to mentor other students.	Evidence of student achievement enhanced by technology implementation (test scores, personal reflection, pre/post survey, etc.)	Use of technology was implemented but student achievement was not tied to the technology.	Does not show student achievement enhanced by use of technology.