Web 2.

0 Advocate Assignment (Voki) Myra Lipsey FRIT 8132: Administration of Technology Resources Fall 2012

Part I:

https://mlipsey.wikispaces.com/Web+2.0+Advocate+Assignment+for+FRIT+8132

Part II: Myself and a co-teacher both like Voki, a Web 2.0 tool. I used Voki on my website as an introduction to myself at the beginning of the year. The students and parents loved it. I interviewed Mrs. Niki Brown, the media specialist, and Mr. Matthew Pulliam, the Technology Liaison, at Mattie Lively Elementary School in Statesboro, GeorgiaIt is a Pre-K 5th grade elementary school. There are approximately 500 students enrolled at the school and it is a Title I school based on various criteria, including the number of students on free and reduced lunch. Each grade has a separate computer lab. The school is brand new this school year. There are also 15 computers in the Media Center. All of the classrooms have ceiling mounted LCD projectors, SMART boards, and four classroom computers. I discussed with Mrs. Brown, and Mr. Pulliam, the possibility of having Voki unblocked on school computers so students and teachers could utilize this engaging product in classroom presentations and assignments. I told them how Voki can help with classroom presentations both from a teacher standpoint and from a student standpoint. Voki provides students with a chance to be creative in their presentations. Speaking is a very big part of our new CCGPS standards, and Voki could help with this, especially students who are introverted. Mr. Pulliam investigated the reason it was blocked, and found there was concern over already created Vokis that might contain inappropriate material. I explained to Mr. Pulliam that my students would be monitored at school while using Voki. I explained that I would only use it the last two weeks of each nine weeks period in order for students to complete the written/speaking assessment required of each reading framework. Mr. Pulliam found out how I should go about requesting it be unblocked. I had

to first discuss it with my principal and then send a written request to Mr. Craig Liggett, the Assistant Superintendent of Information Systems, for our county. My principal would have to sign off on the letter giving her approval. He said I should go into detail of what I would use it for and how it would help students learn. I was also told to send some sample Vokis that I had created so Mr. Liggett and others could see how I would use it in the classroom. Upon receiving my letter, Mr. Liggett would discuss the matter with his team of 3 technology specialists. I would hear from Mr. Liggett via email within five business days with his decision. If my request was approved, Mr. Pulliam would be given administrative rights to unblock the site each nine week period. I would have to notify him when I would need it and when I would be finished with it. The site would only be unblocked on my classroom computers and the computers in the fourth grade lab. If my request were denied, I could appeal it by having to go before the members of the school board.

Flow Chart of Procedures to Follow to Request Voki to be unblocked

Person Making Request

Discuss matter with school principal and prepare letter for request to be sign by me and Principal

Principal
If support is given by Principal, he/she must sign off on letter from person making request.

Assistant Superintendent of Information Systems

Review letter of request and bring letter before Technology Specialists. If approved, notify person making request via email within five business days. If approved, school Technology Liaison will unblock site when needed.

If denied, notified via email and given next step to bring before School Board.

It is my feeling that the process to go through to get materials unblocked is very reasonable. We have a very close working relationship among school technology liaisons and Mr. Liggett. Technology is received very well in our county. I believe the request will be approved. I feel the justification and examples sent will also help in making the decision a positive one for us and our students. References Interview with: Mrs. Niki Brown, Media Specialist, Mattie Lively Elementary School, Statesboro, Georgia. Interview with: Mr. Matthew Pulliam, Technology Liaison, Mattie Lively Elementary School, Statesboro, Georgia. School Demographics obtained from Data Clerk, Sadeanya Parker, Mattie Lively Elementary School, Statesboro, Georgia.