Lab Policy for Substitutes
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
We are drafting some policies for use of our school computer lab and were
wondering specifically what policies other school have about substitutes
bringing classes to the lab. I don't think it should happen--too many
potential problems/liabilities. And I'm hoping to use rational arguments
coupled with the "this is what other schools do" approach to convince our
division head to see our point of view. TIA!
Liz Owens
Computer Teacher
Episcopal Day School
Augusta, GA
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EDTECH Editor-Hogan
Liz,
My question is why would a computer lab not have its own instructor? Your
title insinuates that you are the computer lab instructor. Why would it
matter if a substitute brought the class? You should be the one in charge
of what the students do.
*******
Jeff Hogan, M.S.
Instructional Technology Specialist
Health Sciences
Valencia Community College
1800 S. Kirkman, 4-14
Orlando, Florida 32811
407-582-5564
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
Give me a break.
Your substitutes are or should be certified teachers. Conducting the
class in a lab is different but not more challenging than the regular
classroom. For the smooth running of a classroom the substitute should be
continuing the lessons the teacher has started. Some of the things that
guarantee an
interesting day are watching movies the students have seen 20 times and
"we're not going to the lab today" ("we didn't bring our books because
we're going to the lab"). Of course these pale in comparison to being
dropped in the middle of a jigsaw.
The biggest problem I have subbing in a computer lab is the different
perceptions between the teacher ("they all have lots to do") and students
("I'm done"). The sub plans need to have follow on work, from the
teacher, to do when the assignment is completed. It's really nice to have
a copy of the assignments and assessment rubric provided. Of course class
room instructions regarding acceptable use of computers should be explicit
and reflect practice ("but, my teacher lets me do it").
Computer access for the substitute is important for accessing assignments,
finding resources, and problem solving. All of which help keep students on
task and productive.
Further, if a class is causing "too many potential problems/liabilities",
you have bigger problems than substitute teachers.
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
We do allow substitutes to bring a class to the lab.
I really depends on the assignments created by the classroom teacher,
since they are the ones which
sign-up for the lab.
When we have problems (and we do, since they are kids) they need to be
addressed by the classroom teacher.
--
Best wishes,
Mike Wilson
Math/Science
West Grand High School
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
I have heard that some schools do not have lab instructors - teachers
responsibility to sign up and use the school lab. I teach in Trenton, NJ
and my school has three computer labs with two instructors. However, I
move between middle school grades (on one side of the school) and
elementary grades (the other side of the school) which allows a lab open
for teachers to use - they simply sign up outside the door for an open
time slot. Substitutes are told not to use the lab unless they have been
assigned as a long term sub and they have proven they can control a class
in a lab setting.
Steven Stallone
Computer Lab Teacher
Patton J. Hill Elementary School
Trenton, NJ
ssta...@trenton.k12.nj.us
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
Jeff,
Small schools do not necessarily have a resident lab instructor. None of
my schools have a lab instructor or TA. The labs are open, and scheduled
by the teachers, who accompany their students to the lab. If the teacher
is absent and replaced by a substitute, the original question has merit.
Liz, I am in agreement that a sub should not be running a computer lab.
However, it does sometimes happen. You might consider inviting your subs
to attend technology staff development sessions, and also by having them
agree to your faculty AUP.
Guy Durrant
Daggett SD
Manila, UT
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
Good question. I actually fill several roles in the school. I am the
computer teacher (I teach all sections of PK - 4th grade and 6th grade),
part-time tech support, and technology integrationist, so when I'm not
teaching classes I'm often other places on campus. We are strongly
encouraging our faculty in lower and middle school to integrate technology
into their curriculum units, which includes bringing their classes to the
lab (when it is available!) for specific assignments related to that
teacher's curriculum. If teachers need me to be present, we schedule that
in advance. Our full-time faculty are responsible for making sure their
students follow the AUP and if something is damaged or a student ends up
doing something he or she shouldn't, then that falls back on the student
and teacher. I don't need to "babysit" the full-time faculty. But
substitute teachers are a different story. In the few cases we've had
teachers request that a sub bring a class to the lab, it has either ended
up being a waste of time because the "assignment" was little more than
filler (or worse yet, the class simply played games the majority of the
time), or we had students try to take advantage of the fact that there was
a sub who wasn't particularly computer literate or who wasn't skilled at
classroom management skills in a computer lab setting. Does that help
clarify the issue?
Liz
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
Some years ago there was the issue with the substitute that was convicted
or nearly convicted because students accessed pornography in the
classroom. From Connecticut I think. It seems that substitutes can easily
be duped by students since the sub does not know rituals and routines of
the school lab. If the sub is not tech savvy there are other issues since
today's students are more tech savvy than some of their teachers. I teach
in the lab in Trenton , NJ - if we do not have a seasoned sub from
downtown for the lab - the lab is closed that day.
Steven Stallone
Computer Lab Teacher
Patton J. Hill Elementary School
Trenton, NJ
ssta...@trenton.k12.nj.us
---
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
Yes Liz,
That clarifies your role more. I took "computer teacher" to mean less
than it actually is. Sadly, with funding it does seem that technology
teachers wear many hats.
I too was held a similar position in a K-8 some years back. My title then
was "Technology Coordinator"; but, it was an instructional position.
Another district I worked for called us "Educational Technology
Facilitator" which I actually liked best.
But, as you stated -- having a sub bring a class poses problems. If you
can't be there I'd discourage it.
Sure, ideally, we'd be able to trust the kiddos with whomever was in front
of them to always engage in active listening and be on task.
But, in nearly 10 years of public school teaching I never had the
experience of such a school.
*******
Jeff Hogan, M.S.
Instructional Technology Specialist
Health Sciences
Valencia Community College
1800 S. Kirkman, 4-14
Orlando, Florida 32811
407-582-5564
---
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
Guy,
I understand lack of funding creates problems. I'm just tired of seeing
computer lab's used for Accelerated Reader and "About Me" Power Points.
And that's typically what happens when a lab doesn't have an technology
teacher in charge of the lab.
Sadly, even when those teachers are in charge of the lab sometimes that's
all that happened. I remember one school I taught at all I was allowed to
do was have the kids go on "Classworks" (which was a standardized test
preparation tool).
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
>From the CTO perspective, I wonder what happened to the network
administrator that allowed the software license to expire. Should the
finger have pointed to the tech support team, with the responsibility of
maintaining the computer, instead of the less technically proficient
substitute teacher?
Here's some history...
6/2007:
http://blog.tmcnet.com/regulations/in-the-courts/teacher-convicted-on-cl
assroom-porn-charges-gets-new-trial.asp
11/2008:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-mance/teachers-pop-up-porn-nigh_b_1457
72.html
11/2008:
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/x415849570/Norwich-pop-up-porn-case-
settled
I like Steven's comment: "if we do not have a seasoned sub from downtown
for the lab - the lab is closed that day."
---
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
> Your substitutes are or should be certified teachers.
We are a small private school and the vast majority of our subs are not
teachers at all but are quite often parents--obviously not an ideal
situation but it is what it is.
> Conducting the
> class in a lab is different but not more challenging than the regular
> classroom.
I beg to differ. I think classroom management in a computer lab can be
much more challenging than in a regular classroom. As others have said in
their responses, most of our middle school students are more tech-savvy
than most of the subs. And as someone mentioned specifically, there are
potential legal ramifications that can be devastating.
>
> Computer access for the substitute is important for accessing assignments,
> finding resources, and problem solving. All of which help keep students on
> task and productive.
All teachers have computers/interactive whiteboards in their classrooms,
so having a sub in the classroom and not in the lab doesn't bring learning
to a screeching halt. And if teachers are working on an assignment where
they really need to be in the lab, then we can work around those
occasional scheduling issues.
Liz Owens
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
Larry,
Hiring certified subs is an ideal. It is not a reality--for many districts
it is just a pipe dream. I am in a remote, rural part of northeast Utah.
The population of the county is less than 1000. We have about 180 students
K-12. Of 14 teachers in the district, two are "locals," while the rest of
us are imports. Like any district, we need substitute teachers. To the
best of my knowledge, there is only one certified sub in our pool, and she
is the superintendent's wife. Beyond that, we're lucky to get people with
so much as an associates degree. It is 68 miles to the next town in Utah,
and 50 miles to the closest town in Wyoming, so no one is going to drive
here for a $50/day sub job.
Urban Utah districts have an equally difficult time obtaining subs.
Certified people are either teaching already, or have other employment.
Then add to that the fact that anyone hired to work in a Utah school must
first pass a background check including fingerprinting.
It was easier when I lived in Arizona. Subs there must have either a
regular certificate, or a substituting certificate, the sole requirement
for which (in 1988) was a bachelors degree from an accredited institution.
Nevertheless, I recall that rural Arizona districts could not find enough
subs either. In the early 1990s, I attended a NSTA regional conference in
Phoenix. In order to get all their science teachers to attend, the state
convinced several tech/engineering companies such as Intel to get sub
certificates for their degreed employees and to donate their services for
the two or three days of the conference. It was an extraordinary effort,
but not something sustainable for the day-in, day-out need for
substitutes. I also do not recall how it applied to rural areas of the
state, or if they were left out.
Sweeping statements that subs should be certified just don't reflect reality.
I agree with the remainder of your comments.
Guy Durrant
Daggett SD
Manila, UT
---
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
Just for the record, I think my self to be a pretty decent computer
teacher and I have my 6th and 7th grade students do About Me Powerpoints.
This assignment is set up to primarily focus on design issuses. In
addition to design, they learn how to be more efficient with PowerPoint
tools. All too often, students that aren't taught about design put
together presentations that no one wants to watch. Design is critical to
visual communication. I think some people say offensive things on this
list serv without consideration to their audience.
Chris Clementi
Middle School Computer Teacher
Google Certified Teacher
http://www.kidsnetsoft.com/html/home2.html
twitter: kidsnetsoft
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
In reply to the previous post about "why would certified teachers sub . .
.?" I am a certified teacher who subs, exclusively. While I do not
receive the benefits of fulltime employed teachers, I do reap many rewards
by experiencing a variety of grade levels, subjects, and classroom
management routines. I sub because I await a position at the school of my
choice for many family-child related reasons. Because I am certified, I
am in demand and asked for by many teachers when they know they will be
out of the classroom. I also fill long-term sub positions which
non-certified subs cannot do when they extend past 10 consecutive school
days. I am not only certified to teach in NC but also have my master's
degree in reading instruction. In our current economy, I am happy to be
able to practice what I love while I wait for a position.
Thank you,
Pamela Mould
__
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
I have long been fascinated with the way teacher certification works,
requirements are based on the demand for teachers rather than any
predetermined
qualifications for the job. It appears that a state or county may 'flex' the
job requirements for the teaching profession according to the number of
available teachers. When we don't have as many qualified teachers, qualified
being under the current regulations, then the standards are lowered so we can
have more. It is also interesting that the people who are doing the
determination of standards are not, as a rule, teachers and have noting to do
with education. A similar thing was true at a district level in Arizona when
my district decided to go to a merit pay system. The board of education,
consulting with teachers and parents (naturally), determined various merit
pay
levels and identified the criteria for advancement. Any teacher who wanted
salary advancement was to go 'on the merit plan' and advance according to
their
ability to meet the standards. As I had predicted, when more than 75% of the
staff rose to the level of "exemplary teacher" the board said it was “not
possible” for the district to have that many exemplary teachers so the
program was revised.
Isn't it fortunate that medical doctors, dentists, pilots and other
professions
do not have the 'flex skill' rules set by people who are non professionals in
the respective fields. If you are a teacher almost anyone can fill in for you
if they are breathing, who made that rule, not the teaching professionals I'm
sure.
André J. Doyon
EDTECH Editor-Hogan
At 08:28 AM 12/11/2009, you wrote:
> Sweeping statements that subs should be certified just don't reflect
reality.
In some states, the only requirement is a HS diploma and the ability to
inhale
and exhale, but with the pay they offer, those who are really qualify usually
opt for higher paying jobs. After all, have the ability to say, "Do you want
fries with that?"
In those same states, if they treated or paid the teachers as professionals,
perhaps they would need less subs.
Art
Art Wolinsky
OEO 3DWriting.com
Technology Director - Online Internet Institute
Educational Technology Director - WiredSafety.org
awol...@3dwriting.com
(609) 618-4433
I am perfectly capable of learning from my mistakes.
I will surely learn a great deal today.