Focus 2 Project

 

Presentation:

An Under Appreciated Minority:  Substitute Teachers

Project Focus: Communicating about effective technology use (focus 2)

Project Description:

I will present my website design and purpose at the CUE conference held in Palm Springs, CA from March 5-7, 2009, or failing that, I will present it to the Coachella Valley Unified School District, for which I am a substitute teacher.

Project Artifacts:

1. I will post my website for review.
2. I should have a functioning website and positive feedback from substitute teachers who have visited my site.
3. This presentation will address the minimal support given to substitute teachers and how important outside resources are.
4. Provide a PowerPoint presentation detailing my project.
5. Provide a Conference Proposal for the CUE conference.

Project Timeline:

Since this project is related to my first focus, all deadlines will apply.  The presentation will be completed by March 8, 2009.

 

What I Did:

After I created my website www.helpforsubs.com I updated some of the links and added others that would benefit substitute teachers that do not have lesson plans available.  Since some teachers request subs the night before or in the morning, they do not have sufficient time to complete a lesson plan.  I created a PowerPoint presentation and a basic CUE conference proposal to present the benefits of this resource to substitute teachers.

 

What Happened:

I felt that the PowerPoint presentation and the CUE conference proposal would answer questions about the process that substitute teachers go through and the need for better communication and support.

 

What I Learned:

I learned that people with a genuine desire in bettering education and meeting the needs of the children of the Coachella Valley have a vested interest in supporting all aspects of education.  I also realized that a substitute teacher is the last resource considered when a district discusses educational goals, budget constraints and infrastructure support.

 

 

PowerPoint Presentation:

 helpforsubs

 

CUE Conference Proposal

 

HelpforSubs.com:  A Resource for Substitute Teachers of the Coachella Valley.

 

Description:

This conference will discuss salient features of education and the role of substitute teachers in education.  The needs of substitute teachers and the benefits that a well informed and prepared substitute will bring to the classroom are evaluated.

 

Abstract:

This presentation will bring to the forefront the need to have better prepared and well informed individuals as substitute teachers in the K-12 educational system of the Coachella Valley.  The limited resources and support that substitutes currently receive, or a lack of support, are a fundamental reason why substitutes are only thought of as “baby sitters” and why a resource such as www.HelpforSubs.com is needed.  The needs of the students, the district, and its employees are discussed to provide insight into a system that is not working.  A PowerPoint presentation will be given discussing the benefits of a dedicated website to provide resources and support to K-12 substitute teachers.