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Instructional Technology Program
=Fall 2011=

My Objective: It is my objective to identify the effective implementation of instructional strategies into the classroom in a public high school. Through survey questions, interviews and on site observations, I will identify the needs of stakeholders such as students and teachers at Hopewell High School in accessing computer technology in order to successfully integrate the various Web 2.0 technologies into successful lessons. Hopewell is a large urban public high school in Huntersville, NC. It is a part of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. With a student population of 1700 and a faculty of over 100, it has the positive of only being 10 years old in its physical plant. However, with only 3 dedicated computer labs that have at most 30 computer terminals with an additional 30 terminals in the Media Center, the logistics of implementing technology in a collaborative manner poses a challenge for the faculty at Hopewell. An additional problem arises in the large class sizes the faculty at Hopewell faces. There are classes that have over 40 students on the roster. There are many class sizes approaching 50 students. I intend to explore the many issues teachers and students face in order to implement technology in lessons that will prove valuable to students as they learn to become 21st Century workers and citizens. Through observations, interviews and surveys of faculty and students, I want to identify the issues the stakeholders in Hopewell High School perceive and experience on a day to day basis as technology is attempted to used by faculty.

My Results: One could say the title of my internship could be "Smoke and Mirrors". My own issues were multiple in implementing technology in my classroom. Through my observations, surveys and interviews, I realized my own issues mirrored those of my peers at Hopewell High School.
 * 1) Class sizes approaching 40 in two class sections
 * 2) Lack of technical support in computer labs
 * 3) Lack of pedagogical support
 * 4) Lack of online access

My Methods: I observed, surveyed, and interviewed students, teachers, the Media Specialist at my school. I have included the CMS Strategic Plan 2014, the results of my student surveys and teacher interviews.