MyAccess

[S. Hickox]

As part of our ongoing assessment of the T.E.S.S.T. project, we would like all of our participants to share their experiences using the MyAccess program. As you consider the following questions please respond to them by the appropriate number, 1, 2, 3, etc..., so we can address each one specifically. Thank you.

1. How are you using this tool in your classroom?
2. How effective is this tool for the purpose of integrating LA/SS?
3. What prompts and tools in MyAccess would you recommend to other T.E.S.S.T. teachers?
4. What would make this tool more effective for the T.E.S.S.T. project?
5. What areas of MyAccess do we need to offer more professional development/support?

[Mardell Kiesel]

Scott, I think your questions are excellent and they will help us "dig deeper" in our conversations about TESST collaboration and the effectiveness of MyAccess. I think we must seek answers from several...perhaps a TESST teacher would respond to one of the questions. Would you please number the questions and request specific users to respond from their experiences this past semester? We know there are several teachers who have had success with their students and their writing achievements.

[S. Hickox]

Please let me know if the changes are appropriate.

[Patti Irwin]

Now that the Netbooks are in, my team partner and I are starting MyAccess. Suddenly it becomes clear that the initial training on the program, while great for reviewing the writing process, did not really get us ready to use the program. We are feeling a strong need for more nuts and bolts with the program itself. As a helpful hint for other teachers who have not yet used their collaboration time, planning ahead to have someone with expertise work more one on one might be a good idea. We didn't think of that in time and regret it.

[Martina Henke]

Patti:

Jan and I have scheduled several consecutive Tuesday sessions to provide refresher training. Hope this might be of use to you! Check the Events section of this Ning.

[Martina Henke]

Would it be helpful for us to schedule some follow-up trainings, perhaps as after school sessions?

[S. Hickox]

Do you want to meet next Monday afternoon to discuss dates and locations?

[Martina Henke]

I am attaching the January Product Enhancement report from the MY Access site. It lists new prompts in the system, some prompts that have become Intellimetric, and any other new developments at MY Access!

[Mardell Kiesel]

Thanks, for the updates, Martina. Perhaps this is an opportunity to offer some on-site, in-classroom support. I am sure it is daunting to launch MyAccess with only recall from last fall....even though the training was fabulous.

[Martina Henke]

Jan and I are planning to be available at for the next several Tuesdays...(See Events Tab) so that teachers can be together. I think it might be nice to come together with other teachers in one location. We are also planning to spend some mornings at schools with larger numbers of teams to provide on-site support.

[Mardell Kiesel]

I just checked out the Events Tab and I really like your logo for this training opportunity!

[S. Hickox]

I will attend each one that I am available for.

[Martina Henke]

Yes, we (our department) designed a logo for EdTEch last year. I like it a lot!