ALEX and ACCESS Usefulness to Teachers

I searched the ALEX site and found that it was full of information that teachers of all levels can use. The site provides teaching and learning tools that are great for a new teacher to look at to get ideas. The site also has links to websites that have been reviewed for content, readability and reliability. I think that this is great, it keeps you from going from website to website to just find out it's not what you are looking for. The site also offers professional development opportunities for teachers and school systems to sign up for, you can't learn enough when you are a teacher. This site also had podcasts for all subject areas that you can download and use in the classroom.

I also found that the site has The Alabama Course of Study for every grade level (k-12)and for every subject area. When you click on the grade and a subject it not only gives the standard but it gives you links and lesson plans for that standard. This is a great help for a new teacher who needs some ideas on how to go about teaching the standard. The standards also have a key that tell you what test the standard will be on, for example the SAT or ARMT. This too can be helpful to prepare your students for those high stakes test. Overall I feel that ALEX is a very useful tool for any teacher and especially for a new teacher who needs all the help they can to get started.

I also found ACCESS to be extremely helpful to a teacher. It has numerous resources, links that can be used in the classroom. The vision for ACCESS is "to provide equal access to high quality instruction to improve achievement through distance learning." On this site the State of Alabama Department of Education is offering online courses to participating schools and school systems in a pilot program to test the effectiveness of distance learning. So far they are reporting that it is working out very well, they feel that the students need more contact with the teachers. I think it if about time that Alabama is providing an education that will prepare our students for the future in respect to the move toward technology.

On the site they also provide information about professional development through video conferencing which is great this keeps from having to travel. Video conferencing can also reach more teachers across the state. The teachers have lots of programs that they can use in the classroom to enhance learning by using technology. I did not realize that the Alabama was moving in this direction and I am glad to find this out. I hope that Mobile County schools get involved soon. I feel that both ALEX and ACCESS are beneficial to all teachers especially to a new teacher who may need a push in the right direction when it comes to integrating technology into the curriculum. Teachers nowadays need all the help they can get.