Urban Dreams Project Evaluation

Did you attend the Urban Dreams’ Summer Institute? If yes, what ways did you benefit from it (Cohort II only)?

Yes – I received a lot of tech training in a very short period of time. It was also helpful to connect with UD staff and other teachers who have provided great collaborative support.

Yes – I benefited from the vast amount of practical information provided at the Summer Institute offerings.

Yes - The summer institute was just great. All the teachers were impressed by the quality of the presentations and information given.

Yes – I learned how to access the Internet, especially via “Google.” I’m trying to incorporate Internet research into student projects. I also benefited from the discussions about human rights especially the UN Declaration of Universal Human Rights. I’m trying to integrate this into my final unit of my World Cultures course.

Yes – Much has already been said. I think mostly I just felt incredibly affirmed to be given time and resources (human and otherwise) to think intensively about curriculum. Wow!

Yes – Resources, Human Rights orientation. I was able to get connected with the Latin American Studies Group, and the UC Berkeley Library.

Yes

	Received technology training
	Workshops aided the unit preparation.
	Developed Mango Street unit with the support of UD staff.
	Technology equipment obtained aided the preparation of the unit now in progress.

No – I took 3 other summer classes on computers, digital cameras, search engines and scanners. One of my problems for courses is childcare.

No – (Except for the laptop class)

Follow-up Summer Institute for Cohort I

Did you attend the follow-up UD Summer Institute this last summer? If yes, in what ways did you benefit from it

(Cohort I)?

	Yes. As I mentioned, I used my Psychology unit last report card period and it went quite well. I have also benefited from what other teachers have posted and I have become familiar with many new resources on the net.
	Yes. Yes, it was good. It helped me to update some of my skills. The UD team is to be commended for paying a decent summer stipend. It doesn't try to take advantage of teachers. I admire that.
	Yes. Great opportunity for research/creation of curriculum.
	Yes. It grounded me in the technology, understanding of the strands offered and opportunities for year-long growth
	Yes. It energized me personally at the end of 2000-01 - I was completely exhausted, beat up, dragged out. The Summer Institute healed me. I wrote, produced, talked, questioned, and learned...
	Yes, it provided me with more training and information that makes my job easier.
	Yes - A chance to revise a project that I've used in my Eng 2P class for a number of years.
	Yes, the Summer Writing Week. I was able to formalize and publish a unit that I had presented the previous semester. I got so much technical and curricular support-it was great!! I appreciated the camaraderie and resources so much!
	No. I had time conflicts, I suppose.
	No, but I would love to this summer. I thought it was only for new teachers.
	No – Sorry, personal, family problems interfered.

Human and Civil Rights Workshops

Did you attend any of the Urban Dreams’ human and civil rights workshops?

If yes, have you integrated the information from the human and civil rights workshops into course content (note: most of the “no” answers have been omitted)?

	Yes. Core Lit group has had this focus but not on human/civil rights. Specifically as Martin Luther King Project papers, etc.
	Yes. In previous years I did. We are preparing film/project related to children's rights in Brazil now.
	Yes, I use the MLK papers and website for my US History class.
	Yes, again, these meetings are difficult to attend during the school year. I would to have meetings in the summer-intensive summer workshops. I taught the Rights of the Child, the December of human rights, we wrote letter and it added another dimension to the state framework on imperialism and colonialism in the World Culture class.
	Yes we are integrated Martin Luther King project from Stanford into our curriculum.
	Yes – Not really because the few I attended didn’t fit into any of the lessons I was teaching. I attended two.
	Yes. Studied the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in my Life Skills class.
	Yes, currently developing the Lesson Before Dying unit, and incorporating the civil rights information obtained at the workshop.
	Yes – I’ve used the International Declaration of Human Rights, taken field trips inspired by a workshop with Latin American Studies (and in this another teacher also with UD and collaborated). I was able to use the technology as a “trailer” to see a group of photographs before we went to the museum.
	Yes - Absolutely, the human rights information helped me formulate some of my best lesson plans and the students seem to really respond in a positive way to this information. For example, a unit on the policies of the NIKE Corporation was very successful.
	No. I want to. I just am very pressed on time and energy reserves. Dinner is the only moment I have with my two teenage sons (so late afternoon is shop and cook time).
	No – I wanted to but the first two years of the program, I was enrolled in a Master’s Degree program that did not leave time for any extra curricular activities.
	No - I already do this

Professional Development Improvements

Are there ways in which you believe professional development activities sponsored by UD could be improved?

	If Urban Dreams staff continues a constructive dialogue with program participants, the results will continue to be positive. Particularly, I like the professional respect UD has demonstrated toward our academic inquiries.
	I think they have been of very high quality-my concern is how to spread the word so that more people attend. All HS English & Social Studies teachers should feel compelled to be involved-those who don't are missing out.
	Increase the number of people to be on site to help faculty.
	No, UD leaders are doing a great job.
	Perhaps they could make themselves more available at the school sites. If we ask, they will come but perhaps they could schedule lunchtime visits so that we can drop in and catch up or ask questions.
	Anything can be improved -it's all a matter of time. I see flyers of all these great programs after school or on the weekend. But my schedule includes advanced placement, journalism, and other leadership duties at school (helping the PSTA with career day, graduation committee). Maybe we could get a Wednesday afternoon.
	Frequent, short, sub-provided seminars on site. PowerPoint, class web site/homework line help.
	No, I believe the activities have been excellent. Time to attend is always the problem.
	I think that it would be very helpful if other teachers in subject areas that weren’t served by UD be incorporated into the professional development activities.
	Encourage presentations by teachers who have applied or produced innovative lessons.
	Just more, more opportunities to learn, more summer work-more paid learning opportunities. Really as a single mother and a full-time teacher. I need learning opportunities available in the summer.
	Human and civil rights workshops need direct classroom applications and teaching materials to go with presentations.
	Time is the factor. I have to teach a seminar class after school so that students earn credits to graduate.
	I think the offerings are terrific. Family issues make it extraordinarily difficult for me to not be at home by 4:30 in the afternoons. This makes most workshops impossible to attend.
	Overall, I think the activities have been well planned with good technological support and distribution of resource materials.

Current Needs for Professional Development

What are the most important professional development needs you have now?

	Help on the use of 4 computers in a classroom of 20 students. I want strategies for differentiating instruction through computer use.
	I would like to have the possibility of having professional development about newcomers to the U.S. and ways to implement programs for these students.
	I would like technology training and paid time to plan lessons/design curriculum that reflects both the use of technology and the content I’ve been exposed to through the UD workshops.
	Having interesting new information and suggestions on how to teach it in the classroom.
	To solidify and review things I’ve learned once on a computer, to use scanners, to explore the facets of the computer. Search and retrieval of information, narrowing down the Internet (indexes etc.), creative, artistic and graphics capabilities of computers, PowerPoint.
	Continued focus on practical classroom use.
	Additional training on the camera equipment.
	To increase my capability to utilize the Internet.
	Time to plan and develop curriculum and explore all the cool resources UD provided last year!
	I hope to attend the Institute, but I have been dealing with illness and death in my family for the past year. I’d like to use PowerPoint and a few other items.
	I need technical support from the UD technicians to complete the upgrading process in my classrooms that my kids can benefit from the expanded capabilities of updates that will allow them to use CDs on the computers in the classroom at every station rather that at the two stations that presently allow the use of CDs.
	Often students need to look at their sources of information with a more critical eye, especially when using the Web. While there is valuable quality information on the Web, a lot of it is inaccurate or unreliable or both. I’d like to have more time to develop an effective way to get students to evaluate sources and teachers to understand the importance of teaching students to be discriminating users of information.
	Continue to learn new use to integrate the technology.
	I would like more time and instruction on using the material and equipment that I have.
	More networking with my colleagues and regular updates on computer applications. Another workshop on laptop use would be greatly appreciated as well.
	I always need writing time with professional assistance, like what Ann and Stan provide. The exposure to what other teachers in the district are doing is also valuable.
	Learning software (e.g., Photoshop)-and time to do it!
	More time to do anything. I'd estimate that I need three days off simply to catch up with the undone work in my classroom.

What are your professional development needs now?

"Troubleshooting"

"Connecting computers"

"I would like to return to Stanford this summer for video editing."

"I’d like more practice with PageMaker and PhotoShop."

"I’d like to Web Page Design Training."

"I’d also like a Word manual from Southwestern."

Urban Dreams

Cohorts I and II Teacher Survey– Spring 2002

Professional Development

Summer Institute

Follow-up Summer Institute for Cohort I

Human and Civil Rights Workshops

Professional Development Improvements

Current Needs for Professional Development