TF+TL+Standard+V+Reflection



Standard V Reflection In an effort to lead by example, it is vital that technology facilitators and leaders incorporate technology tools at many different levels within the campus. At our local facility, technology is used in almost every aspect of the administration of our classroom. Our lesson plans are inputted online, attendance is taken every class period through a web-based program, and the digital notebook houses our campus calendar and important forms, and most recently the incorporation of the teacher web pages created an improved web presence through revamping our web site. The fifth standard for Technology Facilitation and Leadership as described by Williamson and Redish (2009) decrees a need for employment of technology to enhance productivity and professional practice. Technology has certainly streamlined the classroom and made many aspects much simpler. As I close the books each six weeks, I am reminded of the old green spiral bound grade books my teachers used to use. While we have a built in formula to calculate grades, weighing minor and major grades appropriately, my teachers had to rely on their own formulas and had to calculate the grades by hand. Even without an online grade book, I would have done my grades in an Excel spreadsheet to ensure that I worked as efficiently as possible. Technology tools allow educators to be more productive, as the language of the fifth standards alludes. Within the program, there have been ample opportunities to utilize and design technology to assist in improving productivity and professional practice. Now that the experience has been attained, it is important to lead with that knowledge. Moore (2006) highlighted the importance of experienced leadership guiding the technology tools in schools. He continues to discuss the importance of analyzing the impact on student learning as the primary criterion when deciding on technology investments. At the end of the day, the most important factor is the bearing on making the classroom best for the students, which includes a need to ensure teachers understand and use the tools available to them. Within my field-based internship, I was able to embrace and employ this standard at almost every turn. Not only was I able to create my own teacher web page, using the highest standards set by the district as my guide, but I was able to create tools to assist others in the implementation of their own web pages and the Web 2.0 tools that are available within them. With the knowledge gained by creating the online course in Instructional Design, my mind was opened to the different approaches one could make with technology tools. By incorporating this new knowledge into my field-based internship project, I was able to impart this understanding and enthusiasm to others through the training videos and assisting in increasing the technology integration into all classrooms. By ensuring teachers and administrators understand, implement and utilize technology tools in their classrooms, educational technology leaders can have an impact on student advancement. Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn and Malenoski (2007) discussed the influence of technology in the classroom. The teachers that implemented technology into their classroom had opportunities to differentiate instruction producing more dynamic classrooms and learning environments (p. 2). I have often taken for granted my ease with using technology. Working in the corporate world, I served as unofficial technical support for much of the technology we employed. I also have been utilizing technology in my own education for quite some time, including typing papers on a Commodore 64 in junior high and high school. This has allowed me to continue being a technology leader, though now I feel that I am prepared to move from the unofficial status to an official educational technology leader both on my campus and my district. Moore, R.J. (2006, August). The five best accelerators in school. //School Administartor, 63.7//, p. 8. Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). //Using technology with classroom instruction that works.// Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 139-154. Williamson, J. & Redish, T. (2009). //ISTE’s technology facilitation and leadership standards: What every K- 12 leader should know and be able to do//. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.