Week Five Assignment

I must admit that I when this course was downloaded, I simply thought we would be discussing “instructional leadership” as in: relating as a leader to the instructors on your campus and guiding that instruction to be of the maximum benefit. Technology was not on my mind at all. I figured we would discuss TEKS and lesson plans and assessment.

Once I realized that the course would be about integrating technology in instruction, it took some readjusting of my expectations. At that point, I envisioned outcomes like: understanding how to promote the use of technology in the classroom, helping resistant teachers become comfortable using technology in their instruction and how technology can increase student learning.

I was successful in reaching my first outcome of being able to promote technology use in the classroom. I feel confident in my recommendation of integrating various technology in our instruction everyday. My Campus Instructional Technologist will be my greatest ally in this endeavor. I feel less confident about my second outcome of helping resistant teachers become comfortable using technology in their classroom. There are activities to incorporate for teachers of any an level of technology proficiency. My concern is that they may do only the minimum rather than be energized by the new tools. Lastly, my envisioned outcome of how technology can increase student learning and teacher efficiency was achieved. I re-framed my phrasing of this outcome. It may not be that technology increases student learning as much as it encompasses what needs to be learned.

My envisioned outcomes were all achieved, some more thoroughly than others. They each are completely relevant to the work I do in my school. Understanding how to promote the use of technology in the classroom is a vital skill every administrator must possess. Getting teachers to use varied technologies for all types of instruction and material will better prepare students for their subsequent school years and future employment. Helping resistant teachers become comfortable using technology in their instruction is a necessity because there will always be teachers needing support and encouragement to embrace change. Luckily, there are easily implemented activities employing technology that can be done with the support of your administrator and Campus Instructional Technologist. Technology absolutely increases student learning. You would be hard-pressed to find a job that does not involve technology. The cashiers at fast food restaurants must operate touch-screen cash registers, mechanics rely on calibration tools connected to a computer and stock clerk's manage stock on hand-held scanners connected to software. Today's learners not only need to learn and synthesize information, they must use and manipulate that information within a technological context.

The only outcome that was not fully achieved was understanding how to help resistant teachers feel more comfortable integrating technology into their instruction. I am not completely lost on this point. I saw things in the course, read in articles and heard in discussion several easily implemented technology activities that even a scared, opposing teacher could employ. Support from the eager technology experts that can be found outside the technology department (like freshly graduated digital natives, naturally gifted techies and those who happen to be great at one technological activity or another) can be paired with obdurate teachers to increase exposure, reduce fear and promote collaboration. However, I am concerned about those teachers that are so resistant to using technology that they may do the bare minimum to stay out of trouble, but do not embrace technology with enthusiasm that can be felt by their students. I wish their was a reading about dealing with Luddites in education.

I was able to carry out the course assignments with relative success. I am fortunate to have a techie husband. I enjoy using technology whenever I can because it makes my life easier. I have a family website that I maintain, which includes a blog. So, I was able to participate in all of the things the assignments called for.

I remembered what it was like to feel inadequate while reading some of the more technically complex articles. I thought to myself, “oh, I hope we aren't asked to do that in our assignment.” I also realized that I will not be able to master all things, nor do I need to. What I need to do is keep learning and striving, learn from my Campus Instruction Technologist and model for my staff.

Blogs are formidable force these days. With ease, anyone can share their views with the world. A feat unfathomable for a regular joe with little tech skills just a few years ago. Blogs in the classroom provide a portal to each other and peers across the world. The beauty of blogs is being able to connect intimately with someone (another class, an author, etc.) on your time... and they connect with your on their time. One of the greatest concerns about blogging in the classroom is security. We must be mindful of having children be identifiable online and posting student work. Student posts would also need to be closely monitored. Blogs can be an easy way to communicate with school stakeholders. Use a school blog to allow parents to hear from teachers, administrators or other faculty. A simple post can relay information in a timely fashion.