Michael C. Warren

Standard V is really what technology is all about, productivity as well as professional practice.  I believe this is very important. If a teacher is not willing to use technology for their own benefit, in essence improving their own productivity then they will not successfully be able to encourage students to use it as an effective learning tool.

It is a good idea to implement new technologies in schools. “However, many educator experiences run counter to these examples. Although most schools usually purchase and install many types of these tools, educators complain that they do not have time to learn how to apply them to educational purposes” (Redish and Williamson, 2009). It is not uncommon for technology to be put into place and have it used in a limited manner. Often we have tools readily available to us to use if the knowledge was there to use them. In many cases new tools are purchased to help when we currently have tools available, thus causing overspending.  “To realize a tool’s potential, users must envision how it can be used to meet their needs and purpose” (Redish and Williamson, 2009). This statement is only half true, Redish and Williamson also state “Another barrier to realizing higher levels of productivity from technology in schools is the extended amount of time required to master use of a productivity tool” (Redish and Williamson, 2009). For example, I want to use Microsoft Access to store test questions for classes based on a category and subcategory, and when needed I would run a report to create a test with randomly selected questions based on the category and subcategory. While I have the tool, I am struggling in my knowledge of Microsoft Access and query statements to make it function properly.  Once I get it to function, I plan to offer it to other teachers on campus to use.

What I have learned with myself is that I often get so overwhelmed with the different technology tools for productivity, as well as the technology applications I am learning to teach students that I myself am overwhelmed and my teaching performance drops. I am the undeclared technologist on campus, but I also teach full time as well. I can not image those teachers who are not technology savvy must feel.  It would be nice for our campus to have a dedicated technologist that can work on developing training sessions and reviewing software that is being implemented into the curriculum.  Currently we have Principals, Vice-Principals, teachers, and other staff presenting technical training on an as need basis, often the training sessions are quick overviews lasting about an hour. I don’t feel our school will be able to meet Standard V until we have a dedicated professional technologist that can work full time to help teachers, provide training, and truly help implement these new forms of technology into our campus and district.  I do not feel it is something that can be an extra part of a job to be effective.

If I were to be a technologist, I would implement a policy and procedure for new technology to be examined and required paperwork to be completed defining the purpose of the technology and its use on campus.  This would help in defining if it can help more than one department and if there is a need to purchase more or less of the item in order to incorporate the technology in other departments or classrooms.

In EDLD 5368 we utilized Standard V to review and test a course management system called schoology.com. The exercise allowed me to look at a product from both a teacher and as a technologist. Overall I would choose not to implement the technology on our campus as it had a number of limitations and I felt the data placed on the server could be at risk.

References

Redish, T., & Williamson, J. (2009). Chapter Five. ISTE’s Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards: What Every K-12 Leader Should Know and Be Able to Do (p. 103). Eugene,OR: International Society for Technology in Education.

Redish, T., & Williamson, J. (2009). Chapter Five. ISTE’s Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards: What Every K-12 Leader Should Know and Be Able to Do (p. 103). Eugene,OR: International Society for Technology in Education.

Redish, T., & Williamson, J. (2009). Chapter Five. ISTE’s Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards: What Every K-12 Leader Should Know and Be Able to Do (p. 103). Eugene,OR: International Society for Technology in Education.