1.1 Shared Vision
Candidates facilitate the development and implementation of a shared vision for the use of technology in teaching, learning, and leadership.
(PSC 1.1/ISTE 1a)
(PSC 1.1/ISTE 1a)
Artifact: Technology Vision in Education
Reflection:
I learned about the Shared Vision and using technology in education during my second semester in the Instructional Technology program. In the Technology Leadership 7410 course I had an assignment in which I had to describe how technology could be used to enhance student learning and achievement. This assignment was to set a precedence to start using technology more in our schools and why that is so important. During this class, we read many scholarly articles that were very interesting and beneficial to me as an upcoming technology leader. In addition, the book we used, The Principal as Technology Leader by T. Creighton was also very helpful as I completed by studies in this class.
The Technology Vision in Education demonstrates mastery of Standard 1.1 through the development of my personal vision about the use of technology in the classroom as well as in leadership. In completing this assignment, I was able to reflect on my own teaching methods. I can see how this class and the Instructional Technology program as a whole has changed my viewpoint on using technology in the classroom, even with students as young as first grade. It also made me aware of the importance of having strong leadership that believes that technology is an integral part of our school vision. The future of all of our schools needs to have a solid technology plan. Ours didn’t and this was addressed with our leadership teams and administration.
In reading the articles from our class assignments, I learned the positive effects of engaging students through use of technology. We know there are so many ways that technology can be incorporated into instruction that teachers really do not have valid excuses to withhold our children from it. It is sad to think that teachers think they are truly engaging their students when they use skill and drill activities. From the readings, I learned that it is up to the leaders of our school to provide professional development for teachers who need it, there are many teachers who may not have had much experience with technology to know how to effectively engage students with it. Teachers who effectively incorporate technology opportunities for their students are using Bloom’s higher level thinking skills to engage their students. With the free Web 2.0 tools that are available, we just need teachers who are not familiar with them to get trained in the new possibilities that they can bring to their students. This is what I’ve noticed in the school I teach at. Many of the younger teachers are familiar with these new Web 2.0 tools and they easily incorporate them into their instruction. We need technology leaders at every school to assist administration with training in this area to enhance the education being provided to our students through the use of technology.
In creating this artifact could, I took into account my school’s current mission, vision, and school improvement plan. It was my vision to increase the use of technology at my school through use of Bloom’s Higher Level Thinking Skills. This means the need for more teachers acting as technology coaches to train the other teachers in the use of Web 2.0 tools. We can’t expect teachers to teach or provide something to students that they are unfamiliar with. Our school leaders need to put this as a high priority if they want our students to be ready for 21st Century learning. This needs to be included in the school vision as a goal for our teachers in the upcoming years. In addition, our administration needs to share this vision with our staff. I never even knew schools had visions until I took this class and I had to look it up. If the administration shared the school vision of moving forward with technology to enhance student learning and achievement, this might cohesively unite our staff and maybe we would see technology leaders and coaches step up to assist their co-workers who need extra training and assistance.
This project will cohesively impact our school as we set forth on a new technology plan for this upcoming year. Our school leaders will be utilizing technology coaches to work closely with those teachers that need additional support to make them more comfortable with technology first at basic levels and then move our teachers with medium level technology skills to a higher level through coaching efforts by the Technology Team.
I learned about the Shared Vision and using technology in education during my second semester in the Instructional Technology program. In the Technology Leadership 7410 course I had an assignment in which I had to describe how technology could be used to enhance student learning and achievement. This assignment was to set a precedence to start using technology more in our schools and why that is so important. During this class, we read many scholarly articles that were very interesting and beneficial to me as an upcoming technology leader. In addition, the book we used, The Principal as Technology Leader by T. Creighton was also very helpful as I completed by studies in this class.
The Technology Vision in Education demonstrates mastery of Standard 1.1 through the development of my personal vision about the use of technology in the classroom as well as in leadership. In completing this assignment, I was able to reflect on my own teaching methods. I can see how this class and the Instructional Technology program as a whole has changed my viewpoint on using technology in the classroom, even with students as young as first grade. It also made me aware of the importance of having strong leadership that believes that technology is an integral part of our school vision. The future of all of our schools needs to have a solid technology plan. Ours didn’t and this was addressed with our leadership teams and administration.
In reading the articles from our class assignments, I learned the positive effects of engaging students through use of technology. We know there are so many ways that technology can be incorporated into instruction that teachers really do not have valid excuses to withhold our children from it. It is sad to think that teachers think they are truly engaging their students when they use skill and drill activities. From the readings, I learned that it is up to the leaders of our school to provide professional development for teachers who need it, there are many teachers who may not have had much experience with technology to know how to effectively engage students with it. Teachers who effectively incorporate technology opportunities for their students are using Bloom’s higher level thinking skills to engage their students. With the free Web 2.0 tools that are available, we just need teachers who are not familiar with them to get trained in the new possibilities that they can bring to their students. This is what I’ve noticed in the school I teach at. Many of the younger teachers are familiar with these new Web 2.0 tools and they easily incorporate them into their instruction. We need technology leaders at every school to assist administration with training in this area to enhance the education being provided to our students through the use of technology.
In creating this artifact could, I took into account my school’s current mission, vision, and school improvement plan. It was my vision to increase the use of technology at my school through use of Bloom’s Higher Level Thinking Skills. This means the need for more teachers acting as technology coaches to train the other teachers in the use of Web 2.0 tools. We can’t expect teachers to teach or provide something to students that they are unfamiliar with. Our school leaders need to put this as a high priority if they want our students to be ready for 21st Century learning. This needs to be included in the school vision as a goal for our teachers in the upcoming years. In addition, our administration needs to share this vision with our staff. I never even knew schools had visions until I took this class and I had to look it up. If the administration shared the school vision of moving forward with technology to enhance student learning and achievement, this might cohesively unite our staff and maybe we would see technology leaders and coaches step up to assist their co-workers who need extra training and assistance.
This project will cohesively impact our school as we set forth on a new technology plan for this upcoming year. Our school leaders will be utilizing technology coaches to work closely with those teachers that need additional support to make them more comfortable with technology first at basic levels and then move our teachers with medium level technology skills to a higher level through coaching efforts by the Technology Team.