Reflection

Initially I had no expectations for the course because I was unsure exactly what Instructional Leadership would entail. I thought it would focus more on the responsibilities of the dean or curriculum coordinator. However, when I took the pre self-evaluation, I became aware this course will be dealing with integrating technology and being aware of the role technology is going to play in helping our students receive an optimal education. I expected this course to first enlighten me of the roles and responsibilities I would have as an administrator, in ensuring that technology would be implemented effectively on my campus. I was aware of a few technology standards because we offer a Business Venture course for 8th graders and they receive high school credit, however, I was unaware there were standards for pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.

After completing the first set of surveys, I realized there are some technology fundamentals that I should know but lacked the necessary basics. I felt so discouraged, when I realized the survey I was taking were the objectives set by the TEKs for middle grades 6-8. I thought to myself I need to take the course my 7th graders are taking just to stay abreast. Although I would be considered a digital native, I felt like an immigrant because there were terms and acronyms that were unfamiliar. I had taken the STAR chart survey every year that I have been teaching. However, the results of the STAR chart data have never been shared and the analysis of the results has never been used as a guide to help drive instruction. After interviewing the new associate principal on our campus, she acknowledged that this school year, every plan this school has for instruction has to be backed up with data, and the STAR chart immediately assessed the technology needs of our campus. The new technology equipment as well as professional development opportunities is evident that technology integration is going to be a prominent staple in the future of educational reforms.

As an administrator I want to be well versed in legal issues and concerns surrounding internet usage in the classroom, and the importance of maintaining student safety while on the web. I knew this would be a course that I would appreciate because it would inform me of the latest educational reforms dealing with technology that is readily available to take advantage of that I have not been aware like podcasts, Wikis, and blogging. With this course being titled, Instructional Leadership, I knew that this course would have a lot of emphasis on integrating technology into the curriculum seamlessly while implementing the standards that have been established by the TEKs. I was intrigued by the articles that related to what today’s teachers are doing in their classrooms and how I could implement similar ideas. One idea that I began to implement at the end of the school year was blogging. I created a blog account for my students to go to and respond and reflect about today’s lesson intuitively for extra credit. I also posted what I called “secret assignments” for extra credit as well just to see who was accessing the blog. I have former students accessing the blog and commenting on past activities they enjoyed when they had my class I had forgotten about. This week article discussed teachers putting the software components that come with their textbook aside. I am guilty of this, so I decided to upload the instructor software that shows the student’s step-by-step example for every concept in the textbook. I immediately realized that technology allows the teacher to work smarter, and not harder, and have time to facilitate learners while helping them progress them to the next level.

Although I knew that I didn’t know how to use the technology in my classroom to its potential, I wanted to learn more because I felt personally responsible for my student’s lack of exposure. I knew of teachers on my campus who were “techies” and were so willing to share their knowledge with me. The amount of trainings that are offered in my district for technology are limited, however, I have started searching for free or inexpensive trainings in other places. As a future administrator, I want to be able to encourage my staff to use technology by modeling its benefits. I can’t effectively model, if I have someone else creating the webpage’s, web conferences, and presentations for me. As an administrator, I believe that blogging is going to be incorporated so that my teachers feel like they have a voice and I accurately assess my school’s climate and culture. I know the saying says “happy wife happy life”, I feel that this applies to the role the teachers play in a successful school. If your teachers are happy with their work environment, they will not only work hard but make the investment into the quality of the education the students are receiving.

I believe this course was challenging for me because I often found it hard trying to express my ideas into a form that encompassed what I learned each week and meeting the criteria set by the rubric. However, the integration of the blog allowed me to see the creative minds of my classmates and often provided me with direction, when I was unclear. I am a very visual learner, therefore, a set of directions without an example for me to use a reference, discourages me. I questioned my place in this program quite often and wanted to break for a while, but my academic coach and colleagues encouraged me to continue, strive for excellence, because it would be over soon.

Infrastructure for Technology

The infrastructure of a school is the critical element of support for all areas of the Long Range technology plan. Infrastructure is required to provide a quality education to all students so through technology, students can receive an education that is individualized for their learning needs, and an opportunity for success in the workforce and in higher education. Infrastructure of technology major goal is to promote schools to provide 1:1 ratio of computers and students. When individuals have to share computers, the technology revolution ceases. One student is the observer while the other student is progressing the necessary skill. Infrastructure also focuses on using technology to enrich the learning process through video streaming, pod casts, animation, and other components related to distance learning. With the implementation of some components of the Long Range technology plan the state is requiring districts to provide parents with immediate access to data and information essential to the success of the students, such as the online grade books. These online programs allow parents to see their child's grades immediately as well as their attendance. Some schools have a system that allows the parents to see what their child ate for lunch and any books they checked out from the library. I believe for successful implementation, the current technology that is available needs to be sustained through regular maintenance, upgrades, and technical support. As schools increase their dependency on technology, the number of qualified individuals apart of the technical staff to ensure a rapid response is going to be a critical element of the success of this plan. An inclusive support system consisting of the school personnel, parents, students, community and business leaders are needed to provide a stable foundation, so schools are able to allocate 30% of its budget towards the integration of technology in the curriculum for the purpose of increasing student achievement.

Analysis of the Long Range Plan

The Long Range plan specifically identifies the tasks that all stakeholders, teachers, parents, students, community leaders, school officials, state officials must accomplish before the desired gains for student achievement can be obtained. As a future administrator, I noticed how important support and training is essential to the ease of tchnology integration into the curriculum. I will have to make sure I allocate enough funds to allow my teachers the trainings they need to be successful in their preparation of helping students reach their individualized needs. The one-to-one computer ratio for students and teachers is going to diminish much of the schools operating budget, therefore, it is imperative that the partnerships I create within the community are stable. Research has proven that technology increases student engagement, which means that the students are invested in what they are learning. As a result students began to make connections to their lives and take ownership of the learning process.

Assessment of Essential Technology Skills

As someone who is only proficient in the basic functions of software applications, I believe as a principal my strength is the amount of time I use technology, daily. Therefore, I encounter a lot of the fears veteran teachers have with implementing technology into their instructional plan. I am aware of the common mishaps of losing information and being able to retrieve those lost "hidden"files. I am also intrigued by the way technology helps my lessons transition from teacher centered to student centered by getting students involved in the learning process. As a principal I would understand the challenges of learning how to use technology and making it applicable to your lessons. Therefore, I know that training, follow-up, and support are essential for technology integration to be an effective tool used to increase student achievement. My weaknesses as I stated before, is that I am only proficient in basic software functions and self-taught in many of the programs I use. As a result, I do not know the full capabilities of the programs I use. I am unfamiliar with the language used in technology and would have to rely on my staff to create reports and presentations.
As a future administrator, I would like to explore virtual simulations and its impact on student achievement. I believe that students make connections with learning when they are able to experience what is being taught. With much emphasis on student growth, I would like to learn how to design and implement procedures to track trends, set timelines, and review progress for continual improvement. These assessments helped me to realize I need to receive more instruction and professional development on technology in the classrooms, so I can successfully prepare my staff and students to compete globally.