Week 5 Assignment

Reflection
My initial expectation for this course was to learn about new technologies viable to the role of an administrator. I expected to learn about software and websites used by administrators to collect, analyze, store data etc… Through my internship I have become somewhat acquainted with such programs such as Skyward (Skyward PaC) and other software we use at our school. At the beginning of the course I was excited to learn how to create and use a blog and I thoroughly enjoyed learning how to post presentations and other information into that blog. As the class progressed it took a turn to the more paper work side of technology, which is needed for new administrators, but it was not what I had expected. I am glad for the new experience. I learn about many aspects of technology that I had not considered before such as the role of the principal to regulate and guide the direction of technology development, training, and usage in the classroom. Before this class I had a mindset that the principal had little to do with what technologies a teacher used in the classroom besides the grade book. Now I understand that this mentality is incorrect and a mindset such as this could have devastating effects for the management of the school and for student education. Although the class may not have been what I expected it definitely was what I needed. I feel the knowledge I gained from this class is very applicable to my classroom as a teacher and to my emerging role as an administrator. I have taken a new view of technology not so much as an obstacle and threat to the classroom but a resource (that must be managed of course.)
Our Technology Action Plan assignment really taught me the need for principals to: 1. have strong relationships with their teachers and technology support staff so that strong communication exists between all parties therefore they can work together to develop and achieve technology goals for the classroom. 2. Follow the long-term plans for both the State of Texas and for their district to ensure compatibility and progressive improvements to programs and hardware. 3. Create a staff development plan that aligns with the technology plan and the campus improvement plan. This Technology Action Plan assignment was probably one of the most challenging for me due to the absence of strong coherent technology plans in my district. I feel the lack of knowledge and shared goals for technology at my campus severely impeded me from gathering the information I desired. I would have liked to understand the process for creating an action plan better before having to do one myself. I also would have liked to learn more fully how our current principal allocates budgets for technology. When I inquired about this process I was met with the same apathetic attitude I received regarding the technology plan (more like the nonexistence of one for our campus.) Nevertheless, these challenges only reinforced the point of this class. We need to have informed and goal driven administrators (that includes considering the aspects of technology not just core classes.) I don’t want to sound as if anyone impeded my work or research, but the nonexistence of a congruent and well known technology plan and apathy about addressing the issue made creating the action plan challenging.
Through this course I had to overcome some of my own prejudices about the use of technology in schools. I used to immediately growl at students who used cell phones in the hallways just because it was against the school rules. Now, after reading thoughts of some of my co-workers in the blogs and our assigned readings, I have learned that technology doesn’t have to been seen as such a threat to our school environment. I have come to better understand that technology is just a part of normal communication between students. Nevertheless, I still do not permit their use in class as it is too often used as a distraction or a method for academic dishonesty. Also when working through some of the obstacles of my assignments I learned how I can better incorporate technology into my lessons and, more importantly, how my students can better incorporate technology into their learning.
One of these wonderful tools for instruction is a blog. We have blog type systems in our Blackboard program, but they are very limited and are difficult for students to find and use, thus few students and teachers use them. I would like to see each teacher have a school sponsored blog type website for each course they teach. This will give teachers and students the great benefits of a blog with the security and oversight needed to ensure safety and appropriate usage of the blog. Web blogs can be dangerous and contain inappropriate content thus parents and teachers rightfully have shied away from their usage in the scholastic arena. These unregulated web blogs can be venues for web bullying and academic dishonesty. With teachers and districts in control of the blogs our safety measures and staff can help prevent such information from being disseminated and discipline persons who inappropriately use the blog.
With safety measures in place, teachers can use blogs to communicate with students, parents and other community members about a myriad of topics. Schools can use blogs to answer generic questions for community members about the school such as schedules, activities, and school performances. Blogs are also great ways for administrators to assess the opinion of parents regarding school issues. Specifically, booster clubs, the PTA, other parent assisted programs could communicate with their members and teachers more easily. Busy parents and community members could share their thoughts and ideas without having to physically come to the school for meetings. We currently have a phone hot line for such issues at our school but we are often called with the same question several times per day. I hope one day to set this hot line up in a blog format (with administrative control directed by the school) so that way parents can read the questions and answers of other parents and so that our staff can respond to their questions in a manner that is convenient and timely to their work schedule. This will also enable us time to better answer questions with accurate information and prevent work time lost with repeat calls.
I am thoroughly glad I took this course and I am looking forward to trying some of the great ideas I have gathered from this class.