Reflections on Instructional Leadership: The Technology Link

I learned a lot of new information related to technology assessment in school districts and technology TEKS and their implementation in the classroom. The basis for students becoming 21st century learners is outlined in The Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology. This plan summarizes what is expected in Texas school districts for the next 10 years. I realize this plan is dynamic and must be evaluated and revised on a constant basis. I have a greater understanding of how school districts technology is evaluated and its needs assessed by the Texas Campus STaR Chart. My campuses STaR chart revealed what I feel we have exhibited at my campus, that is a regression in technology integration into the classroom. This is mainly due to aging equipment and by not allowing teachers to attend outside the district professional development.
Becoming familiar with the technology TEKS was important for me so that I may incorporate them into the technology projects that I do in my Biology classes. Cyber ethics and copyright laws is another area that I must incorporate within my projects. I understand wikis, podcasting and blogs. The technology at my school should allow me to incorporate blogs into my classes. I can see the beneficial aspects by allowing students, “ the natives”, to use the technology and devices they use on a daily basis and incorperate them into a learning environment. I and most other teachers are the “digital immigrants” must adjust our teaching styles to prepare our students for the 21st century. We must utilize students wireless internet capable phones to help fill the void and lack of our districts technology equipment.

I would have liked to learn a little more about technology curriculum and how to implement technology within different disciplines. I would really like to integrate much more technology into my curriculum and I believe that this would be possible by attending more professional development in this area; however, this must be supported by the campus principal and district. Second, a lack of functioning equipment is an obstacle to the integration of technology. I would suggest the district pursue grant money and contributions by businesses. There must be a constant influx of money and equipment to keep pace with today’s changing advancements in technology.

The assignments were able to be accomplished and were beneficial for the most part. The most difficult part was the lack of information within the district such as the accountability flow chart and lack of technology implementation within the DIC and CIC plans. Even after numerous email’s, phone call’s and interviews, I was not able to get many of the questions answered. Many times I had to go to different districts websites and extrapolate that information into my district.

I realized that by brainstorming and problem solving, many of the obstacles encountered may be overcome. These problem solving skills are necessary for our students to be successful in the 21st century. As a leader, it is important that I model the use of technology and embrace the exploring of new methods to integrate technology in the classroom. As with anything new, evaluation and revisions must be constantly ongoing and leaders as well as teachers must understand that everything will not work exactly right the first time.

Blogs have the potential to be the teaching tool of the 21st century. They allow students to interact with other classmates from remote locations other than the classroom. Students may ask questions, discuss assignments, share ideas, etc. all from outside the school. For blogs to work, students must be taught cyber ethics and the rules of cyber space. Blogs are also an excellent tool for communicating with all school stakeholders within a community. They allow the dissemination of information and provide a means for getting feedback and discussions of that information.