Instructional Management: The Technology Link. . .Course Reflections

Instructional Management: The Technology Link
Course Reflection


Outcomes

As a digital immigrant, I was quite unsure about my expectations for this course. I did not even realize it was technology related until I read the course syllabus. After reading it, I knew that I would be taking a giant step out of my comfort zone-and that I did! In fact, it could be more accurately described as a leap into the world of technology as it relates to education. I felt like I had stepped into a new season of Fear Factor. Of course, one of the positives about taking a three hour credit class in only five weeks is that there is absolutely no perseveration time. I had just had to delve into the coursework and hope for the best. It would be fair to say there was no course alignment with my expectations.

It has been quite a journey with moments of excitement and pride after completing a task, coupled with even more moments of anxiety as I attempted to work through the assignments. I can honestly say that I now feel like I did achieve the course outcomes, and yes, they are relevant to my work. This class has created an awareness of the technology available to educators, along with the standards and skills required for teachers and administrators. I now feel very strongly that every educator should have a solid prerequisite course on cyber safety, ethics, and the legalities surrounding technology usage. Even though I have had some exposure to this subject, it needs to be continuing and ongoing as we model best practices for our students and new innovations become available. Also, the exposure to the Web 2.0 tools was valuable, along with the recommendation to revisit our Acceptable Use Policies. As I worked through the assignments and readings, I began to visualize various ways to apply the new knowledge and skills to my job and others as well. I have to confess, there were times when the terror had turned to enthusiasm. Listening to student voices and their excitement about technology in education made a believer out of me!

The most challenging outcome for me was developing an Action Plan for the district and campus that facilitated the integration of technology into education. While I did complete it, I am not sure if it fulfilled the expectations of the professors.
I did not feel qualified to create an organizational chart with roles and responsibilities defined at the district level. I used our district’s plan to help me accomplish the assigned task. However, it was a good experience gathering and analyzing the data for the plan. Through the assignment, I learned of all the valuable sources of data that are available to us that facilitate the decision-making process. Also, I now have a new perspective in regards to the evaluation process for assessing the plan and professional development. I especially liked the recommendations in the readings for evaluating professional development after teachers have had time to internalize and apply their new learning. It was interesting to see the different interpretations of the assignment while reviewing the plans of other students.

Student Achievement

While I was successful in carrying out the assignments, it certainly was not accomplished without frustration and discouragement. I did enjoy creating a blog and I can also envision several applications for its use on my campus. The power point was another good experience for me, but it was frustrating when I had spent hours trying to follow the rubric, then my coach was not able to open it on my blog. That took a few days to clear up, while working on the week 3 assignment at the same time. However, I did appreciate the responses from the coach and professors. I don’t think it would have been resolved if my son had not happen to come home for the night and told me about compressing the power point. Tech support at Lamar did not even make that suggestion.
Needless to say, I was relieved when week 3 required a report. I could accomplish that assignment without depending on others. The Action Plan was also frustrating because I did not understand the parameters or feel qualified to make those decisions, especially at the district level. I always enjoy the opportunities to reflect because administrators must also be able to “talk the talk.” Reflecting provides time to practice that skill.

I learned quite a bit about technology and its part in the educational process. I especially enjoyed the readings. I felt all of the readings were very informative and provided good information, along with new knowledge regarding the integration of technology into education. As a digital immigrant I need more time to practice and internalize the technology skills, and because of the short time frame, that was not possible. Of course, because of this experience, that will help me when planning professional development for educators. The web conference is also another technology tool that I am now aware of. I have experienced many “firsts” with this course and it does give me a sense of pride for learning about Web 2.0 technologies and other technology related issues. As educators, we need to embrace what is available to us, strengthen our instructional methodologies, and work towards our common goal of preparing our students for success in the 21st century.

Blogs

Blogs have redefined news for the 21st century. We have moved from professional news to personal news 24/7. Its value to education is a 21st century instructional methodology that is now available to excite and motivate learners. Virtually anyone can become a reporter and easily share news for minimal or no cost. It also provides a medium to reflect on your unique perspective about a topic of interest, along with creating communities of bloggers that inspire and motivate each other. Blogging can serve to motivate young writers and encourage them to hone their writing skills. It is a new way to collaboratively communicate, and we must provide our students with the necessary skills to be successful. Blogging has provided the power of the media to everyone! It is now up to educators to take full advantage. The possibilities are endless.

The concerns surrounding blogs and blogs in education are the same concerns with other technologies in regards to internet usage. Educators must be fully aware and prepared to protect their own reputation, along with the district’s. A student could easily post a picture or video from a cell phone that could be incriminating and possible create a PR nightmare for educators. Also, ensuring students blog in appropriate language on appropriate topics must be a priority. Copyright issues can occur on a blog as easily as in other mediums. In order for schools to receive the optimum benefit from technology, a strong, solid prerequisite course on cyber ethics, safety, and legalities should be in place. Students, staff, and parents should all be well-informed regarding these issues. A technology policy and set of procedures should be an important element of the technology integration plan.

There are numerous ways to use blogging to communicate with school stakeholders. To repeat an earlier statement, the possibilities are endless. My initial idea for using blogs as administrator would be to replace our school newsletter with a blog. The newsletter includes important dates and pertinent parent information. Replacing the newsletter with a blog could allow for more timely dissemination of information, along with an archive of previous stories for easy reference. Another idea would be for the principal to use a blog to communicate with staff. It would also allow staff to comment on issues in the blog. It could replace some of the professional learning community meetings or faculty meetings. Teachers could also use a blog as a communication tool with students and parents. Students could use a blog to reflect on new learning. From the district superintendent to students, it is really up to the imagination of the user for the various ways to take full advantage of this Web 2.0 tool. I appreciated the opportunity to learn about blogging and to practice its use. I feel confident that my blogging days have just begun!