Technology+Facilitator+Standards-Week+3

Technology Facilitator Standards Week 3 **Technology Facilitator Standard V—Productivity and Professional Practice ** **__Self –Assessment__ **

There are many technology tools available to teachers in my district that are not being used productively. Although most schools usually purchase and install many types of these tools, educators complain that they do not have time to learn how to apply them to educational purposes (Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 103). I am an educator who seeks to use all the tools that are available because I know it makes life easier for my students and me. My goal has been to assist my colleagues with understanding and implementing these tools into their classrooms as well.

__**Learn as a Learner**__

I am currently on the district’s technology committee and we were researching companies that would connect our community through a web based service for the district, schools and teachers. We decided upon Schoolwires® which will give every teacher their personal website. This is an awesome opportunity to keep the community informed in a bigger and better way. I am getting the teachers excited about this new and creative tool so they will be prepared to employ it to the greatest capacity. This program will not be introduced until school year 2011 – 2012, so, I think the teachers should be given information about Schoolwires® in small portions until that timeframe. This would prepare them slowly, without being overwhelmed, which will give them the opportunity to actually benefit from the product. When cultural conditions for effective practice are not in place, being “fast” can seem very stressful for system members, such as teachers and administrators (Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 106). My district is applying the technology platform necessary for the 21st century learner; however, we must prepare and transform the 20th century educator.

__**Lifelong Learning Skills**__ My first professional learning community was being involved on the Site-Based Decision Making (SBDM) committee. I received knowledge of how educators, parents, and business people, “the community” can come together with a common goal. I now serve on several committees to include the CISD Technology Planning Committee. This committee meets once a month to determine the technology needs of the district such as, training, curriculum integration, online learning, classroom technology resources, etc. We have a data team at my school which is considered the formal professional learning environment. We are working to make it more effective so that we will be able to branch out into more teams, informal professional learning environment. In standard V, technology facilitators are asked to structure both formal and informal professional learning environments (Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 107) **Reference** Williamson, J. & Redish, T. (2009). //Technology facilitation and leadership standards: What every K-12 leader should know and be able to do//. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education. **Technology Facilitator Standard VI—Social, Ethical, Legal, and Human Issues **

__**Self –Assessment**__ I am currently on the district’s Technology Planning Committee and had an opportunity to assist with the Acceptable Use Policy for this school year. Technology is very important to the 21st century classroom, but, with advancement comes possible issues if not managed properly. Because other educators look to technology facilitators and leaders for guidance, technologists must understand the emerging issues and shape technology use for the common good (Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 81). I now know that there is more to technology than integrating it into the classroom, but, we must ensure digital equity, student privacy, online safety, copyright laws, and policies and procedures.

__**Learn as a Learner**__  The “digital divide” between socioeconomic groups is not becoming narrow. Most students now have access to a computer in the home, school or a public library. My students seem to have no problem accessing a computer for their iPods, games, etc., but, if you asked them about accessing for their homework, they don’t have access. They forgot about the technology survey that was taken at the beginning of the school year. My district and school was advancing towards the goal based upon the Texas Teacher StaR Chart survey. This chart enables teachers to see what the expectations for Technology and Instruction are for all Texas teachers and to self-assess their progress toward meeting these expectations. I am hoping that this advancement towards the target goal will continue but I am concerned because of the major budget cuts for education, on the horizon, for the State of Texas. Initial concerns related to Internet safety in schools centered on students’ access to inappropriate content on the Web. These concerns led to the enactment of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) in December 2000 (Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 128). It now takes an Act of Congress, figuratively speaking, to access social networking sites. Schools need access to these sites now because everyone is using them. There should be strict supervision when using these sites in lessons but it’s necessary because the corporate world is using social networking sites for big business and our students are missing out because of a policy that is archaic. My students have access to four computers in my classroom. I provided them with an internet safety class and they must sign a safety contract, with their parents, before having access to my computers.  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">__**Lifelong Learning Skills**__   <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">There is so much to teach students and teachers about technology but it is well worth the effort to ensure that our students have competitive opportunities for the future. Students are much more technology savvy than we give them credit for being. We only need to educate them on proper computer etiquette and provide them with the tools necessary for success. Educators must know the policies and procedures for the state, district and campus before allowing students to access the internet. As daunting as these challenges may be, technologists must embrace them as an opportunity to promote safe, healthy, and equitable education for all students (Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 133). <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">**Reference** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Williamson, J. & Redish, T. (2009). //Technology facilitation and leadership standards: What every K-12 leader should know and be able to do//. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">