Reflections

Before this course began, I believed that this course would provide me with strategies on how to be an effective leader. I didn’t realize that the focus of the course targeted technology use in the school setting. Once I realized the focus, I envisioned learning how to integrate technology into the educational process and the role of the administrator. In my district, technology integration is a must. SMART Boards, mimeo boards, digital cameras, and response clickers are some examples of the technology hardware that teachers are expected to use in the classroom. The course study was absolutely wonderful in that it introduced me to different approaches to using technology, such as blogging, in the classroom. Unfortunately, most of the technology applications, blogging, wikis, myspace and facebook projects are not available in my district. Although it is not feasible for me to use in my district, I believe that those are wonderful avenues for teachers and students to communicate. Students might be more apt, to participate in class discussion via the Internet. Students would be able to research or find the answer to questions posed by the teacher before answering, alleviating the threat of sounding like an idiot or nerd before their peers. Plus, in today’s digital age, most of the students enter the classrooms with experience working with some type of technology. As educators we must work together to change our system of educating to meet the needs of our technology driven students.

This course introduced me to things that I knew little to nothing about. For example, I had never heard of the Texas Long Range Plan. I knew that there were required technology TEKS, but I wasn’t quite sure how and when those TEKS were supposed to be implemented. I’m still not sure how they will be implemented, but I am at least aware of state requirements. Another, concept that this course familiarized me with was the importance of the StaR chart. The only thing that I new about the StaR chart is that it was a state requirement to complete it. I know now that the StaR report provides administrators with data on the technology use on the campus. The results can help plan staff development that will provide teachers with strategies for incorporating technology and budgeting for the purchase of hardware and software.

For the most part I was successful in completing the assignments, but time management, more than anything else, was a problem for me. The assignments were time consuming and somewhat rigorous in nature. Also, sometimes the instructions for the assignments were not clear and concise, but open to interpretation. On the up side, this course removed me from my comfort zone and opened my mind to a new way of approaching technology in the classroom. Leaders often times have to step out of their comfort zones and learn to do new things in order to lead.

There are many benefits to using blogs. Blogging allows the students and teachers to communicate with each other using the written language as well as graphics in a less threatening manner. Blogging also provides a segway for teachers to teach Internet safety/responsibilities and exposes the students to a method of communication for future real world applications. Not only is blogging good for teacher student communication, it is good for the use of all stakeholders. Pertinent school information could be posted on the blog. Parents could simply refer to the blog for information and ask questions through comments.

Although there are some wonderful benefits to using blogs, there are many concerns about using them as well. The primary concern is Internet safety. Many districts are reluctant to use online resources, such as blogging and myspace for fear of predators presenting themselves as friends and enticing kids into dangerous situations. Districts simply don’t want to be held liable. However, I believe that educating our students on what’s appropriate and not appropriate would curtail our students from venturing out into dangerous territory.