Week 3 Assignment - District and Campus Technology

Technology and information systems are vital for effective use in a campus' curriculum, instructional and professional development needs. At my campus we are constantly evaluating ourselves and the students via AEIS, STaR Chart and DMAC data. From the technology side, the STaR Chart is required as part of our E-Rate funding. It also becomes a guide that allows teachers to gauge where they need to advance in the various areas of technology. Administrators are able to effectively relate data from these reports to teacher during staff developments with the use of devices such as computers, Powerpoints, projectors, etc. This provides an opportunity for administrators to personalize staff development sessions by individual technology skill levels based on the STaR Chart criteria of Developing, Early, Advanced and Target. By utilizing the Campus Improvement Plan, we are able to disaggregate AEIS information, and building principals are again able to effectively communicate that data to a larger crowd of staff members using the above stated presentation devices. The AEIS report can generate via multitude of reports that display quality data on TAKS and attendance. Teachers are able to then insure adjustments are made to report gains in areas that have assessment-driven instruction. With the use of DMAC data, our teachers and administrators area able to monitor each six weeks the gains students are making in various subject areas. Technology can definitely assist and insure a quality look at campus and district data.

The district technology plan is working towards putting a document camera and project in each classroom. The big push is towards intereactive white boards, which allow teachers to create more learner-centered instruction. The high school currently has 14 boards, the Junior High has 16 and the Intermediate has 4. It is the responsibility of the Site-Based Decision Making Team to locate and designate the necessary funds for technology on their campus. Students who were interviewed all agreed these boards allow for a much more intriguing and interactive lessons. They enjoyed the use of this type of technology compared to the traditional overhead projectors. These same students also gained a greater appreciation of documents that were displayed using the document camera. C-Scope has Powerpoints included in many lessons that can be displayed with the projectors. The district also maintains a United Streaming license, which allows for video streaming directly in the classroom. Teachers are definitely taking a proactive look at their personal use of technology in the classroom and are constantly striving to make greater implementation of electronic resources. A couple of students wanted to see the use of personal laptops within the classrooms. They requested that these laptops allow them to have access to the text, Internet, E-books, and programs that allow for note-taking and research. One student would also like to see a microscope linked to a laptop and projector in order to enhance classroom viewing and explanation of slides and specimens.

Our district has just recently hired our first official Instructional Technologist. She will implement technology trainings every Tuesday at the high school, and as requested at the other campuses. Our district technology plan states we will provide document cameras and projectors for all classrooms; therefore, the training the Instructional Technologist provides the teachers will be instrumental in the actual use of technology in the classrooms. Currently, a very broad and limited amount of technology trainings are provided at the start of a school year and as needed when a new device is installed. One of the goals for the district improvement plan is to create a Technology Academy for teachers that will consist of after-school trainings on a wide variety of technology, from the basic Powerpoints to integrating whiteboards into lessons. Another goal in the district improvement plan and the district technology plan is to provide an Instructional Technologist on every campus who will assist both the teachers and students with on-going, in-the-classroom instruction and support. This would create a more effective integration of technology into the current curriculum and everyday lesson plans.

Technology in the classroom is not the cure-all for what ails our classrooms. Technology is a tool resource, just as textbooks are. The difference with technology is that students these days, or digital natives, expect information to be presented in a different format than straight lectures and worksheets. Since students are multi-sensory, they are used to having access to information at their fingertips, and outdated textbooks are not looked upon as relevant sources of current information. To successfully integrate technology in the classrooms, teachers need the support of their administration and the IT staff. This will generate an opportunity for administrators to lead by example to both, teachers and students, the most optimal use of technology in daily activities. Teachers need ongoing, relevant training on the technology available in their classroom, along with guidance on how to effectively create lesson plans that utilize the technology. Powerpoint shown with a projector are not truly integrating technology. Students need to be able to use the technology themselves to create a relevant experience and to be engaged in a lesson; thereby, again making it a learner-centered environment.

Students seem content with the technology in their schools. One high school student did respond with the acknowledgement, "rich districts have more technology, but there are schools with much less than our school". A junior high student wished for the capability to video-conference with other countries or states inside their classrooms. This would create a better cultural awareness and possibly tolerance in the world. Technology requires patience.

The vision for the 21st century schools should be integrating teaching, learning and technology for the creation of self-thinking, digital natives who are prepared to face the ever-changing world.