Technology+Facilitator+Standard+VII

The standard of Procedures, Policies, Planning, and Budgeting for Technology Environments focuses on the business aspect of the role of technology facilitator. Technology facilitators must have the ability to “zoom out” and consider everything that gives teachers access to technology (Williamson & Redish, 2009). Within Standard VII, performance indicators are divided into three primary components: support, purchasing, and communicating policies. Without adequate support, both hardware and software support, teachers become frustrated and will not use technology. I have witnessed this first hand during my entire career as an Instructional Technology Facilitator. I am housed in the Administration building and not on a campus, I am not always there to provide the “just in time” support teachers need. The second component of purchasing requires the technology leader to balance everyone needs, wants and desires. I have witnessed cases where equipment or software were purchased but no one considered the sustainable cost or the staff training costs (McKenzie, 2001). The final component involves communicating all technology policies to staff and students, which is an ongoing task. This is the most important part of my job, so many problems and misconceptions could be avoided if there was timely communication. In EDLD 5306 Fundamentals of Educational Technology we evaluated our school data in order to evaluate progress toward goals under the long-range plan for technology based on the STaR chart data. Part of my job was to help write the ePlan for the district. It was a long and difficult task, since I had never been involved in anything this in depth. We researched other top preforming districts technology plan to evaluate what would work for our district. We came up with a plan that was readily accepted by everyone. We will be reviewing the ePlan next week to see if any adjustments need to be made to the plan. Last year I was involved in reviewing the hardware needs for the 5th and 6th graders who would be carrying laptops for the first time. We looked at five different netbooks and the bags the students will carry. It was a very interesting process with many more people involved in making that final decision. We have added Promethean boards to most elementary classrooms. It is exciting to see all of the hardware being used to increase student learning. I am in charge of creating the new software procurement process. This has involved researching other districts processes and evaluating and streaming lining our process. I am concerned about the length of time it takes from a teacher request to implementation is too long, and the technology has changed or there is something “new and better”. One of my biggest projects at this time is developing a plan for the rollout of Windows 7 and Office 2010 to the entire district; faculty, staff and students. I must consider how we are going to train all of the teachers during the summer, which I believe is doable. I am really struggling on how to train the students. Since our students carry laptops, the laptops they will receive in the fall will have the new software, how will the students receive the information they need to become successful? Overall, I am excited about the educational possibilities for OneNote, or “the killer app for education” (Dawson, 2010). My district is lucky because we have a phenomenal Executive Director of Technology who unlike many Technology Directors keeps student learning at the fore front of every technology decision. Watching a leader in action is so much better and easier to understand than just reading it in a book. I try to pattern my input on technology hardware, software and support on his leadership style.  **  References   ** Dawson, C. (2010, May 12). OneNote is Office 2010's killer app for education [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.zdnet.com/blog/education/onenote-is-office-2010s-killer-app-in-education/3924 McKenzie J 2001 How teachers learn technology best. McKenzie, J. (2001). How teachers learn technology best. // From Now On: The Educational Technology Journal, 10 //(6),. Williamson J Redish T 2009 ISTE's Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards, What every K-12 Leaders should know and be able to do. Williamson, J., & Redish, T. (2009). // ISTE's Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards, What every K-12 Leaders should know and be able to do. //Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.
 * Standard VII Reflection  **

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