NETS for Administrators

I feel the third standard, Excellence in Professional Practice, is of the most importance. As an administrator I feel it is my responsibility to promote professional development among my staff. They will be the ones whom lead our students and receive the greatest benefit as technology, learned properly, will continually make teaching easier to prepare for. Having the Internet is akin to having the public library in your house or classroom. This standard highlights the importance of providing "time, resources, and access to ensure professional growth in technology fluency and integration". Administrators must provide enough training to ensure teachers not only know about new teaching technology but how to integrate this technology into their everyday classroom. By utilizing our own IT personnel we can train our staff when budgets are low. I have worked with wonderful, brilliant IT people since my return to education. We must utilize their experience. I have noticed also many teachers whom do not use, or care to use, current technology. I feel much of this reluctance to change is a fear of failure among some of our most tenured teachers and they may feel the "old way is just fine". This is when we must lead and participate, as the standard states, in learning communities that show just how easy and beneficial technology is today, and how it may reduce the paperwork that many of my staff feel is overwhelming and unnecessary. Effective communication is also referred to in this standard which I feel is an excellent example to use in one's promotion of new technology as email is something all staff at my school utilize on a daily basis, and they see the ease it brings to communication. I would also engage my IT team to discuss current topics at all of the monthly staff meetings, or to be available to answer questions on any technology questions the staff may have. By using current technology, one's staff can better educate our youth because of the many resources we have available on the Internet alone. Video conferencing, electronic discipline software, and many other technological advances should provide our teachers with excess time due to the fact one can prepare lessons and communicate quicker in today's modern world. But this attempt will fail if administrators do not lead the charge and promote and support their teachers as they attempt to learn new technology on a yearly basis. Educated teachers produce educated students, and technology will be the key to improved student learning. For this reason I feel standard three will be my focus, especially if I remain in a rural setting where budget restraints have kept many technological advances at bay.

Digital Natives

Scout27817 said...
I realize we do have Digital Natives throughout our schools today. We have computers in every room, even if its a single one, and many classes are offered to teach these natives more. As an educational leader I will rely on my IT people to provide updates at all staff meetings on products which can facilitate learning via the net for our tech savvy students. I would utilize the Internet to reach parents as my child's teacher has a website on which I can check for notes and homework assignments. I know everything that will occur on any day from lunch to special events, and this could not be done with traditional methods. For teachers, their utilization of the Internet will make teaching easier as one can find all the information they seek on the world wide web. I would ensure they were aware of excellent websites which can relate to either classroom management or specific information on an area they are currently involved with. I know these students are in our classrooms, although I feel my school only has about 40-50 percent of students with web access at home. This can limit communication and place them at a severe disadvantage as I feel the web is an library inside your home. My third grader has an excellent understanding of the computer and knows how to search for something he may desire at the time. I feel we do need to change to better incorporate this excellent teaching tool. Test which can be taken on the Internet are automatically graded which provide the teacher with more instructional or prep time. Utilizing the Internet to answer questions which arise and ensuring the students know of the wonders of this virtually untapped tool for learning are vital in the success of today's student. I worry about the spelling of our children and the "new" language they have learned via texting. I do like the point made by Pensky regarding the only "rule being is to make yourself understood". I feel we will continue to desire proper communication, English, be used but it is wise for today's teacher to learn the many new acronyms used by our students today. Shy students, as Prensky points out, come out of their shell more readily when they have the protection of not "facing" their peers. While this new technology has many benefits for our students, it also helps for us to maintain some control. Posting which never vanish, GPS locator's, ability to store harassing calls or emails, and the ability to prove bullying are all elements which can make it easier for teachers and parents to monitor their students. Facebook postings demonstrating bad behavior are out there for everyone to see and has been used to punish students whom cannot deny what is shown. The web is also an excellent place to confirm information as fiction or non-fiction. Our students and even we adults believe a lot of information we read on the web without checking the facts. Do not believe all the emails you receive until testing them at sites such as Factcheck.com. Every subject, both good and bad, has a place for information at our fingertips. As educators we must understand and utilize this powerful tool, and as administrators we must ensure our teachers have the knowledge to use this 21st tool to educate our students. It can make our job easier, and it is still expanding rapidly. We must grow with these digital natives and keep pace with their growing understanding of the benefits of today's digital world. It has become a new world since I was a child, but one I like because of the Internet. I will ensure proper training of my staff whenever I become principal so we do not under utilize this great tool.
September 21, 2009 6:24 AM





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New Attempts

This is a test to determine if I am as dumb with technology as I appear. I hope this will post correctly and I can be able to be productive in this class. Sorry I missed last week guys as I wrote the date down incorrectly in my calender.