Reflections+on+Technology+Facilitator+Standard+VIII

**Reflections on Technology Facilitator Standard VIII: Leadership and Vision**

**__Self –Assessment __**  **__Learn as a Learner __**  **__Lifelong Learning Skills __**
 * Standard VIII requires technologists "to inspire a shared vision among members of an organization and their key stakeholders, generate goals and strategies to move the organization toward the vision, and sustain and garner support for change along the way" (Williamson & Redish, 2009). This reading taught me the the differences between management and leadership, which differentiates Standards VII and VIII. One key way to enlist the attention of district and campus leaders is to "capture the attention of busy leaders... Stakeholders must be able to see how technology use will help them achieve school improvement goals" (Williamson & Redish, 2009). Ultimately, they are people who will either strive for technology, or not. The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) reiterates by stating that "School superintendents, district administrators and school boards need to understand that technology can dramatically reshape and improve not just administrative functions, but the teaching and learning experience in every classroom" (CoSN, 2005). Through brief conversations that I had with my building principal he stated frustration with the current insturctional technologist's ability to take integration beyond the lab setting. While talking, we briefly discussed issues related to developing a school technology plan, and current research in educational technology.
 * My overall approach in implementing Standard VIII a slow one. My position as a special education teacher and then as an eighth grade English teacher kept me busy with daily details of teaching. But in the few times that I was able to discuss technology ideas and goals with my mentor and principal, he understood my committment to further developing my technological skills and desire to help other teachers integrate and model more use of our resources. A very sucessful use of time during my field-based hours was used talking to a current instructional technology teacher in Lewisville ISD, Kathleen Broughton, who instructs and facilitates technology in three labs and one mobile lab unit. I learned a lot from her experiences and insight to technological adnvaces that she has seen, but also the hiccups that still occur. She helps to streamline the technolgical integration at her school by lead facilitating teachers with classes in labs. After one or two sections of facilitating the teachers are able to run with the classes on their own. HEr energy and enthusiasm for the job excites me and my future endeavors in instructional technology.
 * It is my goal to continue learning and collaborating with educational leaders and teachers so that technology integration can continue and provide for a new arena of learning for our children. Anderson and Dexter reiterate that "For technology to become an integral part of a school, it not only is necessary to help teachers use the technology but administrators must be involved in it too. The importance of training for developing teachers in technology has long been recognized in the educational community" (Anderson & Dexter, 2000). Standard VIII performance indicators remind me that a challenge that we still face is that each school district is required to have a technology plan (Williamson & Redish, 2009), but why not at each campus as well? It is at the campus level that we have the most impact on building shared visions and community-based planning for adding technological needs.

Anderson, R. & Dexter, S. (2000). //School technology leadership: Incidence and impact//. [PDF document]. Available from []

Consortium for School Networking (CoSN). (2005). //Digital leadership divide//. [PDF document]. Available from []

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.