Reflections+on+Technology+Facilitator+Standard+V

__**Reflections on Technology Facilitator Standard V: Productivity and Professional Practice**__

__Self –Assessment__
 * This standard is one that helps us as technology facilitators see the importance of using and modeling the use of technology for our students and fellow teachers. Williamson and Redish remind us that "students also benefit indirectly when educators use technology to enhance their own prductivity and professional practice" (2009, p. 101). I think the best part about engaging with new technologies is the chance for each of us to continually learn more about softwares and hardwares that we normally would not be interested in. One of the reasons that I chose this master's degree was to combine my teaching strengths with my thrist for integrating more technology into the classroom and learning community as a whole. I have learned that it is difficult to get others to "take the plunge," so to speak, into the wide world of opportunity and fundamental paradigm shifts so that our community can be more informed and ready for the future.
 * New information that I gained was based on the notion that I am not expected as a technology facilitator to be an expert at every tool that there is available for our schools. I was frustrated at first to think that I would need to learn how to operate, skillfully, all of the different hardwares and softwares that are available by the end of my master's program. But, thankfully, this standard shows that ongoing professional development and lifelong learning is what is expected, which is quite manageable for me. I am excited to learn as much as I can about different types of technologies available for students and teachers and commit to increasing productivity and collaborate with a larger community in order to enhance student learning.
 * Currently at our school, data teams are the driving force for content areas to strengthen our efforts to bring continued success to all sub-populations scores that relate to the state knowledge and skills standards. We work together for a common goal which is to improve student achievement by closing the gap for socio-economic population (McTighe, 2008). The use of my technology experience has helped our team continue to meet specifications for meeting schdeules and minutes taken. The standards that I have implemented relate to applying technology to increase productivity as I have demonstrated specific queries for student information in the new database for testing and curriculum. I have also modeled the use of a MOBI in the classroom and trained others in its potential greatness for students in any classroom. The new information that I have learned through continued professional development has greatly increased my enthusiasm and excitement for continuing this adventure for years to come.

__Learn as a Learner__
 * My strategy for implementing this standard was to basically get involved with as much technology professional development offered by my district as possible. I make acquaintances within the district instructional technology office who are great resources for our district in using and applying technology through our instructional specialists. They were graciolus to allow me to enroll in sessions that were normally for other teachers and already employee facilitaors. This standard was less difficult to implement because it natually allows for collaboration with peers, parents, and the larger community to nuture student learning. These are practices that I have fit into my everyday teaching practice as I update my website regularly, instruct students how to use special websites that I expect them to visit to help them study, and inform parents about lessons and resources available through website content.
 * As a learner, my performance is assessed through gaining experience in different technologies. The time and energy used to learn the content is proof that I have interest and will continue to model and teach others about my knowledge. It is my duty to inform others how to use things and not to keep it all to myself. Our students are the ones who know more than we do in certain situations and as "digital natives," they "are accustomed to the twitch-speed, multitasking, random-access, graphics-first, active, connected, fun, fantasy, quick-payoff world of their video games, MTV, and the Internet” (Prensky, 2001). I have to allow their knowledge to help us all learn and not stiffle it to make us "digital immigrants" look better.
 * My interactions with collegues during the implementation of this standard was crucial for the learning of new technologies. Whether it was when I first started blogging, or using the wiki, discussions and emails between other students made my anxiety normal and also subside. When I was helping fellow teachers understand how Google docs work, I then could use personal experieneces to help them feel more comfortable learning about it and not sound condesecending when explaining how they work. I think that by using the premise of the standard to continue professional development, we can make our experiences more real for teaching other "digital immigrants" how to further their learning along with the students.

__Lifelong Learning Skills__
 * I learned that my lifelong learning goals fit exactly into the premis of standard V to increase productivity and professional practice. It is my hope that my drive to find out more about any technology will turn into trainable moments for others to learn from me. If I can be a catalyst for one teacher to further their growth in technology interest and implementation then I will have succeeded in my efforts to learn for myself.
 * My past learning experiences will be instrumental in allowing for more future learning experiences. It is all a continual process to enjoy the journey, yet stop and enjoy the wealth of knowledge that is gathered in each experience. At times it feels like we don't move forward quick enough for the proper knowledge to reach students before they go onto their own professional lives. But, we have to realize that this technology-driven world is moving exponentially quicker than our resources and money can flow. We do our best with what we have at the moment, but it is our job as technology facilitators that the movement continue to grow and implement the most possible with what resources are available.
 * An issue that still challenges me is that which applies to time for teachers to use and implement useful technologies. I would like to find and use further resources that help me as a facilitator contextualize these tools for others so that their time is used more proficiently for the students.

References:

McTighe, J. (2008, May) Making the most of professional learning communities. //The Learning Principal//, 3(8), 1, 4-8.

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants: Part 2. //On the Horizon//, 9(6), 1-9.

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.