Technology+Standard+IV+Reflection


 * __Technology Standard IV __**

Self Assessment:

Technology Standard IV focuses on technology facilitators helping teachers and administrators apply technology to facilitate a variety of effective assessment and evaluation. Williamson and Redish (2009) states, This standard has shown me that I must go much deeper with technology than a giving a simple checklist to see if students can name certain things. My question now is can they apply their skills and use the technology to work for them. “In the current age of accountability, educational leaders are required to be more skilled in assessment and evaluation than their predecessors were” ( Williamson, J. & Redish, T. 2009p. 77). I learned that technology should be used to assess and evaluate which will help students and teachers be on the same page and accomplish more. The goal is to instill life-long learning not stifling controlled classrooms. Technology can help us teach beyond our four walls. This standard supports the push that we can use technology tools safely to enhance learning. It will take some work to educate our students on how to use it safely but it is possible.

Learn as a Learner:

====I was asked if I had any ideas to help 20 struggling students who were according to a pre-assessment predicted to fail TAKS. I started an online reading book club that helped assess their technology and reading skills. Some teachers asked how it would make an impact on learning and how it was different from what they already do in class. The difference was that the kids were allowed some freedom to learn on their own as opposed to listening to their teacher talk. Instead of paper pencil –mulitple choice tests they were assessed in a different way. The students did do some book research on the internet which made some of the teachers nervous but we got through it safely. My instructional specialist asked me to share our online project so other teachers could participate. At the end of the year the data showed that 18 out of the 20 students projected to fail passed and two students were commended after the first round of TAKS. These were students who wanted nothing to do with reading and were making 20’s and 30’s on TAKS prep tests. I know it was the technology that motivated the struggling students and made the difference. At first some teachers weren’t sold on my idea until I put passing TAKS scores in front of them and all of sudden I had some believers. Although it was nice to have students pass TAKS I was careful to stay focused on my main goal to improve understanding and thinking that will help students succeed in the future. " The concept of // Global Awareness // acknowledges that students need a deeper understanding of the thinking, motivations, and actions of different cultures and countries in order to successfully navigate and respond to communities and workplaces extending beyond their neighborhoods" (Honey, M., Fasca, C., Gersick, A., Mandinach, E., & Sinha, S. (2005) p.4-5). I’grateful that I learned some life lessons by taking a chance at things.====

Life Long Learning Skills:

As a lifelong learner, I have grown passionate about holding teachers and students accountable for learning technology skills. “Merely being able to write a coherent paragraph is no longer enough to be a communicator. Students must learn to also communicate with images, with sound, with video. Students must learn to express their ideas compellingly" (Warlick 2007, p.20). I know these skills are essential to functioning in the twenty first century. I will merge my passion for promoting literacy with technology and hope to prove how these two can make a difference in the future of all students. The literature I had to read for this course helped me to see that before I can become an effective technology leader I have to first build a strong foundation through analysis and research.

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.

Honey, M., Fasca, C., Gersick, A., Mandinach, E., & Sinha, S. (2005). Assessment of 21st century skills: The current landscape. Retrieved September 10, 2011, from [|www.21stcenturyskills.org/images/stories/otherdocs/Assessment_Landscape.pdf]

Warlick, D. (2007). Literacy in the new information landscape. //Library Media Connection//, 26(1), 20-21.