Comprehensive+Examination

A Summative Review of Leadership Technology in Education Relvis D. Zeigler Dr. Kay Abernathy Lamar University **  Into The Light   ** This paper is my Examination of Masters in Educational Technology. The examination consists of my leadership goals, where I explain that I’m five years into my third career, and a vision of educational technology. It also presents a list of six influential courses that I believe greatly influenced my learning, a reflection of the overall program, a three year professional development plan, self evaluation, references and curriculum vitae. ** Career and Leadership Goals  ** I’m actually five years into my third career. I have spent 33years in the U.S. Army and 23 years in law enforcement. After several years of retirement, my wife, who had taught for 35 years, suggested that I might want to work as a substitute teacher. At first my comments were a little negative, but then I said I’d try it. Five years later I’ve become a certified teacher, teaching 5th grade students U.S. History. Much of my life has been in the service of others. Teaching has been one of the best jobs I have ever had. I actually enjoy interacting with the students and view this position as an adventure. I’m presently the social studies department head and one of the teacher facilitators for the district. I feel as if this has been a calling. I strive everyday to give students a positive male role model. This is something I feel many male and female students lack. For me, teaching is not a job but an adventure. My reason for pursuing this degree program started off a little selfish. I always strive “to be the best I can be”. After reading several articles about implementing technology into the classroom, I realized that most teachers had no idea about how to accomplish this other than allowing students to write reports. As I said earlier, my reason for entering this program was a little selfish. I was not looking for a position in technology, but to advance my own learning and possibly share what I have learned with my team and campus. I also see educators who are very uneasy or nervous when it comes to technology and my ultimate goal is to be the bridge that helps them to cross over into the 21st century. While many new technologies have emerged throughout history, so has the cry for educators to find meaningful ways to incorporate these technologies into the classroom (Klopfer, E., Osterweil, J., &Haas, J., 2009). **  Educational Technology Vision    ** I completely agree with The 2010 Horizon Report in regard to the direction that technology is moving. As stated in the report, technology is increasingly becoming a means for empowering students, a method for communication and socializing. Technology is impacting all of our lives, and especially the lives of students. It continues to profoundly affect the way we work, play, learn, socialize, and collaborate. I believe, as the report indicates, that technology skills are becoming critical to success in almost every arena and those who are more facile with technology will advance while those without access or skills will not. I think that as educators it is our responsibility to prepare our students for what lies ahead. However in order to prepare our students it is crucial that we prepare ourselves. I further believe that it would be very difficult to teach students these new emerging skills if we have not prepared ourselves. We must expose these new technologies to our students as soon as possible. I also believe that if we as educators fail to prepare ourselves we will become obsolete. I can also visualize a time when each student will have access their own personal electronic tutor. It will be a tutor that is specifically programmed for that student. This electronic device will be connected wirelessly to other devices such as cell phones and even game systems. I can also see a time when each student’s desk is connected to a wireless learning system that is controlled by a teacher. This system can also view multiple students’ progress as they listen and interact to a lesson. Maybe it will be possible one day for students to be placed in a learning chamber where all information is electronically sent to the students’ helmets. According to David Jakes (2003), virtual learning environments, when supported by sound instructional models and when combined with the content of the web, can provide an opportunity to integrate multiple types of unique web resources into the learning experience. ** Self-Evaluation  ** I consider myself to be a digital immigrant (Warlick, 2007). I grew up with a pen or pencil but learned to use a computer and keyboard mainly due to my work. I enjoy using technology and never wanted to be a digital dinosaur so I began to teach myself about this world of technology. According to Prensky (2001), “Digital Immigrant teachers assume that learners are the same as they have always been, and that the same methods that worked for the teachers when they were students will work for their students now.” I have learned that I can find many new ways to prepare my students for the 21st century by preparing myself. I have a very good understanding of myself. I really don’t enjoy reading. I actually find it boring. However I will, if it is necessary and if it will accomplish my goals, which is probably because of my personal style of learning. As far as attitudes are concerned, I tend to be a little critical of myself and others. I constantly strive to understand that we are all individuals and I should practice tolerance because I do realize that everyone is different. Many times leaders have to be flexible in order to get things done. The key is to strive for quality. I always have high expectations for myself and I enjoy learning new skills. I enjoy teaching and sharing the new skills I have learned while studying at Lamar. I have learned many new skills in technology and my first course at Lamar taught me something that I had wondered about for at least two years. I usually have a very good attitude and I believe that I have excellent leadership skills, mainly because I have spent over 40 years practicing them in the U.S .Army and law enforcement. I learned to lead by example. **  Six Courses    ** As I think back on the past 18 months, I realize that I have accomplished a great deal. I remember why I decided to pursue this endeavor. I wanted to provide the best instruction available for my students. I wanted to learn how to integrate technology into my classroom and then share what I have learned with my team and campus. I wanted to know how technology could enhance my instruction and engage my students. So I enrolled in the Leadership Technology course offered by Lamar University. My first course of instruction spoke about the Star Chart. A special online resource tool called the Texas Teacher Star Chart which has been used for the past two years to assist all Texas teachers in self-assessing efforts to effectively integrate technology across the curriculum (Texas Education Agency, 2006). This was amazing for me, because I often wondered why each year teachers were required to complete this evaluation. Today, because of this course, I learned why it was necessary to complete this evaluation and I was able to share this information with my team. ** EDLD 5364-Teaching with Technology ** I found that EDLD 5364 Teaching with Technology to be an eye- opening experience. I actually never completely realized the impact that technology has on our lives. Technology has touched almost every part of our lives, our communities, and our homes. (Edutopia). I now fully understand what integrating technology into classroom instruction means. I learned early in the course that teaching with technology or integrating technology into the classroom is more than assigning students to a computer and just having them write reports. According to Edutopia effective technology integration must happen across the curriculum in ways that research shows deepen and enhance the learning process. I absolutely agree with experts that now stress four key components. These components must be supported before learning can occur: active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction, and connection to real-world experts. I read an article earlier in the course which spoke of project learning as the new way to give classroom instruction. I completely support this method because I have seen it work in my classroom. The students are completely engaged, as well as intellectually challenged, during project learning activities. The use of the World Wide Web provides many resources and it provides the classroom with interesting, diverse, and the most current learning materials. However before we can truly integrate technology into Americas classrooms we must Bridge the Digital Divide for Educational Equity Mason and Dodds (2005). **  EDLD 5306-Concepts of Educational Technology   ** The next course that I found helpful was EDLD 5306 Concepts of Educational Technology. In this course I learned something that I had been wondering about for some time and that was why in my district we were mandated to complete a survey instrument called the Star Chart. We were never given any instructions other than we needed to complete it because the information is sent to the state. When I asked other teachers why we had to complete this I was told because the principal said so and not to create waves. What do you think the topic during my first course was? Yes, the star chart and why it was important. After the first week of the course I was able to explain to my team and campus the purpose of this instrument. The course also addressed the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology. It helped me to understand how to disaggregate, interpret and evaluate data. I found this so helpful for another reason. I had just been selected to the campus improvement team and one of the tasks was to disaggregate the previous year’s TAKS data. **  EDLD 5363-Video Technology and Multimedia   ** The next course that helped, and I enjoyed, was EDLD 5363 Video Technology and Multimedia. This course involved the use of team work. We were tasked to produce a Public Service Announcement which focused on a school topic. I basically learned the video production process. At the onset of this project I was a little hesitant, because I would be working with students I did not know and students who had different work ethics. I can say, however, we all worked together beautifully and the collaboration was priceless. I think we produced a very impressive PSA. I liked the fact that this was another course where I could share what I learned with my campus and team. We produced a PSA about internet safety using a rap entitled “Be Careful What You Click”. **  EDLD 5366-Desktop Publishing   ** The next course was EDLD 5366 Desktop Publishing. Here again was another course that I found very useful. We have a new principal who would like for each department to produce a newsletter so that parents are informed about what happens on a daily basis in the school. For me that was no big deal, because I had already started a small newsletter for the social studies department. However this course helped me to understand what it takes to produce a quality document. The course helped me to understand color and how to format a very professional newsletter. In my department I shared what I learned with my team and I can say it is very impressive. **  EDLD 5362-Information Systems Management   ** EDLD 5362 Information Systems Management was another course that I found informative. Many educators probably pay very little attention to this tool until they realize what this system consist of. At my district we utilize a system from the Educational Service Center called RSCCC (Regional Service Center Computer Cooperative) where we are able to access student data, record grades, report attendance to The Texas Education Agency, and provide a parent portal. What I have found in my district is that there are not many people who have been actually trained in the use of the system. Most learn as they go by trial and error. There is no training or professional development provided for new teachers. When I once asked to see the manual, everyone looked at me as if I had grown a second head. It makes me wonder who decided on what system was going to be used in the district and why. That’s probably why my district uses the system from the Region Service center; they deem them trustworthy and experts. There was very little I can share with my team but nonetheless the course was informative. **  EDLD 5365-Web Mastering   ** The last of the six is EDLD 5365 Web Mastering. I found this course to be very informative and it explained the responsibilities of the Web master. This course allowed me to evaluate our school site and take a look at what is contained in our technology handbook for the district. I was also able to produce a set of rules and procedures for the use of student computers and the use of computers for staff. I’m sure very few staff read these rules and I obtained a copy from the web site. I explained the rules and procedures during a team meeting and they were shocked with what some of the items stated. They also realized what could cause trouble if rules were violated. I also explained to the team that safety on the use of the internet was the responsibility of us all and how important it is to teach this to students and to inform parents of internet safety. **  Reflections of the Overall Program    ** The Educational Technology Leadership Program offered by Lamar University helped me by answering a question that I had been wondering about for at least two years. I wanted to know why every year we had to complete a survey from the state called the Star Chart. The question was answered during the first course of study. I have taken other higher education courses and this program provided the only course that I have ever taken where I was able to use what I have learned almost immediately. I have been exposed to many new tools and I realize as an educator I must prepare myself to meet the new challenges. Education is changing. We can no longer claim that the U.S educational results are unparalleled. Students around the world outperform American students on assessments that measure 21st-century skills. Today’s teachers need better tools to address this growing problem (The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2004). The majority of the courses were very useful and fairly easy to manage, however there were some issues where the information and instructions in the courses were rather vague and difficult to manage. At times I felt a little alone and when I received input which was not immediate, it actually produced more confusion. I’m not sure whether courses are field tested or not but I do think some of the courses should be. As I stated earlier, overall the courses were very informative and I was able to share what I had learned with my team and district. Three Year Professional Development Plan I have enjoyed my present position as the department chair of the 5th grade social studies department. My reason for pursuing this degree was not to seek a technology position but to educate myself in technology and share what I have learned with others. I wanted to be able to teach others how to integrate technology into the classroom because so many educators have no real clue about how to accomplish this. My other reason is a little selfish: I enjoy learning. I believe that as I continue to learn and grow it will benefit my students and my district. Teaching is not a job, but a calling. Teaching is my third career and a way for me to give back to the community. So, basically, I plan to continue to teach social studies in my present district and make a difference in the life of a child. I have been exposed to many excellent resources and I plan to use Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works by Pitler et al. (2007). I plan to continue to learn and share all the technology tools that I have been exposed to, especially Web 2.0 tools. According to Solomon & Schrum (2007), “Web 2.0 tool will alter students’ and teachers ’patterns of practice, inside the classroom and out”. **  References    ** Jakes, D. (2003, April 29). From creating virtual workspaces: New models for developing online curriculum. Presentation at TechForum: // Breakthrough technologies for 21st century schools //, Chicago, IL. Retrieved December 10, 2006, from [|www.techlearning.com/techlearning/pdf/events/techforum/chi03/vault/Jakes_Presentation.pdf] Klopfer, E., Oseterweil, S, Groff, J., Haas, J., (2009). // The educator arcade. //      Mason, C., & Dodds, R., (2005). // Bridge the digital educational divide for equity. //The Education Digest: 70, 9; Research Library, 25. Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (2004). Learning// for the 21st century. // Retrieved December 10, 2006, from [|www.21stcenturyskills.org/images/stories/otherdocs/p21_Report.pdf] Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). // Using technology with classroom instruction that works. // Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Prensky, M. (Sept./Oct.2001). // Digital natives, digital immigrants. //Part 1. On the Horizon, 9(5), 1-6. Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0:// new tools, new schools. // Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education. Dickard, N., & Schneider, D. (2002). // The digital divide: where we are. //A status report on the digital divide. Retrieved November 11, 2010 from []. Texas Education Agency (2006).// Star chart. // Austin: []. Warlick, D. (2007). // Literacy in the new information landscape. // Library Media Connection, 26(1), 20.