The International Society for Technology in Education identifies five standards for all administrators to follow when integrating technology into their schools. The standards discuss responsibilities ranging from access to technology to strategic partnerships with community members and everything in between. Through out this semester I have come to know the five standards fairly well. I have learned that there is so much to consider in regards to learning and technology that I question how can one person or even team of people manage it all. That's not to mention all the other responsibilities facing an administrator on a daily basis (discipline, emails, parents, discipline, lunch duty, afternoon duty, game duty, discipline, teachers, observations, discipline, etc.) The point is the responsibilities of any administrator are endless so, how does one conquer them all? How is one expected to meet the demands and expectations of all stakeholders? How is one expected to ensure that above all students are learning? At this point I'm not sure...
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Do you remember playing telephone when you were younger? A message is whispered from one person to the other and by the time it reaches the end of the line it is no where close to the original. This is the point where children usually laugh but, as I've grown older hearing information that has been passed on from person to person is frustrating. As a teacher there is nothing more frustrating than hearing important information from your students. When my students know information before I do it makes me feel unimportant and inferior. It is of the utmost importance that leaders communicate clearly and consistently. Information should be forthcoming and plentiful. We have so many ways to share information now that there is no reason for anyone to hear something second hand. When information is not provided to faculty the faculty often loses faith and trust in the leader. It is hard to follow someone who fails to communicate.
I mentioned previously that a clear and inspiring vision is the key to successful technology integration but I forgot to mention that vision needs to be supported by goals. In the beginning of my career I learned about SMART goals and it wasn't until my years as an Assistant Principal that I learned just how important a SMART goal is. In education, or any industry for that matter, people often have goals but they fail to clearly and plainly spell out how they will achieve those goals. A SMART goal allows one to envision the steps for success before even starting the journey. SMART Goals must be: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time Bound The video below gives a great overview of SMART goals. A school needs a clear vision for technology integration. It needs a vision that will inspire both students and educators to dream big and create the unimaginable. When I think of a vision for any school I want it to woo me. I want to read it and think, now that's a place I want to work or I can't wait until my children attend that school. Unfortunately, we often don't take the time to dream big and reach for the stars. Technology, although a relatively new concept, has become commonplace. It's expected that teacher's will present with a powerpoint and students will submit a typed paper. The thing is technology is more than a word processor and search engine, it's the key to opening doors to the unknown. Technology allows educators to take their students on a trip around the world every day. It is so important that a school has a clear and inspiring vision as it is this vision that will ignite the journey towards a technology rich learning environment.
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