I. Technology Operations and Concepts.
Teachers demonstrate a sound understanding of technology operations and concepts.Teachers:
- Demonstrate introductory knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts related to technology (as described in the ISTE National Education Technology Standards for Students).
- Demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay abreast of current and emerging technologies.
Standard I:
Technology has been of interest to me for a large amount of time in my life dating back to my last years of high school and continuing on to where I incorporate it daily in my teaching. In my high school days my interest in technology included creating a tape as a final project for my College English Prep class in which I created a video that broke down and analyzed the literary components of the classic story "Beowulf." In creating this video I was involved with using technology such as a VCR, a video editor, a sound mixer, and a sound equalizer as I dubbed, edited, and copied my final project video. I carried this use of technology into my early college years creating and presenting projects using PowerPoint and Hyperstudio. My belief in the impact that technology can make only became stronger as I used my technology background to create and defend my Honors CollegeThesis Project. This project included my development and implementation of a fourth and fifth grade computer club, at Moorsbridge Elementary located in Portage, Michigan. Other technology related experiences that I have been a part of include:
- Spoke at the Michigan Association Computer Users Learning (MACUL) Conference (1999, 2001).
- Started a Fifth Grade after school Computer Club at Starr Elementary (1999)
- Conducted staff presentations on district specific technology programs, on various technology resources and on trouble shooting techniques. One such output of these classes involved colleagues and I developing a technology trouble-shooting website(1999-Present).
- Developed a report card template for all elementary grades using Microsoft Excel (2000).
- Hired on as an additional part-time Technology Integration Consultant where a colleague and I developed the Technology portion of the Professional Development program for the entire District (2002-2003).
- Developed a unit plan for Intel Teach to the Future Educator (2003).
- Organized and Participated with a team from my building in Ameritech Technology Summer Academy (ATA) trainings Level I (in 2001) and Level II (in 2003).
- I also continue to act as a Building Level Technology Consultant. Although I do not get paid for this role it does allow me to help other teachers integrate and use technology in their classroom teaching and curriculum.
I believe that technology serves as an excellent tool for education. My passion for this topic serves as a drive for me to continue my education and has allowed me to maintain a strong interest in the topic. Technology serves as another medium to help reach children that may be less likely to learn from the traditional methods of instruction. The most powerful benefits that I see from using technology is that it serves as an additional and effective element in teaching the children. Technology acts as a supplement to the curriuculum that is already in place. I should emphasize that it is not an extra that has to be added to the already numerous responsibilities that educators already have.
Technology can be very overwhelming, including the chore of discovering websites that can be most beneficial to you and your students when looking for information on a topic. Many times searches can get you no where unless you use proper ebolean logic for searching, as well as, credible search engines and libraries to search from. Even at this point it is always a good idea to look over the website that you have found to determine if it truly meets the ease of use, proper information, and other components that you find in an useful website. In my trainings I have borrowed and modified a website checklist that allows you to preliminarily judge a website or lesson plan to determine if it truly will meet the needs that you require of the site.
There are other simple tasks that I can complete on the computer including installing and maintaining software and hardware. As I had mentioned earlier, due to the fact that we have very little software available to us via the network, I often times find my self installing thirty day demo versions of software on machines at different times throughout the year. I also find myself inserting memory cards for people and setting up and tearing down the projection unit and the Smartboard as people use them in their rooms. I enjoy watching my colleagues get excited about using technology to aid in their teaching, so when people ask me for help I am more than happy to respond to their requests.
Quite possibly the largest improvement that technology has made on teaching and education is the manner in which it has exponentially improved communication. All educators realize that parent/student/teacher communication is one of the top components to student success in a teacher's classroom. From being able to leave voicemail messages, to emailing, to instant messaging, increased speed and effectiveness in communication is making a huge impact in classrooms across the state. I personally send a letter home in the middle of the summer inviting my students to first grade in the fall. In my letter I include how excited I am to see them, and I also give my email address and website address for my classroom homepage. The last couple years I have communicated via email to about half of my students parents before school even starts. I also like to have the parents and students visit my website and view my Welcome to First Grade PowerPoint presentation, to help alleviate any student anxieties to entering first grade and to answer parent questions about what first grade is all about.
Finally, I feel that this last section is really what Standard I is all about, keeping up and how! I currently subscribe to two magazines Technology and Learning, and Scholastic Adminsitr@tor, both of these magazines give me the latest cool websites and resources and give me explanations of what is to come in technology. Another great resource that I have is my Ameritech Technology Academy Listserv called (ATA Glance). This is a great resource that gives me websites, software, and other technological items along with dialogue documenting pitfalls or outstanding elements to different resources given. It also gives me a channel through which I can network and discuss technology topics with educators all througout the state at any given time.
Exhibits: