Most important technology stadard for administrators.

After reading the five standards many times, I think that standard number two, digital age learning culture is the most important for administrators to model. A vision for a comprehensive integration of technology is important, however I see too many cases where administrators have visions that are not carried out. Performance indicator A states that administrators ensure instructional innovation focused on continuous improvement of digital age learning. To me, this is a call to action. It is a call to leave the instructional methods of the 50's and 60's behind and move into the 21st century. It bothers me that we are not meeting kids needs where they are. I hear so many times from students that school is "boring" and I have to admit, more times than not, I agree with them. These digital natives live in a world of constant entertainment and instant information, but we are teaching them with boring, slow tools like pen and paper. Secondly, performance indicator B tells us we should model and promote the frequent use of technology. I believe this also calls for action on the part of administrators to use the latest technology and make sure others see us. If others see us leading the way by actually using the latest greatest technology others will have to get on board just to keep up with us. If the only way I communicate with you is through e-mail or text messaging, it will force teachers to use these tools. We need to equip our schools with the latest technology tools and and get rid of the old ways of teaching. Technology needs to be learner centered, that means that we need to spend money to give the students the technology, not just the teachers. The students need the technology in their hands. When was the last time that we purchased technology for the students to use? If we can find a way to get technology into the students hands, train our staff to use the latest technological tools, we can change the culture of our schools. If all students have access to technology and all classrooms have the latest digital instructional tools, I think both will use them and infusion of their use will naturally happen. Teachers and students alike have to get access to the tools before they can use them. I keep thinking what kind of messages we could send to students and teachers alike if we give them new technology to use. When you give someone something of value, for example a new mini computer, it tells them, I care enough about you to spend money on you. I trust you enough that I am giving you something of value. I think that message alone would excite the staff and student body enough to begin to change the culture of public schools. In conclusion, standard two appealed to me most because I saw a call to action to actually change the way schools teach kids.

Digital Natives are already here.

Teaching at the High school level, the digital natives are in my classroom now. One of the main things we struggle with at our school is the use of cell phones in the classroom. Being a CTE teacher, and having the opportunity to teach classes such as Computer Applications and Digital
Communications integrating technology into the classroom has not been a problem. Furthermore, this year our principle is pushing us to use the school website more for our classroom announcements. Our website has some very useful tools that I have been using in my classes. Things such as the forum page where students can log on to a page that is similar to blackboard. I have found this useful for classroom discussions. It also has a document manager tool that allows you to download documents so that they can view them on the computer instead of having to print things as handouts. I have computers in my classroom so that gives me the opportunity to do more of these kinds of things than other teachers. What I would like to do as an administrator is put a mini laptop in the hands of every high school student. This would allow us to get rid of books. I would like to be able to download the book on their computer, test on the computer, and have students do assignments all on the computer. Since it is a tool that most students have used once they get to the high school level I think the students would adapt easily to these changes. However, I believe that money, or lack thereof, is a major hurdle to doing this. It bothers me that our government has money to bail out all these companies but cannot find the resources to do these types of things. I am a big believer of changing the way we deliver information, but I also realize we need the hardware and software to help us reach these students on a new level.