This standard challenges the facilitator to take the authority with this program and expand on it and make the necessary advancements at your school to it a technology-rich community. This standard moves the responsibilty from the classroom to the district level. It helps ensure that the teachers in the classrooms are being provided with the best tools to help their students. Part A of the standard expects that technology facilitators will be knowledgable of current research in order to make sound decissions for their schools. This course, along with Learning Theories, Research, and Practicum are preparing us for that aspect of the job. We are beginning to learn about recent findings, so that we can start to formulate our own plans, policies, and opinions on what direction we should take in terms of technology.
One aspect of the standard that I think is imperative for districts to consider is the idea of forming partnerships. Collaborating on important descissions only makes sense. We do it in our classrooms all the time...Cooperative learning. Better ideas come about when people get together and discuss what they know. I know that people within education can be territorial and concerned about their own needs, but by forming partnerships we can see what other schools are doing, and make then informed decissions on whether it is something that we need to be doing.
The artifacts I chose relate to Standard VIII because they address strand A, the need for knowledge of current technology research, and strand D, the development and evaluation of district technology planning and implementation. The first piece is my final research paper from the course, Learning Theories. We were required to critique, review and reflect on current technology articles. From that research we made connections and found common themes throughout the articles. This paper is a starting point for further research of technology. The second piece is a PowerPoint presentation that I prepared with Jane Bosier for Technology Facilitator. We were expected to create a plan that implimented technology into the curriculum in order to boost our districts scores in Language Arts Literacy. This directly relates to the points in strand D, identify and discuss national, state, and local standards for integrating technology in the school environment, and describe curriculum activities or performances that meet national, state, and local technology standards. Next years thesis will ensure that I acquire more artifacts and knowledge relating to this standard.
