Through this course I learned many skills that will help me to become a technology leader within my school. Writing a Vision Statement, conducting a SWOT Analysis, and creating an Action Plan are all valuable skills that I will take away from this course. Also, going through the process of writing a grant will be helpful to me as every fall the Bartow Educational Foundation offers $500 grants to teachers in Bartow County. Now that I know how to write a grant, I will be sure to turn in an application this year.
By looking at the current reality of how technology is being implemented in my school system, I was able to see that change is needed. My school and county are too focused on boxes and wires and not on how technology will be used in student learning. Having a Vision Statement of how technology should be used and the roles that administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community members should play in the implementation of technology is vital to a strong instructional technology program. You can buy the latest and greatest hardware and software, but in the end it is how the technology will be used in student learning that is important.
Conducting a SWOT Analysis and creating an Action Plan based on that analysis was a very interesting process. I was clearly able to see strengths and weakness as well as the opportunities and threats. Using that information I was then able to focus on the main areas that need improvement and create an Action Plan based on those needs. I hope that my administrators will take into consideration the need for a technology committee and a school vision for technology and that at least parts of my plan can be implemented this upcoming school year.
The one complaint I have about completing these particular projects in the summer semester is that is can be very difficult to get all of the information you need. I was able to use the written documents such as the Bartow County Technology Plan and Adairsville High’s School Improvement Plan to help me, but due to vacation time and furlough days I was never able to sit down with my principal. I think that this is an important part of this process as well as being able to survey teachers about their technology use and needs that we missed out on by taking this course in the summer.
By looking at the current reality of how technology is being implemented in my school system, I was able to see that change is needed. My school and county are too focused on boxes and wires and not on how technology will be used in student learning. Having a Vision Statement of how technology should be used and the roles that administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community members should play in the implementation of technology is vital to a strong instructional technology program. You can buy the latest and greatest hardware and software, but in the end it is how the technology will be used in student learning that is important.
Conducting a SWOT Analysis and creating an Action Plan based on that analysis was a very interesting process. I was clearly able to see strengths and weakness as well as the opportunities and threats. Using that information I was then able to focus on the main areas that need improvement and create an Action Plan based on those needs. I hope that my administrators will take into consideration the need for a technology committee and a school vision for technology and that at least parts of my plan can be implemented this upcoming school year.
The one complaint I have about completing these particular projects in the summer semester is that is can be very difficult to get all of the information you need. I was able to use the written documents such as the Bartow County Technology Plan and Adairsville High’s School Improvement Plan to help me, but due to vacation time and furlough days I was never able to sit down with my principal. I think that this is an important part of this process as well as being able to survey teachers about their technology use and needs that we missed out on by taking this course in the summer.