When I took the pre-course evaluation, I didn’t know what the content of the class involved. I guess I didn’t realize this was an “all about technology, its implementation, and the usage guidelines.” I was pleasantly surprised. I use technology from early in the morning until I go to sleep. It is constant and continual. If we want to teach students how to be effective in the 21st century, we must continually strive to stay ahead of them—or at least even. My pre-evaluation score was relatively high, and I attribute this to the fact that I was fortunate enough last year to teach BCIS (after teaching English for 16 years). What a welcome change. I received Business Certification, and I had the greatest year ever in the classroom. I loved working with technology every day. I was excited to learn new and innovative ways that other districts are taking advantage of technology that already exists in their schools, and I was interested in learning how other schools are changing policies that incorporate Smart Phones in the classroom.
The content of this course will help me in my job as an administrator. I use technology constantly; at school, we take attendance, submit grades, keep lesson plans, and receive evaluations—all on computers. Teachers can no longer stand subserviently aside and allow themselves to remain a non-user. Teachers must incorporate technology into their classrooms. They must use the web to keep students interested, expose them to 21st Century learning, and create workers for the future. Everything is done on technology now. KHS is constantly adding software, updating software, and seeking new ways of incorporating technology in the classroom. The knowledge learned in this course is definitely relevant to today’s education system. Our school needs to update policies that will allow students to use Smart Phones in the classroom—this will add technology to every learner. The old style of learning and teaching is just that—old. We must, as future administrators, value technology, and we must work to assist teachers in becoming technology leaders through professional development and peer mentorships. As an administrator, I will work to ensure my campus has board policies that support technology.
Last year, I taught technology classes. It was an enlightening year; I even attended a technology symposium. While there I was introduced to many of the aspects of this course. Certainly copyright laws are always important, and as an administrator, I must work to ensure the teachers on my campus adhere to copyright rules and regulations. This course worked to affirm the items I saw at the technology symposium. Many districts were ahead of my own, and I came back to work ready to change the system and our policies, so that we, too, could surge into the future. This has not happened as quickly as possible. This course has given me the opportunity to explore ways that I will be able to carry my campus into the 21st Century. Schools and teachers are hindered by district policies, and I feel that the base knowledge I need as an administrator was grounded in this course. Briefly in the course it discussed ways that districts can use the intranet of their school to block certain websites. I would have liked to learned more about the different research sites and blogging sites that districts are using that protect their students from cyberbullies and pornographic images/materials. Blogging represents an area of learning where all students must feel at ease. It is a valuable tool for teachers, and districts that are not yet using blogs are falling behind in the race for technology.
I feel that I successfully carried out the course assignments, and it was the most interesting one for me—even though I enjoyed School Law too. I felt at ease with the assignments, and I believe that my love of technology and knowledge will assist me when I become an administrator. Students exhibit conducive behavior when they are in front of a computer. There are fewer discipline issues, students remain engaged the entire class period, they do not fall asleep, and they never get bored. The course has not discouraged me; indeed, it has renewed my interest and determination to lead a campus into the 21st Century. The most challenging issue of technology today is budgeting. As an administrator, others will depend upon the innovative ways I can find monies to keep software updated and purchase new computers. With schools across the state fighting a budget crisis, I will need to keep an open mind and allow those teachers who think outside the box to lead the way for others around them. They will be my allies when leading a campus of 21st teachers and students.
As I begin a new stage of my career in education, I must continually challenge myself to lead others into the future. I do not, as an administrator, want to be responsible for hindering learners. Technology can enhance learning. I must challenge my teachers to become technology leaders as well. My computer skills are advanced, but I can still benefit from professional development in technology. I should attend technology conferences and see what others in surrounding areas are doing at their schools. As a leader, I do not believe I will be satisfied to follow others. I want others to follow my example. It is important for the principal to set the example for teachers and staff whether the issue is technology, curriculum, or culture. Technology is constant, ever-changing, and necessary. Administrators should embrace technology and lead their school into the future, so that all students receive every possible advantage.
