Technology+Facilitator+Standard+V+Reflection


 * Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standard V**


 * Reflection**

Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standard V is all about taking the productivity tools we already know how to use to the next level. "Many teachers are using available productivity tools in rudimentary ways, but not maximizing the available features of the software" (Williamson & Redish, 2009). In my experience, many know that the features are available, but don't know how to use them, and are too overwhelmed to try and learn something new. One of the activities I did was helping a fellow teacher design a spreadsheet to document payments by students by first importing her roster from the gradebook roster to Excel, then creating formulas. Once the spreadsheet is set up, the software does the tedious work. There was more than one lesson learned from the activity: Not only did she learn the basic principles of a spreadsheet, but learned how it can interact with our district's gradebook program. I also shared with teachers how they can use their roster to create certificates using the word processor's mail merge feature. The activities, though different, both demostrate how different programs can interact.

As a technology leader in my school, I am constantly faced with my own lack of knowledge. During one year, I have helped to create two different websites for my school. We had just finished upgrading our old website when our district decided that all schools should use the web hosting service and website templates provided by the district. The new site offers so many options to teachers who want to use their page as a learning space. While I am happy that several teachers are interested in exploring what the site has to offer, I am faced with the challenge of learning enough to support them in a very short amount of time, but am committed to setting the example. Solomon and Schrum (2007) say that "If a school or district administrator is committed to implementing new technologies, the staff will get the message."

I love productivity tools, and realize that I have just scratched the surface with what they can do. I will continue to add to my knowledge base and share with others.

**References ** Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). W//eb 2.0 new tools, new schools//. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology Education.

====Williamson, J. & Redish, T. (2009).I//STE's technology facilitation and leadership standards:what every k-12 leader should know and be able to do//. Eugene, OR. International Society for Technology In Education. ====