Field+Based+Activities+Reflection+TF+V-C

Standard V.C is about applying technology to increase productivity (Williamson and Redish, 2009). I have always been a leader in this area, discovering ways to use technology to make my life easier. And, I have always been willing to share what I learn. In a 2004 survey, school leaders reported they see technology as a tool to improve productivity and efficiency (n.d.). As a music teacher with a performing group, I frequently had to collect money to turn in for uniforms, field trip costs, etc. The paper and pencil way was tedious, so I began using a spreadsheet from Excel. For this activity, I showed a fellow teacher how to import class lists from her gradebook program, then create formulas to automatically add and mulitply as appropriate. I'm surprised that the district hasn't offered a template online, rather than the paper and pencil version they currently use.

As a second part of this, teachers are eager to use video in their lessons, but are frustrated that YouTube is not available due to our district filter. I know there are ways to download videos (which i shared with our teachers) and our district will add YouTube videos to their list of approved videos, but those take pre-planning and extra time. With so many districts now unblocking YouTube, I set out to convince our district that they should find a way to let teachers access YouTube. I did an informal survey (via Facebook) to find out which districts allow access for their teachers. (I didn't find any that blocked it completely) and submitted to the appropriate person who was compiling putting together a presentation for the school board.

My conclusion from this acitivity is that if a district wants it's teachers to enter the 21st century and transform their teaching style, they need to do the same darn thing! Solomon and Schrum (2007) say that "If a school or district administrator is committed to implementing new technologies, the staff will get the message." Paper and pencil tabulations of money should be a thing of the past. And educational video clips should be available to teachers while they are at work, to review and evaluate for classroom instruction.

References

(n.d.). Retrieved on May 11, 2013 from http://www.edtechactionnetwork.org/technology-and-student-administration ol leaders reported they see technology as a tool to improve productivity and efficiency (online article, n.d.).References

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

====Williamson, J. & Redish, T. (2009). //ISTE'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.====