Field+Based+Activites+Reflection+TF+I.B

According to Williamson and Redish (2009), technology leaders must assess educators' current knowlede and skills related to technology operations, as well as evalute the effective ness of current facilitation efforts. As a new teacher in my school, I needed to know where the staff stood, technologically speaking. Not only did I want to know what kind of technology resouces they had available or they lacked, I wanted to know what they would like to learn. My principal and I decided that a survey would be the best way to find out. Since I am supposed to model technology, I decided that a online survey would be the best choice.

The survey included a list of of hardware resources (computer, SMARTboard, document camera, etc.) to check off, as well as a rubric for teachers to asses their own knowledge and comfort level with tehnology. It also had a comments section for a "wish list" of hardware and/or staff development requests.

Even though I had become acquainted with much of the staff during previous weeks as I helped them set up their equipment, I was surprised with the range of reported equipment and knowledge. The thing I noticed most was that the teachers who reported a high level of knowledge and use of technology were most satisfied with the equipment they had. The teachers who reported a low to medium level of knowledge and use of technlogy were more likely to request a SMARTboard or other hardware.

I suspect that the more technology saavy teachers are the ones comfortable with the wide range of free Web 2.0 tools described by Solomon and Schrum (2007).

References

Solomon, G. & Schrum, L. (2007). //Web 2.0 newtools, new schools.// Eugene, Or: International Society for Technology in 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.