Field+Based+Activities+Reflection+TF+VII.A

Since access to technology is the strongest predictor if it's use, it is critical that educational technologists establish a stable infrastructure to support effective use in classrooms (Williamson and Redish, 2009). Our school has three laptop carts available for classroom use, as well as a wireless access point that can be used in any room that does not get a wireless signal.

I didn't want those carts to sit in storage all year. I wanted teachers to use them. I had to make technology available to our teachers and make it easy and effortless to obtain. The solution was creating a Google Doc that described the computers on each cart, as well as any special software that was loaded. There was a link to a Google Calendar that showed availability of each cart. To use a cart, teachers could create an event for the cart with their name. The event generated an email to me. On the day the cart was requested, it would be set up and ready to go in the classroom.

Creating the Google Doc and Calendar, not only served as a means for teachers to request the cart, they provided an example of the use of Google Docs and Calendars.

Of course, most teachers just send me an email. That works, too!

References

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.