Week 1 Part 2 Reflection on the Technology Assessments

Both assessments showed that although I know how to use technology to fit my needs for student instruction, staff training, and various tasks such as creating newsletters; I am not comfortable enough nor have the proper technological vocabulary to expand on student instruction past my current curriculum. TEA’s Technology Applications Inventory revealed that I need instruction in the areas of virtual environment, graphic files, project management tools, and designing rubrics. The SETDA teacher survey supported that conclusion and elaborated that my technological inadequacies, along with most of our teachers, is negatively impacting student learning. Although we are provided year round state of the art laptops, Verizon wireless cards, and multitudes of other technology; it’s not being carried over to the students. The SETDA results also pointed out a need for data collection so that we can identify and address our weaknesses and create a technological vision. Most shockingly, as the SETDA showed, our administration supports, recognizes, and rewards teachers who pursue using technology for teaching and learning. This evaluation tool is going to be a huge asset to our campus. It’s much more in-depth than the STAR survey we complete each year. As curriculum director, I am going to use it at our next staff meeting and then plan our January – May professional development plan around the results. It will also provide me with a tool to present administration showing where we need to use our resources the most. My opinion is that administrators will see that although they are providing the resources and support for teachers, it’s not trickling down to impact student learning. The assessments are excellent sources for analysis both on the personal and school-wide technological occurrences.