Week 5: Reflection

Looking back over this course, I have realized the outcome I had for this course as a leader was not what the course was. I was not thinking about the course being all about technology. I quickly realized that I needed to start thinking as a campus technology leader. After I started to think about instruction as a technology leader, the outcomes I had for this course became clearer. From this course I wanted to learn how to lead through the use of technology. I also wanted to gain knowledge in the STaR chart and how it applies specifically to my campus, as well as what I could do to help change the use of technology and the growth of it on the campus. In participating in this course through the readings, discussion, and assignments, I was able to acquire knowledge I will need to help lead the campus in the use of technology. I have learned various ways students and educators are using technology to provide valuable learning opportunities, help provide 24/7 professional development as well as support to students. I have also learned that there are many valuable tools out there to assess the technology needs of the campus. The STaR chart is just one of the ways we assess technology, and is something schools all across the state and nation complete. The report is sent to the department of education to help the federal government assess the needs of the nation. The Star chart also helps determine funding the schools get for use with technology. I didn’t know before the course, that the principal gets a report each year of the chart results for the campus and should use those to adjust professional development goals, and make instructional changes to the CIP.


I feel pretty confident in achieving the outcomes I had for myself in this course. Everything I was learning about was relevant to my current assignment. After reading all of the articles and looking at the technology application TEKS, and the District plan for technology I have realized that technology is not being used as much as it should be. I have found that as the Campus technology liaison and head of the vertical team, I need to incorporate technology more into the classroom and model for other teachers in the school more. I have started trying to incorporate technology more throughout the lessons the last couple of weeks because I have realized the need for it.

Course assignments for the most part helped me gain a greater understanding of my role as the technology facilitator on campus. The assignments at times were frustrating and I felt as if I would never complete them because they were very involved and mandated a thorough understanding of the readings and information that was required to be gathered and synthesized. I managed to successfully complete each assignment on time and still apply the learning at work. The only thing that seemed to be a hinderance at times, was time itself. With the demands of work , holidays, family, and the assignments, at times I was very overwhelmed. Even though I was overwhelmed I was still able to follow through and get the assignments completed.

These obstacles faced are just a test, when looking back, to what it will be like at times as a leader on campus, whether as a facilitator, or administrator. I have learned that when times get stressful and sometimes seem like nothing is going right, I keep pushing through and get the job done. I have learned that I can handle stress and still get the job done. I have also learned that what I know about technology is really just a drop in the bucket to what I need to know. I need to look more at resources available and how they are being used. Technology is a big part of the society we live in and we must bring it into the classroom to do that many stakeholders have to be involved in order for this endeavor to successfully be undertaken.

One way that teachers are bringing this into the classroomis by creating blogs. Blogs are a part of the 21st century and allow teachers and students to communicate outside of the traditional classroom. Blogs are a way to incorporate many technology applications. Blogs allow students from across the school, district, state, country, and world to communicate with each other. Blogs allow students to participate in book clubs, where they respond to questions about the book. There are many other ws they can be used as well. Teachers can post projects the students have completed to communicate with parents and other stakeholders. Schools can use a blog to help parents stay informed about events and issues at the school. Since parents can comment, questions can be asked on a post to solicit parent and community feedback.

Of course with any tool used on the internet, blogs have concerns associated with them. If they are not set to private, anyone can find them and make comment to assignments or student work. Blogs also only allow for one person to post. If students want to add anything, they have to make a comment to the posting. Blogs are accessable over the internet so we have to teach students how to safely use the internet, and to comment appropriately. Students need to know that cyber-bullying is not acceptable and must be reported.

This course has been challenging but yet rewarding with all of the applicable information used. I look forward to being able to use this information as a leader on campus to help successfully integrate technology with the content-area curriculum.