Comments on: Implications for educational technology

By: chicklit

chicklit — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 04:23:34 +0000

In order to promote differentiated learning experiences within the school, a school leader can utilize technologies such as the Internet and I-Pods. School leaders must ensure that every classroom had Internet access and he/she can conduct walkthroughs regularly to ensure that technology is integrated into daily instruction, instead of just a weekly event in the computer lab. School leaders need to make sure that thier staff is aware of opportunities such as webquests that can provide differentiated learning experiences for students. Staff development should be provided with students present as well, since they will be the ones using the technology. If a school leader models the use of technology, as in recording a message for students on an I-Pod and then setting up a podcast they can listen to at home, than teachers will feel more willing to try new things. It is crucial that a school leader has a vision about how technology can increase student achievement and that this vision is clearly communicated to the staff and students.

By: dawn

dawn — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:54:30 +0000

I think that the key to being able to promote an effective learning community with technology is to have an administrator with a clear vision of how technology should be used, the commitment to ensure resources and training to meet the vision, and the passion to promote it to all stakeholders. They real key is the vision and attitude of the school leader. If it is valued by the administration, it will become a focus at the school. If it is not embraced, it is going to become ineffective and less valued. The attitude of the school leader is the key!

By: ajj6365

ajj6365 — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:21:41 +0000

I think high quality professional development is the key to integrated technology use in schools. Technology professional development needs to be embedded into the school day for teachers. Administrators must carve out space, time, and resources, and facilitate the technology professional development.

By: ajj6365

ajj6365 — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:07:23 +0000

The school administrator must consistently refer back to the school’s technology plan so that teachers will know what is required of them. One way an administrator could facilitate the use of technology to allow for differentiated learning experiences is to introduce teachers to online courses for students. Another way is to facilitate the use of internet buddies for students and teachers. Finally, the administrator could introduce teachers to webquests for independent studies or curriculum advancement for students. http://www.webquest.org/index.php is an excellent resource for webquests.

By: vaur

vaur — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 22:21:06 +0000

For one, a school leader use email and/or school website to help communicate to all stakeholders what is happening at the school. The school leader can emphasize the use of Blogs and wiki’s in the classroom to help post projects and communicate with other schools. Students can use palm held computers to collect data in a science classroom to generate a data table for a project. Using technology in this way will help students with different learning styles develop the problem solving skills that are needed in the 21st century. A school leader can help develop and implement a technology plan at the school. He/She could then have the students and teachers evaluate the effectiveness of the tech plan to help modify areas in the plan that are ineffective. The school leader can do weekly walk throughs to see how technology is being used in the classroom. By doing this, the school leader can see what kind of staff development is needed for their teachers.

By: Tamara

Tamara — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:41:14 +0000

This all sounds great, but I’m wondering how you would operationalize some of the things on the list–e.g., what is one specific thing a school leader should/could/would do to impact effective technology use as you describe in one or more of the bulleted items?