TF+Standard1

Today's teachers are told that they have to prepare students for a future that we can't fully envision. Interestingly, our students aren't hindered by that thought. To them, the future is wide open. We are actually charged with opening the doors so they can find their path. Listen to today's students tell what they want to be and compare their ideas to the things we wanted to be when we were growing up. Welcome to the future. media type="custom" key="6458237"


 * Technology Facilitator and Leadership Standard 1: Technology Operations and Concepts**

Teachers need training that covers both basic operations to use technology and methods of implementation in the classroom. That has been a large part of my job and large percentage of my field-based activities were designing and managing the online course that we use to make sure teachers meet the SBEC standards for technology applications. In the 1990's the focus of training was on basic operations. The idea was that if teachers knew how to use technology, they would start using it in the classroom. That didn't happen very often. Now we have a more comprehensive training program. We teach teachers how to use technologies like word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and the Internet, but we also teach them how to use the technology in their classroom. The course I designed for the internship is based on conducting research to identify activities that other teachers are designing for their students. The idea is that the teachers know how to find resources rather than continue to be reliant on technology coaches like me. I also help teachers on our campuses every week plan activities for students to use technology. That was also a part of my internship. I listed a specific project that I helped a teacher with. She wanted her students to create digital stories. This is a pretty easy project, but teachers have a difficult time envisioning how to manage it in a classroom setting. I help with the planning stage of a project and the initial steps of implementation.

This is a model that is very important for technology facilitators. As time has gone by, many technology leaders have begun to notice that professional development needs to include integration strategies and basic operation concepts. I also believe that training needs to include coaching. Technology is constantly evolving and moving ahead. Facilitators need to help teachers transfer learning from the course environment to practical use in the classroom. I like the idea of learning communities and would like to facilitate these communities after training. This promotes continual use and focuses on use in the classroom. This also establishes a community of support for the teachers, rather than making them dependent on the facilitator.

Paisley, B. (Artist). (2009). //Welcome to the future//. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0Yg9wjctRw Williamson, J, & Redish, T. (2009). //ISTE's technology facilitation and leadership standards//. Eugene, OR: International Society of Technology in Education.