Dream

Part 1

Project Description:

Shifting the Paradigm

 

The main problem I see with Technology Leadership is in its organizational structure.  In general, many educators understand the value of technology in the classroom and many want to implement technology in their classrooms.  However, there is often a disconnect between professional development(PD) sessions and the technology discussed in those sessions being implemented in the classroom.  I would like to see a transformation in the role of the technology leader as well as the current structure of PD sessions.

 

As I dream about the framework of technology leadership, I envision a paradigm shift in which PD sessions are structured around a particular department, such as math.  Instead of focusing on a  single or particular technology at a PD session, learning how to use that particular technology and sending educators off alone to then integrate it into existing lessons in separate classrooms, I’d like a PD sessions to be centered around solving problems within a particular subject matter.  At a session, I’d like educators to think about one discipline at a time.  While working within the context of one subject area, such as math,  educators can first identify problem areas within the curriculum, list the trouble areas of student understanding, brainstorm a “wish list” of educational goals and create a list of time consuming teacher required tasks, all before even considering any technologies to be integrated into the specific curriculum.  Only after identifying problems and goals, would the “math department”, for instance, begin working on the technology integration process.  With the close guidance of the technology leader, the “math department” can stay active in PD sessions by continuing to work on solving the academic problems and meeting the academic goals. The technology leader, and educators, can then build the ed tech artifacts and lessons, tweaking and refining it along the way.

 

Google Docs, Facebook Groups and Twitter will serve as the technologies used by educators to create a supportive community geared toward the single mission of building technology artifacts and lessons that many teachers can use with their students.