Vision
What is a Vision? According to the ISTE article Effective Digital Learning Environments (2015), a vision describes an organization’s ideal future—what the system members agree they would like to see happen over time. The article went on to say that formal vision statements are usually brief, aspirational, and long-term (at least five years from starting the visioning process) (p. 17). When creating a school vision you have to look at how you see your school and where do you see it going. One also has to consider how does your school get the students prepared for the future once they leave your building. As an Instructional Technologist, I envision integrating technology into all aspects of learning to engage students, to foster higher order thinking, facilitate creative problem-solving to increase student achievement, and produce life-long learners that can meet the demands of school and beyond. In the article Technology and Student Achievement— The Indelible Link (2008) it discusses 7 factors for successfully implementing technology for learning. The 7 factors are:
The first factor in the article Technology and Student Achievement— The Indelible Link (2008) that will allow success with the use of technology is that schools need to have effective professional development for teachers in the integration of technology in instruction to support student learning and promote academic growth. This factor is important because teachers should not be thrown into the idea of using technology. They need to be taught. Professional development can help with successful integration of technology into the curriculum. Teachers need to see how to integrate technology and how to use it effectively. Ongoing technology professional development should be a staple in any 21st century learning environment. Creighton (2003) posts that “our strategic plans (and vision) must be linked to teaching, student achievement, staff development, parent involvement, teacher workloads, and instructional delivery in order to avoid failure” (p. 29).
Another factor in Technology and Student Achievement— The Indelible Link (2008) that I think can help technology promote academic growth is that teachers’ direct application of technology must be aligned to local and/or state curriculum standards. This is so important because when technology is used it needs to enhance the curriculum that needs to be taught. There are so many types of technology out there that I have learned about over the course of my time in the Instructional Technology program. If you do not use choose the right technology to enhance the standards you minus well stick with paper and pencil. When teachers use technology they have to use it to directly connect with the standards that are being taught. This will allow the technology to have meaningful and rigorous instruction that helps the students gain academic growth in the standards. The standards should drive the learning in the curriculum but technology should be used to fuel it.
Lastly, another factor in Technology and Student Achievement— The Indelible Link (2008) that can help technology promote academic growth is project-based learning and real-world simulations that must focus on instructional technology utilization. In order to help students meet the demands of high school and beyond students need real-world application. Drill and practice has its purpose, but in order for students to be able to use these concepts in real-life they need more project based learning and real-world simulations. Students need projects that are applicable to what they see and are going to experience. They can ‘Google’ a lot of things, as teachers we need to provide them with situations where they can’t simple ‘Google it’. As Creighton shares, “technology by itself will not get us where we want to go. It must be driven by teachers and students using technology as a tool to perform at a higher level” (p. 102).
All seven factors in the article will help my technology vision, but the 3 that I have mentioned are key. When integrating technology and trying to increase academic growth you must have professional development, direct application to the standards, and project-based lessons. I believe that if all 3 of these things occur then technology can be successfully integrated in the school and my technology vision will come to pass. Also, in creating such an environment inspired by a technology vision it will require collaborative, intentional and challenging work by all school personnel, the parents, and students. It will be an enormously rewarding accomplishment that will impact the lives of our students and help to prepare them for the future.
References
Creighton, T. (2003). Principal as technology leader. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press.
Effective digital learning environments. (2015) ISTE. 16-34. Retrieved from
https://www.iste.org/handlers/ProductAttachment.ashx?ProductID=3732&Type=excerpts
Technology and student achievement— the indelible link. (2008). ISTE Policy Brief. 1-12. Retrieved from
http://www.k12hsn.org/files/research/Technology/ISTE_policy_brief_student_achievement.pdf
- Effective professional development for teachers in the integration of technology into instruction is necessary to support student learning,
- Technology must be incorporated into the daily learning schedule (i.e., not as a supplement or after-school tutorial),
- Teachers’ direct application of technology must be aligned to local and/or state curriculum standards,
- Programs and applications must provide individualized feedback to students and teachers and must have the ability to tailor lessons to individual student needs,
- Technology use must be incorporated in a collaborative environment to be most effective,
- Project-based learning and real-world simulations must be the main focus of instructional technology utilization, and
- Effective technology integration requires leadership, support, and modeling from teachers, administrators, and the community/parents.
The first factor in the article Technology and Student Achievement— The Indelible Link (2008) that will allow success with the use of technology is that schools need to have effective professional development for teachers in the integration of technology in instruction to support student learning and promote academic growth. This factor is important because teachers should not be thrown into the idea of using technology. They need to be taught. Professional development can help with successful integration of technology into the curriculum. Teachers need to see how to integrate technology and how to use it effectively. Ongoing technology professional development should be a staple in any 21st century learning environment. Creighton (2003) posts that “our strategic plans (and vision) must be linked to teaching, student achievement, staff development, parent involvement, teacher workloads, and instructional delivery in order to avoid failure” (p. 29).
Another factor in Technology and Student Achievement— The Indelible Link (2008) that I think can help technology promote academic growth is that teachers’ direct application of technology must be aligned to local and/or state curriculum standards. This is so important because when technology is used it needs to enhance the curriculum that needs to be taught. There are so many types of technology out there that I have learned about over the course of my time in the Instructional Technology program. If you do not use choose the right technology to enhance the standards you minus well stick with paper and pencil. When teachers use technology they have to use it to directly connect with the standards that are being taught. This will allow the technology to have meaningful and rigorous instruction that helps the students gain academic growth in the standards. The standards should drive the learning in the curriculum but technology should be used to fuel it.
Lastly, another factor in Technology and Student Achievement— The Indelible Link (2008) that can help technology promote academic growth is project-based learning and real-world simulations that must focus on instructional technology utilization. In order to help students meet the demands of high school and beyond students need real-world application. Drill and practice has its purpose, but in order for students to be able to use these concepts in real-life they need more project based learning and real-world simulations. Students need projects that are applicable to what they see and are going to experience. They can ‘Google’ a lot of things, as teachers we need to provide them with situations where they can’t simple ‘Google it’. As Creighton shares, “technology by itself will not get us where we want to go. It must be driven by teachers and students using technology as a tool to perform at a higher level” (p. 102).
All seven factors in the article will help my technology vision, but the 3 that I have mentioned are key. When integrating technology and trying to increase academic growth you must have professional development, direct application to the standards, and project-based lessons. I believe that if all 3 of these things occur then technology can be successfully integrated in the school and my technology vision will come to pass. Also, in creating such an environment inspired by a technology vision it will require collaborative, intentional and challenging work by all school personnel, the parents, and students. It will be an enormously rewarding accomplishment that will impact the lives of our students and help to prepare them for the future.
References
Creighton, T. (2003). Principal as technology leader. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press.
Effective digital learning environments. (2015) ISTE. 16-34. Retrieved from
https://www.iste.org/handlers/ProductAttachment.ashx?ProductID=3732&Type=excerpts
Technology and student achievement— the indelible link. (2008). ISTE Policy Brief. 1-12. Retrieved from
http://www.k12hsn.org/files/research/Technology/ISTE_policy_brief_student_achievement.pdf