Week 2 - Texas STar Chart Opinion

I chose LEADERSHIP, ADMINISTRATION & INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT. I know there are challenges that administration will face while implementing technology, such that rapid changes on many fronts make it virtually impossible for any individual within a school system to maintain the necessary knowledge to represent all facets of planning for and implementing technology. For this reason, collaborative and on-going planning consistent with the Long-Range Plan for technology and articulated with campus and district plans is necessary if schools are to see improved student learning based on data-driven decisions. Fulfilling the vision of technology requires district, campus, and teacher leaders who articulate and advocate a vision of what technology can do for teaching and learning as well as school operations. Providing the essential leadership and instructional support is critical. Leaders must model the effective use of technologies as well as articulate clear expectations for their faculty and staff. Time for ongoing, sustained professional development must be provided in order to maximize educational benefits from our investment in technology. School decision makers are challenged to budget real costs of technology, both initial and ongoing, and to secure funding to support that budget.

I feel that my principal has communicated her opinion on technology very clearly. However, I am the campus instructional specialist and have been part of her administration when discussing her thoughts on technology. I don't know if she has expressed her thoughts and feelings to the teachers. She has done many things on my campus to ensure that technology is available and used effectively. We are still a fairly new school and have current technology. My principal is always encouraging the staff to participate in technology trainings. We just received stimulus money that she used to purchase technology for the classrooms. Each classroom will be given Smartboards, Elmos, Digital Camera/Scanners. Each grade level will be given a mobile computer lab with 22 laptops for the students to use. Our campus has a computer lab, as well as each classroom being provided 5 to 7 classroom computers for student use. On top of all of this, our technology instructional specialist spends half of his day everday going in and out of classrooms helping teachers integrate technology into their lessons. He provides trainings, tutorials, and lesson plans to teachers. I consider my campus to be very lucky that we have leadership that is very excited about technology and what it can do for our students. I suppose this is why I was disappointed to see the score of 16 in this section. I worry their may be miscommunication between my principal and her staff. She can purchase it and provide training for it all, but if she doesn't communicate her belief and it's importance then the teachers are not going to buy into the idea of integrating technology.