Coming into the course, I was hopeful that I would gain a greater understanding of the role and responsibilities an instructional leader has pertaining to the integration and application of technology use in a 21st Century learning environment. Throughout the course, I felt all information obtained in the readings, discussion posts and responses, video segments and assignments continued to contribute to my overall outcome, and as an end result, feel it was a positive course experience. I believe that the course exceeded my expectations that I had coming in, specifically because it introduced me to so much more that is required of an instructional leader in terms of integrating technology, and the standards and practices that we must follow and be aware of with increased technology integration.
Overall, I feel the course is one that will continue to provide great reflection and resources for me as an instructional leader.
I believe that the outcomes provide a greater significance to the work that I currently do as a teacher, coach and department head, solely based on the fact that I have a greater awareness of how technology can enhance the learning environment, and the many issues associated with increased technology usage. I firmly believe that because I have obtained more information and “education” regarding technology that I can be a more effective instructional leader in all avenues of the job I currently fulfill on a daily basis. Likewise, as stated in reflection 1, I believe this course will continue to provide continued reflection and resources as I move forward throughout the courses, and on to a position as a campus or District leader.
Concluding the course, I would have to say that I cannot completely think of anything specific that I failed to achieve directly related to my learning. I did however not achieve my direct goal of obtaining 100’s across the board on all assignments, but am still in a strong position to complete the course with an A, which was certainly a goal I set forth to achieve at the opening of the course. In terms of what potentially prevented me from achieving the goal of straight 100’s on all course assignments, I would have to say my confusion with some of the rubrics led to that, as well as my misunderstanding of some simple components associated with the rubric. All in all, considering the extensive work required in the course, and the rigor and relevance of the assignments and topics at hand, I am very pleased with my current position and looking forward to achieving my final goal of potentially recording an A in the course.
I was to a strong degree successful in carrying out all the course assignments; however, I did struggle with a couple of the assignments in terms of simple areas of the rubric that I failed to achieve. I think the course had a tremendous amount of rigor to it, and was extremely demanding, however, feel it was certainly necessary since we will be moving towards an increasingly rigorous environment as an instructional leader once we complete the program. I don’t recall ever feeling discouraged during the course, but perhaps overwhelmed at times with the amount of required readings, discussion board postings, and the length and depth of some of the assignments.
Certainly I feel I am a much stronger educator at the conclusion of the course and have a greater self-awareness about technology, its uses, its potential pitfalls and policies associated with successful integration.
I feel I gained a tremendous amount of useful information relating directly to technology standards, usage, integration and application. The areas I specifically think are going to be the most beneficial to me in my continued career as an educator would be a greater understanding of the Technology TEKS pertaining to both educators and students, the NET*S for Administrators, the usefulness of various technology related tools, and ensuring that we are providing a safe environment for our students as they utilize technology in the learning environment.
I have always considered myself a digital native, even though I may not fit all the requirements specifically, but feel that I further advanced this feeling throughout this course, as I became more and more aware of technology trends, its usefulness and importance. I was placed in a position where I had to explore using technology in ways that I have not necessarily done so since college and produce final products using technology.
I cannot really address how it has affected my leadership skills specifically, as I don’t feel the course was directly related to my individual leadership skills, but rather was designed to make me a more effective leader in the future, as I have increased knowledge about the above referenced items I found most useful.
I feel strongly that blogs can be a tremendous resource for all learners, as it provides essentially a forum where discussion can take place, as well as a source for students to submit and post assignments electronically and obtain feedback. Essentially, a blog is an active assignment, one that can consistently change and adapt, always fresh with new information and ideas, and provides an area for immediate reflection on previous statements, learning and information.
Blogs can be an effective tool for educational leaders, as they can extend the classroom beyond the traditional wall set forth on campus and allow students the opportunity to expand their knowledge base and directly integrate with technology 1 to 1.
Blogs can also serve as a great source of classroom information and course requirements, etc. if used correctly and efficiently by educators.
I do believe there are some great concerns with blogs and blogging in education, the most prevalent being ownership, safety and security of those who participate, and ensuring that we are conducting ourselves in an appropriate manner with our postings. Ownership of the information is key, as over the course we have become increasingly aware of copyright and right to use policies, etc. as it relates to the spoke, unspoken and electronic word. It is important that students and end users understand the policies associated with blogging and the use of the material collected from the blog.
Security of the users and safety to ensure that inappropriate material is not published or able to be obtained from the blog is also a major concern and it is important that we stay pro-active in reviewing any blogs that may be accessed by learners, and ensure our own blogs meet appropriate standards.
As we read in the courseware materials, we also want to ensure we are not the next PR nightmare, hence the reason I indicated the importance of conducting ourselves in an appropriate manner with our postings. We want to ensure our information remains educationally sound and appropriate and that we are not posting comments or information that would lead to a negative view of ourselves, our campus or our districts.
Blogs have the ability to serve as an integral part of the communication process and information exchange for instructional leaders. Just as we were able to utilize the blog throughout this course, as an educational leader we could utilize the blog in the same fashion by providing information to stakeholders in regards to many aspects affecting our campus or district. Additionally, the blog would allow for feedback to be obtained from stakeholders and allow us to update information and directly address the feedback in an open forum, continually informing all stakeholders in regards to a said topic.
Blogging can also be utilized by an instructional leader to communicate directly with faculty and staff; allowing one to essentially conduct a continual online campus meeting throughout an entire year.
In final reflection, the course provided a tremendous value to me as a current educator, and I feel it will provide an even better value once I achieve the goal of a campus or district leader instructional leader.
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