Final Reflection for EDLD 5352/EA 1150

At first glance, Instructional Leadership appeared to be about how to lead others in instruction. Once the course work began though, my view changed. With instruction remaining the focus, technology was fused with instruction. I then realized that while I push forward in my career, the world was also pushing forward and growing with technology. My goals were to learn as much as I possibly could about ways to help my teachers join technology and curriculum to meet the needs of our students now and in the future. I wanted to find ways that I can immediately use what I learn in the course, and build bridges between the teachers who refuse to use technology and our technology tools. Oddly enough, I feel enlightened about ways to help my students and teachers. I have new ideas, and I am ready with my action plan to use them. While my original thoughts on the class were not 100% accurate, I still feel that the leadership in instruction can be the focus using technology.
My school is, in my opinion, unique. It's almost like we are starting from scratch, and this means that the sky is the limit! I have the opportunity to change the way my staff views our current technology. Already, I have participated in a web conference to discuss an Internet-based program that can boost student scores, increase rigor, engage almost all learners, and assist teachers in cutting back on the tedious paperwork that seems to grow by the day. My job as a testing coordinator already entails utilizing the Internet, analyzing data from AEIS reports and AYP reports, and training my staff. Because I am able to use almost any program that I come across, I am better able to assist my teachers, and I can engage them better in my trainings.
On the downside of being a unique school, we are also a very poor school. Our funds are being cut constantly. This keeps our school from updating the current connection speed, which in turn, prevents us from using a lot of Internet based programs. We cannot afford the pricey costs of the software, nor can my school afford to increase the number of computers. It's very difficult to encourage our students to learn what the world has to offer through the Internet when they cannot access it and utilize it on a daily basis. This is frustrating.
In completing the assignments of this course, I found them to be average in difficulty, yet over-the-top in terms of time. I spent almost my entire Thanksgiving break working on my blog, learning about the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology, completing all of the readings, and wrapping my brain around all of the information that had changed even since I was in my undergraduate college. It was overwhelming, and at times, completely unnecessary. Maybe I just have a different level of competency, and the issue of quantity of work was irritating to me.
While the work may have seemed tedious to me, I did learn quite a bit. I have such a deeper understanding of where Texas is going with the plan for technology. The layering and building process, while slow, is being monitored, and can now be a focus for my school. I only wish that more teachers were aware of what Texas has planned. We have a lot of teachers who have been in education for more than 15 years. This puts them at a little bit of a disadvantage due to the lack of push by our technology specialist on campus for increase in knowledge about the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology. I now know that this is where I can come in as a leader. I can make it one of my goals to reach out to the teachers and help them. I need to show teachers that our students need these skills for their future. I can assist in writing the curriculum for our technology applications courses, and I can support the teachers and students as they begin to try new things.
In order to add the new goals to my leadership role, I can begin by informing my staff how blogging can be a huge educational tool. If teachers would use blogs with their students, they would see more interaction from ALL students, while increasing motivation and engagement. I am even considering beginning a blog specifically for my school. If the teachers interact using one, I think they would be more likely to try and infuse it with their current classes. Most teachers fear what they do not know, and the only way to fight fear is with knowledge.
Unfortunately, one of the biggest fears about technology is safety. As both a parent and educator, I want all kids to be safe from predators, cyber-bullying, fraud, and misinformation. All of these things can be present in blogs, which is why most teachers don't use them. As a leader, it is my responsibility to make my staff see that we can keep our kids safe by teaching them how to analyze what they see, react and respond to one another, instill honesty in them, and how to protect one's self. They have to start at an early age, and the teaching of online safety should be constant, repeated, and practiced.
Finally, I really think that one of the best qualities about blogging is in that it allows communities to come together. Blogging brings more parent communications, and it builds a bridge between businesses and education. If a blog is created for a school, the parents can see for themselves what the children are learning. Businesses can see what schools need, and they can help support schools. Communities can have input and form alliances to help keep students safer. My dad always loves using the phrase It takes a village to raise a child, and I would like to think that in today's world, the village needs a blog to help everyone keep together.