Semester: Fall 2011

Instructor: Dr. Julie Caplow

Credits: 3

 

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to assist learners in developing the skills, knowledge, and values needed to provide technology coordination and leadership in schools. Students will deal with aspects of technology facilitation and strategies to be an effective technology leader in a district and building. Topics to be explored include technology planning issues, facilities and hardware issues, incorporating needs assessments, staff development, communication, policies and procedures, staffing, finance, and evaluation.

Reflection Statement

This course provided me the opportunity to view educational technology from an administrative point of view.  I have implemented educational technology as a teacher in various grade levels and buildings, but before taking this class, I never had the chance to explore the planning and preparations necessary to provide and maintain technology in the classroom.  The experience working with technology plans, facility inventories, staffing needs, professional development planning, and budgets will be useful not only in the future as a technology coach or facilitator, but currently as a library media specialist and member of my building's leadership team.  The class allowed me time to consider technology use across an entire building or district, and how decisions made at the building and district level impact individual classrooms.

Artifacts

• Technology Plan Assessment (PDF)
  • This document is an evaluation of my district's technology plan.
• Technology Facilities Survey (PDF)
  • This document was created with the help of my district's network administrator. It inventories the technology equipment and resources within Indian Trails Elementary School.
• Special Needs Case Study (wiki)
  • This special needs study was created with a team of two other classmates. It focuses on hardware and software that can be used to accommodate students who have learning disabilities in math or communication arts.
• Staff Development Plan (Google Doc)
  • This is a year-long professional development plan designed to train teachers to use the Fort Osage website.
• Technology Staffing Plan (Google Doc)
  • This plan includes an organizational chart and the job descriptions for technology staffing across a school district.
• Initial Technology Budget with Narrative (Google Doc)
  • Created in a Google Spreadsheet, this assignment was my first experience with budgeting for technology across an entire district.