1. Should the new administrator standards parallel the new teacher standards?
I think the new administrator standards should be closely tied to the new teacher standards. As the leader of the school, an administrator should be able to meet the standards that are required of teachers. An administrator must be in the position to support, promote, model and apply the use of technology in his or her school. If an administrator is not prepared to meet the standards that are required of teachers, it will be difficult to get those same teachers to buy into an administrator's vision for technology at a school.
2. Are there additional standards to which administrators should be held?
I don't know that additional standards are needed so much as that the standards that are given my need to be refined. Things have changed dramatically in the area of technology since these standards were written. Perhaps emphasis should be put on one standard more than another. But where the emphasis is needed may change as technology changes. Should more be placed on learning and teaching since there is such a huge digital gap in knowledge between teachers and students? Or should more emphasis be placed on social, legal and ethical issues since currents events like identity theft is becoming more of a problem? How can the new standards be fine-tuned so that an administrator can always apply them in this rapidly changing area in education.
3. What is your overall reaction to the current administrator standards? The current administrator standards seem to cover the areas that you would think an administrator needs to cover. They basically cover what an administrator needs to do to insure that technology is in the schools and that there is a plan for how it is to be implemented. I think that if I did add something, it would be something to address what administrators need to do to keep pace with the rapid growth of technology.
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16 years ago
8 comments:
Why is technology different from english, or math, or science? An administrator is not required to know how to solve algebraic equations (thank goodness), merely to employ the best math teacher available and then support him/her in their endeavors. My belief is that technology is a tool. The only difference between it and a shovel is that there are far fewer and less expensive types of shovels.
I think technology is different because math and english and some aspects of science never change. A noun is a noun is a noun any day of the week. Once you learn the basics in those areas, you are pretty much on par with everyone else. A working knowledge is all you need. Technology is everchanging. What works today may not work tomorrow. It becomes more advanced daily. As a result, your knowledge of it needs to as well. In order to be an effective leader when it comes to technology, you have to keep up with the changes. Personally, I am middle of the road when it comes to technology. I am interested in how it grows, but I pretty much know what I need to know for what I do with it. However, when I become an administrator, I think I am going to need to know something about the technology I am asking my teachers to use in order to be able to support them. So, I am going to have to learn more than I do now. We have to keep in mind that many teachers in schools are way behind the curve when it comes to technology. I can't help them if I am in the dark too. Do I believe that in education there is overkill sometimes when it comes to technology? Yes, I do. Do I think there needs to be one of those shovels you talked about in the room when someone comes in to expound upon the many benefits the newest gadget will bring to a classroom? Yes, there should be a shovel and hip boots to wade through the... anyway, I think you know what I mean.
You are so right when you said that an unprepared administrator is not going to be able to easily get the teachers to agree with his technology vision for the school. How can there be a buy in where there's no "lead-in"? (Pun intended!)
Being flexible is going to be key as we continue down the technological highway. I think you are right on with the point of flexibility by administrators to meet the needs of a constantly changing technological landscape. Instead of six years between updates, annual updates should be the norm. Even then we may still be behind changing trends.
Right now the emphasis seems to be on getting the technology. I am subbing today and all the classes have these great mimeo projectors. Unfortunatley, when I went around asking about them, many of the teachers I spoke to did not know how to use them. So what's the point?
I agree that the focus has to change as technology does.
Great idea to bring up the issue of legality and ethics. Ultimately any issue with these would fall on the administrator for not having a policy in place regarding such practices. it appears that the administrator needs to be a teacher, facilitator and a watchdog!
As a digital immigrant, I was resistant to utilizing technology to the extent my administrator required. Former administrators did not press the issue of properly using technology, so when our new administrator came in requiring daily technology use, she met with some resisitance. She provided staff development that introduced the new technology she wanted us to use, and she backed that up with the money to get some of it onto each grade level. Having dealt with that transition, I see how it is necessary to have standards for administrators and teachers. It is important to have proficient administrators and teachers, so I suppose the new standards are necessary.
I disagree in saying technology is just a tool as is science, math and other subjects. Like the previous comment stated, in most instances, math and science will never change. Yes, Algebra, Trigonometry, etc may seem a little more complicated than it was some 30 or 40 years ago. But for the most part it is the same. Technology is forever changing significantly. If you don't stay on top of it and train in every aspect of it, you will be lost beyond recognition. I do accept change positively and believe that you must believe in change to survive in the 21st century. Therefore; administrators need to have constant updated standards to lead and to be successful. Technology will always be changing.
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