Group items tagged

Your leadership success increases exponentially by the number of leaders you create within your organization. Teachers, as well as administrators, must accept their roles as leaders to properly integrate technology. Then and only then can long-term success be realized. In times of education bashing and dwindling resources, we must acknowledge that our most valuable assets are our human resources and allow our students to build our future in a positive direction in a technological, global society.

Technology by its very nature will stop working at some point and this often creates an atmosphere of distrust. As the Director of Information and Communication Technologies I very often only hear the complaints and rarely a thank you. My staff works hard every day, which includes typical upgrades, day-to-day fixes, and emergencies. Decisions are made daily that impact how our teachers, staff, administrators, and students use the technology resources that are available in the schools. I think it is in our best interest to be proactive and share the good news and the challenges that are presented through the integration of technology throughout academic and organizational use throughout the school district.

Last night was Family Night at my kids' elementary school. You know, that night when you visit your kid's class with the other parents, learn about the curriculum and teacher expectations for the year, sit in little tiny chairs, etc. Each parent was asked to sign the district's Digital Resources Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for the 2008-2009 school year. Not a single parent read over the AUP; everyone just signed it blindly. Except me, of course. I combed through it because, as a former attorney and technology guy, I want to know what I'm signing on behalf of my fifth-grade daughter.

TechYES is an innovative way for schools and community organizations to offer a technology certification program to students in grades 6-9. As with all Generation YES products, students are at the center of the solution - backed up with solid research and extensive resources. In TechYES, students show technology literacy by creating projects that meet state and local technology proficiency requirements. As part of TechYES, a structured peer-mentoring program assists the teacher or advisor, and provides student leadership opportunities that serve to further strengthen the program and enrich the learning community.