Week+3+Assignment+Part+3.5,+Reading+Reflection+on+ISTE+Chapter+5

This standard relates to using technology to improve personal and professional productivity. Though many teachers use technology to be more productive, many do not (McLeod, 2007). The ideas and information in this chapter mirror my own journey with technology. I have used productivity tools in my teaching for a long time. Over ten years ago, I laid out my lesson plans as a template in Appleworks. I realized that many of the lessons, especially language arts, followed the exact same sequence week after week. Making a template in a word-processing program meant all I had to do was make minor changes each week. Most of my colleagues were still writing everything out by hand.

But just as the book stated, there is a constant pressure to innovate. Now, I have my planbook in the 'cloud" using Planbook.edu. I can access it from my home iMac and MacBook Pro, my school issued HP laptop, and any computer with internet access. But again, most of my colleagues are still writing lessons out by hand! I think that in my personal and professional technology use I have embodied the standard. The chapter also reminded me of the need for all educators to use tech to help them be more productive.

This standard challenges me to help my fellow teachers use the widely available tools to be more productive in their profession. I actually have an opportunity to do a PD with the teachers at my school site on technology. It was a last minute request because there was a conflict with what was originally scheduled. My goal is to use the ideas from this standard about productivity to help my colleagues. I plan to demonstrate some of the resources I use and to ask others to contribute any tools they have found useful. I will judge my effectiveness in this by how many new tools are actually adopted. My interactions with my fellow teachers at my new school site has shown me they are mostly "digital immigrants" (Prensky, 2001). I will then show them some of the available tools they can use with their students such as webquests, PowerPoint, iMovie. Unfortunately, due to time constraints it will only be an overview. My hope is that I will whet their appetite for more and that they will come to me as a resource to assist them in planning and implementing lessons involving technology.

I will continue to innovate my own practice, both personal and professional. I want to continue to investigate and earn from other educators what the new technologies are. I want to help teachers and schools through the 4 step process of adopting new technology (Prensky, 2008). I can do this through education forums, periodicals, conferences, and interactions with other teachers and administrators. I know I want to continue to encourage my colleagues to adopt some of the new technologies. When I share with them what had worked for me, the hope is that they will also become interested. This has happened in past interactions and I expect it would continue. Who doesn't want to find an easier and more efficient way to do their job?

References

McLeod, S. (2007). Document management tools: Quick tips for saving time, space, and patience. //Technology & Learning//, 28(2), 36. Prensky, M. (2001). Digital immigrants, digital natives: Part 1. On the Horizon., 9(5), 1-6 Prensky, M. (2008). Adopt and adapt: Shaping tech for the clasroom. Edutopia: The George Lucas Educational Foundation