Principal Tested, Student Approved :)

Principals are the head figures in our school systems. They are the men and women who are seen by the students and staff, who communicate directly with parents and guardians, and provide support for his or her individual schools. Regardless of a principals background knowledge of technology usage, it is a duty, an outright obligation for them to take ownership of the knowledge that is out there and can benefit their students. As the voice and face of an individual school, technology is running rampant, and these academic leaders are at the forefront of this new age. 

The generational gap that exists makes it a little difficult for some because exposure to digital materials may not be second nature as it is for today's students. That is more of a reason to take the reigns! I love the way Gosmire and Grady present the roles of principals. The fear is obvious and something I think many current and upcoming teachers have really debated over. As the authors of "A Bumpy Road" put it: 

          "There are stories of these devices being used by students to cheat on tests, disrupt        classes, and even cause potential harm to one another, and after hearing such stories, most principals want to ban such devices, but that reaction may damage the school’s relationship with parents and students" (P. 17).

This is a perfect example of why principals should at least be proficient in the areas of technology that are involved in the classroom. General knowledge so that they can adequately manage the school environment and allow students to take charge of their learning. 

It is the principal’s role to establish a vision for the school. "Principals must establish a context for technology in the school and understand how the technology can be used to restructure learning, empower teachers, and help students become more technology literate (Brockmeier, Sermon, & Hope, 2005)" (p. 18). So the context in which different means of technological tools is going to be used is absolutely necessary, but mastery not necessarily.

I remember my middle school had a portal that the parents only had access to that posted the grades of students and homework/paper/test dates that were impending. During parent teacher conferences my cooperating teacher pulled up each students page with the parent and asked them if they knew about the technology (if they didn't he would guide them in how to get access). Surprisingly a lot of parents were very well informed and loved the portal. This is just a small example of how a little piece of technology can enhance the communication between parents and their children, parents and teachers, as well as between the teachers and the students. 

Here is a really nice example I saw in a school using technology and music I thought you'd like to see!

 


I think for some principals they might need to see it in action. So regardless of whether or not they are tech savvy, principals need to have a positive attitude and to be open to teachers implementing technology within their own classroom settings. I think if they witnessed it within their own schools, they would have no choice but to investigate further and expand on their prior knowledge. With that said teachers need to also be leaders of technology in the class and be part of building that community of technology with the principal. 

Wearing the Construction Hat

We get to a point in life where our careers feel like home. We may do some touch-ups here and there, add a few new pieces of furniture to the house, or maybe even remodel a part of the house, but we never plan on changing the structure of the house. I feel like that is what teachers need to do in this analogy. Home is where the heart is and if your heart is in teaching and helping your students attain success, you'll do what it takes to get them there. Following along with my analogy, I am saying that if there something that does not support your family of 4 or 5 or 30 you are going to either close up shop and look elsewhere or build on what you have.

All of the articles read thus far, discussing the advantages and the drawbacks, pedagogy and student contribution, privacy and safety are all relevant pieces of the puzzle, but I think teachers need to put on the construction hat and get to work. It feels a little awkward being the student again, learning core critical information that may or not be second nature to us, but if it is almost certain to produce something beautiful if used correctly, why make it more difficult for ourselves? I think if we had the attitude of curiosity we would be able to transform our pedagogical knowledge while maintaing our core values of teaching. The objectives would after all be the same: a successful classroom; just a different means of getting there and keeping the students engaged. 

I believe authors like Ertmer are right in believing there needs to be a shift in teacher's pedagogical beliefs for technology to take full course in the classroom. Regardless of how any individual feels about using it, its a resource that is going to become major features of every classroom across the United States. We can't just ignore their presence. I for one still find it scary. I am learning, little by little things I am able to do and discovering things I may eventually get to mastering. It's not about the next best thing as much as its about the next thing that can benefit our classrooms. Just because we have this resource does not mean we forget how our students learn differently. 

Focus TEACHERS!!! FOCUS!!! We need to put on our construction hats, get in the field and make some magic happen in our classrooms. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty :)