Module 1 Comments

Thank you for posting your assignments on time!  I've thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your posts and have chosen specific parts to highlight.  Please feel free to reply to my comments.

Marlisa:  “Why don't we teach how they learn then? Can you blame students nowadays for not wanting to learn with a chisel and a stone when they might as well have been born with a tablet in their hands? (With all due respect.)”

Mary Jo:  Students have changed.  As teachers, we need to accept the challenge and foster our own creative abilities to meet their needs.  Yes, many students have gadgets and this may lead to fast-paced and immediate expectations on their part.  Thus, it’s our job to teach how they learn best. We must continuously reflect and self-assess to evaluate if our lessons are effective and student learning is taking place. 

Marlisa:  “Therefore, it is essential for leaders of technology to provide teachers with the latest research methods and innovative instruction in order to meet the needs of their students.”

Mary Jo:  Yes, we need effective leaders that will provide the ongoing support, supply the necessary resources and model best practices.  Without these components, many teachers (veteran and beginning) may feel lost and frustrated.

Michael: “ Technology needs are different in every classroom.  Deciding what forms of technology should be introduced is the responsibility of the teacher, but where teaching leadership can help out is being able to spread knowledge of which are the best suited for each classroom.”

Mary Jo:  This is a powerful statement, Michael.  Yes, technology needs are different in every classroom, and this applies to the instructor and the students.  Quite often we see technology purchases and implementation decisions from the “top-down”.  Without a needs assessment for a particular setting, how can we truly decide from an administrative view, what is best?  Money is often spent and then teachers are held accountable for working their magic with little to no training. Teachers must be part of professional development training decisions and technology purchases.

Michael: “ If extra help is out there, should teachers try to learn how to use this technology?” 

Mary Jo:  In my opinion, it’s not a choice.  But, to be successful it cannot be “the one-shot” training and send the participants out the door and wish them good luck. Scheduled support sessions must occur for teachers to validate the importance of the training.

Diana:  “Teacher leaders share their knowledge with other professionals and actively participate in action research.  At times they may be department heads or some other form of official leader in a school but they don’t necessarily have to be.”

Mary Jo:  Diana, your statement of sharing knowledge and actively participating in action-research should remind us that we do not teach on an “island”.  Teachers often stress the importance of cooperative learning in the classroom, but may try to shoulder the responsibility of imparting information in isolation. By surrounding yourself with a support system, this displays the ability to collaborate and network. Throughout my experiences as an educator, I’ve never witnessed a teacher leader that depended on isolation to succeed.

Diana: “ Technology leaders don’t spend all their time in the front of the classroom lecturing and students taking notes.  It’s more activity based, collaborative kind of work.  It’s actually a whole different style of teaching and learning that a traditional classroom.  The students in these classrooms are learning more of the skills that they will need in the real world.”

Mary Jo:  Activity-based lessons and collaborative work are effective research-based strategies for student learning. Students question why particular lessons are taught and the relevancy to” their world”.  When we create authentic learning experiences and seek to understand our students, then we have a better opportunity for student engagement to occur.

Diana: “….let alone finding the money to buy technology for the classrooms.  

Mary Jo:  Thank you!  I recently placed the order for the Kindle Fire devices. My students are thrilled! 

Adam:  “ I see a teacher leader as one who does not take center stage, but rather one who can help other teachers, collaborate for the good to the students, is a wealth of knowledge (especially for novice/beginning teachers), and leads by example through good teaching practices, care for the students, and goes above and beyond the base duties of a teacher.”

Mary Jo:  Yes, I believe the teacher leader qualities you have mentioned are recognized by administrators and colleagues without the teacher taking center stage.  You have focused on the qualities that directly benefit student learning.  In my opinion, if you believe in all students as learners, then a teacher leader is willing (not forced) to participate in professional development opportunities that directly benefits students.

Adam:  “From my perspective, the challenges include lack of resources, pressure from school board offices to push technology use, and lack of training/interest in some senior teachers to use digital resources.”

Mary Jo:  Some of these issues could be solved with proper professional development planning/implementation and training.  A few years ago, I was asked this question:  “Mary Jo, how will you implement the 21^st Century Technology tools and Standards, but don’t tell me that you need more computers to do it?”  I’m sure the look on my face spoke volumes.  I know technology tools are purchased and possibly sit on shelves unused.  Once again, involve teachers in the decision-making process when it pertains to their classroom.

Walesca: “Through this process I learned that good teacher leadership does not mean you have to control everything, but you have to provide the appropriate tools, opportunity to create and continues reinforcement when need. And most important be prepared to jump in at any moment’s notice.”

Mary Jo: What a great project!  I believe that it is crucial to plan, provide tools and opportunity for a project to be successful.  It took me some time, but I eventually learned that I don’t have to control everything in my classroom. A good leader provides students with opportunities to grow, change course and choose how they want to learn a new concept. 

Walesca:  “So to be a good teacher in leadership with technology you must really be up to date on tech language it’s also important to understand the language that is trending on the different types of social network, student blogs, and email etiquette.”

Mary Jo: Well stated!  I have and will continue to use student blogs and social networking sites with my students.  I carefully model the expectations and possible outcomes before implementing Web 2.0 activities. In my opinion, many teachers give up on these types of activities because they didn’t set guidelines, nor feel comfortable with what’s trending.