2013-14: A reflection piece

In the past year, we have implemented an awareness and a change in attitude towards technology integration. What started out as a very hesitant approach to technology has become an attitude of collaboration, natural integration, and pervasive usage. I have ʺbrought backʺ many technology apps that have been shared at faculty meetings, grade level meetings, one on one with teachers, and even with parents. PLNs are being used to organize the apps learned. I have created several LiveBinders for various purposes to streamline activities and meet needs on campus. I have also met with teachers and grade levels to take an app I presented in a larger setting (faculty meetings, CLT) and brainstorm with them how to take advantage of the app within their classroom(s) - for example, meeting with 2nd grade to build online journaling accounts for themselves and their students. This in turn has resulted in those same teachers taking their work and their students' products and presenting that information campus-wide at a faculty meeting - administrator leading teachers teaching teachers.

As someone who likes to always continue to grow, I would say our campus is still developing, although I am proud of the progress and development that has already taken place. Teachers are now using netbooks, ipads, and ipods regularly as evidenced by the dramatic increase in check-outs during the spring semester. Conversations, brainstorming, and collaboration occurs more frequently and more naturally so that technology integration has become a more integral piece of instruction versus an ʺadd-onʺ. We have more room for growth in the areas of increasing the level of Digital Blooms within lessons, continuing to seamlessly imbed technology, and making digitally infused lessons the norm versus the four times a year exception. Our technology expectations showed a significant increase in student usage of technology, but I would like to see an increase in student products created through and using technology. This would be the next step in support our teachers - teaching them to turn the reigns over to the students.

As we are still developing a fluid integration of technology across the campus, I don't think that we've seen the full impact in our student success, but I have seen more technology impact student engagement and student expectations. For example, our Kindergarten classes balked at the expectation of having students log themselves in early in the school year. Now, at the end of our school year, our PreK students are logging themselves in and our Kindergarten students have created original writing and illustrated pieces published in PowerPoint.