Reflection for EDTC 6149:  Administration of School Technology

Instructor:  Dr. Jesse Strycker

State the competency, or standard that is appropriate for your degree and licensure area.

Standards for the Master of Instructional Technology Degree/Coordinator/Director of Technology License (077)

Standard 6:  The instructional technology coordinator/director will model and promote social, ethical, legal, and human issues that relate to technology use.

            Indicator 4:  Promotes safe and healthy use of technology resources.

Describe the requirements for the artifact.

            Administration of School Technology was taught by Dr. Jesse Strycker in the fall 2013 and focused on theory and principles of planning and administering school technology programs, analyzing policies, procedures manuals, and school improvement plans, and identifying attributes of effective technology leaders.  It is very important to provide school leaders with resources and information that not only creates conversation about security measures and its effects on the ability and willingness of teachers to integrate technology but also helps to create effective 21^st century schools (Schrum & Levin, 2009; Robinson, Brown, & Green, 2010).  With this in mind, we created our final project, a Policies and Procedures Manual.  We were to include a mission statement, MTAC committee information, program evaluation plan, and how to manage change.  We also included the following policies:  software selection, flexible access, website development, copyright, and acceptable use.  This artifact was completed throughout the course due to its great detail and extent. 

Explain how your artifact is a good example of the objective, competency, or standard.

            This artifact provides a plethora of examples of my ability to promote social, ethical, legal, and human issues that relate to technology use (077 Standard 6), as well as, my ability to promote safe and healthy use of technology resources (077 Standard 6, Indicator 4).  This project starts out with the creation of a mission statement.  My mission statement in this artifact focuses on providing support to students, staff, and parents so that students can become responsible for their learning, success, and future.  This mission statement is important because it encompasses all that I tried to accomplish throughout the Policies and Procedures Manual. 

            The creation of the MTAC committee is very important to the implementation of the various policies within the manual.  Careful planning by this committee determines how effective student-centered media and technology programs are (Instructional Technology Division, NC DPI, 2006). Most of the policies in this manual refer to the MTAC committee as the deciding group for the school.

            The various policies within this manual describe and promote ethical and legal use of technology resources (077 Standard 6).  Teachers must adhere to specific guidelines in order to model responsible use of technology (Bates, Engle, Halasi-Kun, Kiaschko, Mickley, Norman, & Norman, n.d.).  These guidelines are provided in this manual in a clear, understandable way so that there is no confusion about the expectations.

            The creation of the Acceptable Use Policies promotes safe and healthy use of technology resources (077 Standard 6, Indicator 4).  Adams (2008) suggests that AUPs address new technology tools that enhance learning while ensuring safe and responsible use by teachers and students.  I have created AUPs for staff, students, and parents in this manual.  I think that everyone using technology on the school campus should be required to follow guidelines that promote safe and healthy use.  I feel that promoting safe and healthy use is of utmost importance when using technology resources in education. 

Discuss how you might change the content, strategy, or design of the artifact.

            Although I would not change the creation of this policy manual and how it is designed, I would adjust some of the content.  This policy manual was written based on what I believe would be best for the school in which I work.  I believe that it would be better represented if the creation of this manual came from an actual MTAC committee that meets on a regular basis instead of just one person.  Although all of the information in this manual was created based on real data from the school, I feel that my ideas should be supported through a team of people.  I think that presenting this artifact to the MTAC committee at my school for review would be a great step into improving the current policy manual we have in place. 

Discuss how the artifact is representative of future and career goals and plans.

            EDTC 6149 has taught me how to analyze and evaluate policy and procedures manuals and school improvement plans.  It has taught me how to plan and administer school technology programs.  I have learned the importance of legal and ethical use of technology resources.   Before taking this class, I did not realize how important it was to have these types of plans in place.  Now I not only know the importance, but I am able to advocate for legal, ethical, safe, and healthy use for educators, parents, and students.  As technology continues to change, I feel that being able to create policy and procedures manuals will be a great asset throughout my career.

References

Adams, H. R. (2008). Dusting off the acceptable use policy (AUP). School Library Media Activities Monthly, 25(4), 56.

Bates, J., Engle, B., Halasi-Kun, G., Kiaschko, J., Mickley, T., Norman, J., & Norman, L. (n.d.). Code of computer ethics for educators. Retrieved from http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/mickley/ethicsnew.htm.

Instructional Technology Division, NC DPI. (2006). Impact:  Guidelines for north carolina media and technology programs. Retrieved from http://www.ncwiseowl.org/impact/progadmin.htm.

Robinson, L. K., Brown, A. H., & Green, T. D. (2009). Security vs. access: Balancing safety and productivity in the digital school.  Eugene, OR:  International Society for Technology Education.

Schrum, L., & Levin, B. B. (2010). Leading 21^st century schools: Harnessing technology for engagement and achievement. Thousand Oaks, CA:  Corwin.