After reading and discussing the article last week about how a technology specialist helps the teachers outside the classroom, I thought I would dig deeper by reading Kevin McGillivray's second article "Education Technologist as Curriculum Specialist".
This article address the role of the technology coordinator in order to assist teachers inside the classroom to enhance and support their curriculum using technology. In this instance, the purpose of the technology coordinator is to help the teachers to make beneficial and appropriate decisions regarding how to use the many technological tools that are out there.
McGillivray approaches this concept with a five step plan. The steps include planning, lesson introduction, co-teaching, assistant, and evaluation. The planning step is when the technology specialist provides advice of what technology, if any, would be appropriate for the standard and work with the age group of the students. I think this is an important step. If teachers were supported by their technology mentors, you wouldn't hear teachers say, "I would use technology but I don't know what to use". The lesson introduction involves the teacher taking a back seat and allowing the technology specialist instruct the students about how to use the technology. This step eases the fears of teachers who just don't feel comfortable. The third step, co-teaching, involves the teacher and technology instructor working side by side, and the fourth step involves the technology instructor providing assistance to small groups or individuals, but the teacher plays the main role in instruction.
I thought the last step was good, and often a step that gets left out. The last step is when both instructors collaborate and work together to reflect and revise for the future.
I agree with this article. I believe if teachers were supported inside the classroom, and not just at professional development trainings, etc., they would be using technology more, and it would be appropriate technology that would benefit the student's learning.
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Katrina, I think it is great that you decided to investigate this topic further. It really makes me think about what the role of the educational technology coordinator should be. I do agree with both you and the author that being involved in the curriculum is very important. It creates relevance for both the technology coordinator and the teacher. It also ultimately will ensure that students are getting the best of both worlds. The key is collaboration.
ReplyDeleteThe five steps that were listed in the article make complete sense to me. My only concern here is that if a technology coordinator is going to be involved at this level and to this extent, he/she is going to have to be assigned to only one or two schools. It would be impossible for a coordinator to successfully perform this role if he/she was assigned to multiple schools. There are so many different roles a technology coordinator can take on. Honestly, I feel like the only effective way to participate in these roles is to be assigned to a single school. The teachers and the students are going to get the maximum benefit if the coordinator can focus all of his/her energy into building up one school.
I think that this is a really great article explaining different ways that the technology coordinator can be a part of the instruction process. I really like the 5-step process because it provides a structured way for the teacher and the tech coordinator to work together.
ReplyDeleteI also think that the co-teaching idea is an interesting one. I don't know of many teachers who have ever tried this method, but I think it would work really well. It would be awesome to have a technology person to help with technical problems the students may be having, allowing the teacher to focus on the instructional part of the lesson.