Erik’s Random Babble

http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=186

Finally got around to watching this from our very own Patrick Ledesma, and naturally a lot of what he talks about is stuff that is quite familiar. Patrick’s basically in the same trenches as I am, and I do think he makes a lot of good suggestions here. Personally, I would put his second step of administrative coordination on top, because it is that that really affects the other steps he suggests. Of course, this kind of coordination with one’s principal and assistant principal won’t happen overnight, and really is an on-going process. But by making it a priority to align your own goals as a technology leader within the school with the expectations of the administration is critical, and can also help with the implementation of the other steps presented here.

Managing the hardware environment obviously also is an on-going process, though I think a great way to ease the burden of this sort of thing is by working with teachers to show them how to manage things on their own, especially when things don’t work as expected. I am also fortunate that since last year, I now have a tech support specialist in my building 2 days a week instead of one, which means I can redirect a significant portion of the hardware and software maintenance issues to her, freeing myself up to focus on other things…such as teacher professional development and teacher coordination, Ledesma’s third and fourth steps. A recurring challenge is getting teachers to come to training sessions that I offer — beyond those 5 or 6 who come to every single one. And I agree that by working with the teachers who most readily embrace the technology, I can indirectly reach more of the staff. It sort of becomes viral marketing for technology integration — I work with one teacher to create a whiz-bang integrated lesson, and then when he or she passes that along to his or her teammates, suddenly the interest spreads. I still face the challenge of pulling some of those reluctant teammates in to a training session, but at least I’ve got their attention now.

I would go a step further, or perhaps add a step 4.2 to Patrick’s suggestions here — namely (a la Alan November) to also look into student coordination. November talks of having students attend training sessions along with the teachers, which, although I have yet to try this, I think is a fabulous idea. I am also interested in putting together my own student “geek squad” whom I could train in various essential things, who could then act as my tech helpers throughout the building. I know that there is a great deal of interest on the students’ part, and I might as well tap into that resource.