Amy Bailey

ITEC 7410
Dr. Campbell
Spring 2015

Schools Vision
The vision of Wilcox County Schools is to provide a learning
community:
Where all educators, staff, and parents Inspire students to Learn and master
Curriculum that allows Opportunities for all graduates to eXcel academically,
socially, and professionally. Technology will be used to help in fulfilling this
vision. Students will be provided technology tools that will enhance their
learning skills, engage students in the learning process, and aid them in
becoming prepared for the next step in education as well as prepare them for
the work force. Collaboration among administrators, teachers, parents, and
students will help in the implementation of technology tools that will
enhance student learning and engage students in authentic, meaningful
learning.
Rationale
All too often, there is more focus on whether technology is provided in
the schools rather than whether the technology tools are being used
authentically and properly. Technology tools are great resources for students
and can be used to enhance their learning skills as well as prepare them for
future endeavors, but only if the technology tools are being used correctly
and in a meaningful way. Creighton (2003) discusses this same issue when
he states, Technologies are not often used in constructivist ways. What is

Amy Bailey
ITEC 7410
Dr. Campbell
Spring 2015

exciting and encouraging, however, is that technologies have the potential

for such support, and with appropriate instructional leadership by principals,
technology can be an effective catalyst for educational reform. (Creighton,
2003, p. 46) Edutopia RSS, Classroom Management in the Tech-equipped
Classroom, by Andrew Marcinek states, Technology should always support
and reinforce the learning that is taking place, never precede it. Through
the integration of technology in the classrooms and curriculum, students can
become more involved in the active process of learning and bring their own
individual goals and curiosities to the classroom (Brooks & Brooks, 1993;
Fosnot, 1993; Piaget, 1969) (Creighton, 2003, p. 45)
Administrators Role
Creighton (2009) discusses the major role of the administrator, A
major role for the principal as instructional leader (and technology leader)is
provide appropriate staff development programs that allow teachers to
enhance skills and remedy deficiencies (Rebore, 1998, p. 163).
Administrators will ensure that teachers are provided the staff development
needed in order to properly and authentically integrate technology into the
classrooms. Administrators will also ensure that proper support and
supervision is provided during the implementation of new technologies.
(Creighton, 2003, p. 48)
Teachers Role

Amy Bailey
ITEC 7410
Dr. Campbell
Spring 2015

Teachers will use technology tools provided to research learning

opportunities to enhance the learning skills of students according to the
curriculum. Teachers will provide students with opportunities for technology
use on a daily basis. Such technology use should include access to the
following; SMARTboard, ChromeBooks (grades 3-5), student computers, and
iPad lab. Teachers will provide technologies that assist in the learning of
students who require assistive technologies in order to provide fair access to
students with disabilities. Certainly, effective classroom instruction is
dependent on exactly how the teacher interacts with students. As simplistic
as this sounds, it draws attention to the importance of expecting teachers to
be facilitators, guides, co-learners, and co-investigators in the instructional
process. (Creighton, 2003, p.71)
Students Role
Students will become explorers, cognitive apprentices, and producers
of knowledge. (Creighton, 2003, p.73) Students will actively participate in the
implementation of technology tools by using Study Island, WebQuests,
PowerPoint, as well as other technologies to explore and enhance learning.
Students will use technology to collaborate with teachers, students, and to
connect with the outside world in order to make real-world connections.
Students discover concepts, connections, and skills by interacting with the

Amy Bailey
ITEC 7410
Dr. Campbell
Spring 2015

physical world, materials, technology, and other people. (Creighton, 2003,

p. 73)
Parents Role
Parents will use technology as a means of communication with
teachers. Parents will have access to view their students grades on
PowerSchool. Parents will encourage the implementation of technology by
allowing access to computers, Internet, and other educational tools outside
of school and in the home setting. Parents will have an opportunity to
express their opinion on the implementation of technology tools through
anonymous surveys.

Conclusion
The potential of technology presents both the greatest opportunity and the
greatest threat to schools and their leaders. Successful principals as
technology leaders will be those who decide to focus and concentrate on
how best to intersect technology with teaching and learning. (Creighton,
2003, p. 93)
References
Creighton, T. (2003). The Principal as Technology Leader. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Corwin Press.

Amy Bailey
ITEC 7410
Dr. Campbell
Spring 2015

Marcinek, A. (2014). Edutopia RSS: Classroom Management in the TechEquipped Classroom.

Retrieved on February 18, 2015 from
http://www.edutopia.org//blog/classroom-management-tech-equippedclassroom-andrew-marcinek

Wilcox County Elementary School

PK-5) Technology Survey
* Required
The job classification that most closely matches my position: *
o
Certified Teacher
o

Media Specialist

Special Education Teacher

Technology Teacher

Other

The grade level that I teach: *

(grades

Amy Bailey
ITEC 7410
Dr. Campbell
Spring 2015
o

Pre-K

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

Other:

The academic content area(s) I teach: *

check all that apply
o
Language Arts
o

Mathematics

Science

Social Studies

Music

Computer

Physical Education

Other:

Choose the statement that best describes the level of your technology
skills. *
o
I do not consider myself a technology user. I get someone else to do
technology-based tasks for me.

Amy Bailey
ITEC 7410
Dr. Campbell
Spring 2015
o

I consider myself a novice user. I accomplish assigned tasks, but I feel

I am more comfortable when I don't use technology to do a job.

I feel comfortable using some technology tools for personal use and

teaching. I feel I have enough skills to complete the task and will
occasionally choose to use technology to accomplish something I choose.
My skills are very good. I use a variety of technology tools and I feel

that I use them efficiently for all aspects of my job.

I am a technology leader. I use technology efficiently, effectively, and

in creative ways to accomplish my job. I often teach others to use

technology resources.
To what degree are you prepared to use the following tools? *
Choose appropriate response for each:

Fully Prepared
Accessing or
creating
podcasts
Audio/Video
production/edit
ing (i.e.
Audacity,
iMovie,
MovieMaker,
etc)
Classroom
response
system
(clickers,etc)
Content
Management
systems/websit
es
Content
specific
applications
(math, social

Somewhat
Prepared

Not Prepared

N/A

Amy Bailey
ITEC 7410
Dr. Campbell
Spring 2015

Fully Prepared

Somewhat
Prepared

Not Prepared

studies, music,
etc)
Database
software
Drill and
practice
E-mail
Interactive
whiteboard
software
(Promethean,
SMART
Notebook, etc)
Internet
Resources
Presentation
software
Tutorials
Video
streaming
(Discovery,
YouTube, etc)
Word
Processing
On which technology tools (listed in question above) do you want to
learn more? *

How often do you integrate technology tools in your classes? *

o
Daily
o

Weekly

Infrequently

Never

N/A

N/A

Amy Bailey
ITEC 7410
Dr. Campbell
Spring 2015
What best describes your current practice of using technology in
instruction? *
o
I seldom use technology to deliver instruction.
o

I almost exclusively use whole group presentation style either using

the SMARTboard, PowerPoint, or other instructional software to explain or

demonstrate concepts or instructions.
I often use whole group presentation style, but sometimes facilitate

students in their use of a variety of information resources and hands-on

activities.
I almost exclusively facilitate student learning by encouraging

students to use information resources and hands-on activities.

Rate the relevance of the following factors in your decision to use
technology in instruction. *
choose appropriate response for each item:

Very Relevant
Observing
my
colleagues
successfull
y using
technology
to teach a
concept.
Using
scientificall
y-based
research
that
suggests a
particular
technology
application
improves
student
learning.

Relevant

Somewhat
Relevant

Not a
Consideration

Amy Bailey
ITEC 7410
Dr. Campbell
Spring 2015

Very Relevant

Relevant

Somewhat
Relevant

Not a
Consideration

Motivating
and
engaging
learners.
Creating a
more
learnercentered
classroom
with
students
exploring
their own
questions
and
building
their own
knowledge.
Which of these tools do you use to communicate with students and/or
parents? *
choose all that apply
o
Automated messaging system (Remind 101, etc)
Course management system (Moodle, BlackBoard, Desire 2 Learn,

o
etc)
o

E-mail

Online newsletters

Parent portal connected to district student information system.

Phone/voice mail

Social network sites (NING, Facebook, Twitter, etc)

Teacher website, wiki, or blog

Text messaging

None

Amy Bailey
ITEC 7410
Dr. Campbell
Spring 2015
At what level do you integrate online learning in your classes? *
o
I do not integrate online learning activities.
o

I integrate SOME online learning activities.

I integrate ALOT of online learning activities.

Some class activities are completely online (student discussion

forums, surveys, assessments, etc.), but I meet with students everyday.

Choose the statement that best describes how Internet Safety is
addressed in your classroom. *
o
I rely solely on our district Internet filter.
o

I follow a district defined Internet safety policy.

I include some Internet Safety strategies in my curriculum.

Do you feel the technology tools you have available allow you to
complete your work both efficiently and effectively? *
o
Yes
o

No

Do you feel the technology tools your students have available allow
them to complete their work both efficiently and effectively? *
o
Yes
o

No

What additional information do you think might be relevant to

describing the use of instructional technology in your classroom and/or
district? *

Credit for Survey Questions

Technology Instructional Practices Survey Question-Minnesota Teachers This
anonymous survey of Minnesota teachers about their use of technology in the
classroom and their professional development needs can be used by districts to
assist in the technology planning process. education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/idcplg?
IdcService=GET...

Amy Bailey
ITEC 7410
Dr. Campbell
Spring 2015